Course record as Crowe completes Tilli 10k hattrick

PH Racing Club’s Tilli 10k took place on Sunday and, once again, we were blessed with excellent racing conditions. The fast and flat course, along the Devon Way from Tillicoutry to Dollar and back, facilitated a number of superb performances at the sharp end as well as personal bests throughout the field of almost 700.

Leading the way for the third time was Central AC’s Jamie Crowe. He completed a hattrick of race wins as well as collecting an extra prize for lowering his own six year old course record by over 30 seconds with a time of 28:47. Cameron Smith of Cambuslang Harriers finished second, over a minute behind, but in a still impressive 30:10, and the podium was completed by Andrew Thomson of Fife AC, who went one better than last year’s fourth place, timing at 30:54.

In the women’s race we had another new winner in Amy Frankland of Lasswade AC who crossed the line in 34:25. Eilidh Bell of Shettleston Harriers took second place in 35:05, with Garscube Harriers’ Mia Padmanabhan just behind at 35:12 in third.

Once again there was an extensive cash prize list, totalling almost £3000, with prizes for the top 3 in five year age categories as well as local and team prizes.

In the V40s males, Corstorphine’s Mickey Breen was first in 32:19, ahead of Edinburgh AC’s Jonathan Henderson (32:46) and Peterhead’s Mark Beagrie (34:34). Metro’s Nicola Gauld won the V40 prize in 37:43 with Malgorzata Mandula of Linlithgow second in 40:49 and Karen Allen third in 42:06.

Alison McNeilly of Dundee Road Runner was the top female V45, with Bernie Boyle of Rosses AC (39:18) and Julie Hoyle of JSK (40:01) the other prize winners. Penicuik Harriers’ John Gibbs was the winner of a very close men’s race in 33:44, only two seconds ahead of Iain Hutchison of Corstorphine. Third-placed Gary McKenna was also not far back, timing at 34:01.

Dino Roussias from Metro was the leading V50 male, timing at 36:12, ahead of Stephen Allan of Cumbernauld (36:40) and another Metro athlete Michael Barker (36:48). Gala’s Pamela Baillie won the women’s prize in a time of 38:50 with Fife’s Rhona Van Rensburg (38:53) and PH’s own Julie Menzies (39:53) the other prize winners.

There were two from Perth Road Runners on the women’s V55 podium. Winner Liz Johnston (41:16) and third placed Diane White (45:36) were separated by Elaine Timoney of Penicuik (44:17). On the men’s side, Steve Cairns of HBT was the winner in 35:45. Stephen Martin of Strathaven Striders took second in 39:43, ahead of Michael Younger of Wee County Harriers.

Cambuslang;’s Chris Upson took home the V60 prize for his run of 35:05, with Falkirk Victoria Harriers’ Grant Matheson (37:42) second and Stephen Ingledew of Edinburgh AC (38:52) third. The overall female winner of our inaugural race in 2018, Fiona Matheson, went one better than husband Grant, winning the V60 category in 38:49. Interestingly this year’s time was less than a minute off that winning time from seven years ago! Kathleen Aubery of Helm Hill Runners (43:07) and Pitreavie’s Anna Halley (46:13) were the other prize winners.

There was another winner from Cambuslang in the men’s V65s, Dave Thom first home in 38:22. Alan Gibson of Fife AC took second in 39:29 with Central’s Charles Graham-Marr third in 41:05. Marie McChord of Kirkintilloch Olympians won the women’s V65s in 44:54 ahead of Fife AC’s Margaret Martin (48:29) and Linlithgow’s Jill Horseburgh (50:49).

Anne Reed of Perth Road Runners (51:15) was the leading V70 with Liz Bondi of Lothian (57:42) and FTR’s Jude Alcock (70:04) the other prize winners. Tony Martin of Fife AC once again won the men’s title, clocking 43:09 with John McFarlane of Wee County Harriers (47:45) and Central’s Alan Gall (49:51) also taking home cash prizes.

In the men’s V75s the winner was Ron Downie of Fife AC (50:22). Linlithgow’s Alex Wood was second in 57:47 and Ian Cuthbert was third in 59:02. We also had two over 80s this year. Bob Brown of Perth Road Runners took first place in 70:23 ahead of Phillip Jurczyk from Lothian (85:29).

There were junior prizes for under 18s. Harrison Macmillan of Falkirk Victoria Harriers won first prize in 33:10, ahead of Oscar Chirnside (33:37) and Kyle Thomson of Garscube Harriers (34:28). Nellie Luxford was the female winner in 39:35, just ahead of Lucy Gibb from Dunfermline T&F (39:45). Also not far back was Falkirk Victoria Harriers’ Lucie Gibson (40:18).

The top three locals with Clackmannanshire postcodes also received prizes and the ladies’ podium was a clean sweep for Wee County Harriers. Lauren Sadowski (43:31), Lucy Kennedy (46:20) and Lesley Gault (48:18) were the winners. Martyn Paterson (33:48) took the men’s first prize with Jack Breingan (46:20), also Wee County, second and Ewan Gault (48:18) third.

Last, but not least, were the team prizes. The men’s team prize went to Central AC with race winner Jamie Crowe joined by Callum Phillip (31:15) and Cameron Kerr (31:17). Metro Aberdeen took the women’s prize with their team consisting of Nicola MacDonald (36:15), Chelsea Cook (37:43) and Nicola Gauld (38:51).

Times mentioned here are all gun times which were used for awarding prizes, but most athletes will have recorded faster chip times, particularly in the older age categories.

Thank you to all the volunteers from the club, and in particular to race director Andrew Wright, without whom the event could not take place. Thanks to Paul Campbell and his Clackmannanshire Council Community Payback Team for their work in clearing debris from the path in advance of the race. Thanks also to Anne, Elaine and others from the Devonvale Hall for providing such an excellent venue and for mucking again in to help us on the day.

Once again we were provided with excellent service by Chris and his staff from Perfect Timing Scotland and our announcer Graham from You Can Sport. Thanks also to Active First Aid Scotland, who hopefully put everyone at ease with their presence at each end of the course. Thanks again to Williams Bros Brewery for providing the beer and soft drinks which were handed out before the race. This year’s medals were made by MedalStudio. Finally, thanks to David McNulty for his excellent photography.

Full race results can be found here:
http://results.perfecttimingscotland.co.uk/results.aspx?CId=20065&RId=1261&EId=1&dt=0&adv=1

David McNulty’s race photos from the turn at Dollar are here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/RvkrPPaaHjF4BH5j9
Prizegiving photos, also by David McNulty, are here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/a1JJwzfvTr9Pg8uK8