Central and Bella Cruise Home to Victory in the Arran Sun

27 JUL2009

Central AC and Bellahouston Road Runners won the annual Round Arran Relay Races in glorious sunshine on Saturday July 25. Central, who had finished third in last year’s race, completed the course in a time of 5:20:29. Bellahouston Road Runners won the Women’s Race for the fourth time in succession, despite having a completely different team from last year’s, the Bella Belles retained their place as champions by winning in a time of 6:52:27.

Men’s Race

Central AC finished almost 20 minutes ahead of their closest rivals Garscube Harriers, who were second in 5:40:13, and 33 minutes ahead of last year’s winners Irvine AC, who took 5:53:21 to race around the island.
Central’s heroes were: Ross Houston; Michael Gillespie; David Lynsey; David Armour; Alex Hendry and Lewis Millar, who each received bottles of the famous Arran Beer and a commemorative t-shirt.

Women’s Race

Bellahouston Road Runners finished almost 24 minutes ahead of Garscube who earned second place in 7:16:18. Kilmarnock Harriers completed the race in third position in a time of 7:45:19.
Bellahouston Road Runners prize winners were: Jane Simpson; Debs Grey; Lynsey Munro; Maddie Smillie; Claire Wharton and Karlyn Forsyth, who each received a commemorative t-shirt and a fragrant bunch of roses.

Paula Wilson of Kilmarnock Harriers told SCOTTISH RUNNING GUIDE “That’s me run around the entire island. It’s taken me eight years to do it but I’ve managed it. Thanks are due to the organisers for putting on such a great event.”

The event organisers Irvine AC, with a little help from their Arran friends, deserve huge congratulations for not only organising the race but also for transporting some 140 racers and officials to the five starting points around the island in time for the start of their legs and also for providing such a hearty spread of post race food and drinks. A special mention is due for those who took the time and effort to provide water stations to the runners as they struggled up some of the islands testing hills in the scorching heat.

Full Results: