Birthday Boy Mulhare in Meadows Romp

3 SEP2009

Despite the driech Edinburgh weather, Wednesday’s Self Transcencence 5k Race attracted some 114 runners to the city’s Meadows. Whilst the emphasis at this summer series of races is very much on taking part and having fun, the flat and accurately measured course also attracts some excellent club runners. Lasswade’s Dan Mulhare, celebrating his 24th birthday on September 2, romped home to win the race in a superb time of 15:07, with Alison Rowat being the first woman home in 17:48.

With the first seven men and women winning medals, as well as the first three men and women aged 50-59 and the first man and woman aged 60-69, there was plenty of opportunity to be among the awards.

Men’s Race

54 seconds behind Mulhare was HBT’s Stevie Cairns, who claimed second place with a time of 16:01. The race for third spot was more closely fought, with only three seconds between the next four runners. Corstophine’s Tom Ferrington just shaded it to earn third spot in 16:33, with Super Vet Jeff Farquhar of Pitreavie just one second behind placing fourth overall and first MV50. There was no separating Corstophine duo David Paton and Bryan Clarke, who both finished in 16:36. HBT’s Dan Gay claimed seventh spot in 16:42.


The second placed Super Vet, on the night, was Falkirk’s Ken Rankin in 17:34, followed by Central’s Steven Laing, who finished third M50-59) in 18:17. Far travelled Forres’s Hamish Cameron won the M60+ race in 19:59

Women’s Race

Exactly one minute behind Rowat was Megan Mowbray of HBT who placed second woman with 18:48, just two seconds ahead of Edinburgh Uni’s Briony Curtis in third place in 18:50. In fourth position was Gillian Carr of Corstophine in 19:30, followed by Yulia Uzunova of Glasgow University in 19:53. In a good night for the west Edinburgh club, Corstophine’s Jo Kirby took sixth prize in 20:11. HBT’s Morag McCracken finished seventh woman in 20:22.

HBT also won the Super Vet Race, with Debbie Macdonald (FV50) finishing in 22:01. Jeannette Dickson of jogscotland earned second spot in 26:40, whilst unattached Margaret Taylor placed third in 28:39. Ferranti’s Betty Gilchrist was the first and indeed the only FV60+ but still showed many of her younger competitors a clean pair of heels, finishing in 23:19.

Falkirk’s Elaine Thomson, who finished just one place behind Betty in 23:46, told SCOTTISH RUNNING GUIDE “I was told the Meadows 5k is a friendly, fun, small event, which is just what I like. And true enough it was. The race involves three laps of the paths at The Meadows, taking in a few sharp turns but for me that meant a chance of a breather. The encouraging shouts given to everyone during the race from the organisers was a nice touch. Although I have run many a 10k and a lot of half marathons too, this was my first 5k, and I will definitely be back to the Meadows for another one. I would recommend it.”

The race was closed by unattached Susan Harkins who placed 114th in 37:10.



The final race of the summer series is the 2 mile race being held on Wednesday September 9. Changing and registration is from 6.30pm at the Pavilion, Jawbone Walk (off Melville Drive), The Meadows, Edinburgh. Race starts at 7 pm. Entry only on the night costs £1.50.