Around Cumbrae 10 Mile 'Gem of a Race'

15 SEP2009

134 runners ran around the Isle of Cumbrae on the afternoon of Sunday September 13. The Ayrshire Harriers’ race, which started and finished at Millport, was won by Northern Ireland’s David Simpson, with Ayr Seaforth’s Toni McIntosh winning the women’s race.

Northern Ireland’s David Simpson, who crossed the line with a PB of 52:30 won the race ahead of Girvan’s Kerry-Liam Wilson, who also bagged a new PB to finish second in 53:51 and collected the gold medal in the Ayrshire 10 mile championship. The silver medal was won by Irvine’s Alex Allardyce, who placed third overall with 56:53. Irvine’s Ian Berryman collected the Ayrshire Super Vets gold medal in 62:05, with his younger club mate Tony McKnight winning the Vets gold in 63:12.

Clydesdale Harrier John McArthur was the first MV40 over the line with a time of 60:18, whilst Bellahouston Road Runner Alastair McLachlan earned the M50 prize in 61:42. Phil Smithard of Carnegie Harriers won the MV60 race in 71:57.

Ayr’s Toni McIntosh continued her fine form, which saw her being the first Scot in the Great Scottish Run’s Women’s Race, by winning the Round Cumbrae equivalent in a time of 63:28, although this was some five minutes slower than her Tom Scott race earlier this year it was still more than six minutes ahead of her closest rival, Perth’s Super Vet Erni Hamilton who crossed the line in 69:30. Toni was also awarded the Women’s gold medal in this the Ayrshire 10 mile Championship. Another Super Vet, Isobel Burnett of Carnegie Harriers earned third place with 71:59. Perth’s Fiona Angus was the first FV35-45 in 73:10, with Carnegie’s Morna Fleming beating Kilmarnock’s Kate Todd to win the FV55+ race in 79:59. Kate who finished in 80:26 was rewarded for her efforts though as she collected the Super Vet’s gold medal in the Ayrshire Championship; the Vets medal winner being Girvan’s Ruth Robertson who finished in 86:32.

Iain Taylor, who finished in 20th place with 63:40, told SCOTTISH RUNNING GUIDE “Around Cumbrae is a gem of a race, offering a flat and very scenic ten miler. I was one of 13 Carnegie Harriers who took part. The event was one of our club’s Road Running Grand Prix. I set off at a steady pace from Millport gradually increased the tempo as the race progressed around the island. My club mates and I all enjoyed our trip to the West of Scotland and I’ll certainly be marking the event in my 2010 race calendar.”

The race was closed by another member of the Perth Road Runner’s posse, Jean Wainwright (F55) who finished in 1:53:54.