Livesey Navigates his way to Victory

17 MAR2010

Over 1,100 people took part in the 26th City Of Inverness Half Marathon on Sunday, March 14, with hundreds more turning up to support the annual event. The weather, though not brilliant, was a lot better than the blizzard conditions of the last two years and the wind was not as strong as expected. This may have been a factor, as well as all that training, in a higher number of runners than usual (787) crossing the line under the two hour barrier. This year's course was also slightly changed with organisers removing the route through the woods and reducing the section which weaved in and around the housing estate.

First male with a finishing time of 1:08:03 was 31-year-old Ben Livesey, a Nimrod navigator based at RAF Kinloss. Ben first ran and won the Inverness Half Marathon in 2006. He finished in second place for the next three years before reclaiming his crown this year.

First female with a finishing time of 1:20:09 was 46-year-old highland running sensation Melissa Whyte, a staff nurse at Raigmore Hospital. Surprisingly this was Melissa's first time competing in the Inverness Half but she came into the race on the back of some fine form, having won the 10K race in Nairn last week.

Aberdeen Metro won both the men's and women's team prizes.

Organisers would like to thank all of those that turned out to run, support or assist in the Mothers Day event, including the youngsters from the Girls Brigade teams and the Army Cadets who year after year give up their Sunday to help out.

Despite the very good turnout organisers are not sure when next year's event will take place.

(pictures courtesy of Andrew Smith)

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