Breaking Free From Inveraray Jail

10 MAY2010

Yesterday saw keen runners flee from prison as the Inveraray Jail Break Race returned to Argyll for a second year. A strong women's field saw all three first place female runners beating last year's records while the 2009 male catergory records still stand.

Part of the Inveraray Bluebell Festival, Inveraray Jail Break had 34 runners from far and near complete the challenging 6.5km route on Sunday May 9. Starting at Inveraray Jail itself, the course took runners 250 metres high to Dun na Cuaiche, the watch tower above Inveraray. The runners thinned out as the steep climb took hold and men's winner, Philip Price, was clearly ahead from this point, as the competitors made their way back down to the grounds of Inveraray Castle.

Winning categories included first male and first female junior, senior and veteran. The overall fastest time recorded was an impressive 29 minutes and six seconds from first male senior Philip Price. The fastest female time was 32 minutes 34 seconds, from first female senior winner, Emma O'Shea.

2010 - this year's first place winners:
First male junior - David McAlister - 31:22
First male senior - Philip Price - 29:06
First male veteran - Alan Smith - 29:55
First female junior - Freya Corner - 40:07 - (RECORD)
First female senior - Emma O'Shea - 32.34 - (RECORD)
First female veteran - Dinah Bosomworth - 37:20 (RECORD)

2009 - last year's first place winners:
First male junior - Paul Cameron - 28:54
First male senior - Nick Emsley - 28:46
First male veteran - Paul Thompson - 29:14
First female junior - Naomi Sturrock - 44:14
First female senior - Naomi Dixon - 41:02
First female veteran - Fiona Corner - 38:59

Participants each received a free Inveraray Jail T-shirt and there were trophies, medals and prizes for category winners. The race catered for a range of running enthusiasts.

The Bluebell Festival is an exciting month-long programme of cultural events taking place in the Inveraray area, by Loch Fyne. For more information on Inveraray Jail please visit the jail website.