HARRIERS “GONE WITH THE WIND” AT FORTH ROAD BRIDGE 10K

34 Harriers, along with another 350 runners, made their way to North Queensferry Community Centre on Sunday for the ever popular Forth Bridge 10k, organised by local running club Pitreavie (PAAC). The race also doubled up as the club Road GP event #6.

Anticipation for the race was particularly high this year, as last year’s race did not take place due to bridge workings and a safety first approach! Despite a last minute route change, meaning an extra hill climb at the south side of the bridge, spirits were high at the start with sunny  weather and a gentle breeze (or so everyone thought).

After the obligatory pre-race photographs, runners lined up at the start in some sort of predicted finish time order, with the race off at 10:30am sharp.

The race starts with a downhill section to North Queensferry, followed by a sharp incline, before a long steep descent down Ferryhills Road, where pace can really pick up. After Ferryhills Road has been safely negotiated, the route turns for the long slow climb up the side of the A90 towards the middle of the now almost traffic free Forth Road Bridge. At this point the perfect running weather changed as runners were greeted with a strong headwind, just what was not needed for the long exposed climb. The wind gained even more strength as runners entered the bridge. It was a battle at this point to just stay in the race, it was certainly not PB conditions! Any respite from the windy conditions once the descent down towards the South end of the bridge was short lived, as even this section was proving difficult to negotiate due to the windy conditions.

As PBs and hoped for finish times slipped away, the wind soon dissipated slightly as the runners were led onto the updated section of the route up the A90 slip road, round a well-positioned cone,  back towards the bridge, down the East side of bridge, under the bridge itself, back up the West side of the bridge (downhill welcome, uphill not so much!) and up onto the opposite footpath Northbound. The wind was now behind the runners backs, giving an opportunity for a very fast finish and a chance to claw back some time lost from the Southbound section. Subsequently heard that 5 of the top 10 fastest ever times Northbound across the bridge, were recorded during the race! The end of the bridge brought the finish of the race into sight with a very fast sprint across the line, where runners could pick up there pre-planned dropped off water bottles (great idea PAACE), grab a well earned medal and wait for club colleagues to finish.

First male Harrier home was John Hynd (42:08) followed by Alan Murray (43:28) and Adam Anderson (43:58). First female home was Angela Sandilands (43:07), followed by Alison Sutherland (45:15) and Joy Gudgin(46:40).

There were lots of great runs in tough conditions from ALL harriers with a number of category prizes for John Hynd (3rd MV50) Angela Sandilands (1st FV40 and 2nd female), Joy Gudgin (1st FV50), Alison Sutherland(3rd Senior Female) Isobel Burnett (1st FV60) with Angela, Joy and Alison also winning the 1st female team prize. Great stuff!!

I am sure we will all be back again next year!

Position	Number	Name	Gun Time	Chip Time
24	172	John Hynd	00:42:08	00:42:06
27	352	Angela Sandilands	00:43:07	00:43:02
33	289	Alan Murray	00:43:28	00:43:22
36	11	Adam Anderson	00:43:58	00:43:48
40	79	Barry Davie	00:44:27	00:44:24
46	419	Graham Wilde	00:45:09	00:45:03
48	385	Alison Sutherland	00:45:15	00:45:11
51	274	Brian Miller	00:45:42	00:45:36
53	109	Kenny Fairfield	00:45:59	00:45:48
62	143	Joy Gudgin	00:46:40	00:46:32
64	259	Gemma Mckee	00:46:42	00:46:35
69	43	Isobel Burnett	00:47:10	00:47:02
70	167	Ross Hunter	00:47:15	00:47:07
73	166	Derek Hunter	00:47:34	00:47:26
76	188	Stuart King	00:47:52	00:47:42
78	34	Allan Brannigan	00:48:04	00:47:55
81	165	Gordon Hunter	00:48:27	00:48:20
91	376	Andrew Spence	00:49:11	00:49:06
109	227	Sarah Marshall	00:50:26	00:50:09
113	313	Niall Patterson	00:50:54	00:50:44
124	164	Kerry Hunter	00:51:54	00:51:40
125	108	Kathryn Fairfield	00:51:56	00:51:41
136	22	Gordon Barrie	00:52:43	00:52:21
140	413	Sarah Wellcoat	00:53:00	00:52:46
143	251	Natalie McGill	00:53:16	00:53:00
179	139	stephen Greer	00:55:53	00:55:37
187	27	Gail Beveridge	00:56:17	00:56:09
188	122	Karen Forsyth	00:56:21	00:56:09
194	432	Karl Zaczek	00:56:48	00:56:23
238	168	Karen Hunter	01:00:23	00:59:51
251	88	Grant Donachie	01:01:49	01:01:13
252	45	Clive Cable	01:01:49	01:01:13
274	309	Angie Parkin	01:03:16	01:02:34

*images courtesy of Gillian Cable and G-Bax Photography