Introduction

This years this years club championship race will be held at the Stephen Unwin 10k at Carlisle on Sunday 29th June. This race will not count as part of the Grand Prix. There are 7 events constituting the Grand Prix series, which started with the Holywood Stroll and finish with the Brampton to Carlisle in November. Follow these links for full details of the Club Championship and the Grand Prix Series.

This year's Holywood Stroll, a 5 mile road race held on country lanes near Dumfries, was held in perfect conditions on Tuesday evening. The race was won by Alex Allardyce of Irvine AC in an excellent time of 27:16. Second on the night was David Armour and third was Jim Ferguson. First Dumfries runner was Marcus Scotney in fourth place in 28:27. Mhari Douglas, of host club Dumfries, won the ladies race in 33:25. Both men's and ladies team prizes went to Dumfries. Full results and list of prizewinners.

Several club members spent the bank holiday weekend running the West Highland Way. Pictures from the weekend are now posted on the photographs page.

This year's Club Championship is due to be a short race, which is normally a 10K. There is a choice of 2 races that will be suitable for this years race - the Steven Unwin 10k at Carlisle on 29th June or the Dumfries 10k on 2nd September. No one date will suit all club members, particularly during the summer, so we will go with the majority. Please let Les Hill know your preference for the club championship (preferably by email) by Monday 12th May so that an early decision can be made.

On Friday April 25th sportspeople from all over the region attended the annual Nithsdale Sports Awards Ceremony. Amongst the attendees were club members Paul Hart, Margaret Gray and Vicky Little. Paul had been nominated for the Male Personality of the Year Award, Margaret had been nominated for the Coach of the Year Award and Vicky was one of the 6 lady members of the club nominated for the Team of the Year Award.

A huge congratulations is due to Paul Hart who was successful in winning the Male Personality of the Year Award. After a record-breaking year Paul was thrilled to accept the award.

Margaret Gray received a Special Merit Award for her tireless work as the Monday night coach. I'm sure everyone who attends the monday night sessions will agree Margaret is more than deserving of this award.

Vicky Little also collected a Special Merit Award on behalf on the those who have been in the prize-winning ladies teams that raced throughout 2007. The Ladies Team included Mhairi Douglas, Dawn McDonald, Vicky Little, Elizabeth Smart, Susan Gallagher and Marian McPhail.

Some further photos of the Dumfries marathon, courtesy of Gareth McIntyre, can be seen on this link.

The Round Rotherham 50m and relay is on 13th December, and Les Hill is starting to coordinate accommodation for those interested. Paul and Les intend doing the full 50 miles again and have booked accommodation at Worksop Travelodge. Rooms are currently available for £29 per room, so if part of a relay team this will mean paying between £10 and £15 depending on how many are going. We will also book somewhere for the Saturday night with a similar cost. If you are interested in taking part in the race individually or as part of a relay team please let Les know before Friday 18th April so that if there is enough interest he can try to get everyone into the same Travelodge - a decision does not have to be made by the end of next week, next weeks deadline is only to try and get everyone together. If you say yes and the Travelodge is booked it requires payment with a non refund if you pull out.

This years Holywood Stroll, a fast and flat 5 mile road race will be held on Tuesday 13th May at 7pm. Full details are here.

4 members of Dumfries Running Club took part is one of the most beautiful road races in the UK, a tough lap of Coniston Lake. Best placed was Paul Hart in 1 hour 26 minutes and 50 seconds, followed closely behind by Les Hill in 1 hour 28 minutes and 14 seconds. Elisabeth Smart finished strongly in 2 hours 2 minutes and 28 seconds. Vicky Little paced her race well to finish in 2 hours 7 minutes and 6 seconds, well inside her target time. Paul and Vicky also competed in the Lancaster Three Bridges 10K on Sunday 6th April. Paul was not far outside his 10K best time finishing in 7th position in a time of 35 minutes and 39 seconds, and Vicky managed to finish 21st female in 46 minutes and 20 seconds, a new personal best time for the distance.

Provisional results and list of prizewinners are now available. Congratulations to the race winners David McLelland of Irving AC in a time of 2.48.15 and Joanna Goorney of Wesham Road Runners in 3.19.21. For photographs taken by Sandy Robertson of Photobox please follow this link.

Postal entries are now open for the Dumfries half marathon, to be held on Sunday 21st September 2008, with new finish at the Macleod Pavilion. Entry form available here or see race page.

Congratulations to Paul Hart and Les Hill, who have both been selected to represent Scotland at the Anglo-Celtic plate 100k race, to be held at Bute Park in Cardiff on 18th May.

The final run in the winter handicap series was held on Thursday 6th March. With all to go for, both Rab Wilson and new member Maureen Dickson beat their handicap as they tried extremely hard to finish on top of the pile, with Rab being first on the night and Maureen third. The overall series was won by Rab, with Maureen a close second, and Des Park third. The handicap's now switch to the Holywood course, with the first run on Thursday April 3rd. Final series results here

Nine members of Dumfries Running Club traveled to Morecambe for a 20 miles road race on the first Sunday in March. Paul Hart continued his recent good form to break the two hour barrier for the first time, finishing 6th in 1.59.15. Les Hill was 11^th and first vet 50, and a strong run by Doug Brown in 2.09.19 helped these three runners win the team prize for DRC. Mhairi Douglas ran superbly in the ladies competition to finish among the prizes in 7^th place in 2.19.52. Good performances were registered by Norman Neilson (2.16.09), Frank Skachill (2.36.19), Susan Gallagher (2.50.15) and Jim Grierson and Mike Trant.

On Saturday February 16th, Vicky Little headed to Midlothian to take part in the Carnethy 5 Hill Race. Organised by the Carnethy Hill Running Club, the course covers 6 miles and scales 2500 feet over 5 peaks. A complete novice to hill running, Vicky found it a tough but enjoyable experience finishing in 1 hour 39 minutes. The overall race winner, in the second fastest time ever of 47 minutes 11 seconds was Lloyd Taggart. First lady home in 55 minutes 13 seconds was ladies course record holder Angela Mudge.

The February edition of the winter handicap series at the Crichton was held on 7th February. First home on the night was Dave Breen, followed by Maureen Dickson and Rab Wilson. There are eight runners who still satnd a chance of winning the series overall, with the final run to take place on March 6th. The latest series results are here.

DRC is hoping to organize a weekend away running the West Highland Way from Saturday 3rd May to Monday 5th May. Both runners and drivers will be needed for the weekend. Final numbers for the trip need to be in before Thursday 21st February, so all those interested please speak to Vicky Little or Paul Hart a.s.a.p. More information about costs, travel arrangements etc. will be available forthwith. Click here to see poster.

Dumfries Running Club dance and presentation was held on Friday 1st February, 2008 at Dumfries Rugby Club. The 2007 club championship, held in October at the Cumbrian Run half marathon, was won by Les Hill. The ladies champion for the fourth year running Mhari Douglas, who achieved a clean sweep of all the ladies prizes. Marcus Scotney won mens grand prix, cross country and hill race championships. Full list of prize winners and further photos here

The men and ladies cross country championships will again be held at the Annan River Races on Sunday 24th February. The race is over approx 6k, with a start time not before noon. Details are available here or on the Annan website

Eight members from Dumfries Running Club participated in the Round Rotherham 50 miles trail race on Saturday 8th December 2006. Paul Hart, Les Hill and Richard McDougal all completed the 50 miles, made all the more challenging by the wet and windy conditions. Paul finished second in 7 hours 24 minutes, Les was 5th in 7:35 and Richard 78th place, in a time of 10:20. This result earned DRC second prize in the team awards. The ladies team of 'Doonhamer Dollies' placed 12th overall and 3rd ladies team in a tremendous time of 7 hours 21 minutes...Full report here.

Two members of DRC traveled up to the Nigel Barge 10K race in Glasgow on Saturday. Paul Hart was 23rd in 36:19, and Les Hill was 34th in 38:03. Its a tough 2 loop course, the weather was very cold with a torrential downpour 1/2 way round! Paul and Vicky Little also ran the Dave Clarke 5 mile race on Sunday at Lancaster, Vicky's first serious run for many weeks due to injury. Paul was 5th in 28:19 and Vicky was delighted to finish strongly in 40:26.

The latest run in the winter handicap series at the Crichton was held on 3rd January. Eighteen runners braved the snow, with newcomer Jo Zakrzewski first home. The series leader after four races remains Des Park with 67 points, with Sandy Shankland moving upto second and Rab Wilson third. Thanks to Vicky and Mike for timekeeping in the cold. The latest series results are here.

The Dumfries Running Club dance will be held on Friday 1st February, 2008 at Dumfries Rugby Club. The rugby club is a new venue, and has full catering facilities, space for 120 people seated for the meal, and plenty of dancing space for the music by the live band KG. Tickets are priced at £15 and obtained through Dave McNaught at the clubhouse. Final numbers need to be in by 24th January, 2008. Full details

Any club member who still wants to claim a standards certificate for 2007 please send details to Les Hill as soon as possible. Details of the awards scheme and claim form are here

Club News 2008

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