Dumfries runners take part in Guid Nychburris 5k

In order to celebrate the local festival, Dumfries Running Club organised the second Guid Nychburris 5k on Friday.

With an unusual 7pm start time, the route involved a double lap of the Crichton grounds but was well chosen as it suited the runners and minimised difficult hills but still provided enough challenges for the 89 finishers, which was 15 per cent higher than last year.

As the reputation of the race begins to grow, the entrants come from further afield. This was shown by the front of the race which was won by Euan Rose of East Kilbride AC who led from the start and finished in a very swift 16.16. In second place was another visitor, Jonny Neville of Belgrave Harriers in London who was in the area to see friends and was delighted to finish in 16.25. Jonny enjoyed the experience so much that he returned to the Crichton the following morning and won the weekly parkrun by almost two minutes. Third place went to Charlie Storrie of Dumfries Running Club in 16.51. The first junior prize went to Cameron Robertson of Nithsdale AC in fourth place in 17.46.

In the age group categories Colin Holden of DRC was first vet 50 in seventh place in 18 minutes exactly, 29 seconds in front of Alan Baxter also of the host club who was first vet 40. The vet 60 prize was won by Trevor Hobbins in 23rd place in 21.14.

In the women’s race, one of the closest finishes ever seen was between Katy Brown of Giffnock North and Lisa Finlay of DRC. Each employed different race tactics with Lisa 20 metres ahead entering the downhill finish by the Crichton Church and Katy, using her middle distance speed to sprint for the finish in 14th place in 19.16, pipping Lisa by one second. Lisa did have the consolation of winning the prize as first