Dumfries Running Club members take part in festive handicap race

Six Dumfries Running Club members were at Lancaster on Sunday for the Half Marathon and 10K races.

Four of them were trying a last ditch attempt to improve on their club standard times in the half marathon, while Kevin McQueen was just there for the fun of a 10K.

Both races started together on a cycle path next to the River Lune with the field splitting after completing a loop at the 10K finish with the longer distance runners continuing towards Lancaster and then heading for Morecambe before turning back to the same finish line as the 10K. It was completely flat and with only a moderate breeze good times were a possibility.

Kevin McQueen had a superb run in the 10K to record 39.30 to finish in sixth place, and second in his age category out of a field of 101 runners.

In the half marathon, Alan Baxter was first back from DRC and finished in fifth place with a time of 89.20. Not far behind was Kevin McCaig in seventh place in a time of 89.33 and although it was a superb time, and the fact he was also first V60, he was disappointed at being 20 seconds slower than the standards time he had chased.

Simon Mortlock and Les Hill, 18th and 34th respectively, were also disappointed at being outside the standards required for their improvements, however, both should be happy with respectable times of 96.47 for Simon and 109.39 for Les.

The most impressive performance of the day was from Sandy Shankland who was comfortably inside his standard for the gold award recording a time of 97:51.

Christmas handicap

On the same overcast morning, a good turnout of 20 members took part in a shortened version of the Holywood Stroll route for a festive run to compete for the Norman Furnishings Christmas Handicap Trophy.

This race has handicapped