Glenpark runners clock up impressive times in Edinburgh, Kintyre and Dumbarton

Yahoo

28-05-2025

NINE athletes represented Greenock Glenpark Harriers in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival on Sunday – while another five travelled to the other side of the country to compete in the Mull of Kintyre 10K and half marathon.
In the Edinburgh half-marathon, Greg Luke finished in 1:46.27 – a good time for conditions which were a long way from ideal for running.
Rachael McDaid, who seems to be racing every other week, smashed it in 2:19.10, a whopping 25-minute PB over the distance, while June Rattray crossed the line in a solid 2:35.09, another great performance on a tough day.
Rachael McDaid (Image: GGH) Over the full length marathon distance, Mary Robinson, in her first run over 26 miles and after an honest appraisal of an 'inconsistent' training block, finished in just over six hours, with Hanna Docherty, also on her marathon debut, coming in not far behind.
Allison Baird ticked another endurance event off her list in 5:24.38, while Rebecca Laird McCluckie reaped the benefits of a laser focus in her training when she crossed the line in 4:23.08.
(Image: GGH) Graeme Percival set out aiming to complete the race inside three hours, though the weather conditions meant he was unsure whether he'd meet his goal; his race went perfectly, battling against the wind for the last 10-12km, but unfortunately he was caught out with the race distance of 42.52km and crossed the line in an official time of three hours and three seconds.
Those three seconds may pray on his mind for a while, but Graeme should still be delighted by his achievement in recording a 12-minute PB on his previous, and only other, marathon to date.
Cheryl Thomas deserves a mention for making the difficult decision to retire due to an issue with her knee at around half the race distance – a sensible decision that should ensure a return to running sooner rather than later – while Olivia Devine competed the Harriers contingent by taking part in the relay race.
Meanwhile, five Harriers made the journey to Kintyre for the 20th anniversary of the 'MOK Run' festival, with Robin McAuslan making a return appearance in the 10K race; he finished in 47.04, in difficult winds, and was third in the men's V60 class.
Gerard Robertson and Bob Dolan ran in the Mull of Kintyre 10K. (Image: GGH) He was joined over the 10K distance by Gerard Robertson, who had a fine run to cross the line in 52/52, while Lorna McMillan was the fourth V60 female in a time of 1:01.54.
The MOK half-marathon is run over a tough course that includes sand dunes on a golf course, a 1.5 mile 'out and back' on the beach and some 30mph winds for good measure – all ingredients that keep Harrier Robert Dolan returning year after year. This year Bob put in another strong run, finishing in 1:43.17 and fourth V50 male.
Clare Leung finished just in side the two-hour mark, recording a time of 1:59.15 as she continues to improve on the back of consistent training in a variety of disciplines.
Closer to home, GGH is always well represented in the annual Babcock 10K series, with a contingent of 14 Harriers travelling to Dumbarton for the second of this year's three races.
The Dumbarton 10K is always a favourite with GGH runners. (Image: GGH) The timekeeping blunders that beset the opening race in the series, the Shettleston 10K on Glasgow Green, weren't repeated to the same degree in Dumbarton, though there were still some issues with numbers and corresponding times that will hopefully have been ironed out at the final race of the series, in Helensburgh this Thursday night.
Leading the club home in 26th place was Neil Lafferty in 34.42, using the race as part of his training block, followed by Andrew Osborne, who continued his comeback by finishing 51st in 37.08.
They were followed by Donald Shaw (38.21), Stephen Harrison (39.21) and Colin McKnight (39.50), while David Thomson finished in 42.47 after making the trip from Stirling and despite feeling under the weather.
Fine weather graced the second event in this year's Babcock 10K Series. (Image: GGH) Sean and Fiona McFarlane were next home in 44.32 and 47.34 respectively – both great runs on a warm evening in the sunshine – while Natalie Smith continued her run of strong performances over shorter distances, finishing 35 seconds inside the 50-minute mark.
Next home was ladies' captain Lynne Harrison in 51.53, followed by the incredible Charlotte McKay, whose time of 1:00.35 shaved 24 seconds off her 10km PB and keeps her well on course for a sub-60 minute time.
Doris Heron finished in 1:02.36 and Sharon Doherty continued her comeback in 1:15.20, while Alison Smart made a sensible move with her unpredictable asthma and got herself safely back to the start line in one piece.