The 13th Annual Stranraer Half Marathon plus Junior Runs took place on Saturday 7 March. A total of nine races including fun runs were held throughout the day with over 300 entries.
The winner of the Half Marathon, which is measured at a distance of 13 miles and 192.5 yards, breaking the old track record, was Robert Gilroy of Ronhill Cambuslang Harriers in the time of 1 hour 10 minutes. Robert was closely followed over the finish line by Kerry-Liam Wilson with a time of 1 hour 11 minutes and 6 seconds, third across the line was David Millar of Irvine Running club with a time of 1 hour 11 minutes and 28 seconds.
The winning female who completed the race in 1 hour 38 minutes 34 seconds was Karena Carden. Second place went to Anne Sillars with a time of 1 hour 41 minutes and 36 seconds, she was followed closely over the line by third place local runner Frances Butler of the Galloway Harriers with a time of 1 hour 41 minutes and 54 seconds.
Stuart Tempelton of the Galloway Harriers was the first local male home in a time of 1 hour 27 minutes. The prize for first Wigtownshire local lady home went to Martina Moore also of the Galloway Harriers in 1 hr 49 minutes 50 seconds.
Half marathon team prizes were calculated on combined times of the 3 fastest runners in each team. The winning Male team in a combined time of 4 hours 20 minutes and 31 seconds was the Galloway harriers (Alexander Morrison, Stuart Templeton and Matthew Robinson). First female team was in a combined time of 5 hours, 47 minutes and 38 seconds was Galloway Harriers (Frances Butler , Martina Moore and Alisa Taggert).
The Senior Fun Run saw a total of 22 runners all completing the 4 mile course. The winner of this fun run was Richard Nash with a time of 29 minutes and 34 seconds. The first female runner was Elaine Rennie with a time of 29 minutes and 59 seconds.
The 14, 15 and 16 years race also completed the 4 mile course. First male home in a time of 26 minutes and 10 seconds was Lachlan Caufield, while Clodagh Beattie won the female in 35 minutes 48 seconds.
In the 12 and 13 years race over a course of 2,100 metres, Sam Gurling stormed home to win in a fabulous time of 7 minutes, 37 seconds. Second place went to Jack Lamb in a time of 8 minutes 56 seconds and third to Ben Irwin in 9 minutes 4 seconds. Grace Pow was the first female home in a time of 7 minutes 47 seconds with Lucy Gaw coming across in second with a time of 8 minutes and 21 seconds. Lara Runicie came in third with a time of 8 minutes and 40 seconds.
The 10 and 11 years Fun Run covering 1,400 metres was won by Ryan Edgar with a super fast time of in 5 minutes 27 seconds. Second place went to Corey Palmer in a time of 5 minutes 33 seconds and third went to William Nash only a few second behind Corey in 5 minutes 36 seconds. Caitlinn Mackay was the first girl home in 5 minutes 54 seconds, followed in second place by Bronagh Beattie in 6 minutes 17 seconds and third by Molly Mclean in 6 minutes 32 seconds.
The final 3 fun runs of the day were completed within the vicinity of the track and involved 4 years and under, 5 and 6 years and 7,8 and 9 years.
Wigtown Area Committee Chairperson Marion McCutcheon said;
“I would like to say a huge well done to all participants. It was a great turnout on the day for all categories. I would also like to say well done to the team who organised the half marathon. It ran seamlessly and for vthat staff and volunteers should be commended.”
Local and national sponsors played their part in the success of the day they included: Sottish Water,Border Cars, NHS Dumfries and Galloway, Mc Cullochs Coaches, Morrisons, Kinetic plumbing, Ian Rankin Joiners, NFU, Tesco, Academy Vets, Luce Bay, Stranraer YMCA, and Rowan Glen.
