FOR members of jogging and running Rons Runners the early summer plethora of events to enter continued again last week with road races, trail runs, half marathons and a new Park 5k venue attracting interest with a midweek hill race thrown in for good measure.

Last weeend Sylvia Mulholland sampled yet another new venue for the Park 5k when entering the Ruchill park Glasgow race. Sylvia reported a hilly course but one worthy of a return visit having found the morning most enjoyable. Sylvia although a highly-experienced ultra-distance runner recorded 24:52 on a morning which was so hot she was forced to stop during the race for a drink still claimed 2nd lady home from a field containing 16 females.

On the same weekend, three members arrived on the Kirkcudbright 11k race start line. Following a hilly start after leaving the town runners faced an undulating route in the country before a twisting downhill section took them back into town for a slight incline to finish. Again the weather played a huge role increasing the times normally expected but all three were content to finish with their times, Thomas Hodgart 61:47, Helen Bruce 63:03 while Dayle Burnside’s 86:50 was remarkably better than she expected.

At Edinburgh half marathon which starts in London Road and passes Holyrood Palace, the Government buildings, Arthur’s Seat and Meadowbank Stadium before reaching Portobello Promenade then onto Musselburgh to finish at Pikkie Road St. Peter’s School Ruth McLoughlan shrugging off a troubling four months of niggling problems such as slight but lingering colds aches and bruises did well coming home with a reasonable 1hr 59 mins and 22 secs and by running conservatively made sure of a good finish, despite the heat which others found almost unbearable.

David Ridout had the busiest timetable, running in the Mull of Galloway Trail race. The 10 mile route started at Sandhead to where competitors disembarked a bus with the first three miles over sand and dunes but then changed to a mixture of quiet roads and forest tracks to finish in Stranraer where a barbeque and beer was available. An enjoyable experience though new to the club, the race was only slightly spoiled by the lack of signposts around the five-mile mark.

David and a few others lost the track and ended in a dead end at a farm but a short cut through a field to another farm brought them back on track they had already passed with a loss of some five minutes running time.

Now back on the correct route it was plain sailing to the finish reached in 1hr 32 mins and 25 secs, meaning David finished just within the top half of the field. David thought it a well organised event and well worth entering and a good day out.

Wednesday found David at Kilpatrick lining up for the Hill race which was another counter in the bog and burn series. He described as a real tough one with 1000 ft to climb in the first 2miles but also a huge pleasure to gallop down the last couple of miles of the 6.4 miles course. David’s confidence was enhanced by some handy and appreciated hints from veteran hill runner Ian McManus who was there spectating and he finished with 1hr 19 mins and 10 secs to his credit.

Two members carried the club’s colours to yet another city when both separately entered the Liverpool Rock N Roll half marathon. En route they passed the famous Cavern Club, made famous by the Beatles and Penny Lane, not to mention the Liverpool docks.

Neil Kyle, whose time cut six minutes from his previous best recorded an excellent 1hr 39 mins and 36 secs and Mark Garton posted a well-deserved 1:50:11 though the few unexpected hills caught them and most others, unawares. Both would recommend the event to others. The club-mates got together that night where their race was re-run a few times during quite celebrations.

With a big event on the same day and another the following day there were fewer members at the Eglinton 5k where Paul McCallum had the honour of first home for the club, posting 24:49 and Pamela Porteous 25:17 first for the ladies and just ahead of William Goggans 25:18.

A welcome back for Ian Walterston saw him record a fine 26:47 then came Lynn Shearer close to her best with 28:35. Eric Pearson timed 30:49 before Elidh Dunwoodie 35:44 outran her mum Gillian 35:50 in the finishing straight. Carol Rome 37:06 also running with her daughter. As “tail runner” this week Mary Huggan recorded 44:33.

Stewards were Neil McMillan Hazel Anderson and Darren Ridout.