THE surprised winner of this year’s Chick Forbes Trophy race had to have it explained to her that the first person to cross the line in a handicap race actually wins the race!

Yvonne Gallacher is one of Irvine Running Club’s newer members and had only competed in the Eglinton Parkrun before taking part in the Chick Forbes event on Sunday.

The race is run as a handicap on a two-mile route over the paths round Irvine Moor, with the slower runners starting first to be chased down by those at the top of their racing form.

Gallacher was one of the early starters but stuck to her task well to finish well clear in a scratch time of 18m54s.

Irvine running Club and Ron’s Runners jointly organise the event, which is held annually in memory of Irvine running legend, Chick Forbes, who died in 2005.

In the handicap race, Gallacher was followed home by young Euan Rhodes of Irvine Running Club (IRC) with Leigh-Ann Cherry third and Scott Watson fourth, both Ron’s Runners (RR) The fastest male times of the day were David Millar in 10m 09s, Steven stirrat (11.27), Lewis Rome (11.47) and Scott Brown (11.50), all Irvine Running Club.

The fastest female times were Suzanne Dickson (RR, 13.50), Susan McNairney (IRC, 15.01), Helen Morton (IrC, 15.11) and Melanie Sinclair (RR, 15.33).

Three generations of Chick’s family including his daughter, Rosalind, travelled from Dumfries and Edinburgh to watch the race and present the trophy.

For the full story see this week's Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.