The series began back in October at the East District Cross Country League in Stirling. The Grand Prix consisted of seven events with each members best four results to count. As always the series of races was very closely contested and the last event took place on Sunday at the Gartmorn 6 in Sauchie.

Barry Davie in his first winter in Carnegie colours excelled to become the men’s overall winner with 193 points. Peter Humphreys finished 2nd overall on 191 points and Ian Johnston was 3rd male with 188 points. Fabienne Thompson produced another outstanding cross country season to win the ladies title for the third year in succession. Fabienne has won the ladies Cross Country Grand Prix on five occassions and this year scored 199 points. Isobel Burnett also enjoyed a superb season and placed 2nd lady with 198 points. Well done to Gail Murdoch who finished 3rd lady on 193 points.

There was some tremendous competition in the various age-group categories. Congratulations to Malcolm Smith who wins the M40 category on 173 points (6th overall) and to Peter Simpson who is the M50 winner (4th overall) with 187 points. Phil Smithard is the M60 winner (9th overall) on 162 points and Ken Daniels was the leading M70 with 121 points. Linda James wins the F40 award (5th overall) with 188 points and Morna Fleming is the F50 winner (6th overall) with 187 points.

Well done to all 70 club members who took part in the Cross Country Grand Prix and all the final results can be found on the Grand Prix section on this website.

The presentation of awards will take place after club training at Dunfermline Academy of Sport on Tuesday 29th March. A complete list of all award winners will be available soon.

Fine, dry, sunny and almost windless conditions greeted the 43 starters for the postponed Festive Forest race on Saturday 26th February. Ground conditions were reasonable, with some parts of the course perfectly dry and sound, and others heavily waterlogged and muddy. The route was clear and straightforward, with some surprising new vistas owing to forestry work since the last running. On reaching the top of the course, runners who had the time for such things were treated to a spectacular view of Benarty Hill and the western ridge of West Lomond above Scotlandwell.

A hard-fought contest had been expected, and this is exactly what happened, with Tommy Lawrence, hot-foot from his usual Saturday morning exercise class, taking the prize in 41.20 and prevailing over Graeme Campbell and Peter Humphreys. With two M40′s already in the prizes, 1st M40 went to 4th placed Mike Harvey, with 6th placed Ian Johnston as 1st M50. The M60s were out in force, too, with Iain Thomson narrowly defeating four of his age-group to the 1st M60 place.

Among the ladies, Fabienne Thompson, safely returned from France, took the honours as 1st lady in 11th place overall, in a very creditable 51.17, outpacing her younger rivals Grace MacKenzie and Kirsty Baird. Linda James took 1st F40 in 26th place overall.

Finishing duties were admirably carried out by Val Macaulay, Melanie Sinclair and Peter Morrison – thanks to all of them for their support and professionalism. Thanks are due also to Sue Walker for the excellent and very welcome punch, the recipe and ingredients for which were delivered to Morna as Sue could not attend.

Thanks to all those who ran, all supporters in whatever capacity, and to the capricious weather which this time smiled on us!

Our re-scheduled 2010 Awards Evening was held last night at the King Malcolm Hotel, Dunfermline.  There was a good turnout of around 40 members.  The awards were presented to all our winners in the Road and Hill Running Grand Prix Events.  Our Special Awards were also presented.  Junior athlete Scott Dowell receives our Most Improved Male Award and Morna Fleming the Most Improved Female Award.  The Most Improved Hill Runner award was presented to Neil Campbell and the Best Newcomer Award was presented to Jo Wilson.  Richie Cunningham receives the Marathon Award.  Very well done to all our award winners.

This race will not be re-scheduled and our Cross Country Grand Prix has been amended accordingly and is now 7 events which your best 4 to count.

1. 20/03/2011 Alloa Half Marathon
2. 09/04/2011 Edinburgh parkrun 5K
3. 17/04/2011 Bridge of Allan Toughest 10K
4. 14/05/2011 Loch Leven Half Marathon
5. 22/05/2011 Edinburgh Marathon
6. 04/06/2011 Strathallan 5 Mile Road Race (Date TBC)
7. 19/06/2011 Orchill 10K Road Race, Gleneagles
8. 06/07/2011 Brig Bash 5 Mile Road Race, Bridge of Earn
9. 12/07/2011 Ravenscraig Park 1 Mile Race, Kirkcaldy
10. 15/07/2011 Beveridge Park 5K, Kircaldy
11. 14/08/2011 Pitreavie Forth Bridge 10K Road Race
12. 16/08/2011 Ceres 8 Mile Road Race
13. 18/09/2011 Kilmacolm Half Marathon
14. 25/09/2011 East Neuk 10K, Anstruther
15. 02/10/2011 Loch Ness Marathon

In both the Road and Hill Running Grand Prix, 50 points will be awarded to the first male and female to finish each race, followed by 49 points for 2nd, 48 points for 3rd etc. Overall points are calculated based on your best nine events.

Awards in all age groups will be presented in December at our annual awards evening. All runners outwith the award winners who complete the minimum nine events will also be presented with an award.

Your age category is based on your age at the opening event in each Grand Prix.

Wednesday 25th May  - Self Transcendence 1 Mile Road Race, Meadows, Edinburgh Catriona McCracken placed 5th lady at the Self Transcendence 1 Mile Road Race in Edinburgh clocking a time of 6.02. Kieran Morgan ran a personal best of 6.14 only three days after completing the Edinburgh Marathon.

Wednesday 25th May – Knock Hill Race, Crieff Judy Turner wins the Knock Hill race in Crieff
Carnegie’s Judy Turner was first lady in a closely contested Knock Hill Race on Wednesday evening in Crieff. Judy covered the 5 mile route with 685 feet of climbing in 36.25 and Peter Simpson was the leading M40 timing at 33.41.

Saturday 29th May – Heart of Scotland 100 Challenge, Dunkeld Sue Walker completes the Heart of Scotland 100
Congratulations and very well done to Sue Walker who has completed the Heart of Scotland 100 in around 34 hours 20 minutes. This is an excellent achievement and further event information can be found on the event website at http://www.heartofscotland100.org.uk/

The event started at 10am on Saturday morning in Dunkeld before venturing to Kirkmichael, onto the Cateran Trail to Enochdhu, up the glen to Daldhu, Shinagag, and on to Blair Atholl. The route then headed to Bruar, to Dalnacardoch and on to Loch Errochty and onwards to Kinloch Rannoch. The closing stages went to Aberfeldy before finishing back in Dunkeld.

Sue reached the finish some 104.4 miles later at around 6.20pm on Sunday. Sue has raising money for Girlguiding Fife and if anyone would like to make a donation then the charity link can be found at http://www.justgiving.com/Sue-WalkerHeartofscotland100

Saturday 29th May - Edinburgh parkrun 5K, Cramond   Andrew Smith was the leading Carnegie runner at the Edinburgh parkrun 5k.  Andrew clocked a fast 17.16 placing 8th overall.  Fergus McGaw ran a strong race setting a personal best of 18.31 finishing 22nd while Malcolm Smith was 58th in 20.35.  Kieran Morgan was 62nd in 20.55, Louise Hewison was 116th in 23.28, Clive Cable was 128th in 24.03, Lesley Halstead was 133rd in 24.16 and Robbie Swinton set a PB of 27.42 in 188th.

Sunday 30th May – Dunblane Hydro 7.5 Mile Road Race Iain Taylor posted a time of 43.19 whilst placing 5th and leading M40 at the Dunblane 7.5 Mile Road Race.  Judith Turner covered the undulating course in around 48.50 to finish 3rd lady overall and Melanie Sinclair clocked a time of 59.06.

Carnegie Harriers Edinburgh Park Run

Saturday 10th April - Edinburgh parkrun 5K, Cramond

Harriers set fast times at the Edinburgh parkrun
There was an excellent turnout of almost 40 club members at Saturday’s Edinburgh parkrun which saw a field of 204 runners enjoy almost perfect conditions for the 5k run. The event incorporated the 3rd counter in Carnegie’s Road Running Grand Prix with many Harriers recording personal bests.  2009 West Highland Way race winner Scott Bradley was the leading Carnegie athlete placing 2nd overall in an excellent personal best of 15.53. Allan Fotheringham was the next Harrier home covering the fast, out and back course in 16.34 finishing 3rd overall and 1st M40. Roger Clark in 4th position was hot on his heels clocking a time of 16.38 with Iain Taylor recording a parkrun best of 16.42 crossing the line in 5th position.  Alex Keenan on his return from injury ran a parkrun PB of 17.09 (6th), Campbell Hutt recorded a new best of 17.10 (7th) and Andrew Smith clocked 17.21 placing 8th. Well done to Steven King who ran a 5k PB of 17.38 (13th) and to leading M50 Ian Johnston who timed at 17.56 finishing 17th.  There were strong runs from Alan Cockburn (24th in 18.33), Ross Carrie (30th in 18.52) and John Fulham (31st in 18.53) while Gail Murdoch ran a personal best of 19.29 finishing 3rd lady overall. Darran Neilson set a 5k PB of 19.38 (42nd), Jon Farrimond made his Carnegie debut timing at 19.49 (46th) and Kieran Morgan in his last race in his 40′s set a PB of 19.50 (47th). Malcolm Smith and David Greig set PB’s of 19.52 and 19.53 respectively while Isobel Burnett was the elading F50 clocking a fine time of 20.01. Pamela Gilfillan on her parkrun debut ran a PB of 20.57, Dru Baker clocked 21.30 and there were PB’s for Susan Cederstrom (21.42) and Morna Fleming (21.53 and leading F55). Richie Cunningham despite run the entire West Highland Way twice this week still managed his first parkrun in 23.02, Lesley Landels made her club debut in 23.15, Louise Hewison clocked 23.24 and Bill Fairley timed at 25.19.  Carnegie Harriers represented nearly 20% of the Edinburgh parkrun field and very well done to everyone who took part. Coffee and cakes were thoroughly enjoyed after the run in Cramond car park. The Grand Prix has now been updated will all the results after Event No.3.   A selection of photo’s from the parkrun can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnfulham/sets/72157623824619186/

Sunday 11th April – Heaven and Hell Half Marathon, Scone

Congratulations to Gail Murdoch, Fabienne Thompson and Helena Sim who won the ladies team prize at Sunday’s Heaven & Hell Half Marathon from Scone near Perth.  Gail was the leading Carnegie athlete covering the challenging 13.1 miler in 1.36.54 finsihing 5th lady overall.  Fabienne placed 8th lady in 1.40.53 and Helena was 11th lady in 1.42.24.  Alison West clocked 1.53.54 and Derek Carswell timed at 2.03.46.

Sunday 11th April – Titanic Quarter 10K Road Race, Belfast

Ian Johnston was amongst overall 1000 runners taking part in the Titanic Quarter 10K Road Race in Belfast on Sunday afternoon where he finished 55th in 38.24.