Tour of Fife Results – David Simpson Five Star Winner

Wednesday 30th July – Tour of Fife 5K Road Race, Luthrie

David Simpson takes an early lead in the Tour of Fife
Carnegie’s David Simpson making his debut in the Run 4 It Tour of Fife clocked an impressive course record of 15.28 to win the opening 5K road stage which started and finished in Luthrie. Fife AC’s Graham Bee placed 2nd in 15.57 and Chris Russell was 3rd in 16.18. David now holds a 29 second lead going into tomorrow’s hill stage from Craigmead.  Stevie Ogg was the next Carnegie runner home placing 10th overall and 2nd M40 in 17.16 followed one second later by club mate Roger Clark (11th in 17.17). Peter Humphreys put in a strong run placing 14th and 3rd M40 in 17.31 and Steven King made the ‘Top 20′ finishing 18th in 17.39.   2006 ladies winner Ros Alexander arrived at the race venue with only a few minutes to spare having been delayed in traffic jams at the Forth Road Bridge. The lack of warm-up didn’t appear to phase her as she finished an excellent 4th lady and 1st F35 in 18.30. The ladies race was won by Morgan Murphy (Fife AC) in a ladies course record of 18.14. Pauline Walker in her 7th Tour of Fife placed 8th lady (3rd F35) in 20.58 and Gail Murdoch was 8th lady (4th F35) in 21.17.

Thursday 31st July – Tour of Fife Trail Race, Craigmead

Tour of Fife – Stage 2
The second stage of the 2008 Run 4 It Tour of Fife saw eighteen Carnegie Harriers toe the starting line in torrential rain at Craigmead to contest the very challenging four mile Arso Vertitus Trail Race.  After winning Wednesday’s opening stage at Luthrie race leader David Simpson (Carnegie Harriers) set off strongly down the opening two miles through Maspie Den reaching the playing fields at Falkland House just behind the leading three runners. David put in a very strong uphill section back to Craigmead and went on to win the second stage in 24.33 with Graham Bee (Fife AC) placing 2nd in 25.13 and David Burgess (Anster Haddies), 3rd in 25.49. David now holds a 69 second advantage moving into Stage 3 on the beach at St Andrews on Friday evening.Steven King found the testing course to his liking finishing an excellent 11th overall (27.49) and 2nd Carnegie runner on the night closing the overall gap on Roger Clark (17th, 28.08) to only three seconds. Stevie Ogg placed 19th in 28.13 and Peter Humphreys was 21st in 28.20.  Pauline Walker was the leading Carnegie lady (6th lady overall in 33.12) powering her up the steep hill from Falkland with Gail Murdoch not far behind placing 86th in 35.04.  Overall Carnegie Positions after Stage 2;

1st David Simpson, 40.01
11th Roger Clark, 45.25
13th Steven King, 45.28
14th Stevie Ogg, 45.29 (2nd M40)
16th Peter Humphreys, 45.51 (3rd M40)
35th Ian Johnston, 48.18 (3rd M50)
40th Sid James, 49.38
41st Iain Taylor, 49.54
54th John Fulham, 52.40
64th Pauline Walker, 54.14 (1st F45 and 6th lady)
74th Campbell Reid, 55.44
78th Iain Thomson, 56.08
79th Gail Murdoch, 56.18 (9th lady)
98th Helena Sim, 59.22 (17th lady)
113th Morna Fleming, 1.03.43 (29th lady)
119th Fiona Rennie, 1.04.35 (33rd lady)
120th Sue Walker, 1.05.40 (34th lady)
134th Lesley Halstead, 1.11.54 (42nd lady)

Friday 1st August – Tour of Fife Beach Race, St Andrews

David Simpson heads 154 runners to win the ‘Chariots of Fire’ Beach Race in St Andrews
The Run 4 It Tour of Fife headed to the West Sands at St Andrews for the 3rd stage in the series. Carnegie’s race leader David Simpson secured his 3rd race win in the Tour covering the 4.2 mile course in 22.30. David was followed home by Fife AC’s Graham Bee in 22.53 with Chris Russell (Fife AC) placing 3rd in 23.23.  Roger Clark found the West Sands to his liking finishing 2nd Harrier and 9th overall in 24.30 with Stevie Ogg hot on his heels in 24.32 (10th). Peter Humphreys in 18th position (25.02) posted a two second advantage over clubmate Steven King (10th in 25.04) and Ian Johnston placed 3rd M50 in 25.35.  Iain Taylor produced his best race of the 5 race series so far placing 38th in 26.33 and Sid James finished 47th in 27.02. Fast improving John Fulham had another strong run timing at 28.33 in 57th position.  In the ladies race, Scottish 24 hour record holder Pauline Walker continued her run of good form placing 6th lady and 1st F45 in 29.01 while Gail Murdoch was 9th lady in 29.58. Helena Sim was the 3rd Carnegie lady to finish the beach race in 31.43 (15th lady).   The close battle between Sue Walker and Fiona Rennie continued with Sue clocking 34.42 and Fiona 34.45. Lesley Halstead in her first Tour of Fife put in a fine performance clocking a time of 37.35.  Overall Carnegie Positions after Stage 3;1st David Simpson, 1.02.31
8th Roger Clark, 1.09.55
9th Stevie Ogg, 1.10.01 (2nd M40)
13th Steven King, 1.10.32
15th Peter Humphreys, 1.10.53 (4th M40)
31st Ian Johnston, 1.13.53 (3rd M50)
38th Iain Taylor, 1.16.27
39th Sid James, 1.16.40
52nd John Fulham, 1.21.13
62nd Pauline Walker, 1.23.15 (1st F45 and 6th lady)
71st Campbell Reid, 1.25.59
74th Gail Murdoch, 1.26.16
75th Iain Thomson, 1.26.27
79th Gail Murdoch, 1.26.16 (10th lady)
89th Helena Sim, 1.31.05 (15th lady)
109th Morna Fleming, 1.37.37 (28th lady)
113th Fiona Rennie, 1.39.20 (31st lady)
115th Sue Walker, 1.40.22 (33rd lady)
127th Lesley Halstead, 1.49.29 (40th lady)

Friday 1st August - Friday Evening Race Series, 1 Mile Road Race, Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline

Central AC’s Lewis Millar on form at the Friday Evening Race Series one miler in Dunfermline
The final race in the 2008 Friday Evening Race Series saw Lewis Millar speed to victory around the undulating one mile course in Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline in 4.45. Carnegie’s Calum Mcgaw clocked 5.14 placing 2nd overall and 1st junior with David Pugh (Unatt) finishing 3rd in 5.15.  Robert Hutchison (Central AC) won the M40 award (4th overall) covering the tough course in 5.18. Fergus McGaw (Carnegie Harriers)put in a strong effort to place 2nd junior in 6.09 while the host club’s Gordon Somerville finished leading M50 in 6.28.  Bernt Cederstrom clocked 5.45 in 5th position,  Colin Reid was 7th in 5.48 and Paul Arnott finished 11th in 6.32.Congratulations to Carnegie’s Susan Cederstrom who won the ladies race in 6.36. Phil Smithard was the leading M60, placing 15th in 7.02.

Saturday 2nd August – Tour of Fife Up Hill Time Trial, near Glenrothes

Harriers survive the arduous challenge of the Up Hill Time Trial
Day 4 of the Run 4 It Tour of Fife involved the shortest but definetly one of the toughest stages of the 5 race series. The Up Hill Time Trial saw the runners set off in a race against the clock up a 2.25km road climb of 754 feet finishing at the radio mast at East Lomond.  Carnegie’s David Simpson showed no fatigue from his first three stages as he powered his way up the smooth tarmac road in 10.00 which was the fastest of the day and is the 2nd quickest time ever recorded on the course. David now holds an advantage of 1 minute and 39 seconds going into Sunday’s final stage at Strathmiglo.  Steven King was again very strong on the hills placing 12th overall from the 141 finishers in 11.39. Roger Clark clocked 11.41 in 16th position and now holds an eight second advantage over Stevie Ogg (17th in 11.43) going into the final day. Peter Humphreys placed 25th in 12.15 and Ian Johnston had a solid run finishing 34th in 12.35 retaining his position as 3rd M50 in the series.  Pauline Walker also had a very strong run to finish 6th lady in 13.47 maintaining her lead in the F45 category. Campbell Reid taking part in his first uphill time trial covered the gruelling climb in 14.36 (69th) while Iain Thomson placed 77th in 15.08. Fiona Rennie’s endurance showed as she placed 101st in 16.49 and Sue Walker finished 112th in 17.36. Nineteen Carnegie runners completed the time trial and despite tiring leg’s they will all be in Strathmiglo on Sunday afternoon for the final stage. Overall Carnegie Positions after Stage 4;

1st David Simpson, 1.12.31
8th Roger Clark, 1.21.36
9th Stevie Ogg, 1.21.44 (2nd M40)
12th Steven King, 1.22.11
19th Peter Humphreys, 1.23.08 (5th M40)
31st Ian Johnston, 1.26.28 (3rd M50)
40th Iain Taylor, 1.29.50
41st Sid James, 1.30.25
53rd John Fulham, 1.35.30
61st Pauline Walker, 1.37.02 (1st F45 and 6th lady)
69th Campbell Reid, 1.40.35
73rd Iain Thomson, 1.41.35
74th Gail Murdoch, 1.41.44 (10th lady)
88th Helena Sim, 1.47.33 (15th lady)
103rd Morna Fleming, 1.55.31 (26th lady)
105th Fiona Rennie, 1.56.09 (27th lady)
109th Sue Walker, 1.57.58 (31st lady)
122nd Lesley Halstead, 2.10.00 (39th lady)

Sunday 3rd August – Tour of Fife Forest Frenzy Multi-Terrain Race, Strathmiglo

Eighteen Harriers complete the Tour of Fife
Running on weary legs eighteen members of Carnegie Harriers completed the 2008 Run 4 It Tour of Fife on Sunday afternoon at the final 4.8 mile Forest Frenzy Multi-Terrain Race from Strathmiglo.  David Simpson broke clear after three miles on the second long climb of the tough forest course reaching the finish in 26.58 with Fife AC’s Graham Bee twelve seconds adrift in 27.10. Chris Russell (Fife AC) placed 3rd in 27.42.  Roger Clark saved his best effort to the final stage finishing 8th in 29.52 chased hard by Stevie Ogg who was 9th (3rd M40) in 30.00.  Pauline Walker concluded her Tour of Fife campaign with a solid run placing 8th lady in 36.35.The complete set of results from Stage 5 can be found HERE.

The Tour of Fife photo set courtesy of David Smith (Fife AC) can be found HERE.

Tour of Fife – Overall Results.

Five star performance wins Tour of Fife title for Simpson
Congratulations to club member David Simpson who put in a five star performance to win this year’s Run 4 It Tour of Fife title in style placing first in all five stages in the five day race series.  The event began last Wednesday with 155 athletes taking part in a 5K road race in Luthrie and David took an early lead in the competition covering the undulating course in 15.28. The following evening the ‘Tour’ hit the trails of Maspie Glen near Falkland where a gruelling four miler was on the menu. This stage saw David finish 40 seconds clear of his nearest rival in 24.33 which gave him a 69 second advantage overall going into the 4.2 mile West Sands beach race in St Andrews on the Friday evening. David continued his winning ways on Stage 3 covering the ‘Chariots of Fire’ beach race in 22.30 before clocking an incredible 10.00 on Stage 4’s 2.25km and 754 feet uphill time trial on Saturday afternoon. The final stage on Sunday afternoon saw the tiring field of runners tackle a 4.8 mile multi-terrain forest race from Strathmiglo. David was once again to the fore covering the rugged terrain in 26.58 to claim the overall 2008 Run 4 It Tour of Fife title in 1.39.29. Well done David.Fife AC’s Graham Bee finished runner-up in 1.41.20 with clubmate and 2005 race winner Chris Russell placing 3rd in 1.44.31. The ladies race was won by Fife AC’s Helen Sharpe in 1.57.01.

There were excellent performances by the rest of the Carnegie contingent that made up the field of 130 Tour of Fife finishers. Roger Clark who has enjoyed an intense duel with Stevie Ogg throughout the series finished an excellent 8th overall in 1.51.28 with Stevie placing 9th and 2nd M40 in 1.51.44. Steven King who was incredibly strong in all the hill stages finished a highly creditable 12th in 1.52.31 and Peter Humphreys ensured that there were 5 Harriers in the top twenty finishers by placing 20th in 1.54.30. Ever consistent Ian Johnston finished 32nd (3rd M50) in 1.59.01 and Iain Taylor completed the Tour in 38th position in 2.03.16. Sid James performed well finishing 39th in 2.03.34 and John Fulham completed his first 5 day race series placing 50th in 2.10.16.

Ultra running expert Pauline Walker had an excellent ‘Tour’ finishing 6th lady overall and second F35 in 2.13.37. Pauline will now be focusing her attention on the Perth 24 hour race in September.

Campbell Reid battled hard throughout to finish 68th in 2.18.03 while Iain Thomson covered the 16.3 miles of varying terrain in 2.18.42 in 70th position. Well done to Gail Murdoch who placed 10th lady in 2.19.24 and to Helena Sim who placed 16th lady in 2.27.47. Fiona Rennie clocked 2.37.39 finishing ahead of clubmate Morna Fleming who timed at 2.38.27. Sue Walker finished in 2.42.20 and Lesley Halstead completed her first ‘Tour’ in 2.57.51.

A very well done to all eighteen Harriers who completed the 2008 Tour of Fife and to Fife AC on organising such a superb event.

The overall set of results courtesy of Brian Cruickshank (Fife AC) can be viewed HERE.