Half marathon entries up this year

Sep 25 2009 by Susan Bryden, Dumfries Standard Friday

THIS SUNDAY sees the 28th running of the Dumfries Half Marathon, the oldest race of its type in Scotland still organised by the same club, Dumfries RC.

The 13.1 mile race kicks off at 11am in the Crichton with runners piped off on the Bankend road with an easy downhill section towards the war memorial there.

The middle third involves a climb towards the Dovecotewell animal rescue centre. The final part heads back through Glencaple and Kingholm to Dumfries via the towpath. This year the finish has moved out of the Dock Park and will be on the towpath to allow runners to be closer to the showers and changing at the Macleod Pavilion.

Entries are up on last year and a field of 220 or so is expected. The 2008 champion Paul Carroll of Clydesdale Harriers will be wearing number one and David Tamburrini of Bellahouston number two. Brian Kirkwood, number 30, a double past winner in the 1990s makes a welcome return and it will be very interesting at the sharp end of the field to see who prevails.

Others expected to perform well include David Harrison, number 87, of Penrith and Andrew Mackinnon, wearing 28, of West Yorkshire.

Those out to claim the prize for first local include Joe Boardman of ADAC, Kevin McCaig of Dumfries Harriers as well as Alan Baxter, Kevin Conchar and Sandy Shankland of the host club. Further down the field it will be interesting to see who wins in the battle of the local Head teachers as Barry Graham, 130, from Wallace Hall Academy takes on Chris Barbour, 137, from Dumfries High School.

Expert rower Alistair Sarahs, 150, switches sports to see if he is as fast on land as he is on water. The Queen family of Georgetown will be well represented with dad Danny 118 and his wife Beatrice119,joined by son Ross 123 and two other family members.

Late entries will be available on Sunday morning in front of the Easterbrook Hall at the cost of £16 as usual and this often adds a substantial numbers to the field. With 40 Dumfries Running Club members marshalling and officiating their numbers will be swelled by SVS pupils from Dumfries Academy completing a community event. Thanks are also due to all sponsors

With the weather forecast to be favourable on Sunday it is hopeful that the race will live up to the high standards of previous years. Further details and training advice can be found on www.dumfriesrunningclub.org.uk