NEW COURSE RECORD IN LASSWADE AC’s MIDLOTHIAN 10 MILE RACE
A strong class field and ideal running conditions led to a new course record being established in the 26th running of the Lasswade AC “Midlothian 10” mile road race which was contested on Sunday. The course started at the west end of Rosewell and undulated through Roslin Glen to Roslin, Auchendinny, Firth Mains, Rosslynlea and home via Whitehill Golf Course to Ferguson Park, the home of Whitehill Welfare FC.
At exactly 12:00 noon starter Kenny Marshall set the 340 athletes on their way and with the sunny weather bringing out many interested locals there was plenty of support as the mass of athletes made their way to Gourlaw cross roads where, thanks to excellent support from Lothian and Borders Police, they were successfully swung right towards Rosslynlea and through the Glen.
Already as the leaders completed the steep climb to Roslin and headed via the landfill site to the Auchendinny road it was obvious that a fast race was on the cards with a large leading group of 15 athletes showing runners from Central AC, Cambuslang and LothianRC prominent amongst them.
Down into Auchendinny and as the large group of race marshals were settling into their duties, suddenly the leaders were on them and even the lead vehicle was being pressurised. However the long tough climb over the next mile to Auchendinny Mains thinned out the race significantly to a lead group of 8 runners and as the west breeze hit their backs this group strode out back to Rosewell, via Rosslynlea, at an even faster pace.
As they left the water station at 6 miles Ross Houston of Central made a fast break but was only just ahead of Robert Gilroy (Cambuslang) and Al Anthony (Central). This was the order as they passed the second water station at Rosedale and as the swung into Thornton Road the leader made a surge to open up a large lead on his pursuers – a lead he increased in the final mile to finish in a record time (for this course) of 51 minutes 30 seconds with Gilroy 2nd in 53min 43 secs and Anthony 3rd in 54min 07secs.
Winner of the Women’s race was the consistently highly placed Kate Jenkins of Hunters Bog Trotters in 63min 26secs from Rhona Anderson (Dunbar) 66min 10secs and Melanie Henderson (Portobello RC) in 66min 56secs.
Winners of the GEORGE HAY THISTLE and ROSE for 1st Veterans were Stuart Campbell (Arbroath) 6th overall and Kate Jenkins (Hunters Bog Trotters) 35th overall while 1st Midlothian Woman, winning the Midlothian Council Trophy was Mandy Whittaker (172nd) and the 1st Midlothian Man, winning the GARY CLARKE TROPHY was Ross Milne (4th). The winning Men’s team was Moorfoot Runners while the Women’s team race was a victory for Portobello Running Club.
Prizes and trophies were presented by LASSWADE AC chairman Brian Wilson, himself a participant in the race, and a large crowd of runners and helpers were present at Ferguson Park to admire medals and congratulate prize winners and each athlete on finishing a tough race. Full results are available in the Lasswade 10 Results section
