Robbie Simpson’s outstanding road-racing form continued in the Dandara 10km at Inverurie yesterday when the Deeside athlete sprinted home ahead of a field of 801 runners in a course record time of 31min 29sec.
The Great Britain mountain running international scored his third win in four years at the RunGarioch meeting by finishing 15 seconds ahead of title holder and two-time previous winner Ben Hukins.
Simpson has now set three course records in four road races since the start of the year and his time yesterday was 47 seconds quicker than the mark he set at Inverurie in 2011.
He said: “I set off quite fast to try to get a bit of a lead on Ben before we turned into the wind.
“I managed to open a gap and I knew he would find it quite hard to close that when we turned into the wind, but it was really hard work at times.
“I’m pleased with the time, especially in these conditions, because I’ve also had quite a hard week of training, putting in about 100 miles.”
Aberdeen-based Hukins, who won the Alloa half marathon the previous weekend, was also inside the old record in finishing runner-up in 32:48.
He said: “It was tough. Robbie opened a gap but after a while it never increased. I couldn’t do anything about it because it was so hard trying to make up any distance into the wind.
“I’m pleased with the time in these conditions, especially as I was inside the previous record as well.”
There was a huge gap before the next runner appeared as some of the chasing pack went off course with less than a kilometre remaining.
Phil Edgely (Fleet Feet Triathletes) was next over the line in 38:43 followed by Kenny O’Neill (Ron Hill Cambuslang Harriers) 13 seconds later.
Rob Taylor (Metro Aberdeen) was first in the over-50 age group when finishing seventh overall in 39:50 – one second ahead of Allan Wilson, who won the over-40s award.
Aberdeen’s Carolyn McLeod was a reluctant winner of the women’s prize.
The veteran orienteering international, who last won the title in 2009, was first across the line in 40:21 but admits it came as a surprise to discover she had taken top spot. Course record holder Nicola Gauld (Aberdeen AAC) held a massive lead at the 9km point but then, along with a number of other runners, took a wrong turning at a roundabout.
McLeod said: “I feel a bit guilty about being made the winner.”
Gauld eventually found her way back on to the course and did well to make up some lost ground but had to settle for second position in 40:32 despite having run more than an extra kilometre.
Fiona Rudkin (Metro Aberdeen) suffered the same fate as Gauld but she, too, managed to get back on track and finished third in 42:46.
Ann Gallon (Stonehaven) picked up the over-40s award when finishing fourth woman home in 44:21.