Scotland international Andrew Douglas (Inverclyde AC) defeated a field of 294 runners in Caithness yesterday to win the Castle of Mey 10km in a course record time.
The Edinburgh-based runner, who comes from Halkirk, recorded 31min 3sec to knock exactly 3min off the old standard set last year by Gordon Lennox.
Douglas finished well clear of the 2009 winner Matthew Sutherland (Edinburgh University), who was timed at 34:34, while Kevin Cormack (North Highland Harriers) picked up the over-40 age group award when finishing third overall in 35:58.
Douglas was delighted with the result and said: “I felt quite comfortable. It was a good day for running despite being a bit breezy. I opened a little gap on Matthew Sutherland and by halfway I had a lead of 200m and I continued to pull away from there.”
Women’s title holder Emma Dunnett decided not to run but her sister, Oonagh, kept the top prize in the family by leading the way home in 42:33. Oonagh’s time was slower than her course record 41:08 set two years ago but she was more than satisfied with the outcome.
She said: “I’m really pleased as it’s my first race for a long time and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.”
Rhiannon Kirk (Caithness AAC), 15, was runner-up in 43:03, while Jane Klinas (North Highland Harriers) finished third in 44:20. Lorna Stanger (North Highland Harriers) was first veteran in 44:38.
Graham Bee clinched the Northern Scot 10km men’s title with a clear victory in the third and final race of the series at Forres.
The Inverness Harrier, who also won the opening two fixtures at Nairn and Elgin, completed the Benromach course in 32min 30sec to finish 27sec ahead of defending champion Gordon Lennox (Forres Harriers).
Dean Cunningham (Inverness Harriers) was third in 33:00 and that was good enough to give him second position overall.
Paul Miller (Inverness Harriers) recorded 34:49 to pip Alan Reid (Peterhead) by 5sec to win the over-40 age group prize when finishing sixth overall.
Jenny Bannerman (Inverness Harriers) retained the women’s series title when leading the way home in 38:08, while her clubmates Catriona Fraser and Roma Shepherd were second and third in 40:59 and 42:06. Hilary Cameron (Forres Harriers) was first over-40, fourth woman overall, in 42:16.