The Hares and Hounds, Glasgow’s long distance running club, recently held their annual five mile road race, attracting a significant interest from many local running clubs.
Sponsored by Deloitte, the event saw competitors embark from Glasgow’s Garscube Complex before running or jogging the picturesque route and finishing up back at the sports complex.
Matthew Gillespie, who finished first for Glasgow and sixth overall, found the task rather daunting:
“It was quite a difficult race and course and a big task. I was pushing it all the way, normally in a five mile race you find the first half quite easy and then it keeps going on and on, but it was definitely a challenge.”
The number of participants in the annual competition saw an increase from last year’s race, with a fantastic 247 runners taking part.
Rachel Swirthwaite, event organiser and Hares and Hounds women’s captain told Guardian after the race: “We were very pleased with how the race went and all members of the Glasgow team ran well. She added:
“I think things ran pretty smoothly. Everyone in the club did a great job helping out to make sure everything went well on the day and I don’t think we could have asked for a better turnout”
Christopher MacKay competing for local club Inverclyde Athletics Club finished first overall after an impressive run of a time of 24 minutes 24 seconds, almost a minute faster than the next best runner, Paul Sorrie of The Shettleston Harriers.
The fastest female competitor in the race, Fiona Matheson, of Falkirk Victoria Harriers, finished with an encouraging time of 28 minutes 56 seconds.
Swirthwaite was also keen to praise Glasgow University’s representatives in the hotly contested race:
“Collette Fagan stood out for me as having a great run, coming third and winning the Sheila Fairweather trophy for the first female student for Glasgow University.”
The Hares and Hounds have also shown their international credibility as a club, with Stephen Gidea recently taking part in the New York Marathon, completing the race in three hours and eight minutes.
