Event Sponsors: |
29th April 2007 Sponsered Half/Quarter Marathon |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
This was the second time that this event had been run and the organisers had taken on board many of the comments received after the first event was held in June 2006. The event was held earlier this year because of the 2007 Island Games in Rhodes. The organisers were therefore praying for good weather at an unpredictable time of year. However, feedback from the runners was that the chill but dry conditions had been near perfect for running. The organisers were just happy that they did not get soaked when setting up and taking down as happened last year. The day started with Ross Donaldson and Graham Christie going out from 7am setting up the course. Another team started putting up the tent and setting out the start and finish points at 8am. Helen Long was on hand at the start to help with registrations and collecting money. She also dealt with timing the competitors assisted by Stephanie Long who acted as first aid backup, although not actually required. Alma Balfour also provided first aid cover from the safety car but also was not required. The guest starter this year was Edgar Balfour, Managing Director of Orkney Meat Limited. He lives on the course and his brother Fraser ran in last year’s event. His sister in law, Alma Balfour has helped at both events and so it seemed appropriate to involve another Balfour. Several of the half marathon runners from last year had opted for the quarter distance this time. In spite of this, numbers in the half marathon were up slightly and this included a number of new faces. The number participating in the shorter distance was down and this may have been because the “fun runners” and “sponsored walkers” thought the conditions a bit cool at this time of year. Last year there were a significant number of walkers from the golf and volleyball teams but they were noticeable by their absence. The chairman, Ross Donaldson once again took his dog on a 6.5 mile walk. However, as no-one else was walking he was seen running, although there is no photographic evidence of this. Two Finstown businessmen presented the shields. These were awarded as follows:
Last year, Shawn Tait won the quarter marathon in a sprint finish with Craig Shearer. This year, Shawn moved up to the half marathon and again was involved in a sprint finish but this time with last year’s winner, Graham Harcus. Shawn took first place in 2007 by just a few metres. The times were slower this year and there was some concern in case they had got lost and were heading for Birsay. However, all was well and all runners were accounted for safely. The first woman home in the half marathon was Kirsty Murray. This is her second win in this event and so, next year, she will need to make it a hat trick, if she can. The quarter marathon was won comfortably by Mike Cumming who was a long way clear of the rest of the field. Lorna Leslie was the first woman home in the quarter marathon. Others who contributed to the success of the day were: The Rendall Hall (tables), Frozen Food Centre (cups and bags), Scottish Water (water), Alfred Flett Ltd (transport and barriers), Gornsport (prizes - £25 vouchers for the men’s and women’s winners in the half marathons) BuyOrkney (T-shirts as prizes) The race marshals who stood out in the weather for up to 2 hours to man the feeding stations around the course. They were dry but probably not very warm. The next such event will be the 100 mile sponsored cycle in August and planning is already well advanced, although OIGA will also be at The County Show. Fundraising is firmly on the agenda of The Orkney Island Games Association these days. This year’s winners were as follows:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||