Aberdeen’s 10k The History of the City’s Biggest Road Race By Fraser Clyne
Foreword The City of Aberdeen 10K has grown extensively over the years to become highly regarded in the running world and one of Aberdeen’s largest events. In 2010, over 3000 runners took part - more than double the 1,500 figure from the very first race in 1987. This year has attracted a record number of entrants, a great achievement for the 25th anniversary and testament to many years of successful organisation. It is also extremely positive to see that these numbers are higher than ever during times when the nation is being encouraged to make healthy changes to their lifestyles. On behalf of the City of Aberdeen, I would like to extend thanks to all of the organising teams, sponsors and charities that have been involved in the race over the years. I would like to particularly thank the main sponsor of the event, Baker Hughes, for their continued support of the event over the past 17 years. This has been paramount to the success and ongoing development of the race, during the many years in which the race was managed by Aberdeen City Council through to this year’s race, managed by Sport Aberdeen. The most crucial factor in every year, past, present and future however, are the runners taking part every year. Our City has a huge appreciation for the thousands of people who have helped to make this event the landmark it has become since Fraser Clyne, the author of this book, became the first person to cross the finishing line back in 1987. Fraser has very kindly drawn on his vast experiences of this 10K, both as a highly-ranking participant as well as a spectator, to produce this special book celebrating the 25th anniversary of the 10K race. I hope that you find this history of the race enjoyable and interesting to read, whether you have been involved in each of the twenty-five races or if this year may be your very first. Aberdeen looks forward to welcoming runners to the City to continue competing in the 10K race for many years to come.
Lord Provost Peter Stephen
Contents 1 Introduction
19 24 Years of the 10K
2 Aberdeen’s 10Km -
20 1987
21 1988
Evolution of a Popular Race
3 Roll of Honour
22 1989
5 Quality of Performances
23 1990
6 Winning Margins
24 1991
7 Masters of the 10K
25 1992
8 Team Winners
26 1993
9 Wheelchair Race
27 1994
10 Number of Runners
28 1995
10 Start Time Controversy
29 1996
10 Supporting Events
30 1997
11 Organisers
31 1998
11 Prizes
32 1999
11 Sponsors
33 2000
12 Technology
34 2001
12 Entry Fees
35 2002
12 The Course
36 2003
13 Origins
37 2004
38 2005 39 2006 40 2007 41 2008 42 2009 43 2010
About the Author During the 1980’s and early 1990’s Fraser Clyne was one of Britain’s leading marathon runners. His quickest time of 2hr 11min 50sec was set when finishing second in the US championships at Sacramento in 1984. He is the fourth fastest Scot of all-time and is the fastest marathon runner born north of the Central Belt. He represented Great Britain at the World Marathon Cups in Hiroshima (1985), Seoul (1987) and Milan (1989). His highest finishing position was 47th at Seoul where he ran 2hr 17min 43sec. Fraser represented Scotland at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, finishing 10th. He also won the Oakland marathon in California in 1983 and 1984. He was runner-up at Melbourne (1985) and Casablanca (1988) and was fourth at Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St Paul) in 1988, fifth at San Francisco (1987) and sixth at Berlin (1984). His favourite race was
the California International Marathon in which he competed seven times between 1984 and 1991, twice finishing second and never being lower than seventh. In total he ran 22 marathons in under 2hr 20min. He ran in the Scottish marathon championships for the first time at Elgin in 1992 when, at the age of 37, he won. He went on to win a total of five Scottish marathon titles in five appearances in the race, the last of which was in 1997 at the age of 42. He was also Scottish road running grand prix champion on three occasions. He competed in the world cross country championships five times and once in the world mountain running trophy. He has represented Scotland and/or Great Britain on the track, road, cross country and mountain running and competed internationally over 3,000m steeplechase, 5,000m, 10,000m, half marathon, marathon and 100Km.
Fraser Clyne recording 2hr 11min 50sec at the California International Marathon, Sacramento, 1984.
Introduction As recently as the late 1970’s running was very much a minority sport. Only a small number of hardy men, and an even smaller number of women, would ever be seen out pounding the streets. Road races were a rarity, especially in Aberdeen, and those that were held generally attracted a limited number of dedicated enthusiasts. Today, things are very different. Every day you’ll see runners out on the streets, in the parks and on the trails. Races of all sorts of distances have popped up all over the country and there’s rarely a weekend without an event being held somewhere. This year’s City of Aberdeen Baker Hughes 10Km is expected to attract some 4,000 participants, a figure which would have seemed unimaginable little over 30 years ago. It’s absolutely brilliant and in the months leading up to the race you’ll see huge numbers of people out training for the event. When I won the first City of Aberdeen 10Km road race I could never have imagined that, almost quarter of a century later, I would be asked to write the history of the event. Two of my favourite activities are running and writing, so this project has happily allowed me to combine both. The inaugural Aberdeen 10Km, on Sunday 27th May 1987, came just six weeks after I represented Great Britain in the World Cup marathon at Seoul in South Korea. I enjoyed a few weeks of recovery and easy running after the long trip to the Far East, but by the beginning of May I had started preparing for the San Francisco
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marathon which was to take place seven weeks after the Aberdeen run. I was keen to support my local race but didn’t want to interrupt my preparations for San Francisco, so I decided to use the 10Km as a hard training run. My running diary shows that I covered over 100 miles in the seven days before the Aberdeen event. I decided beforehand that I would try to win, but, if possible, without having to race flat out. Bruce Chinnick, an RAF man and Welsh international who competed for Forres Harriers, made sure, however, that I would have to work a little harder than I had hoped. He tracked me all the way, but with 250m to go I sprinted clear to win by four seconds in a time of 30min 23secs. Although I enjoyed competing in 10Km road races I never treated them as seriously as my marathons. I often used them as part of my marathon preparations, as was the case in 1987. Marathon running was my forte, the only distance at which I could be seriously competitive at international level, so that’s where most of my energy was focussed. Ironically, some of my quickest 10Kms came during marathons and half marathons races. In the California International Marathon at Sacramento in 1985, I and my Aberdeen AAC clubmate Graham Laing, passed through the opening 10Km in a suicidal 29min 37sec which was well inside marathon world record pace at that time. We both paid for that early exuberance,
Graham more so than me! I also ran the first 10Km of the 1984 Oslo half marathon in 29min 23sec en route to a finishing time of 63min 54sec. My quickest 10Km race, however, actually ended up counting for nothing. In August 1984 I won the wonderfully named Scottish Dairy Farm Products 10Km at Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park, finishing more than two minutes ahead of my nearest challenger in 27min 25sec. That time may sound pretty nippy, and I was absolutely flying that day, but you won’t find trace of it in any record books. I knew as soon as I crossed the line that the course was short. That was incredibly frustrating, but there was nothing I could do about it. I was subsequently told that the route was 410m shy of the full distance, which, given the pace I was running at, equates to less than 75sec. That would still have given me a time of 28:40 which would have been a personal best. I knew I was running well at that time as a few months later I ran my fastest marathon of 2hr 11min 50sec.
Aberdeen’s 10Km Evolution of a Popular Race No official records have been kept about Aberdeen’s 10Km so I have tried to pull together as much statistical and anecdotal information as possible, much of it from the chaotic collection of newspaper cuttings and old magazines which clutter up various corners of my house and garage. Also, the notes I have taken over many years of reporting on the race for the Press & Journal and Evening Express, have proved to be a useful source of details. There remain, however, significant gaps. For instance, no formal arrangements were made to record results in the inaugural race in 1987. This was because it was held along with the Aberdeen Milk Marathon which was still, at that time, considered to be the premier running event in the city despite declining numbers of participants. The 10Km was added as a trial to gauge interest in running over a shorter distance. It proved to be an instant success. Fortunately Aberdeen AAC club officials noted times for the first 100 finishers, but the remaining estimated 1,500 participants were given no official time. A digital clock was in place at the finishing line so that runners could at least note their own times as they completed the course. There were only two women in the top 100 that day, so I don’t know which others featured prominently. Results are similarly patchy for the 1989 race for which
I only have a note of the first woman, Lynda Bain, and no others.
entry forms from the first one in 1987 right through to the last one.”
Information on the various age group winners is also incomplete, as is that for the wheelchair races. It was only with the demise of the marathon in 1991, that the 10Km took over top billing and enjoyed an enhanced status.
This proved to be a goldmine of information, much of which I have been able to make good use of in writing up this story. Gordon completed the 1987 race in 51min 26sec and I was amazed when he pointed out that he clocked exactly the same time 21 years later. His fastest time of 43:26, however, was set in 1990. His training partner Colin Campbell has done almost as well, having missed just one of the 24 so far. Then there are people like Rosehearty’s Charlie Noble, a member of Fraserburgh Running Club. Charlie competed in every Aberdeen marathon from 1979 to 1990 and since the marathon was disbanded he has done every 10Km. In 2005 he was first in the over-50 age group, recording 35min 41sec in 17th position overall, just 24 hours after he competed in the Longside 10Km where he was third in 36min 29sec. The highlights of Charlie’s long running career, however, came when competing over a far longer distance. He won the Scottish 100Km title in 2001 and represented his country over that distance in the Anglo-Celtic Plate.  George Cruickshank, now 77, took up running in the mid 1970’s and he has competed in most of the 10Km’s. He said: “I did the Aberdeen marathon in
I have thoroughly enjoyed researching and poring over the results of the past 24 years, identifying interesting facts, figures, trends and statistics, all of which contribute to the heritage of the event. It has been an intriguing race which has captured the imagination of many runners who keep coming back year after year. One of these hardy characters is Aberdeen’s Gordon McCulloch who has competed in all 24 races so far - and he hopes to keep that streak going for as long as possible. When Gordon heard I was putting this publication together he got in touch, not just to remind me that he had run in every previous race, but to say that he had kept “all sorts of weird stuff.” It turns out that Gordon is a meticulous recorder and cataloguer. He said: “I keep the entry forms and any other snippets as well as the number from each race I do. I also keep a record card with dates, times, distances, entry fees etc and any other comments I have at the time. I therefore have details of all 24 of my previous Aberdeen 10Km’s and the
1980 but since the marathon finished I’ve done most of the 10Km’s. My best time is around 39 mins although I’m not sure which year I did that.” George used to cover 90 miles a week in training but says he’s now doing “only” about 50 a week. He has enjoyed many exciting battles with another Aberdonian, Doug Munro, who competed in the same age group for many years. The 10Km has also attracted some of the country’s best runners and boasts two world champions on the list of those to have won the race. Simon Pride, the 1999 world 100Km ultradistance champion, won four times between 2000 and 2004, while Kenya’s Benson Masya, the 1992 world half marathon champion, won in 1999. Pride’s record of four victories is the most achieved in the men’s race. Debbie Kilner, nee Porter, (1991-1996) and Lyn Wilson (2006-2010) share the honour of having most wins - four in the women’s race. Wilson also holds the women’s record of 35min 07sec set in 2010 while Chris Hall, who now lives in Australia, holds the men’s record of 29min 57sec, set in 1992. Chris is, in fact, the only runner to have cracked the 30 minute barrier. Darren Shinnie is the youngest winner of the race, being just 19
when he took the top prize in 2006. Unfortunately Darren hasn’t since regained that form and, so far at any rate, hasn’t challenged for the title again. Frankie Barton is the oldest man to win the race. He was 47 when scoring his first win in 2003 and 49 when he won again in 2005. The Keith and District AC runner has a remarkable record of consistency in the race. In 16 appearances since 1993 he has won twice, finished runner-up twice, taken third position on a further five occasions, and has seven other top ten positions to his credit. During this period the only time he has failed to make the top ten was in 1994 when he finished 16th. His fastest time in Aberdeen is 31min 18sec set when finishing second in 1997. Another regular high level performer is Perthshire’s Mike Carroll who won in 1997 and again in 2007 and 2008. That’s the widest time span between victories and shows how consistent Mike has been over such a long period. Lynda Bain also showed consistency over a long period, winning the women’s race in 1989, when representing Aberdeen AAC, and again in 1997 in the colours of Garioch Road Runners, which is the widest span of victories.
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Roll of Honour Men
1987
Race 1 1 2 3 Race 2 1 2 3 Race 3 1 2 3 Race 4 1 2 3 Race 5 1 2 3 Race 6 1 2 3 Race 7 1 2 3 Race 8 1 2 3 Race 9 1 2 3 Race 10 1 2 3 Race 11 1 2 3
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
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Women
Fraser Clyne Bruce Chinnick Chris Hall
Aberdeen AAC 30:23:00 Forres Harriers 30:27:00 Dundee Hawkhill Harriers 30:42:00
Ginny Pollard Lynn Findlay
Dave Duguid Mike Murray Graham Laing
Aberdeen AAC Aberdeen AAC Aberdeen AAC
31:22:00 31:27:00 31:31:00
Simon Axon Jim Farquhar Mike Murray Simon Axon David Duguid Ian Williamson
Aberdeen AAC Aberdeen AAC Aberdeen AAC
32:10:00 32:16:00 32:17:00
Marie Duthie Fraserburgh Running Club 37:31:00 Uli Simpson Aberdeen AAC 38:26:00 Susan Lamb Aberdeen AAC 38:34:00 Lynda Bain Aberdeen AAC 35:48:00
Aberdeen AAC Aberdeen AAC Aberdeen AAC
31:32:00 32:28:00 32:35:00
Chris Hall Fraser Clyne Simon Axon
Dundee Hawkhill Harriers 30:33:00 Metro Aberdeen 31:20:00 Hunters Bog Trotters 32:11:00
Chris Hall Alan Reid Simon Axon
Dundee Hawkhill Harriers 29:57:00 Peterhead AAC 30:38:00 Hunters Bog Trotters 31:19:00
Fraser Clyne, Steven Wright Rob Taylor
Metro Aberdeen Hunters Bog Trotters Metro Aberdeen
30:38:00 31:55:00 31:58:00
Steven Wylie Alan Reid Steven Wright
Cambuslang Harriers Peterhead AAC Hunters Bog Trotters
30:17:00 31:14:00 31:18:00
Alan Reid Charlie Haskett Fraser Clyne
Peterhead AAC 30:46:00 Dundee Hawkhill Harriers 31:59:00 Metro Aberdeen 32:17:00
Alan Reid Ross Arbuckle Frankie Barton
Peterhead AAC Keith and District AC Keith and District AC
Mike Carroll Frankie Barton Fraser Clyne
Dundee Hawkhill Harriers 31:02:00 Keith and District AC 31:18:00 Metro Aberdeen 31:35:00
31:07:00 31:25:00 31:29:00
Fleet Feet Triathletes 36:54:00 Fraserburgh Running Club 38:51:00
Sue Lanham Aberdeen AAC 38:57:00 Jillian Grams Aberdeen AAC 40:10:00 Jacqui Nuttall Aberdeen AAC 40:47:00 Debbie Porter Aberdeen AAC 36:56:00 Janine Robertson Aberdeen AAC 38:55:00 Morag Campbell Aberdeen University 41:36:00 Vikki Vaughan Pitreavie AAC 35:59:00 Sue Lanham Aberdeen AAC 37:29:00 Tracey Brindley Aberdeen AAC 39:57:00 Debbie Kilner Aberdeen AAC 36:28:00 Ginny Pollard Aberdeen AAC 37:09:00 Hazel Gaskell Aberdeen AAC 37:39:00 Debbie Kilner Aberdeen AAC 36:07:00 Elaine Mackay Shettleston Harriers 37:01:00 Sue Addison 37:50:00 Elizabeth Riley Metro Aberdeen 35:38:00 Debbie Kilner Aberdeen AAC 35:55:00 Susan Lamb Aberdeen AAC 38:29:00 Debbie Kilner Aberdeen AAC 36:26:00 Christine Gutteridge Fleet Feet Triathletes 37:55:00 Hazel Gaskell Aberdeen AAC 38:24:00 Lynda Bain Garioch Road Runners 38:02:00 Melanie Forrester 40:05:00 Catherine Mangham Aberdeen AAC 40:30:00
Women
Men
1998
Race 12 1 2 3 Race 13 1 2 3 Race 14 1 2 3 Race 15 1 2 3 Race 16 1 2 3 Race 17 1 2 3 Race 18 1 2 3 Race 19 1 2 3 Race 20 1 2 3 Race 21 1 2 3 Race 22 1 2 3
Kenya 30:39:00 Dundee Hawkhill Harriers 31:38:00 Keith and District AC 31:57:00
Jane Blake Bella Comerford Marie Duthie
Perth Road Runners 38:14:00 Fleet Feet Triathletes 39:50:00 Fraserburgh Running Club 40:09:00
Simon Pride Mike Carroll Nick Milovsorov
Keith and District AC Mizuno Racing Club Metro Aberdeen
30:33:00 31:32:00 32:38:00
Claire Couper Fife AC Ruth McKenzie Deeside Runners Aileen McDiarmid
38:07:00 39:53:00 40:06:00
Simon Pride Matt Bell Frank Barton
Metro Aberdeen Aberdeen University Keith and District AC
31:12:00 31:41:00 31:55:00
Ruth Mackenzie Deeside Runners Mairi McIvor Splash n Dash Fiona Williams
39:14:00 39:31:00 39:53:00
Simon Pride John Brooks Frank Barton
Metro Aberdeen Lochaber AAC Keith and District AC
31:35:00 32:16:00 32:18:00
Ruth Mackenzie Deeside Runners Fiona Williams Aileen McDiarmid
39:06:00 40:07:00 40:49:00
Frankie Barton Keith Farquhar Simon Pride
Keith and District AC Metro Aberdeen Metro Aberdeen
32:41:00 32:44:00 32:57:00
Jane Barker Moray Road Runners Fiona Williams Jenny Robertson
37:11:00 38:19:00 39:18:00
Simon Pride Mike Carroll Graham Bee
Metro Aberdeen 30:59:00 Dundee Hawkhill Harriers 31:36:00 Fife AC 32:15:00
Jane Barker Moray Road Runners Rina Zigjers Ruth Mackenzie Deeside Runners
37:14:00 39:53:00 40:15:00
Frankie Barton Graham Bee David Wright
Keith and District AC Fife AC Hunters Bog Trotters
31:54:00 31:56:00 32:53:00
Jane Barker Jenny Robertson Angela Hepburn
Moray Road Runners Metro Aberdeen Aberdeen AAC
37:39:00 39:45:00 39:50:00
Darren Shinnie Juan Mareque Simon Pride
Aberdeen AAC City of Edinburgh AC Forres Harriers
31:58:00 32:18:00 32:34:00
Lyn Wilson Allison Simpson Jane Barker
Carnethy Hill Runners Kilmarnock Harriers Moray Road Runners
35:17:00 36:23:00 39:13:00
Mike Carroll Simon Pride Juan Mareque
Perth Road Runners Forres Harriers City of Edinburgh AC
31:55:00 32:04:00 32:36:00
Lyn Wilson Arlene Bristow Elaine Whyte
Carnethy Hill Runners 35:53:00 Shetland AAC 38:25:00 Fraserburgh Running Club 39:13:00
Mike Carroll Frankie Barton Barney Phillips
Perth Road Runners Keith and District AC Aberdeen AAC)
32:46:00 33:12:00 33:29:00
Fiona Thompson Elaine Whyte Claire Imray
Aberdeen University Fraserburgh Serpentine
38:09:00 38:56:00 39:33:00
1 2 3
Juan Mareque Ben Hukins Mark Haskett
Edinburgh AC Aberdeen AAC Aberdeen AAC
32:17:00 32:26:00 33:37:00
Lyn Wilson Pamela Tosh Chiin-Hooi Tan
Carnethy Hill Runners Aberdeen AAC Fleet Feet Triathletes
35:11:00 38:42:00 39:31:00
1 2 3
Ben Hukins Juan Mareque Mark Haskett
Aberdeen AAC Edinburgh AC Aberdeen AAC
32:01:00 32:48:00 33:01:00
Lyn Wilson Melissa Whyte Julie Hendry
Carnethy Hill Runners Inverness Harriers Metro Aberdeen
35:07:00 35:22:00 40:06:00
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
2010
Race 24
Benson Masya Mike Carroll Frankie Barton
29:47* 29:52:00 29:53:00
Aberdeen AAC Dundee Hawkhill Harriers Dundee Road Runners
2000
2009
Keith and District AC Keith and District AC Keith and District AC
Tracey Brindley Alison Carr Jane Blake
1999
Race 23
Ross Arbuckle Simon Pride Frankie Barton
33:21:00 34:43:00 37:02:00
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Quality of Performances The first 10Km was billed as a fun run, but it attracted what has turned out to be arguably the strongest field, in depth, in the history of the race so far. If you look at the table below you’ll see that the winning times, sixth place times, 10th place times and 100th place times were all much quicker in 1987 than in 2010. I don’t have full figures for any years other than the ones shown, but it is clear there has been a gradual decline in performances throughout the field with the passage of time. This isn’t unique to Aberdeen by any means. A similar trend will be found in most local races throughout Britain over this period. Year 1987 1993 2004 2010
Winner Fraser Clyne Fraser Clyne Simon Pride Ben Hukins
Winning Time 30:23 30:38 30:59 32:01
6th Time 32:18 32:24 33:09 33:54
10th Time 32:54 33:38 33:53 35:07
100th Time 38:59 39:22 39:57 39:58
Lyn Wilson who has set the three fastest women’s race times.
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There’s further evidence to back this up when we look at the fastest winning times in the men’s race. Of the top 10 winning times, only one has been recorded over the past decade and that was in 2004 by Simon Pride.
A different trend is apparent in the women’s competition, however, in which four of the fastest six winning times have been recorded over the past five years. That has, however, been due to one athlete - Lyn Wilson - who has consistently turned in outstanding performances.
Fastest Winning Times - Men
Fastest Winning Times - Women
1992 1994 1987 1991 2000 1993 1999 1995 2004 1997 1996 2001 1988 1990 2002 2005 2007 2006 2010 1989 2009 2003 2008 1998
Chris Hall (Dundee Hawkhill Harriers) Steven Wylie (Cambuslang Harriers) Fraser Clyne (Aberdeen AAC) Chris Hall (Dundee Hawkhill Harriers) Simon Pride (Keith and District) Fraser Clyne (Metro Aberdeen) Benson Masya (Kenya) Alan Reid (Peterhead AAC) Simon Pride (Metro Aberdeen) Mike Carroll (Dundee Hawkhill Harriers) Alan Reid (Peterhead AAC) Simon Pride (Metro Aberdeen) David Duguid (Aberdeen AAC) Simon Axon (Aberdeen AAC) Simon Pride (Metro Aberdeen) Frankie Barton (Keith and District) Mike Carroll Perth Road Runners) Darren Shinnie (Aberdeen AAC) Ben Hukins (Aberdeen AAC) Simon Axon (Aberdeen AAC) Juan Mareque (Edinburgh AC) Frankie Barton (Keith and District) Mike Carroll (Perth Road Runners) Ross Arbuckle (Keith and District)
29:57:00 30:17:00 30:23:00 30:33:00 30:33:00 30:38:00 30:39:00 30:46:00 30:59:00 31:02:00 31:07:00 31:12:00 31:22:00 31:32:00 31:35:00 31:54:00 31:55:00 31:58:00 32:01:00 32:10:00 32:17:00 32:41:00 32:46:00 Short Course
2010 2009 2006 1995 1989 2007 1992 1994 1996 1993 1987 1991 2003 2004 1988 2005 1997 2000 2008 1999 1990 2002 2001 1998
Lyn Wilson (Carnethy) Lyn Wilson (Carnethy) Lyn Wilson (Carnethy) Elizabeth Riley (Metro Aberdeen) Lynda Bain (Aberdeen AAC) Lyn Wilson (Carnethy) Vikki Vaughan (Pitreavie) Debbie Kilner (Aberdeen AAC) Debbie Kilner (Aberdeen AAC) Debbie Kilner (Aberdeen AAC) Ginny Pollard (Fleet Feet) Debbie Porter (Aberdeen AAC) Jane Barker (Moray Road Runners) Jane Barker (Moray Road Runners) Marie Duthie (Fraserburgh) Jane Barker (Moray Road Runners) Lynda Bain (Garioch) Claire Couper (Fife) Fiona Thompson (Aberdeen University) Jane Blake (Perth Road Runners) Sue Lanham (Aberdeen AAC) Ruth Mackenzie (Deeside Runners) Ruth Mackenzie (Deeside Runners) Tracey Brindley (Aberdeen AAC)
35:07:00 35:11:00 35:17:00 35:38:00 35:48:00 35:53:00 35:59:00 36:07:00 36:26:00 36:28:00 36:54:00 36:56:00 37:11:00 37:14:00 37:31:00 37:39:00 38:02:00 38:07:00 38:09:00 38:14:00 38:57:00 39:06:00 39:14:00 Short Course
Winning Margins There has been a tremendous range in the size of winning margin enjoyed in both the men’s and women’s divisions of the race. The winner of the men’s race has enjoyed the luxury of having more than one minute to spare over his nearest challenger on just two occasions, the biggest so far being my 77secs win in 1993. By contrast, the first woman has reached the finishing line with at least one minute of a leeway, and often much more, on 16 occasions. Lyn Wilson’s 2009 victory left her with an impressive 3min 39sec lead. Close finishes have also been more prevalent in the men’s race, the tightest coming in 2003 (3secs) and 2005 (2secs) and Frankie Barton was involved in both. Lyn Wilson, having enjoyed two of the three biggest wins in the women’s race, was also involved in the closest finish, in 2009, when she came through just 13secs ahead of Inverness veteran Melissa Whyte. Whyte’s time that day, 35min 22sec, is the fastest non-winning time in the history of the race. In fact, her time would have been good enough to have won all but three of the 24 women’s races, and only Wilson has ever run quicker. Bruce Chinnick’s time of 30 mins 27secs, recorded when finishing four seconds behind me in the inaugural race, remains the fastest non-winning time in the men’s event and would have been enough to win all but four races since.
Winning Margins - Women
Winning Margins - Men
Winner Year Winning Margin Winner Year Winning Margin Fraser Clyne (Metro Aberdeen) 1993 1min 17secs Lyn Wilson (Carnethy) 2009 3min 31secs Alan Reid (Peterhead AAC) 1995 1min 13secs Jane Barker (Moray Road Runners) 2004 2min 39secs Simon Pride (Keith and District) 2000 59 secs Lyn Wilson (Carnethy) 2007 2min 32secs Jane Barker (Moray Road Runners) 2005 2min 06secs Benson Masya (Kenya) 1999 59 secs Lynda Bain (Garioch) 1997 2min 03sec Steven Wylie (Cambuslang Harriers) 1994 57 secs Simon Axon (Aberdeen AAC) 1990 56 secs Debbie Porter (Aberdeen AAC) 1993 1min 59secs Chris Hall (Dundee Hawkhill Harriers) 1991 47 secs Ginny Pollard (Fleet Feet) 1987 1min 57secs Ben Hukins (Aberdeen AAC) 2010 47 secs Claire Couper (Fife) 2000 1min 44secs Chris Hall (Dundee Hawkhill Harriers) 1992 41 secs Jane Blake (Perth Road Runners) 1999 1min 36secs Simon Pride (Metro Aberdeen) 2002 41 secs Vikki Vvaughan (Pitreavie) 1992 1min 30secs Simon Pride (Metro Aberdeen) 2004 37 secs Debbie Kilner (Aberdeen AAC) 1996 1min 29secs Tracey Brindley (Aberdeen AAC) 1998 1min 22secs Simon Pride (Metro Aberdeen) 2001 29 secs Sue Lanham (Aberdeen AAC) 1990 1min 13sec Mike Carroll (Perth Road Runners) 2008 26 secs Darren Shinnie (Aberdeen AAC) 2006 20 secs Lyn Wilson (Carnethy) 2006 1min 06secs Alan Reid (Peterhead AAC) 1996 18secs Jane Barker (Moray Road Runners) 2003 1min 08secs Mike Carroll (Dundee Hawkhill Harriers) 1997 16 secs Ruth Mackenzie (Deeside Runners) 2002 1min 01sec Juan Mareque (Edinburgh AC) 2009 9 secs Marie Duthie (Fraserburgh) 1988 55secs Mike Carroll (Perth Road Runners) 2007 9 secs Debbie Kilner (Aberdeen AAC) 1994 54secs Simon Axon (Aberdeen AAC) 1989 6 secs Fiona Thompson (Aberdeen University) 2008 45secs Ross Arbuckle (Keith and District) 1998 5 secs Debbie Kilner (Aberdeen AAC) 1993 41secs David Duguid (Aberdeen AAC) 1988 5 secs Elizabeth Riley (Metro Aberdeen) 1995 17secs Fraser Clyne (Aberdeen AAC) 1987 4 secs Ruth Mackenzie (Deeside Runners) 2001 17secs Frankie Barton (Keith and District) 2003 3 secs Lyn Wilson (Carnethy) 2010 15secs Frankie Barton (Keith and District) 2005 2 secs Lynda Bain (Aberdeen AAC) 1989 Not known
Frankie Barton outsprints Graham Bee in the closest ever finish.
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Masters of the 10Km In this section I have listed the first man over-40 and the first woman over35 to finish each year. Unfortunately, information on other age groups winners, such as the over-50’s, 60’s and 70’s, is very patchy, but I have included some details of these, where available, in the year by year accounts of the race later on in this book. It’s a similar case with the under-20’s. The following tables show that, in the men’s race, the first over-40 year-old has been the outright race winner twice - and that man is Frankie Barton who won in 2003 and 2005. Frankie’s fastest time as an over-40 year-old was, however, in 1997 when he finished second overall. In the women’s race the fastest masters runner has been outright race winner on nine occasions. Lyn Wilson, who set the women’s and masters course record of 35:07 in 2010, has done the double on three occasions, while Jane Barker and Ruth Mackenzie have achieved this feat twice with Jane Blake and Lynda Bain being the others.
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First man Over-40
First Woman Over-35
1987 Roddy MacFarquhar (Aberdeen AAC) 32:45:00 1988 Roddy MacFarquhar (Aberdeen AAC) 33:15:00 1989 Roddy MacFarquhar (Aberdeen AAC) 33:03:00 1990 Mel Edwards (Aberdeen AAC) 34:20:00 1991 Colin Youngson (Aberdeen AAC) 32:21:00 1992 Colin Youngson (Aberdeen AAC) 32:23:00 1993 Denis McAra (Falkirk Victoria Harriers) 32:22:00 1994 Brian Kirkwood (LD Racing Club) 31:20:00 1995 Paul Graham (Aberdeen AAC) 33:55:00 1996 Frankie Barton (Keith and District) 31:29:00 1997 Frankie Barton (Keith and District) 31:18:00 1998 Frankie Barton (Keith and District) 29:53:00* short course 1999 Frankie Barton (Keith and District) 31:57:00 2000 Rob Taylor (Metro Aberdeen) 33:48:00 2001 Frankie Barton (Keith and District) 31:55:00 2002 Frankie Barton (Keith and District) 32:18:00 2003 Frankie Barton (Keith and District) 32:41:00 2004 George Sim (Moray Road Runners) 33:28:00 2005 Frankie Barton (Keith and District) 31:54:00 2006 Mike Stewart (Keith and District) 32:41:00 2007 Frankie Barton (Keith and District) 33:35:00 2008 Frankie Barton (Keith and District) 33:12:00 2009 Frankie Barton (Keith and District) 34:22:00 2010 Frankie Barton (Keith and District) 33:47:00
1987 Not known 1988 Not known 1989 Not known 1990 Jacqui Nuttall (Aberdeen AAC) 1991 Nancy McKinnon (Aberdeen AAC) 1992 Suzanna Bennett (Metro Aberdeen) 1993 Helen Gaskell 1994 Loraine Simpson (Deeside Runners) 1995 Chrissie Gutteridge (Stonehaven) 1996 Chrissie Gutteridge (Splash n Dash) 1997 Lynda Bain (Garioch Road Runners) 1998 Jane Blake (Dundee Road Runners) 1999 Jane Blake (Perth Road Runners) 2000 Carol McLaren (Splash n Dash) 2001 Ruth Mackenzie (Deeside Runners) 2002 Ruth Mackenzie (Deeside Runners) 2003 Mairi McIvor (Splash n Dash) 2004 Jane Barker (Moray) 2005 Jane Barker (Moray) 2006 Jane Barker (Moray) 2007 Lyn Wilson (Carnethy) 2008 Elaine Whyte (Fraserburgh) 2009 Lyn Wilson (Carnethy) 2010 Lyn Wilson (Carnethy)
40:47:00 42:32:00 40:22:00 37:39:00 41:45:00 39:23:00 37:44:00 38:02:00 37:02:00* short course
38:14:00 40:12:00 39:14:00 39:06:00 40:30:00 37:14:00 37:39:00 39:13:00 35:53:00 38:56:00 35:11:00 35:07:00
Team Winners Only four clubs have won the men’s team title since the competition was introduced in 1991. Metro Aberdeen Running Club, which was founded towards the end of 1989, has won nine titles, Aberdeen AAC seven, Keith and District three and Hunters Bog Trotters one. Ben Hukins has the best individual record in the team competition, having appeared in six winning Aberdeen AAC lineups. Simon Pride has been part of four winning teams, three times with Metro Aberdeen and once with Keith and District AC. Metro’s Keith Farquhar has also been in his club’s winning side four times.
Aberdeen AAC has dominated the women’s team competition with 14 wins from a possible 20. Metro Aberdeen Running Club has five successes and the Stonehaven based Splash ‘n Dash club enjoyed one victory. Debbie Kilner has been in five of the winning Aberdeen AAC line-ups while Catriona Forman has been on the winning side four times, three of them with Aberdeen AAC and once with Metro Aberdeen.
Men’s Team Winners 1987 No team competition 1988 No team competition 1989 No team competition 1990 No team competition 1991 Aberdeen AAC: Colin Youngson, Ian Williamson, Mike Murray 1992 Metro Aberdeen: Rob Taylor Keith Varney, Joe Freel 1993 Metro Aberdeen: Fraser Clyne, Rob Taylor, Steve Forbes 1994 Hunters Bog Trotters: Steven Wright, Colin Farquharson, Simon Axon 1995 Metro Aberdeen: Fraser Clyne, Mark Johnson, Keith Varney 1996 Keith and District: Ross Arbuckle, Frankie Barton, Simon Pride 1997 Metro Aberdeen: Fraser Clyne, Nick Milovsorov, Keith Farquhar 1998 Keith and District: Ross Arbuckle, Simon Pride, Frankie Barton 1999 Keith and District: Frankie Barton, Brian Law, Mike Turner 2000 Metro Aberdeen: Nick Milovsorov, Bruce Moroney, Rob Taylor 2001 Metro Aberdeen: Simon Pride, Nick Milovsorov, Keith Farquhar 2002 Metro Aberdeen: Simon Pride, Keith Farquhar, John Matheson 2003 Metro Aberdeen: Simon Pride, Keith Farquhar, John Matheson 2004 Aberdeen AAC: Ben Hukins, Calum Davidson, Malcolm Beattie 2005 Aberdeen AAC: Ben Hukins, Malcolm Beattie, Gary Riddell 2006 Aberdeen AAC: Darren Shinnie, Ben Hukins, David Duguid 2007 Metro Aberdeen: John Matheson, Rob Taylor, Mark Bilton 2008 Aberdeen AAC: Barney Phillips, Bereket Hagos, Ben Hukins 2009 Aberdeen AAC: Ben Hukins, Mark Haskett, Ross Fulton 2010 Aberdeen AAC: Ben Hukins, Mark Haskett, Ross Fulton
Women’s Team Winners 1987 No team competition 1988 No team competition 1989 No team competition 1990 No team competition 1991 Aberdeen AAC: Debbie Porter, Janet Fraser, Nancy McKinnon. 1992 Aberdeen AAC: Sue Lanham, Nancy McKinnon, Jillian Grams 1993 Aberdeen AAC: Debbie Kilner, Ginny Pollard, Sue Lanham 1994 Aberdeen AAC: Debbie Kilner, Susan Lamb, Susan Reid 1995 Aberdeen AAC: Debbie Kilner, Susan Lamb, Hazel Gaskell 1996 Aberdeen AAC: Debbie Kilner, Hazel Gaskell, Uli Simpson 1997 Aberdeen AAC: Catherine Mangham, Uli Simpson, Carol Reid 1998 Aberdeen AAC: Tracey Brindley, Clare Miller, Christine Mouat 1999 Aberdeen AAC: Clare Miller, Christine Mouat, Carol Reid 2000 Aberdeen AAC: Laura Mahady, Christine Mouat, Catriona Forman 2001 Aberdeen AAC: Lynsey Still, Louise Smith, Catriona Forman 2002 Stonehaven Splash n Dash: Mairi McIvor, Linda Sim, Caroline Beck 2003 Aberdeen AAC: Julie Stephen, Catriona Forman, Sally Ross 2004 Metro Aberdeen: Lucy Robinson, Sue Carter, Wendy Cruickshank 2005 Metro Aberdeen: Jenny Robertson, Ingrid Machell, Jenny Cain 2006 Metro Aberdeen: Ingrid Machell, Marion Sutherland, Ali Hughes 2007 Metro Aberdeen: Marion Sutherland, Rowena Dustan, Catriona Forman 2008 Aberdeen AAC: Rhona Buchan, Pamela Tosh, Angela Hepburn 2009 Aberdeen AAC: Pamela Tosh, Natalie Reilly, Fiona Geddes 2010 Metro Aberdeen: Julie Hendry, Louise Beveridge, Vivienne Bruce
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Wheelchair Race
Kenny Herriot
The wheelchair race has been an important component of the 10Km for many years and has attracted some of Britain’s top athletes, the most notable being Kenny Herriot, Karen Darke and Dame Tanni GreyThompson. Aberdeen-based Kenny became disabled in 2000 as a result of a motorcycle accident. Having previously been a fitness fanatic he was determined to remain active and so took to wheelchair racing. Kenny made his first appearance at the Aberdeen 10Km 2001 when, using a hand bike, he finished seventh in 46min 24sec. The following year he won in 28:07 and in 2003 he set the Aberdeen course record of 25:03. He posted two further wins in his local race. Kenny went on to break many Scottish and British records at a variety of distances and competed all over the world representing Scotland and Great
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Britain. Nowadays he spends more time on charity fund raising events and giving motivational talks. When Karen Darke was 21 she fell off a cliff when rock climbing near Aberdeen and as a result she was paralysed from the chest down. That never prevented her from maintaining her love of outdoor pursuits and in recent years she has become well-known for tackling many daring expeditions around the world. She is now in great demand as a motivational speaker and has written a book about her exploits. In the years immediately after her accident Karen was a regular competitor in the wheelchair division of the 10Km and won the women’s prize on five occasions. Tanni Grey-Thompson, who was made a Dame of the British Empire in 2005, has won 11 paralympic gold medals for racing over a wide range of distances. She competed in the 2007 Aberdeen race, winning the women’s prize. This was six years after husband Ian had won the men’s race. 
Number
of Runners Aside from being a highly competitive event, the 10Km is also a hugely successful mass participation run enjoyed as much by recreational runners as by serious club athletes. Tens of thousands of pounds have been raised for numerous charities over the years thanks to the efforts of those people who pound through the city streets. For some it is the only race they take part in every year and they make a massive contribution to the carnival atmosphere on race day. I haven’t been able to obtain accurate figures for the numbers of people taking part in the 10Km for the first 1015 years, but since 2003 the figures I have obtained are robust. Local press reports suggest that 1,500 took part in the 1987 run, but as results were taken only for the top 100 finishers, we may never know how many actually ran. In 1990 a precise figure of 1,243 was published, but in the years up until 2002 the figure seems to have fluctuated between 900 and 1,600. Since then the numbers have gradually increased and in 2010, for the first time, the 3,000 barrier was broken. It’s interesting to note, however, that every year there are a substantial number of ‘no-shows’. In 2010 almost 4,000 folk entered the race but nearly 25% of them never turned up on the day. This is quite typical for big running events. It’s possible that a lot of people eagerly sign up earlier in the year, but for one reason or another, they don’t get their training done and decide it would be wiser not to take part!
Starting Time Supporting Controversy Events Number of Runners 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Finishers 1,500 Not known Not known 1,243 Not known 900 Not known Not known 1,000 1,200 1,200 1,400 1,345 1,300 1,473 1,600 1,663 1,778 2,386 2,417 2,694 2,584 2,537 3,044
Note estimate
estimate estimate estimate estimate estimate estimate estimate
In 1999 hostilities broke out between the 10Km organisers, the Scottish Premier League and Sky TV over the start time of the 10Km at Aberdeen beach. Entry forms had been printed and advertisements placed which promoted the race as having a 11am start as had generally been the case since the event was first held. However, the football authorities decided that Aberdeen’s last game of the season, against Hearts, should be held at Pittodrie with a 12-30pm kick-off. This was to satisfy the requirements of the satellite television company. It would have meant that fans would be converging on Pittodrie at the same time as an expected 1,400 runners were making their way along the roads close to the stadium. In order to avoid a potential conflict, the race organisers were given three options: cancel the race, move it to another date,or bring the start time forward to 10am. The organisers were outraged that such an ultimatum should be placed on the race given that arrangements for the event had been in place for many months and that it was the football authorities who had changed the kickoff time of the match.
Aside from the first year, the race day programme has included a variety of supporting runs mainly aimed at younger participants and families. A 5Km was held on a couple of occasions in the late 1990’s but this was soon dropped. The Banks O’Dee family fun run held over a short circuit around the Queen’s Links, has proved to be the most enduring event, having been held continuously since 2002. 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
No supporting events Junior Milk Fun Run for 9-12 year-old. 0.75miles Variety of Children’s fun runs Variety of Children’s fun runs Junior 1500m run for 11-16 year-olds Junior 1500m run for 11-16 year-olds Junior 1500m run for 11-16 year-olds Part of Union Street meeting with races for under-13,under-15 and under-17 year-olds Series of junior races 5Km - all ages 5Km for all ages and 2Km for 11-16 year-olds 5Km for all ages and 2Km for 11-16 year-olds, 1Km family fun run 4Km, 2Km for 11-16 year-old, 1Km family fun run 2Km for 12-16 year-olds and 1Km family fun run 2Km for 12-16 year-olds and 1Km family fun run Banks O’ Dee family fun run Banks O’ Dee family fun run Banks O’ Dee family fun run Banks O’ Dee family fun run Banks O’ Dee family fun run Banks O’ Dee family fun run Banks O’ Dee family fun run Banks O’ Dee family fun run Banks O’ Dee family fun run
Despite protestations, the race start time was altered to accommodate the football.
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Organisers The first race, held in conjunction with the Aberdeen Milk Marathon, was organised by a committee chaired by Edwin Reid who was also President of Aberdeen AAC for a number of years. Bill Deacon of the Aberdeen and District Milk Marketing Board, main sponsors of the event, was Vice-Chair. Others to be play a key role included Aberdeen City Council’s John Donald (Race co-ordinator), Aberdeen runner Graham Milne (Race Co-Director Runners) and Ian Morrison (Race Co-Director - Course). Russell Smith was press liaison officer and Trefor Owen handled sponsorship. Ian Fraser, who would later take on the role of Aberdeen half marathon race director, was the treasurer and he also worked with the race charities. Brian Dickson was Police Co-ordinator while Sandra Duncan was secretary. Sport Development Officer Gordon Naismith, who subsequently played a major part in organising and promoting the hugely successful Aberdeen International Football Festival, was also involved. The Council, the Milk Board and Aberdeen AAC remained the key partners in the organisation until 1994. The following year Baker Hughes became involved as the headline sponsor with the Milk Board withdrawing after many years of great support, while the Council maintained the main organisational role with support from local clubs. This has remained the case ever since. Various Council officers have made a major contribution to the success of the event including Jim Rust, John Donald, Jenny Selbie, and in more recent years, Caroline Walker, Daniel Parrott, and others in the Sports
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Prizes Development Team. There will have been many more who have made a significant contribution and their efforts should be acknowledged even if they cannot all be named. The support of the elected members of Aberdeen City Council, without whom the event could not proceed, has also been welcomed over the past 24 years and it is to be hoped this will continue for a long time to come given the important need to encourage people to keep fit and active. Volunteers from local running clubs, Aberdeen AAC and Metro Aberdeen, have also played a key role in ensuring the success of the event, as have the dozens of other helpers who freely give up their time each year to ensure the smooth running of the event. Without these people there would be no race. The race did, however, face a crisis in 2009 when its future was thrown in to doubt following financial pressures at the City Council. A meeting of local authority representatives, race sponsors, charities, and other interested parties, held at the Beach Ballroom in February 2009, was extremely well attended and a way forward was mapped out with a decision taken to enlist the help of event manager Alistair Simpson to ensure the race could continue. Simpson had managed other road races and was considered a knowledgeable resource. He remained involved with the 2010 race before the event was handed to Sport Aberdeen, the recently created Trust responsible for managing sports facilities and events.
There were no prizes for leading runners in the first year, 1987, although all finishers received a medal. Gordon McCulloch, the local man who has competed in all 24 races, was extremely annoyed twelve months later, however, when, instead of a medal, participants were offered only a certificate to commemorate their efforts. Gordon was so affronted that he wrote to the Evening Express Saturday night sports paper, the Green Final. In his letter, Gordon said: “Last year all those who completed the 10Km were given their own personal reward in the form of a medal. Not much of a medal, I grant you, but a medal all the same. This year, for the same entry fee, the same runners are to be rewarded with a certificate. I’m sure that a bit of paper will not have the same meaning for many finishers. Other cities and towns can run 10Km races for a similar fee and award nice medals to the finishers. What are we paying £2-50 for?” Gordon’s own personal notes, which he recorded at the time, further suggest he wasn’t too enamoured by the event. He wrote: “I regret to say that this is one of the poorer races and is clearly organised merely to supplement the marathon and raise cash for prizes. There are no drink stations and there’s no interest in the 10Km runners. Unless it improves this is one to be boycotted.” Well, many of Gordon’s concerns seem to have been addressed as medals were back on offer the following year, and by 1990 he was able to write in his diary that :“This was a super race and a super day overall.” And, of course, he has gone on to run
Sponsors every year since then. Nowadays t-shirts and medals are given to all participants while the leading runners battle for their share of an extensive prize list. The 2011 race offers awards for the top four men and women, the first three junior men and women, the first three veteran men and women, the first men’s and women’s teams of three, the first three men and women wheelchair racers and the first corporate team of three runners.
The Milk Marketing Board was involved as the headline sponsor from 1987 until 1993. In 1994 the Milk Board sponsored the 10Km but the event was part of the wider Union Street international race programme on that occasion. Baker Hughes took over as title sponsor in 1995 and has been involved every year since then.
Technology
Entry Fees
The Course
Electronic chip timing was introduced at the 2003 race. This improved the process of recording results and ensured that all runners would get an accurate time. The chip is a miniature transponder containing an electronic chip which is attached to runners’ shoe laces. Each time a runner passes over a special mat, usually at the start and finish of the race, the chip is energised and sends out a signal to a computer which records the actual running time of the competitor.
It cost £2-50 to enter the inaugural event but the costs have risen since then. The biggest hike came between 2004 and 2005 when the cost of entering shot from £8 to £15. (These are the fees charged for Scottish athletics affiliated members. Non members are often charged a supplement).
The course has moved around over the years. In 1987 it started and finished at the Beach Boulevard and followed a route along East North Street, King Street, Union Street, Holburn Street, Riverside Drive, North Esplanade West, Market Street, Trinity Quay, Virginia Street, Miller Street, Cotton Street and Links Road.
1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
This route was used until 1994 when the event was combined with the international road running meeting held as part of the Union Street 200th anniversary celebrations. On that occasion the 10Km started and finished in Union Street and headed off down Holburn Street, Riverside Drive, North Esplanade West, Market Street, Trinity Quay, Virginia Street, Miller Street, St Clement Street, Wellington Street, Links Road, Beach Boulevard, East North Street, King Street and back to Union Street.
£2.50 £2.50 £2.50 £2.50 £3.00 £3.50 £4.00 £4.00 £4.50 £4.50 £5.00 £6.00 £6.00 £7.00 £7.00 £7.00 £8.00 £8.00 £15.00 £14.00 £16.00 £16.50 £17.00 £19.00
Slight adjustments were subsequently made and in 2002 the finish was moved to its current location on Links Road next to the Broad Hill.  The Original 10Km Route - 1987
In 1995 the start and finish was relocated to Duthie Park, but otherwise the course essentially took in the same streets as in previous years. Concerns over traffic congestion resulted in the event relocating to the beach in 1999 and a new route was used which avoided Union Street and the bulk of the city centre. The race started on the Boulevard and proceeded along Links Road, Wellington Street, St Clement Street, Miller Street, Virginia Street, Regent Quay, Waterloo Quay, Wellington Street again before heading along the full length of the Esplanade to Bridge of Don, back in along King Street, School Road, Golf Road, Park Road, Urquhart Road and finishing on the Boulevard.
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Origins The race we now know as the City of Aberdeen Baker Hughes 10Km celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, but organised road running as a popular sport in the north east has its roots in the closing years of the 19th Century. Frank Anderson was Aberdeen’s leading distance runner at this time. The Shire Harriers’ club member hit the headlines in local athletics circles by leading home a field of 30 runners to win Aberdeen’s first five mile championship race in April 1893. In doing so he led his club to victory in the team competition ahead of Thistle Harriers and Gym Harriers. Each side fielded its 10 best runners. The race started at the east gate of Duthie Park and took runners over Victoria Bridge, along Menzies Road, past the Bon Accord laundry to Bridge of Dee, and back along the north bank of the Dee to Victoria Bridge again. Anderson won in 30min 24secs. The race proved so popular that the following year twice as many clubs entered, with the original three joined by teams from Greyfriars, North Athletic and Postal. Anderson retained his title and set an improved time of 28:04 as he was pushed all the way by Postal’s M. Ramsay who finished just two seconds behind. In 1895 Anderson completed a hat-trick of individual wins, this time recording 28:18. His domination of the event continued and he won again in 1896 and 1897, on the latter occasion setting a new record time of 27:40, this time wearing the colours of the Argyll Harriers.
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A team from Arbroath, led by Scottish cross country champion Stewart Duffus, made the trip North for the 1898 race. Although Shire dominated the team competition, Duffus was in commanding form in the individual contest which he won by smashing Anderson’s time by clocking 27:17. Anderson got back to winning ways in 1899 but this was to be his last victory in the competition. George Wyness of Argyll Harriers dominated the event for the next few years although he was embroiled in huge controversy at the conclusion of the 1902 race held over a course which finished at the foot of Cornhill Road. Wyness was involved in a neck-and neck battle for the title with Fred Morgan of Shire Harriers. As the runners sprinted towards the finishing tape, spectators crowded in from both sides leaving little space for the competitors. Wyness crossed the finishing line while Morgan ran round the side of it. The judges had difficulty in deciding who had won, but the referee favoured Wyness. Shire officials lodged a protest and at a subsequent meeting of the Aberdeen and District Harriers Association the decision was reversed and Morgan declared the winner. Wyness won again 1903 and 1904 before deciding to join the professional ranks. The five mile team championship race appears to have been held right up until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, but so far I have not been able to research this aspect of our sport very thoroughly. I have a list of team winners from 1924 onwards,
but no individual winner’s names. Aberdeen University top the ratings with nine wins between 1924 and 1938, Shire Harriers have two wins and YMCA Harriers also have two wins to their credit. While the five mile distance was popular, by the end of the first decade of the 20th Century a “marathon running craze” was being experienced throughout the country. This was fuelled by the drama and publicity surrounding the collapse of the little Italian Dorando Pietri at the 1908 London Olympics. Aberdeen’s first ‘marathons’ were held in 1909. These events were not held over the now traditional marathon distance of 26 miles 385 yards. Instead they were of varying distances, most often 16 or 18 miles. The Shire Harriers organised its first marathon in 1909 on a course between Banchory and Aberdeen. Joe Munro won and afterwards he told of how he had consumed milk, Bovril tablets and soda water en route to his victory in front of thousands of spectators. Various courses were used over subsequent years but the event continued until the early 1930’s. The YMCA Harriers also organised similar marathons at this time and some of the winners of these events are shown in the table on the next page. There was also a Torry marathon held on a number of occasions, the first in 1909 over a route from the Old Mill Inn at Peterculter to Menzies Road. In 1910 the race was held between
Muchalls and Torry and the following year it went from Stonehaven to Torry. This event was dominated by the Walker family. George defeated brother Bill to win the first race, but the positions were reversed in 1910. Another brother, Bob, won in 1911. Alex King proved to be one of the best and most resilient of local runners during this era. He won the Shire Harriers marathon in 1912 and 1913 but had to wait a further 12 years before completing his hat-trick by winning the 1925 race between Banchory and Mannofield.
History was made in 1923 when the first marathon to be held in Scotland over the now standard distance of 26 miles 385 yards took place over a course between Fyvie Castle and Aberdeen. This landmark race was won, but only just, by Dunky Wright, one of the most famous marathon runners in Scottish distance running history. 
Start of the Inverurie to Aberdeen Marathon 1913
Marathon Winners Date Route Distance Winner Winning Time 30 March 1909 Banchory to Aberdeen 18 miles Joe Munro 2:05:00 26 March 1910 Inverurie to Aberdeen 16 miles James Greig 1:39:35 22 April 1911 Oldmeldrum to Aberdeen 18 miles Joe Munro 1:45:15 27 April 1912 Banchory to Aberdeen 20 Miles Alex King 2:14:38 05 April 1913 Inverurie to Aberdeen 16 miles Alex King 1:39:54 18 April 1914 Kepplestone to Aberdeen 16.5 miles Charles Howie 1:57:00 1915-1919 No race 06 March 1920 Banchory to Aberdeen 18 miles Oliver Coutts 1:48:00 23 April 1921 Aberdeen 20 miles Ted Lawson 2:14:45 15 April 1922 Kintore to Pittodrie,Aberdeen 15 miles Ted Lawson 1:30:10 29 May 1922 Aberdeen to Belhelvie to Aberdeen 16 miles J. Duncan 1:46:03 28 April 1923 Fyvie Castle to Aberdeen 26.2 miles Dunky McLeod Wright 3:13:12 03 May 1924 Aberdeen 15 miles J Duncan 1:35:07 09 May 1925 Banchory to Mannofield 16 miles Alex King 1:48:33 1926-1928 No race 29 April 1929 Inverurie to Aberdeen 17 miles Alex Allan 1:38:28 12 April 1930 Oldmeldrum to Aberdeen 18 miles Alex Allan 1:50:25 18 April 1931 Oldmeldrum to Aberdeen 18 miles Jack McRobb 1:46:35 09 April 1932 Oldmeldrum to Aberdeen 18 miles Jack McRobb 1:46:13 01 May 1933 Aberdeen-Dyce-Aberdeen 16 miles Alexander Gordon 1:31:42
The Start of the Inverurie to Aberdeen ‘marathon’ of 1929. The winner, Alex Allan, is sixth from the left. He set a record time, beating the
Alex King - three times Shire Harriers marathon champion
previous best which had been recorded by James Greig in 1910. Greg presented Allan with a gold medal to commemorate the achievement.
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The organisers decided to arrange what contemporary reports described as a “proper” marathon in the hope that it would “reveal obscure talent capable of representing Great Britain at the following year’s Olympic Games in Paris.” Wright was hardly an obscure talent at this time, but he was completely inexperienced at marathon running. The conditions for Wright’s debut were not ideal. A bitingly cold and ferocious headwind faced the starting line-up of eleven runners. To make matters worse, the heavy rain in the days leading up to the race left the unsurfaced rural Aberdeenshire roads caked in slippery mud. Wright decided to stamp his authority on proceedings from the start and made a fast start, leading by more than a minute after three miles and two minutes by eight miles. It was not, however, to be all plain sailing, as Wright recalled more than 50 years later in a fascinating interview with Olympic marathon runner Donald Macgregor: “At 20 miles I said to an official at a feeding station that I’d like some brandy and tea. ‘Sorry’ he replied, ‘we don’t have any tea’. So I had three noggins of brandy and ran on”. Wright began to wobble in the closing miles, caused perhaps by the brandy, or just as likely by simply running out of fuel, and was fortunate not to be caught by local runner Jim Ronaldson who closed to within 150m. Dunky held on, however, to cross the line first in 3hr 13min 12.4sec. The following year he duly secured selection for the Paris Olympics but there was to be no French glory, however, as Wright dropped out. He qualified for the Olympics again in 1928 where he finished 20th. Wright collected his first international title two years later at the inagural Empire Games at Hamilton, Canada winning the marathon in 2hrs
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43min 43sec. Dunky gained Olympic selection for a third time in 1932 where he narrowly missed a medal when finishing fourth, just 65secs behind the winner. More honours came his way in the London Empire Games of 1934 where he finished third (2:56:20). It is notable that women did not take part in these early road running events although I know they were actively competing in track meetings in the city throughout the 1930’s. Long distance running was widely considered in the corridors of athletics officialdom, however, as being an inappropriate activity for women until very recently. A women’s marathon was only introduced to the Olympic Games in 1984 and, incredibly, women weren’t allowed to run any further than 800m in the Olympics until 1972 when a 1500m was added to the programme. At the 1928 Games Germany’s Lina Radke set a world record 800m time but many of the competitors collapsed with exhaustion at the finish, prompting organisers to take the view that the distance was too strenuous for them. As a result, no races longer than 200m were included on the Olympic programme until 1960 when the 800m was reintroduced. In Aberdeen, women have been making up an increasingly high proportion of the total numbers taking part in the 10Km. In 2010, more than 1200 runners, close to 40% of all finishers, were women. Any serious road running fell by the wayside at the beginning of World War Two and it was a long time before any significant races were again held in the city. Marathon running didn’t return to Aberdeen until 1979 when Mel
Edwards organised a race over a four-lap course at Bridge of Don on the northern outskirts of the city, with the start and finish on the university running track at Balgownie. Graham Laing, making his marathon debut, won in 2hr 21min 40sec. Laing won again in 1980 and the following year he finished fifth in the inaugural London marathon, recording what would turn out to be his fastest time of 2hr 13min 59sec. Graham went on to finish seventh in the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, which was probably the best performance of his career. The 1979 Aberdeen race attracted a field of 62 runners (the biggest marathon held in Scotland), but this increased to a peak of 1,314 by 1984. Numbers declined from then on and when the race was last held, in 1990, there were just 174 finishers. Apart from 1979, the marathon incorporated a Home Countries
international match every year and many Aberdeen athletes represented Scotland in the fixture. It also hosted the Scottish men’s marathon championships on three occasions (1984, 1989 and 1990) and the women’s championship for eight years in a row between 1983 and 1990. The 10Km was introduced alongside the marathon in 1987 and that inaugural run attracted almost 1,500 participants. That was to mark the beginning of the event we know today. Many other road races emerged in Aberdeen during the 1980’s as a road running boom swept the country following the success of the inaugural London marathon in 1981. A midweek 10Km in Aberdeen, sponsored by Roevin, proved hugely successful, attracting 700-800 runners and producing very fast times (see table). This race was held between 1985 and 1991 when the sponsors withdrew. The race was started up again a few years later by Aberdeen AAC and is now organised
by the Jessiman family who own The Running Shop. The Aberdeen half marathon was founded in 1985 and lasted until 1998. This, too, was an immensely popular event and the local road running community was disappointed when it was discontinued. Over the years it attracted many of Britain’s top runners and produced good quality performances (see table). Today, the City of Aberdeen Baker Hughes 10Km remains the city’s premier running event although it is supported by a number of other, smaller races. These include The Running Shop Beach 10Km, the Metro Aberdeen Proms 3Km Series, the Dyce Half Marathon and the Metro Charity 5Km. Throughout the north east, however, there are many more road races which sustain the interest and enthusiasm of runners throughout the year.
Aberdeen Roevin 10Km Winners 1985 1 2 3 1986 1 2 3 1987 1 2 3 1988 1 2 3 1989 1 2 1990 1 2 3 1991 1 2 3
Men Women Eric Williams (Sale) 30:05:00 1 Lynda Bain (Aberdeen AAC) Fraser Clyne (Aberdeen AAC) 30:07:00 Graham Laing (Aberdeen AAC) 30:08:00 Graham Laing (Aberdeen AAC) 29:59:00 1 Lynda Bain (Aberdeen AAC) Eric Williams (Sale) 30:00:00 Fraser Clyne (Aberdeen AAC) 30:07:00 Fraser Clyne (Aberdeen AAC) 30:04:00 1 Ginny Pollard (Fleet Feet) Eric Williams (Sale) 30:11:00 2 Muriel Muir (Dundee RR) Simon Axon (Aberdeen AAC) 30:29:00 3 Susan Lamb (Aberdeen AAC) Peter McColgan (Dundee Hawkhill) 29:39:00 1 Lynda Bain (Aberdeen AAC) Fraser Clyne (Aberdeen AAC) 29:55:00 2 Ginny Pollard (Fleet Feet) Ian Matheson (Aberdeen AAC) 30:02:00 3 Uli Simpson (Aberdeen AAC) Peter McColgan (Dundee Hawkhill) 30:40:00 1 Ginny Pollard (Fleet Feet) Fraser Clyne (Aberdeen AAC) 30:44:00 2 Uli Simpson (Aberdeen AAC) David Beattie (Dundee HH) 30:45:00 1 Sue Lanham (Aberdeen AAC) Eric Williams (Sale) 30:47:00 2 Lynda Bain (Aberdeen AAC) Fraser Clyne (Metro) 30:50:00 3 Jillian Grams (Aberdeen AAC) Chris Hall (Dundee HH) 30:53:00 1 Jaqui Shand (Fleet Feet) Alan Reid (Peterhead) 30:53:00 2 Debbie Porter (Aberdeen AAC) Steven Wright (Aberdeen AAC) 31:21:00 3 C. Schmidt (Leipzig)
34:03:00 37:42:00 36:29:00 36:48:00 38:22:00 34:42:00 35:46:00 37:34:00 36:08:00 38:24:00 38:53:00 39:11:00 39:56:00 37:32:00 38:05:00 38:22:00
Shire Harriers Team Photo 1928-1929
Aberdeen Half Marathon Winners 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
Men Dennis Fowles (Cardiff) 1:04:41 Phil O’Brien (Old Gaytonians) 1:04:44 Fraser Clyne (Aberdeen AAC) 1:07:22 Fraser Clyne (Aberdeen AAC) 1:05:58 Charlie Haskett (Dundee Hawkhill Harriers) 1:07:36 Fraser Clyne (Aberdeen AAC) 1:06:40 Nat Muir (Shettleston) 1:07:56 Ray Creswell (Aberdeen AAC) 1:11:10 Mike Carroll (Annan) 1:05:05 Alan Reid (Peterhead) 1:10:19 Alan Reid (Peterhead) 1:07:58 Alan Reid (Peterhead) 1:11:20 Eamonn Hyland (Nottingham) 1:08:41 Keith Varney (Metro Aberdeen) 1:15:18
Women Lynda Bain (Aberdeen AAC) Sandra Branney (City of Glasgow) Sandra Branney (City of Glasgow) Sue Richardson (London) Sandra Branney (City of Glasgow) Aileen Wilson (Dundee Hawkhill Harriers) Ginny Pollard (Aberdeen AAC) Ginny Pollard (Aberdeen AAC) Elaine MacKay (Shettleston) Debbie Kilner (Aberdeen AAC) Debbie Kilner (Aberdeen AAC) Carol McLaren (Fleet Feet) Uli Simpson (Aberdeen AAC) Carol Cadger (Perth Road Runners)
1:13:22 1:16:18 1:15:26 1:25:34 1:14:50 1:22:47 1:23:44 1:19:05 1:21:51 1:23:16 1:21:27 1:32:20 1:29:25 1:29:30
1933 Aberdeen ‘marathon’ winner Alexander Gordon (at Advocates Park)
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Aberdeen Marathon Winners 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990
Men Women Graham Laing (Aberdeen AAC) 02:21:40 1 Lesley Watson (London Olympiads) 3:01:06 Jim Brown (Clyde Valley) 02:22:22 2 E. Abom (Sweden) 3:55:08 Colin Youngson (Edinburgh SH) 02:27:44 Graham Laing (Aberdeen AAC/Scot) 02:19:33 1 Margaret Chambers (Blaydon) 3:05:07 Don Faircloth (England) 02:21:46 2 Nancy McCraw (Teviotdale) 3:36:29 Mike Critchley (England) 02:23:18 3 Kim Boxell (Fife) 4:06:43 Max Coleby (England) 02:21:29 1 Katie Fitzgibbon (London Olympiads) 3:07:46 Martin Knapp (England) 02:21:30 2 Priscilla Welsh (Shetland) 3:08:55 Donald Macgregor (Scotland) 02:21:52 3 Lynda Stott (Aberdeen AAC) 3:21:12 Gerry Helme (England) 02:15:16 1 Jacqui Hulbert (Wales) 2:52:20 Ieuan Ellis (Wales) 02:16:47 2 Lynda Stott (Aberdeen AAC) 2:53:04 Fraser Clyne (Scotland) 02:19:58 3 Priscilla Welch (Shetland) 2:55:59 Kevin Johnson (England) 02:19:01 1 Lynda Bain (Aberdeen AAC) 2:50:29 Trevor Hawes (Wales) 02:19:41 2 Jacqui Hulbert (Wales) 2:56:20 Callum Bark (England) 02:19:57 3 Morag Taggart (Aberdeen AAC) 3:07:08 Mark Burnhope (England) 02:19:36 1 Lynda Bain (Aberdeen AAC) 2:41:41 Geoerge Reynolds (Scotland) 02:21:04 2 Margaret Baillie (Fife) 3:00:57 Alan catley (England) 02:21:09 3 Morag Taggart (Pitreavie) 3:10:02 David Catlow (England) 02:22:54 1 Ann Curtis (Livingston) 2:55:55 Colin Youngson (Scotland) 02:23:58 2 Teresa Kidd (Dublin) 3:01:09 Mick Woods (Rest of Europe) 02:25:24 3 Janine Robertson (Aberdeen AAC) 3:01:57 Ray Maule (England) 02:22:52 1 Stephanie Quirk (Isle of Man) 2:58:57 Neil Featherby (England) 02:23:53 2 Janine Robertson (Aberdeen AAC) 3:16:15 Kevin Best (England) 02:24:58 3 Morag Taggart (Pitreavie) 3:21:26 Ian Corrin (England) 02:27:42 1 Carol-Ann Gray (Edinburgh AC) 3:17:12 Colin Youngson (Aberdeen AAC) 02:29:21 2 Margaret Oliver (Aberdeen AAC) 3:17:27 Rob Hall (Scotland) 02:29:54 3 Sheila Cluley (Forfar) 3:19:49 Hammy Cox (Scotland) 02:21:15 1 Eileen Masson (Kilbarchan) 2:47:23 Frank Harper (Scotland) 02:22:20 2 Sue Graham (Wales) 3:01:38 Alan Robson (Edinburgh SH) 02:25:03 3 Margaret Stafford (Aberdeen AAC) 3:10:01 Ian Bloomfield (England) 02:22:30 1 Liz Hughes (Wales) 2:54:24 Terry Mitchell (Scotland) 02:24:53 2 Margaret Stafford (Aberdeen AAC) 3:06:36 Mick McGeoch (Wales) 02:25:57 3 Linda Trahan 3:14:42 Chris Tall (England) 02:23:32 1 Liz Hughes (Wales) 2:49:47 Stan Markley (England) 02:24:53 2 Diana Jermieson (Aberdeen AAC) 3:25:08 Brian McEvoy (England) 02:25:46 3 Joan Molloy (Aberdeen AAC) 3:33:27
1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
Graham Laing - winner of the Aberdeen marathon in 1979 and 1980.
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18
24 Years of the 10Km
1987
Main Results
Massive Turnout For First Run
Medal given to every finisher in the 1987 10km
The marathon running boom which kicked off in the aftermath of the first London marathon in 1981 was beginning to wane by the second half of the decade. Marathons had been springing up all over the country and at one point there were 14 of them in Scotland. People who had been lured into running by the prospect of tackling 26.2 miles soon found the novelty wearing off. They still wanted to run on a regular basis, but racing a marathon every other week wasn’t too popular. Shorter races began to rise in popularity throughout Britain, and this was mirrored in Aberdeen. Organisers of the Aberdeen marathon decided to add a 10Km to the race day programme to provide an opportunity for people, who didn’t feel ready to tackle the longer run, the chance to test themselves over a much shorter distance. It was to prove an immediate success.
The marathon started at 11am with the 10Km getting underway 15mins later. It was an amazing sight as the long line of runners sprinted up the Boulevard and onto Union Street on a cold day with a strong northerly wind. It may not have been warm, but it’s still remarkable to note that there were no water stations along the route. This would be unthinkable today, but in 1987 Scottish athletics regulations didn’t allow for such perceived luxuries. The Scottish Amateur Athletic Association rules at that time stated that “refreshments must not be provided in road races of less than 10 miles.” This was to prevent competitors supposedly being given ‘assistance’ during the race. Nowadays there would be an outcry if such a facility wasn’t available. I enjoyed the occasion, taking an early lead along with Bruce Chinnick. We stuck together until the closing stages when I sprinted clear to win by four seconds in 30min 23sec. Chris Hall, the Aberdeenbased runner who competed for Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, was an isolated third in 30:42 while Roddy McFarquhar was first home in the over-40 age group in ninth position overall in 32:45. It’s worth mentioning that Roddy’s time would have been good enough to win the race outright in 2008 and would have comfortably placed him in the top three in 2009 and 2010. Rob Taylor, who has competed on many occasions since and is still a formidable runner in the over-50 age group, was seventh. Times were recorded for only the top 100 finishers in what was reported to be a field
of around 1,500 participants. No accurate records survive to confirm the official number of starters, however, but it certainly looked to be over 1,000. Two women featured in the leading 100 positions with triathlete Ginny Pollard leading the way. The Fleet Feet club member recorded 36:43 to finish 55th overall while Lynn Finlay of Fraserburgh Running Club was second in 38:51, 94th overall.
Men 1 F. Clyne, Aberdeen AAC, 30:23 2 B. Chinnick, Forres Harriers, 30:27 3 C. Hall, Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, 30:42 4 C. McIntyre, Fraserburgh Running Club, 31:36 5 F. Duguid, Aberdeen AAC, 32:17 6 P. McErlean, Aberdeen AAC, 32:18 7 R. Taylor, Aberdeen AAC, 32:30 8 J. Farquhar, Aberdeen AAC, 32:35 9 R. McFarquhar, Aberdeen AAC, over-40, 32:45 10 W. Gunn, 32:54 Women 1 G. Pollard, Fleet Feet, 36:43 2 L.Finlay, Fraserburgh Running Club, 38:51
Gordon McCulloch completes the first Aberdeen 10k. He has competed in all 24 races.
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1988
Main Results Men 1 D. Duguid, Aberdeen AAC, 31:22 2 M. Murray, Aberdeen AAC, 31:27 3 G. Laing, Aberdeen AAC, 31:31 4 D. Massie, Aberdeen AAC, 32:00 5 R. Taylor, Aberdeen AAC, 32:03 6 R. Hanlon, Dundee Road Runners, 32:40
Duguid Wins Close Race The 1988 race was highly competitive and was dominated by Aberdeen AAC runners who filled the top five positions. David Duguid led the way by getting the better of clubmates Mike Murray and Graham Laing, with just eight seconds separating the local trio. Duguid was a very talented distance runner who probably never totally fulfilled his potential. He was just 21 when he won the 10Km, and remains the second youngest man to lift the title. Later that year he helped Aberdeen AAC win the prestigious Edinburgh to Glasgow eight stage road relay race. He has competed in the race on a regular basis ever since. “I think I’ve only missed three or four of them,” he said. “The
only thing I remember about the early races is that the standard was much higher than it is now.” Runner-up Murray was another fine road runner but he also performed to a good standard as an 800m and 1500m track athlete with respective best times of 1min 52.4sec and 3min 50.58sec. Bronze medallist Laing was best known as a top class marathon man although he also won the Scottish track 10,000m title in 1979. Graham won the first two Aberdeen marathons at Bridge of Don in 1979 and 1980, and in 1982 he represented Scotland in the Commonwealth Games
marathon in Brisbane where he finished an excellent seventh. Graham’s fastest marathon performance, however, came in the inaugural London race in 1981 when he finished fifth in 2hr 13min 59sec. Roddy McFarquhar retained the over-40’s crown by defeating Mel Edwards and Shetlander Bill Adams. French-born Fraserburgh runner Marie Duthie showed her undoubted class by winning the women’s race with plenty to spare from the Aberdeen AAC duo of Uli Simpson and Susan Lamb. All three featured prominently on the north east road and cross country circuit at this time.
David Duguid
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Over-40 1 R. McFarquhar, Aberdeen AAC, 33:15 2 M. Edwards, Aberdeen AAC, 33:53 3 B. Adams, Shetland, nta
Women 1 M. Duthie, Fraserburgh, 37:31 2 U. Simpson, Aberdeen AAC, 38:26 3 S. Lamb, Aberdeen AAC, 38:34
1989
Main Results
Lynda Bain Sets the Women’s Standard
Men 1 S. Axon, Aberdeen AAC, 32:10 2 J. Farquhar, Aberdeen AAC, 32:16 3 M. Murray, Aberdeen AAC, 32:17 4 I. Williamson, Shetland, 32:54 5 R. MacFarquhar, Aberdeen AAC, over-40, 33:03 6 B. Moroney, Aberdeen AAC, 33:31 7 J. Hanlon, Dundee Road Runners, 33:34 8 R. Gatenby, 33:39 9 D. Armour, Aberdeen AAC, 33:43 10 C. Farquharson, Aberdeen AAC, 33:57 Women 1 L. Bain, Aberdeen AAC, 35:48
Lynda Bain
Aberdeen AAC’s domination of the race continued in 1989 when Welshman Simon Axon blasted his way to victory over his clubmates Jim Farquhar and Mike Murray in the men’s contest and Lynda Bain took the honours with a record-breaking performance in the women’s division. As with the 1988 race, there wasn’t much between the leading three finishers as Axon took the top prize with a six seconds advantage over Farquhar. Murray, the previous year’s runnerup, was just one second behind Farquhar. Axon was a good all-round distance runner who played an important role in the success enjoyed by Aberdeen AAC throughout the 1980’s. He won the Inverness half marathon
in 1986 and 1987, recording times of 65min 20sec and 65min 44sec respectively and he clocked a personal best 64min 25sec in the 1986 Great North Run. Farquhar also performed well over a range of distances and a few weeks after the Aberdeen 10Km he won the 28 mile race from Braemar to Aviemore via the Lairig Ghru in an excellent time of 3hr 14min 06sec. That’s still the sixth fastest time ever recorded for the testing run through the famous mountain pass. The previous year Farquhar finished first equal with clubmate Brian Maher in the Lairig run, clocking 3hr 27min 18sec. The consistent veteran Roddy
McFarquhar completed a hat-trick of wins in the over-40 age group when placing fifth overall. Lynda Bain obliterated the record for the women’s race when she completed the course in 35min 48sec. That remains the fifth fastest winning time in the history of the event. Bain was a truly top class athlete. She has a best marathon time of 2hr 33min 38sec from the 1985 London race and her quickest half marathon time of 1hr 13min 22sec was set in Aberdeen that same year. Unfortunately no other women’s results are available for the 1989 Aberdeen 10Km.
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1990
Main Results
Axon’s Comfortable Win Simon Axon successfully defended his title but this time he enjoyed a huge margin of victory over the 1988 winner David Duguid, while Shetland athlete Ian Williamson took third position. Mel Edwards, the man who founded the Aberdeen marathon in 1979, led home the over-40 age division when finishing in 14th position overall. Mel had been one of Britain’s top marathon runners in the 1960’s having set a best time of 2hr 18min 25sec when winning on his debut at Harlow in 1967.
The following year he wasn’t far away from making the Great Britain team for the Mexico Olympic Games. Injuries subsequently hampered his career but he became a successful hill and cross country runner. Over the years Mel has become a highly respected coach who has motivated and inspired hundreds of runners throughout the north east and beyond. Aberdeen AAC’s Sue Lanham took the honours in the women’s competition
1990 race winner Simon Axon (no719)
when leading the field home in 38 minutes 57 seconds. Sixteen year-old Jillian Grams made a big impact by finishing second in 40 minutes 10secs. A couple of years later Jillian set her best 10,000m track time of 38minutes 30seconds, which remains among the top six times ever recorded by an Aberdeen AAC member. Veteran Jacqui Nuttall completed a clean sweep of the top three positions by Aberdeen runners as she also dipped under the 41 minute mark.
Mel Edwards - winner of the over 40 title. Edwards re-established the Aberdeen marathon in 1979.
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Men 1 S. Axon, Aberdeen AAC, 31:32 2 D. Duguid, Aberdeen AAC, 32:28 3 I. Williamson, Aberdeen AAC, 32:35 4 C. Farquharson, Hunters Bog Trotters, 32:47 5 R. Taylor, Metro Aberdeen AAC, 32:57 6 B. Moroney, Metro Aberdeen, 33:04 7 N. Milovsorov, Aberdeen AAC, 33:55 8 S. Willox, Metro Aberdeen, 34:02 9 C. Rollo, Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, 34:05 10 A. Neaves, Metro Aberdeen, 34:06 Over-40 1 M. Edwards, Aberdeen AAC, 34:20 Women S. Lanham, Aberdeen AAC, 38:57 J. Grams, Aberdeen AAC, 40:10 J. Nuttall, Aberdeen AAC, over-35, 40:47 K. Butler, Aberdeen AAC, over-45, 43:40 O. Fraser, Aberdeen AAC, over-35, 44:04
1 2 3 4 5
1991
Main Results
Rebranding as 10Km Goes it Alone emerge during the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s. His quickest marathon time of 2hours 16 minutes 50 seconds was set when winning the Scottish title in 1975. He won further national marathon titles in 1981 and 1982. He was also a good 10Km runner and represented Scotland at this distance.
Oilindustry safety manager Chris Hall lived in Aberdeen but chose to compete for Dundee Hawkhill Harriers. Like Simon Axon, who won in 1989 and 1990, Chris had Welsh roots, and he was a fine distance runner on the track as well as the roads. His fast pace took him clear of the field early on and he proceeded to secure an impressive win on a warm and windy day. Chris occasionally trained with me and we enjoyed a friendly, but fierce rivalry. I was unable to hang onto his blistering early speed and had to settle for a lonely second position while two-times previous winner Axon, now competing in the brown vest of Hunters Bog Trotters, was equally isolated in third position. The wily veteran Colin Youngson lifted the over-40’s prize when finishing fourth overall in a time of 32 min 21 secs, the quickest time run by anyone in that age group up until that year. Youngson was another of the great squad of Aberdeen marathon runners to
Debbie Porter, later to become Debbie Kilner, made a major breakthrough by winning the women’s race ahead of Janine Robertson. Debbie, who still holds the Aberdeen AAC women’s 10,000m track record of 36 minutes 22.7seconds, would go on to establish herself as one of Scotland premier distance runners and in 1996 she won the national cross country title. Team prizes were introduced for the first time with the Aberdeen AAC trio of Colin Youngson, Ian Williamson and Mike Murray taking the men’s award while Debbie Porter, Janet Fraser and Nancy McKinnon won the women’s.
Men 1 C. Hall, Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, 30:33 2 F. Clyne, Metro Aberdeen, 31:20 3 S. Axon, Hunters Bog Trotters, 32:11 4 C. Youngson, Aberdeen AAC, over-40, 32:21 5 R. Taylor, Metro Aberdeen, 32:28 6 I. Williamson, Aberdeen AAC, 32:34 7 C. Farquharson, Hunters Bog Trotters, 32:49 8 R. Herries, Hunters Bog Trotters, 32:50 9 M. Murray, Aberdeen AAC, 33:01 10 R. Gatenby, Coasters, 33:17 Women 1 D. Porter, Aberdeen AAC, 36:56 2 J. Robertson, Perth Road Runners, 38:55 3 M. Campbell, 41:36 4 J. Fraser, Aberdeen AAC, 41:50 5 N. McKinnon, Aberdeen AAC, over-35, 42:32 6 M. Allan, 42:39 7 M. McLean, 45:02 8 B. Kerr, Aberdeen AAC, 45:10 9 G. McEwan, 46:28 10 J. Hogg, Aberdeen AAC, over-35, 47:40
This was the first year that the 10Km was held on its own, the marathon having been dropped because of the huge tail off in numbers of competitors. The 10Km was rebranded as the Aberdeen Championship in an effort to bolster its status.
Colin Youngson - the winner of the over 40 age group title.
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1992
Main Results Men 1 C. Hall, Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, 29:57 2 A. Reid, Peterhead AAC, 30:38 3 S. Axon, Hunters Bog Trotters, 31:19 4 R. Taylor, Metro Aberdeen, 31:21 5 K. Varney, Metro Aberdeen, 31:23 6 C. Farquharson, Hunters Bog Trotters, 31:31 7 R. Creswell, Aberdeen AAC, 31:36 8 P. Mowbray, Hunters Bog Trotters, 31:46 9 C. Youngson, Aberdeen AAC, over-40, 32:23 10 S. Wynn, Aberdeen AAC, 32:29
Hall Takes Record Under 30 Chris Hall’s second victory warrants a special mention in the history of the race as it remains the fastest time ever recorded in the competition. The course has changed over the years but there’s no doubt that Hall’s performance would be hard to better on any of the routes used. The nippy Welshman used his undeniably razor sharp track pace to leave a decent field gasping in his slipstream as he sizzled round in 29 minutes 57 seconds. He remains the only man to have slipped under the 30 minute mark. His victory came only three weeks after his wedding to Caroline, so married life was obviously paying dividends.
Women 1 V. Vaughan, Pitreavie AAC, 35:59 2 S. Lanham, Aberdeen AAC, 37:29 3 T. Brindley, Law, 39:57 4 A. Thomson, Berwick, 40:01 5 S. Bennett, Metro Aberdeen, over-35, 40:22 6 N. McKinnon, Aberdeen AAC, over-35, 41:23 7 J. Grams, Aberdeen AAC, 41:47 8 A. Campbell, 41:55 9 J. Scott, 42:30 10 S. Richards, Metro Aberdeen, 43:47
Alan Reid, who was emerging as one of the north east’s most durable distance runners, finished more than 200m behind in second position with Simon Axon securing a top three position for the fourth year in a row. Colin Youngson retained the veteran crown when finishing ninth overall and just two seconds outside his over-40’s age group record. On a good day for distance running many athletes improved their personal best times and Aberdeen-based British road running international Vikki Vaughan (Pitreavie AAC) improved the women’s record to 35 minutes 59 seconds when finishing well clear of 1990 winner Sue Lanham. Aberdeen University graduate Tracey Brindley was well back in third position while Suzannah Bennett lifted the veteran prize in fifth position. Chris Hall celebrates his win in 1991 with Debbie Porter. He won again in 1992 by running the fastest time in the history of the race.
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1993
Main Results Men 1 F. Clyne, Metro Aberdeen, 30:38 2 S. Wright, Hunters Bog Trotters, 31:55 3 R. Taylor, Metro Aberdeen, 31:58 4 S. Axon, Hunters Bog Trotters, 32:13 5 D. McAra, Falkirk Victoria Harriers, over-40, 32:22 6 C. Youngson, Aberdeen AAC, over-40, 32:24 7 I. Williamson, Aberdeen AAC, 32:48 8 F. Barton, Keith and District, 33:29 9 S. Forbes, Metro Aberdeen, 33:38 10 S. Cassells, Aberdeen AAC, 33:38
Big Winning Margin My second victory in the race came on a bright but blustery day. I decided that I would try to make an early break with the aim of settling the outcome as early as possible, unlike 1987 when I waited until the closing stages to make the decisive move. We set off from the front of the Beach Ballroom and by the time the top of the Boulevard was reached I had a healthy lead. I continued my solo run all the way and eventually came home with a 77 seconds lead over Steve Wright. Surprisingly, that remains the biggest winning margin in the history of the race so far and contrasts with my four seconds advantage in 1987 which is the third narrowest win. Wright, an Aberdonian who competed for Hunters Bog Trotters, was chased all the way by my Metro Aberdeen clubmate Rob Taylor who finished third. Simon Axon maintained his high level of consistency by finishing fourth while Metro clinched the team prize when
Steve Forbes completed our scoring in ninth position. A hotly contested over-40’s race ended with Dennis McAra of Falkirk Victoria Harriers pipping Colin Youngson for top spot.
Women 1 D. Kilner, Aberdeen AAC, 36:28 2 G. Pollard, Aberdeen AAC, 37:09 3 H. Gaskell, over-35, 37:39 4 K. Paton, 38:29 5 S. Lanham, Aberdeen AAC, 38:53 6 D. Jermieson, over-35, 42:00
Debbie Kilner secured her second win in three years in the women’s race in which the 1987 champion, Ginny Pollard, now competing for Aberdeen AAC, was runnerup. Kilner’s performance was even more impressive given that less than 24 hours earlier she had won the women’s open 3,000m in 10min 29sec at the international road race meeting at Duthie Park. Hazel Gaskell was the top veteran when finishing third overall. The 1992 champion, Sue Lanham, completed the scoring for the winning Aberdeen AAC team by finishing fifth.She had also run in the Duthie Park 3,000m, finishing runner-up behind Kilner.
Fraser Clyne
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1994
Main Results
Among the Superstars on Union Street In the early 1990’s former European 5,000m champion and Olympic 10,000m bronze medallist Brendan Foster joined forces with local businessman Tom Currie to bring a series of televised international road races to Aberdeen. The first of these was held at Duthie Park in 1992 and again in 1993, and boasted a host of world class stars such as Scotland’s distance running aces Yvonne Murray and Liz McColgan, England’s 800m and 1500m specialists Steve Cram and Peter Elliot, Kenya’s world 10,000m champion Moses Tanui and Morocco’s world cross country champion Khalid Skah. In 1994 the event moved from Duthie Park to Union Street to celebrate the famous thoroughfare’s bicentenary. Top Irish Olympian Sonia O’Sullivan defeated Scotland’s Yvonne Murray in a competitive women’s 5Km while Kenya’s world champion Ismael Kirui won the men’s 5Km. The Aberdeen 10Km was tagged on to the end of the programme of international races but it was given enhanced status by being named as that year’s Scottish championship event. There were also open races for under-17’s, under-15’s and under-13’s. It’s interesting to note that sixth position in the under-13 girls’ one mile race was taken by Aberdeen’s Nicola Gauld who would go on to become Scottish senior 1500m champion in 2006 and 2007.
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With a Scottish title at stake the 10Km attracted runners from further afield than normal and it was one of these, Steven Wylie (Cambuslang Harriers), who led the way. Wylie was in dominant form, leading from the very beginning and eventually cruising home 57 seconds clear of Peterhead AAC’s Alan Reid to win in 30min 17sec. Reid had to work hard, however, to hold off Steve Wright (Hunters Bog Trotters) who in turn just got the better of experienced veteran Brian Kirkwood (Leslie Deans Racing Club). Wright did, however, take some consolation by leading the Trotters to victory in the team competition.
with backing from Susan Lamb (fourth) and Susan Reid (13th). Loraine Simpson, in sixth position, put Deeside Runners on the map by winning the veteran women’s title. The Deeside club also finished second in the team contest. The international road races weren’t held in Aberdeen again, although they were to find another north-east home, at Balmoral Castle, in 1998.
All three members of the victorious team were former Aberdeen AAC members. Wright, a former Scottish junior international, was based in Newcastle at this time but he was originally from Aberdeen. The other scorers, Colin Farquharson (eighth) and Simon Axon (10th) still lived in the city. Colin Youngson (Metro Aberdeen) was runner-up behind Kirkwood in the veteran’s division of the race when finishing 15th overall in 33:25. One position behind Youngson, in 33:31, was Frankie Barton, a runner who would later make a big impact on the 10Km. Debbie Kilner pocketed her first Scottish title when winning the women’s race in fine style, her time of 36:01 bringing her home 54 seconds ahead of Shettleston’s Elaine McKay with Edinburgh’s Sue Addison further back in third position. Debbie also led Aberdeen AAC to another team success
Yvonne Murray
Men 1 S. Wylie, Cambuslang Harriers, 30:17 2 A. Reid, Peterhead, 31:14 3 S. Wright, Hunters Bog Trotters, 31:18 4 B. Kirkwood, Leslie Deans Racing Club, over-40, 31:20 5 D. Ross, Leslie Deans Racing Club, 31:49 6 S. Weir, Pitreavie AAC, 31:59 7 M. Turner, Carnegie Harriers, 32:21 8 C. Farquharson, Hunters Bog Trotters, 32:32 9 M. Batley, Fife, 32:52 10 S. Axon, Hunters Bog trotters, 32:56 Women 1 D. Kilner, Aberdeen AAC, 36:07 2 E. Mckay, Shettleston Harriers, 37:01 3 S. Addison, Edinburgh AC, 37:50 4 S. Lamb, Aberdeen AAC, 39:00 5 H. Grant, East Kilbride, 40:01 6 L. Simpson, Deeside, over-35, 41:45 7 M. Forrester, 42:10 8 D. Jermieson, Fleet Feet, over-35, 42:16 9 K. Ross, 42:46 10 S. Billam, Halifax, over-35, 42:55
1995
Main Results
Duthie Park - Back to Our Roots Duthie Park, which was the venue for first Aberdeen five mile road running championship way back in 1893, became the 10Km’s new base in 1995. The race started on Riverside Drive and finished inside the park close to Cleopatra’s Needle. This year also marked the arrival of Baker Hughes as the main sponsor along with Aberdeen City Council. It was to be the beginning of a long term relationship which has continued uninterrupted to this day. American student Liz Riley was the star of the show as she made an emotional farewell appearance for Metro Aberdeen by smashing the women’s course record when recording 35minutes 38seconds. The medical student from Seattle celebrated her 21st birthday a few days after the race and later that week ended her nine-month exchange course at Aberdeen University. Liz had to work hard for her victory, however, as defending champion Debbie Kilner was determined not to relinquish her title without a fight. Kilner finished four seconds inside Vikki Vaughan’s three year-old record when finishing 17 seconds behind Riley who was 28th overall in the estimated field of over 1,000 runners. Afterwards Riley paid a big compliment to the city and the organisers. She said: “Of all the races I have run during my stay in Scotland, this was the best. Duthie Park was a beautiful setting for the event and everything was really well organised. I especially liked the pipers who appeared all along the route. That was a really nice and unusual touch.”
when finishing fourth overall. Hazel Gaskell joined Kilner and Lamb in the Aberdeen AAC squad that won the women’s team prize.
Liz Riley
Riley enjoyed significant success during her short spell in Aberdeen. She won the East of Scotland and Scottish Universities cross country titles and only a superb run from British international Vikki MacPherson prevented her from lifting the national title at Perth. Liz’s fastest 10,000m performance came at Meadowbank stadium where she lapped all but one of her rivals to win the British Universities title in 35min 14sec. Susan Lamb (Aberdeen AAC) was third and Chrissie Gutteridge took the veteran’s prize
The men’s race produced a runaway victory for 29 year-old Alan Reid. I had decided to take part even although I was still feeling the after-effects of having represented Great Britain in the Two Oceans 36 mile race at Cape Town just two weeks earlier. I had also forgotten that, with just a few months to go before my 40th birthday, my body really needed a lot longer to repair itself from such physical tests. From the start I felt sluggish and my tired legs certainly didn’t appreciate Alan’s typically fast starting pace. The Peterhead AAC man showed no mercy as he blitzed his way through the streets and opened up a big lead which stretched to 73 seconds by the finish. Aberdeenbased Dundee Hawkhill Harrier Charlie Haskett overtook me in the closing stages to take second position, while I managed to hold off the fast finishing Frankie Barton to secure third spot. I did, however, have the satisfaction of helping Metro Aberdeen win the team prize with Mark Johnson (sixth) and Keith Varney (seventh) being the other scorers.
Men 1 A. Reid, Peterhead AAC, 30:46 2 C. Haskett, Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, 31:59 3 F. Clyne, Metro Aberdeen, 32:17 4 F. Barton, Keith and District, 32:19 5 R. Arbuckle, Keith and District, 32:28 6 M. Johnson, Metro Aberdeen, 32:22 7 K. Varney, Metro Aberdeen, 32:39 8 G. Rennet, Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, 32:44 9 I. Williamson, Shetland, 32:47 10 R. Taylor, Metro Aberdeen, 32:54 Over-40 1 P. Graham, Aberdeen AAC, 33:55 Women 1 E. Riley, Metro Aberdeen, 35:38 2 D. Kilner, Aberdeen AAC, 35:55 3 S. Lamb, Aberdeen AAC, 38:29 4 C. Gutteridge, Stonehaven, over-35, 39:23 5 I. Brocvielle, over-35, 39:30 6 H. Gaskell, Aberdeen AAC, over-35, 39:30 7 U. Simpson, Aberdeen AAC, over-35, 40:30 8 C. McLaren, Stonehaven, 40:43 9 J. White, Aberdeen AAC, 41:36 10 D. Jermieson, Aberdeen AAC, over-35, 41:53
The Haskett connection with the race has been maintained in recent years with Charlie’s son, Mark, finishing third in 2009 and 2010. There was a surprise in the veteran’s division when Paul Graham got the better of previous winners Colin Youngson and Dennis McAra.
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1996
Main Results
Kilner Scores Fourth Win
Alan Reid
and Uli Simpson completed the scoring for the winning Aberdeen AAC side in the team contest while previous winner Lynda Bain was fourth. There were a number of interesting duels in the age group divisions with Law and District’s John Gourlay clocking 35:58 to win the over-50’s category from Aberdeen AAC’s Ian Jolliffe (Aberdeen AAC) and Bill Scullion. George Cruickshank clocked 42:25 to defeat fellow Aberdonian Doug Munro (44:03)
Alan Reid successfully retained his title with another front-running performance. In his wake, however, an interesting battle developed for the minor placings with a mere 19 seconds separating the next nine runners. Ross Arbuckle, a former Scottish junior international cross country runner, led home the chasing pack which also included his Keith and District clubmates Frankie Barton and Simon Pride. The Banffshire side, not surprisingly, lifted the team title and Barton won the over-40 age group award. I managed to hang on for sixth position, second over-40, in my first race for six months following injury problems. Reid has been one of the north-east’s top distance runners since the mid 1980’s. He has won the North of Scotland cross country league on no fewer than 13 occasions, was Inverness half marathon champion three times and he represented Great Britain in the world 100Km ultradistance championships. Debbie Kilner won the women’s prize for the fourth time in six years while the leading veteran, Chrissie Gutteridge, competing for the newly formed Stonehaven club, Splash n Dash, finished second. Hazell Gaskell
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and Les Nicoll (44:47) in the over-60’s. Metro Aberdeen’s John Stewart, who at 75 years was the oldest competitor in the race, completed the course in an impressive 55:38. John’s son Jackie was 19th in 34:08. This was the first year in which I can find results for a wheelchair race, Derek Frew winning in 31:13 with Karen Darke leading home the women’s field in 38:55.
Men 1 A. Reid, Peterhead AAC, 31:07 2 R. Arbuckle, Keith and District, 31:25 3 F. Barton, Keith and District, over-40, 31:29 4 M. Carroll, Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, 31:29 5 S. Pride, Keith and District, 31:30 6 F. Clyne, Metro Aberdeen, over-40, 31:34 7 R. Taylor, Metro Aberdeen, 31:35 8 N. Milovsorov, Metro Aberdeen, 31:39 9 K. Varney, Metro Aberdeen, over-40, 31:42 10 C. Haskett, Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, 31:46 Women 1 D. Kilner, Aberdeen AAC, 36:26 2 C. Gutteridge, Stonehaven Splash n Dash, over-35, 37:44 3 H. Gaskell, Aberdeen AAC, over-35, 38:24 4 L. Bain, Garioch Road Runners, over-35, 38:39 5 C. McLaren, Stonehaven Splash n Dash, 39:42 6 U. Simpson, Aberdeen AAC, over-35, 40:35 7 L. Trahan, Garioch Road Runners, over-35, 41:10 8 C. Mangham, Cosmic Hillbashers, 41:10 9 E. Little, 41:41 10 H. Smith, Aberdeen AAC, 41:45 Wheelchair race - Men 1 D Frew, 31:13 Wheelchair race - Women 1 Karen Darke
Alan Reid and Debbie Kilner
1997
Main Results
Battle of the Septuagenarians Perth-based Mike Carroll, who was fourth in 1996, stamped his authority on the 1997 race with an emphatic win over leading veteran Frankie Barton who again took my scalp to win the over-40’s division. I at least took some solace in leading Metro Aberdeen to the team prize with support from Nick Milovsorov and Keith Farquhar. The real drama, however, came much further down the field as 72 year-old Harold Walker battled with 76 year-old John Stewart for supremacy in their age group. There were
no prizes at stake, just personal pride, but that was enough to inspire these guys to impressive performances. Harold edged home ahead in 63:35 with John just 15 seconds behind. Both men reached the finishing line in Duthie Park well ahead of many other participants who enjoyed an age advantage of more than half a century. Lynda Bain was a good winner of the women’s trophy while Aberdeen runner Melanie Forrester, whose sister Stephanie
would later represent Great Britain in the triathlon at the Olympic Games, was runnerup. Third placed Catherine Mangham led Aberdeen AAC to another team win. An accompanying 5Km run was won by Metro Aberdeen’s Steve Willox. Kenny Suttie defeated title-holder Derek Frew to win the men’s wheelchair race with Karen Darke successfully defending her title ahead of Evelyn Neave in the women’s competition.
Men 1 M. Carroll, Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, 31:02 2 F. Barton, Keith and District, over-40, 31:18 3 F. Clyne, Metro Aberdeen, over-40, 31:35 4 N. Milovsorov, Metro Aberdeen, 32:07 5 I. Williamson, Shetland, 32:08 6 K. Farquhar, Metro Aberdeen, 32:15 7 M. Simpson, Aberdeen AAC, over-40, 32:43 8 M. Turner, Carnegie Harriers, 32:45 9 A. Reid, Peterhead AAC, 33:01 10 R. Taylor, Metro Aberdeen, 33:02 Women 1 L. Bain, Garioch Road Runners, over-35, 38:02 2 M. Forrester, 40:05 3 C. Mangham, Aberdeen AAC, 40:30 4 U. Simpson, Aberdeen AAC, over-35, 40:42 5 T. Morris, 41:25 6 C. Miller, Irvine AC, 41:30 7 L. Trahan, Garioch Road Runners, over-35, 41:52 8 K. Ross, 42:10 9 S. Cranston, over-35, 42:22 10 A. McDiarmid, 42:24 Wheelchair race - Men 1 Kenny Suttie Wheelchair race - Women 1 Karen Darke
Race winner Mike Carroll (No871) sets his watch.
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1998
Main Results
The Missing 500m Runner after runner punched the air in delight as they glanced at the clock above the finishing line in the Duthie Park. Personal best times were being recorded left, right and centre. The first three men were all under the 30 minute mark, which was unprecedented in the history of the race. As I watched from the sidelines, however, I knew something was wrong. Not that I doubted the ability of the guys at the head of the field, but just too many of them were posting times much quicker than they had done before. The warning bells were ringing and I was convinced the course was short.
Route surveying has to take place in the early hours of the morning when there’s little traffic about. When Ian was measuring the route for the 1995 Union Street international races he was doing so at 5am in the morning. It is testimony to his meticulous planning that, aside form the 1998 10Km, the hundreds of other events he has been involved with have passed off without incident. Most people don’t even give this a second thought, but without the input of guys like Ian, there would be no events for runners to enjoy. He is still involved with the race today.
Unfortunately this proved to be the case as the whole field had covered roughly 500m less than they should have. The route should have taken them all the way down Holburn Street to the Bridge of Dee roundabout before turning back along Riverside Drive. The mistake occurred when they turned off Holburn Street too early, at Riverside Place, thereby cutting off a big chunk of the course. Long-serving Aberdeen AAC official Ian Morrison, who was responsible for planning and measuring the course, took a lot of stick for the mistake, although most runners were understanding.
Regardless of the shortened course, this was a highly competitive race with Ross Arbuckle leading Keith and District runners to
Ian has been involved in athletics as a competitor, official and administrator for almost 60 years and during that period he has willingly, voluntarily and enthusiastically devoted countless hours working behind the scenes to ensure that thousands of competitors can enjoy their races. Planning and measuring a race route through busy city streets is a particularly tricky business.
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a clean sweep of the leading positions. Just 23 seconds separated the top six finishers, with Arbuckle chased home by clubmates Simon Pride and Frankie Barton.
Men 1 R. Arbuckle, Keith and District, 29:47 2 S. Pride, Keith and District, 29:52 3 F. Barton, Keith and District, over-40, 29:53 4 A. Farnworth, Tipton, 30:01 5 N. Milovsorov, Metro Aberdeen, 30:09 6 H. Wright, Keith and District, 30:10 7 R. Taylor, Metro Aberdeen, over-40, 30:22 8 K. Farquhar, Metro Aberdeen, 30:33 9 C. Davidson, Aberdeen AAC, 30:41 10 M. Carroll, Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, 31:07
Scottish international Tracey Brindley, who would later become one of the country’s top international mountain runners, won the women’s race. Brindley was frustrated about the shortened route as she believed she was on track to break Elizabeth Riley’s women’s record. Tracey finished over 400m ahead of fellow international Alison Carr (Dundee Hawkhill Harriers) with veteran Jane Blake (Dundee Road Runners) third.
Women 1 T. Brindley, Aberdeen AAC, 33:21 2 A. Carr, Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, 34:43 3 J. Blake, Dundee Road Runners, over-35, 37:02 4 C. McLaren, Stonehaven Splash n Dash, over-35, 37:41 5 J. Wright, 37:58 6 C. Miller, Aberdeen AAC, 37:58 7 F. Abernethy, 38:09 8 V. Keith, Glasgow, over-35, 38:27 9 G. White, Fleet Feet, 38:57 10 S. Cranston, over-35, 39:36
Kenny Suttie and Karen Darke retained the men’s and women’s wheelchair race titles.
Wheelchair race - Men 1 Kenny Suttie Wheelchair race - Women 1 Karen Darke
Runners sprint to the finish at Duthie Park.
1999
Main Results Men 1 B. Masya, Kenya, 30:39 2 M. Carroll, Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, 31:38 3 F. Barton, Keith and District, over-40, 31:57 4 A. Reid, Peterhead AAC, 32:29 5 K. Farquhar, Metro Aberdeen, 32:35 6 B. Law, Keith and District, 33:03 7 R. Taylor, Metro Aberdeen, over-40, 33:06 8 D. Whitehead, Aberdeen AAC, 33:23 9 S. Axon, Hunters Bog Trotters, 33:40 10 M. Masson, Metro Aberdeen, 33:44
Masya’s Surprise Appearance Local athletics followers were surprised, but delighted, when Kenyan star Benson Masya rolled into town for the 1999 race. Masya had a tremendous pedigree over a number of distances and he won the world half marathon title in 1992. Originally a boxer, his fighting qualities proved beneficial in the hurly burly world of top class athletics. He enjoyed competing in Britain and won the Great North Run on Tyneside four years in a row between 1991 and 1996. Benson had also previously competed in Aberdeen, in the international races at Duthie Park in 1992 when he finished a close second behind world 10,000m champion Moses Tanui, and at Union Street in 1994 when he finished 10th in the 5Km won by another Kenyan, Ismael Kirui.
By the time Masya appeared for the Baker Hughes 10Km, however, his top level career was on the wane as his love of the good life had begun to take its toll. Benson, who was based in Southport at the time, was nevertheless still good enough to outclass his 1,345 opponents despite enjoying a far from glamorous build-up to the race. He said: “It took me eight hours to travel to Aberdeen by bus. That wasn’t good. As a result my muscles were tight and it took me the first few kilometres to loosen up.” Masya led all the way and won comfortably from Mike Carroll and Frankie Barton. Afterwards the Kenyan said: “It was very windy and that slowed my time. It’s a shame because this is potentially a very fast course. If it had been calm I might have done 28 minutes.” Benson expressed a desire to return at some point in the future to have a crack at the record, but unfortunately that would never come to pass as a little more than four years later he sadly died, aged 33, after a period of illness.
Women 1 J. Blake, Perth Road Runners, over-35, 38:14 2 B. Comerford, Fleet Feet, 39:50 3 M. Duthie, Fraserburgh, over-35, 40:09 4 A. McDiarmid, 40:15 5 A. Lambeth, Aberdeen University, 40:17 6 R. Mackenzie, Deeside, 40:48 7 L. Mahady, over-35, 41:34 8 S. Courtney, Garioch, over-35, 42:49 9 G. White, over-35, 42:56 10 C. Miller, Aberdeen AAC, 43:01 Wheelchair race - Men 1 Ian Thompson Wheelchair race - Women 1 Karen Darke
Jane Blake
Masya was one of three top class Kenyans to pass away at relatively young ages after unexplained illnesses. Paul Kipkoech, the 1987 world 10,000m champion and Richard Chelimo the 1992 Olympic 10,000m silver medallist also befalling similar fates.
Benson Masya
Dundee’s Jane Blake paced herself perfectly to win the women’s title when finishing 70th overall in 38:14. She allowed Tarland’s triathlon international Bella Comerford to take an early lead before moving ahead after 3Km and going on to win by 90secs. Comerford would, in subsequent years, develop into one of the world’s top long distance
triathletes, enjoying huge success on the ironman racing circuit. Fraserburgh’s Marie Duthie, the 1988 champion, finished third on this occasion. Ian Thompson ended Kenny Suttie’s reign as men’s wheelchair champion but Karen Darke maintained her domination of the women’s event with a fourth straight victory.
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2000
Main Results
Pride’s First Win Fochabers athlete Simon Pride, winner of the world 100Km ultradistance title in France the year before, scored his first Baker Hughes victory and expressed great delight in the achievement. He said: “It’s a race I’ve always wanted to win, so I’m pleased. I’m also happy with the time, but it could have been quicker had it not been so windy.” Mike Carroll again had to settle for second position, but there’s no disgrace in that as it was the second year in a row that he’d been beaten by a world champion. Alan Reid, the 1995 and 1996 winner, was the third man to cross the line but he doesn’t feature in the official results. The Peterhead club runner, who won the Scottish 50Km title just seven days earlier, turned up four minutes after the closing time for on-theday entries, so wasn’t given a race number. “I decided to race anyway,” he said. The official bronze medallist was Nick Milovsorov who led Metro Aberdeen to a successful defence of the team title. Bruce Moroney and Rob Taylor were the other scorers for
the winning side.Other past winners finishing in the top ten were David Duguid (fifth) and Simon Axon (eighth). Claire Couper finished 40th overall to win the women’s trophy by defeating Ruth Mackenzie and Aileen McDiarmid. Laura Mahady, Christine Mouat and Catriona Forman joined forces to give Aberdeen AAC top spot in the women’s team competition. There were some interesting clashes in the various age divisions even although no prizes were up for grabs. Aboyne’s Ben Preece celebrated his 56th birthday by finishing second behind Aberdeen’s Mike Greaves in the over-50 age classification. Torry man Les Nicol led home the over-60’s ahead of Ronnie Dunbar and Steve Taylor, the 1970 Scottish 10 mile champion and former cross country international. Kenny Suttie got back to winning ways in the wheelchair race with his third success in four years.
Simon Pride scored his first Baker Hughes victory.
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Men 1 S. Pride, Keith, 30:33 2 M. Carroll, Mizuno Racing Club, 31:32 3 N. Milovsorov, Metro Aberdeen, 32:38 4 B. Moroney, Metro Aberdeen, 33:43 5 D. Duguid, Aberdeen AAC, 33:45 6 R. Taylor, Metro Aberdeen, over-40, 33:48 7 M. Masson, Metro Aberdeen, 33:52 8 S. Axon, Hunters Bog Trotters, 34:01 9 C. Haskett, Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, 34:05 10 A. White, Metro Aberdeen, 34:11 Women 1 C. Couper, Fife AC, 38:07 2 R. Mackenzie, Deeside, 39:53 3 A. McDiarmid, 40:06 4 C. McLaren, Splash n Dash, over-35, 40:12 5 L. Mahady, Aberdeen AAC, over-35, 41:04 6 M. Taggart, over-35, 41:20 7 C. Caddell, Ayr, 41:24 8 A. Murray, Arbroath Footers, over-35, 41:59 9 J. Gellender, Arbroath Footers, 42:02 10 A. Bell, 42:08 Wheelchair race - Men 1 Kenny Suttie, 30:03
2001
Main Results
Mackenzie’s Personal Record Simon Pride, who had switched allegiance from Keith and District AC to Metro Aberdeen, easily defended his title while Ruth Mackenzie set a personal best time to win the women’s prize for the first time.
while Frankie Barton was first home in the over-40 age group yet again when taking third position overall. Pride, Nick Milovsorov and Keith Farquhar combined to give Metro Aberdeen the team prize.
Pride’s winning time was well outside his personal best of 30min 12sec but he was satisfied with the outcome. He said: “I’d have been better pleased with a faster time but the main thing was to win the race so I’m happy with that.
Ruth Mackenzie took the women’s trophy when placing 75th from 1,473 finishers. She also helped Deeside Runners take second position in the team competition behind Aberdeen AAC who won for the 11th year in a row. Lynsey Still, Louise Smith and Catriona Forman were the scorers for the city club.
Matt Bell, a postgraduate agricultural student, smashed his personal best time for the distance when finishing second in 31:41
Stonehaven’s Mairi McIvor clocked a personal best of 39:31 when finishing
Ruth Mackenzie
second, with Aberdeen’s Fiona Williams pipping the previous year’s bronze medallist, Aileen McDiarmid, for third. Ian Thompson, husband of paralympic gold medallist Tanni Grey, finished ahead of Mark Telford and defending champion Kenny Suttie to win the wheelchair 10Km for the second time in three years.
Men 1 S. Pride, Metro Aberdeen, 31:12 2 M. Bell, Aberdeen University, 31:41 3 F. Barton, Keith and District, over-40, 31:55 4 N. Milovsorov, Metro Aberdeen, 31:59 5 C. Davidson, Aberdeen AAC, 32:22 6 K. Farquhar, Metro Aberdeen, 32:39 7 K. Varney, Metro Aberdeen, over-40, 32:51 8 C. Haskett, Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, over-40, 33:10 9 B. Hukins, Aberdeen AAC, 33:34 10 R. Taylor, Metro Aberdeen, 33:55 Women 1 R. Mackenzie, Deeside Runners, over-35, 39:14 2 M. McIvor, Splash n Dash, over-35, 39:31 3 F. Williams, 39:53 4 A. McDiarmid, 41:23 5 M. Taggart, Dundee Road Runners, over-35, 41:30 6 K. Ross, Edinburgh, 41:31 7 D. Hardy, Moray Road Runners 41:49 8 R. Gordon, 42:40 9 S. Courtney, Garioch, 42:41 10 J. Eaton, Garioch, 42:40 Wheelchair race - Men 1 Ian Thomson, 26:55
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2002
Main Results
Herriot Jets In for Victory In a repeat of the previous year’s result, Simon Pride and Ruth Mackenzie took the men’s and women’s titles, but the real star of the show was wheelchair winner Kenny Herriot who had jetted home from Florida just 24 hours before the race. Kenny, who made his wheelchair racing debut in the Baker Hughes race just 12 months earlier, propelled himself round the course in 28min 07sec to finish well ahead of Mark Telford and Nicky Diatchenko. He said: “I went to Florida to get a specially fitted racing chair. The one I’d been using was a second-hand one that wasn’t made for me. Now I’ve got one that’s designed for my body.”
Kenny would go on to establish himself as one of Britain’s top wheelchair racers, setting records for numerous distances. Karen Darke, meanwhile, consolidated her domination of the women’s wheelchair event by scoring her fifth win in seven years. Pride’s victory in the men’s race came three weeks after winning the Belfast marathon. His run also set him up for an appearance for Scotland in the Manchester Commonwealth Games marathon later in the summer where he finished 16th in 2hr 23min 56sec. Mountain running expert John Brooks forced the pace in the early stages but Pride
was soon into his stride and long before the end he had the race sewn up. Frankie Barton finished strongly to take third position and in doing so he led home the over-40 age group field for the fifth time in six years. Deeside’s Mackenzie produced another personal best performance to retain the women’s title ahead of Aberdeen runners Fiona Williams and Aileen McDiarmid. Splash n Dash ended Aberdeen AAC’s stranglehold on the women’s team title thanks to the combined efforts of Mairi McIvor, Linda Sim and Caroline Beck.
Men 1 S. Pride, Metro Aberdeen, 31:35 2 J. Brooks, Lochaber, 32:16 3 F. Barton, Keith and District, over-40, 32:18 4 K. Farquhar, Metro Aberdeen, over-40, 33:11 5 J. Whittet, Keith and District, 33:57 6 J. Matheson, Metro Aberdeen, 34:01 7 D. Duguid, Aberdeen AAC, 34:02 8 C. Haskett, Aberdeen AAC, over-40, 34:06 9 M. Stewart, Keith and District, 34:12 10 R. Houston, Aberdeen University, 34:44 Women 1 R. Mackenzie, Deeside Runners, 39:06 2 F. Williams, 40:07 3 A. McDiarmid, 40:49 4 M. McIvor, Splash n Dash, over-35, 41:06 5 M. Taggart, Dundee Road Runners, over-35, 41:54 6 A. Hepburn, 42:43 7 E. Toth, Aberdeen University, under-20, 42:54 8 L. Mahady, Aberdeen AAC, over-35, 43:10 9 S. Porter, 43:19 10 D. Unwin, 43:30 Wheelchair race - Men 1 Kenny Herriot, 28:07 Wheelchair race - Women 1 Karen Darke, 44:26
Kenny Herriot
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2003
Main Results
Barton Ends His Long Wait Frankie Barton finally got the win he had long cherished when he raced home ahead of a field of 1,663 runners. The 47 year-old Keith and District stalwart had featured near the head of the field on numerous occasions in the past, but this time he was to earn top spot on the podium. It wasn’t easy, however, as Metro Aberdeen’s Keith Farquhar offered a stern challenge throughout. At the end there was only three seconds between them, but Barton’s sheer determination and superior sprinting speed ensured the winner’s trophy would be heading up the A96.He said:”It has been a long time coming, but finally I’ve won it. I thought this might be my big chance so I was totally committed to going for it. Once I got ahead in the closing stages, I felt confident I could hold on.” Three-times previous winner Simon Pride, who was on the comeback trail following injury, finished third. Just 16secs separated
the top three men. Pride, Farquhar and John Matheson gave Metro Aberdeen the team prize. North of Scotland champion Jane Barker (Moray Road Runners) took 32nd position overall when winning the women’s prize ahead of Fiona Williams who was runner-up for the second year in a row. Barker said:” It’s the first time I’ve done the race and it was really good. I enjoyed the atmosphere.” Dyce runner Jenny Robertson, tackling her first 10Km, surprised many more experienced runners by taking third position ahead of veteran Mairi McIvor. Fifth-placed Julie Stephen led Aberdeen AAC to the team award along with Catriona Forman and Sally Ross.
Men 1 F. Barton, Keith and District, over-40, 32:41 2 K. Farquhar, Metro Aberdeen, over-40, 32:44 3 S. Pride, Metro Aberdeen, 32:57 4 G. Gaffney, Inverclyde, over-40, 33:03 5 G. Bee, Fife AC, under-20, 33:10 6 G. Sim, Moray, over-40, 33:28 7 A. Reid, Peterhead AAC, 33:42 8 M. Simpson, Grampian Fire, over-40, 33:49 9 D. Duguid, Aberdeen AAC, 33:52 10 M. Beattie, Aberdeen AAC, 34:01 Women 1 J. Barker, Moray Road Runners, 37:11 2 F. Williams, 38:19 3 J. Robertson, 39:19 4 M. McIvor, Splash n Dash, over-35, 40:30 5 J. Stephen, Aberdeen AAC, 42:22 6 S. Waddell, 42:59 7 J. Morris, Perth Road Runners, over-35, 43;12 8 J. Eaton, over-35, 43;16 9 S. Rennie, 43:33 10 N. White, Cosmic Hillbashers, 43:37 Wheelchair race - Men 1 Kenny Herriot, 25:03
Kenny Herriot was in superb form in the wheelchair race, blasting his way to a magnificent new course record of 25:03
Jane Barker
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2004
Main Results Men 1 S. Pride, Metro Aberdeen, 30:59 2 M. Carroll, Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, 31:36 3 G. Bee, Fife AC, under-20, 32:15 4 J. Brooks, Lochaber AC, 32:37 5 M. Stewart, Keith and District, 33:02 6 B. Hukins, Aberdeen AAC, 33:09 7 C. Davidson, Aberdeen AAC, 33:22 8 M. Beattie, Aberdeen AAC, 33:27 9 G. Sim, Moray, over-50, 33:28 10 J. Whittet, Keith and District, 33:53
Pride in Fourth Win Jane Barker successfully defended the women’s title while Dutch runner Rina Zijgers, an exchange student at Aberdeen University, was second and two-times previous winner Ruth Mackenzie was third. Zijgers said:”I really enjoyed it. This is my last race before returning to Holland, and it was great.”
Simon Pride, who was preparing for the following weekend’s European 100Km ultra championships in Italy, claimed the men’s title for the fourth time in five years. The Fochabers athlete demolished the challenge of Dundee Hawkhill’s Mike Carroll who had won the open 10Km at Balmoral Castle earlier in the month. Carroll paid tribute to the man who defeated him. He said: “Simon took off very early on and I tried really hard to keep him in sight, but I just couldn’t go any faster. He’s obviously in great form.” Aberdeen University medical student Graham Bee set a personal best time when finishing third overall and top in the under-20 age group. Moray’s George Sim, 54, showed excellent form to finish ninth overall in 33min 28sec and so became the oldest winner of the veteran prize. There were a number of other notable age group performances with Boddam’s Betty May, 61, recording 45:39 while Aberdeen’s Doug Munro, 72, recorded 51:32 to defeat his long time city rival George Cruickshank,70, who stopped the clock at 53:56. Buckie’s George Murray was the third over-70 year-old in 60:02. All three were regular performers in the 10Km from its beginnings.
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Women 1 J. Barker, Moray Road Runners, over-35, 37:14 2 R. Zijgers, Wageningen, 39:53 3 R. Mackenzie, Deeside Runners, over-35, 40:15 4 G. Pyper, Splash n Dash, over-35, 40:44 5 M. Wood, over-35, 40:55 6 A. Hepburn, 41:17 7 N. Kennedy, 42:35 8 M. Kemp, 42:58 9 M. Mackie, over-35, 43:04 10 M. Stephen, 43:08 Wheelchair race - Men 1 Tony Stott
Jane Barker and Simon Pride
2005
Main Results
Barton Flies Flag for Veteran Runners Frankie Barton (Keith and District) outsprinted Aberdeen University medical student Graham Bee (Fife AC) over the final 150m to win ahead of a record field of 2,386 participants. The duo were locked together throughout the contest but Barton’s experience told in the end. He shrugged off every attempt his young opponent made to break away before unleashing a powerful finishing kick to edge home two seconds in front with a time of 31min 54sec. It was the narrowest winning margin in the history of the event. Barton, 49, was delighted to win for the second time in three years and again became the oldest ever winner. “I am really chuffed with that performance,” he said. “I think Graham tried to break me early on because he went off like a rocket, and there was no easing up. But I knew if I could stay with him until the closing stages I’d be able to take him. I waited until he slowed to take the final corner then I moved into a different gear to pull clear.” Bee, 20, was disappointed not to win, but took some consolation by clocking a
race for the third year in a row. The Elgin women’s time of 37:39 was beaten by just 35 men in the massive field, and it brought her home well clear of her nearest challenger. “I’m really, really pleased,” she said. “That was much quicker than my last 10Km. The conditions were perfect and I was extremely happy to win for the third time.”
Aberdeen ACC winning mens team.
personal best time. “I tried to get away from Frankie at a few points, but couldn’t break him. Still, I was hoping to get under 32mins, and I’ve done that, so I should be happy because I haven’t really been doing any speed work.” Aberdonian David Wright (Hunters Bog Trotters), whose brother Steve finished second in the race 12 years earlier, was third in 32:53. “That’s not too far outside my best time,” he said. “It’s the first time I’ve done the race and I enjoyed it.” Ben Hukins, in fourth position, led Aberdeen AAC to a successful defence of the team title with support from Malcolm Beattie (fifth) and Gary Riddell (ninth). With Barton winning the race outright, the top veteran prize went to Nick Milovsorov (Metro Aberdeen) who was eighth overall. Scott Neyedli, later to become a top professional triathlete, was 15th.
Metro Aberdeen winning women’s team.
Jane Barker (Moray Road Runners) returned to her best form when winning the women’s
Jenny Robertson (Metro Aberdeen) finished in second position, in 39:45, and led her club to the team prize with backing from Ingrid Machell (ninth) and Jenny Cain (14th). Angela Hepburn (Aberdeen AAC) was just five secs behind Robertson in third position to record her highest finishing position in the race.
Men 1 F. Barton, Keith and District, over-40, 31:54 2 G. Bee, Fife AC, 31:56 3 D. Wright, Hunters Bog Trotters, 32:53 4 B. Hukins, Aberdeen AAC, 33:08 5 M. Beattie, Aberdeen AAC, 33:34 6 L. Miles, Maidenhead, 34:11 7 S. Young, Banks O’Dee, 34;15 8 N. Milovsorov, Metro Aberdeen, over-40, 34:24 9 G. Riddel, Aberdeen AAC, 34:42 10 S. Andrew, Metro, 34:45 Women 1 J. Barker, Moray, over-35, 37:39 2 J. Robertson, Metro, 39:45 3 A. Hepburn, Aberdeen AAC, 39:50 4 F. Williams, 40:51 5 L. Hildebrand, 41:01 6 M. Rennie, 41:04 7 C. Milne, over-45, 41:26 8 J. Cohen, over-40, 41:29 9 I. Machell, Metro, over-35, 41:53 10 G. Clunas, over-45, 41:55
Inverbervie’s Graham Hayes was first in the over-60’s in 45:37 while George Cruickshank took the honours in the over-70’s with a time of 49:35 for 838th position. Marion Sutherland was first in the over-50 women’s division in 43:53 while Betty May led home the over-60’s in 47:37. There was a poignant moment before the run got underway when a one minute’s silence was observed in memory of veteran Deeside runner Heather Brodie. Heather was to have taken part in the 10Km, but tragically was killed in a traffic accident while cycling on the Raemoir to Torphins road the previous week.
Frankie Barton outsprints Graham Bee in the closest ever finish.
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2006
Main Results Men 1 D. Shinnie, Aberdeen AAC, under-20, 31:58 2 J. Mareque, City of Edinburgh, 32:18 3 S. Pride, Forres Harriers, 32:34 4 B. Phillips, Lasswade, 32:41 5 M. Stewart, Keith, over-40, 32:41 6 G. Bee, Aberdeen University, 32:43 7 J. Brown, Cambuslang, over-40, 32:44 8 A. Wright, Cambuslang, 32:47 9 F. Barton, Keith, over-50, 32:49 10 P. Donavan, Metro, 33:50
Shinnie is Youngest Winner in 20th Anniversary Race he succeeded as men’s race champion. Frankie had to settle for ninth position on this occasion. Shinnie gradually extended his lead in the windy conditions and looked strong as he powered home in 31min 58sec, completing the course 20secs ahead of his nearest challenger. “As it was my first 10Km I didn’t feel I was under any pressure,” he said. “I didn’t know what to expect, but the pace felt very easy so I just went with the leaders. There was a bit of messing about as they ran into the wind, and I got a bit fed up, so I decided to take off between 5Km and 6Km. I pulled away and going into the final kilometre I knew no-one would get me.”
Darren Shinnie
Darren Shinnie, making his 10Km debut, became the youngest winner of the race when he finished ahead of more than 2,500 participants in a competition which was also part of the Scottish road running grand prix series. The 19 year-old Aberdeen AAC runner, who won his first Great Britain under-20 call-up the previous weekend, showed great maturity to sit with the pack in the early stages before pulling away over the second half of the race. Darren was 30 years younger than Frankie Barton, the man
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Edinburgh-based Spaniard Juan Mareque (City of Edinburgh AC), winner of the Stena Drilling Tartan 10K at Balmoral the previous month, chased Shinnie home in 32:18. He said:”I wasn’t feeling too good, so it was quite hard. But Darren did well. When he broke away I still thought I might be able to pull him back, but it wasn’t to be.” Simon Pride (Forres Harriers), four times a winner over the previous seven years, had to settle for third position in 32:34. Simon has now represented three different clubs in the race, having previously competed in the colours of Keith and District and Metro Aberdeen. The former world 100Km champion admitted he wasn’t in peak condition. “I felt a bit heavy legged,” he said.
“I thought I might be able to pick things up in the second half, but it didn’t happen.” Aberdeen-based Barney Phillips (Lasswade AC) led the charge for fourth place as thirteen seconds separated the next eight finishers. Fifth-placed Mike Stewart (Keith and District) won the over-40 age group title. Shinnie linked with Ben Hukins and 1988 champion David Dugid to give Aberdeen AAC the men’s team prize. Aberdonian Lyn Wilson set an event record time of 35:17 to win the women’s title when finishing 19th overall. The Carnethy club runner, who also won the Stena Tartan Drilling 10Km at Balmoral one month earlier, was happy with the outcome. “The wind made it tough,” she said. “I was on my own for much of the way and my legs seemed to get blown into each other at some stages.” Former Commonwealth Games athlete Alison Simpson (Kilmarnock Harriers), who was getting back to peak form after taking time out to have a baby, was runner-up in 36:23 while Moray’s Jane Barker, winner in each of the three previous years, was third in 39:13. Scottish record holder Kenny Herriot turned on the style in the wheelchair race, completing the distance in 25:09, just six secs outside the course record he set in 2003.
Women 1 L. Wilson, Carnethy, 35:17 2 A. Simpson, Kilmarnock, 36:23 3 J. Barker, Moray, over-35, 39;13 4 R. Buchan, Aberdeen AAC, over-35, 39:19 5 F. Thompson, Central, under-20, 40:47 6 A. Hepburn, Aberdeen AAC, over-35, 41:01 7 M. Emery, 42:33 8 C. Milne, over-35, 42:48 9 G. Cardno-Strachan, Fraserburgh, 43;20 10 S. Gunn, 43:37 Wheelchair 1 K. Herriot, 25:09 2 D. Hartley & Ruth McNee, 73:28
2007
Main Results Men
Carroll Bridges 10 Year Gap Mike Carroll bridged a ten year gap when winning ahead of a record field of 2,695 participants. The 36 year-old Perth Road Runner had last won the Aberdeen race in 1997 and had been runner-up on three occasions since then. He was naturally delighted to once again take top spot on the rostrum. He said: “I’m pleased to win and if it hadn’t been for the wind the time might have been quicker, but it’s not bad given the conditions.” Carroll completed the course in 31min 55sec but he was pursued all the way by four-times previous champion Simon Pride (Forres Harriers) who finished nine seconds behind. “Simon is running well again,” Carroll said. “But I felt quite strong today and when we turned out of the wind, after 7Km, I decided to have a go. I got a little gap and was able to maintain that to the finish.”
some doubts about racing, but I’m glad I did,” she said. Arlene Bristow, from Shetland, broke through the pain barrier to take second position in a personal best 38:25. “I have a serious back problem at the moment, but I just wanted to do this race to prove a point. I’m waiting to see a surgeon in Aberdeen about my back. This will be my last big run until I get things sorted out but I was determined to do it. It’s only the second 10Km I have run and my time is over a minute quicker than the last one I did.”
Aberdeen’s Kenny Herriot brushed aside the opposition to win the men’s wheelchair race in 29:05 while Dame Tanni GreyThompson was the leading woman in 38:41. Tanni,winner of 11 Paralympic Games gold medals in a career spanning 20 years, enjoyed her first racing experience in the north east. She said: “It was great, despite the weather. Although I have retired from international competition I will never stop taking part in events like this one. My husband Ian has competed here before so this time I thought I would join him. I’d love to come back.”
Elaine Whyte (Fraserburgh Running Club), winner of numerous north-east 10Km races, was third in 39:13.
1 M. Carroll, Perth Road Runners, 31:55 2 S. Pride, Forres Harriers, 32:04 3 J. Mareque, City of Edinburgh, 32:36 4 B. Phillips, Aberdeen AAC, 33:02 5 I. Murdoch, Law and District, 33:34 6 F. Barton, Keith, over-50, 33:35 7 C. Winward, Salford, 33:36 8 K. Buchan, Fraserburgh, 33:38 9 K. Greig, Forres, 33:41 10 R. Cartwright, Giffnock, under-20, 33:54
Women 1 L. Wilson, Carnethy, over-35, 35:53 2 A. Bristow, Shetland, over-35, 38:25 3 E. Whyte, Fraserburgh, over-35, 39:13 4 R. Buchan, Aberdeen AAC, over-35, 39:45 5 R. Murray, 40:20 6 P. Tosh, 41:16 7 S. Swan, Lothian, 41:45 8 R. Johnson, over-35, 41:46 9 L. Stephen, Fraserburgh, 42:09 10 P. Findlay, 42:25 Wheelchair race - Men 1 K. Herriot, Aberdeen, 29:05 2 M. Telford, 32:53 3 I. Thompson, New Marske, 38:10 Wheelchair race - Women
Juan Mareque (City of Edinburgh) was third in 32:36 while two-times previous winner Frankie Barton (Keith and District) took the veteran men’s prize when finishing sixth overall in 33:35.
1 T. Grey-Thompson, New Marske, 38:41
Rory Cartwright (Giffnock North) won the junior men’s race from Kyle Cowie (Moray Road Runners). The 1988 race winner, David Duguid, showed his durability be finishing 18th. Aberdonian Lyn Wilson shrugged aside prerace fitness worries to retain the women’s title when finishing 22nd overall in 35:53. The Scottish mountain running international’s time was just 36secs slower than the course record she set the previous year. “I had
Lyn Wilson and Mike Carroll
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2008
Main Results
Carroll Completes a Hat-Trick while Thompson Wins for First Time Mike Carroll (Perth Road Runners) defeated a field of 2,600 participants to retain the men’s title. The 37 year-old, who also won in 1997, broke away from Frankie Barton (Keith and District AC) after 7Km and went on to win by 150m in a time of 32min 46sec. Carroll was delighted with the result, but admitted he wasn’t firing on all cyclinders. He said:”That was hard work. I’m still feeling tired from last month’s London marathon. But I was strong enough to pull away when we hit a slight incline with about 3Km to go and after that I knew I’d done enough to hold on for the win.” Barton, the 2003 and 2005 champion, completed the course in 33:12 to maintain his remarkably consistent record in the race. Aside from his two victories, this was the seventh time the 52 year-old veteran had finished in the top three finishing positions
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over the previous 13 years. He said:”I’m happy with that performance, but I think I’ll take a break for a short while as my old bones are feeling the strain a bit.” Barney Phillips held off a strong finish from his Aberdeen AAC clubmate Bereket Hagos to take third position in 33:29. Hagos,18, a Scottish-based Eritrean, won the junior prize when finishing two secs behind in fourth position overall. Fiona Thompson (Aberdeen University) set a personal best time of 38:09 to win the women’s title for the first time. The geography student knocked seven secs off her previous best time for the distance set on the Isle of Man earlier in the year. She said: “I’m happy to get a personal best time but I thought I might have gone under 38 mins today. Still, it’s a good win.”
Fiona Thompson
Elaine Whyte (Fraserburgh Running Club), third the previous year, was runner-up in 38:56 while London-based Kemnay runner Claire Imrie was third in 39:33. Claire was delighted with her run. The north-east woman, who is based in London and competes for Serpentine Running Club, recorded a personal best time of 39min 33sec. She said:”I’m originally from Kemnay but I’ve been down in London for a long time. My parents still live up here so I thought I’d combine a visit to see them with an outing in the 10Km. It’s the first time I’ve run in Aberdeen and I really enjoyed the race. I’m pleased because I got a personal best time. It was a very well organised race and I’d definitely like to come back and do it again.” Mark Telford won the wheelchair race in 32:04.
Men 1 M. Carroll, Perth, 32:46 2 F. Barton, Keith, over-50, 33:12 3 B. Phillips, Aberdeen AAC, 33:29 4 B. Hagos, Aberdeen AAC, under-20, 33:31 5 J. Brooks, Dublin, 33:40 6 M. Bilton, Metro, 33:48 7 P. Downie, Highgate, 33:53 8 I. Williamson, Cambuslang, over-40, 34:23 9 P. Donavan, Metro, 34:30 10 G. Bee, Fife, 34:31 Women 1 F. Thompson, Aberdeen University, 38:09 2 E. Whyte, Fraserburgh, over-35, 38:56 3 C. Imrie, Serpentine, over-35, 39:33 4 J. Robertson, Metro, 39:45 5 A. Bristow, Shetland, 39:56 6 R. Mackenzie, Deeside, over-35, 40:00 7 R. Buchan, Aberdeen AAC, over-35, 40:41 8 C.Tan, Fleet Feet, 40:46 9 S. Swan, Lothian, 40:48 10 P. Tosh, Aberdeen AAC, 41:08 Wheelchair race - Men 1 M. Telford, 32:04 2 G. Ewan, 44:30 3 P. Taylor, 49:39 Wheelchair race - Women 1 J. Cayton, 51:38
2009
Main Results
Husband and Wife Success Edinburgh-based Spanish athlete Juan Mareque and his Aberdeen-born wife Lyn Wilson scored an impressive family double by scooping the top prizes. Mareque led from the start and went on to win the men’s title ahead of a field of 2,540 participants, while Wilson broke her own course-record when finishing eighth overall. The Spaniard, who was runner-up in 2006 and third in 2007, made no mistake on this occasion as his front-running tactics paid off with victory in his fastest Aberdeen time of 32min 17sec. Mareque admitted, however, that he was made to work hard for his success. He said:”It was very tough.I found the wind quite
Juan Mareque
strong in places because I was on my own, so I’m pleased to win.”
Aberdeen AAC collected the women’s team prize with Tosh backed up by Natalie Riley (eighth) and Fiona Geddes (26th).
Wilson was also satisfied with her performance which shaved six secs off the course record she set in 2007 and gave her a third Aberdeen win in four years. She said:”It was fine, but hard work. I didn’t realise it was inside the record.” Ben Hukins (Aberdeen AAC) finished nine secs behind Mareque to take second position in the men’s race. The Aberdeen runner, who was also runner-up in the previous month’s Balmoral 10Km, admitted he just couldn’t live with Mareque’s early pace. He said:”Juan made an early move and after that I could never quite close the gap. I tried a few times, but he kept his lead well and I just couldn’t get back to him.” Hukins took some consolation by leading Aberdeen AAC to the team prize with backing from youngsters Mark Haskett, who finished third in 33:37, and Ross Fulton who was fourth in 34:18. Frankie Barton (Keith and District), the 2003 and 2005 winner, maintained his fine record by winning the veteran’s prize in fifth position overall, just ahead of his clubmate Mike Stewart. Pamela Tosh (Aberdeen AAC) smashed her personal best time by over one minute when finishing runner-up in the women’s contest in 38:42. Aberdeen-based Malaysian runner Chiin-Hooi Tan (Fleet Feet Triathletes) ran her quickest ever time of 39:31 to finish third and Moira Davie (Aberdeen University) also set a lifetime best of 39:38 in fourth position.
Men 1 J. Mareque, Edinburgh AC, 32:17 2 B. Hukins, Aberdeen AAC, 32:26 3 M. Haskett, Aberdeen AAC, 33:37 4 R. Fulton, Aberdeen AAC, 34:18 5 F. Barton, Keith, over-50, 34:22 6 M. Stewart, Keith, over-40, 34:42 7 L. Miles, Maidenhead, 34:49 8 J. Joy, Aberdeen AAC, 35:27 9 D. Munro, Cambuslang, 35:37 10 C. Mitchell, Lochaber, 35:44 Women 1 L. Wilson, Carnethy, over-35, 35:11 2 P. Tosh, Aberdeen AAC, 38:42 3 C-H. Tan, Fleet Feet, 39:31 4 M. Davie, Aberdeen University, 39:38 5 R. Buchan, Aberdeen AAC, over-35, 40:29 6 L. Amy, 40:30 7 F. Rudkin, Aberdeen University, 41:25 8 N. Riley, Aberdeen AAC, 42:09 9 P. Tandy, Metro Aberdeen, 42:14 10 E. Hind, 42:17
Third placed Mark Haskett. His dad Carlie was second in 1995.
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2010
Main Results
Hukins Achieves Long Sought Goal Ben Hukins ended a six-year wait to win the City of Aberdeen Baker Hughes 10Km for the first time while Lyn Wilson cracked the women’s course record when finishing 10th overall from a field of 3,044 participants. Hukins, a member of Aberdeen AAC, first competed in the city’s big race in 2004 and has made four other appearances since then. His best previous performance was a second placing behind Edinburgh’s Juan Mareque in 2009. There was to be no stopping the Aberdeen man on this occasion as he took control of proceedings from the start and went on to finish 47secs ahead of his closest challenger in a time of 32min 01sec. It was the biggest winning margin for a decade. He said: “I’m obviously delighted as this was one of main aims. It’s the fifth time I’ve run the race and it’s great to finally win it. Mark Haskett was with me until just after the
4Km point but I got away after that and just focussed on keeping ahead. Once I got the gap I felt safe although I tired in the closing stages.” Title-holder Mareque overhauled Aberdeen AAC’s Haskett in the second half to take second position in 32:48. He said:”That’s my first 10Km since winning last year, so I found it very hard.” Haskett repeated his third position from 2009 and his clubmate Ross Fulton also matched last year’s performance by finishing fourth to secure the men’s team prize for Aberdeen AAC. Fulton clocked a personal best 33:37 which also earned him the under-20 age group title while fifth-placed Frankie Barton (Keith and District) won the veteran’s award.
I’d realised earlier on that I was running that fast I might have been able to push on even more in the later stages. I just concentrated on my own race and didn’t think about who else was around me.” Wilson was chased all the way by North champion Melissa Whyte (Inverness Harriers) who came within four secs of her lifetime best by recording 35:22. She said: “I really enjoyed it. I was always quite close to Lyn but I could never close the gap.” Julie Hendry (Metro Aberdeen) recorded a personal best 40:06 to take third position. She also led Metro Aberdeen to the team prize with backing from Louise Beveridge (eighth) and Vivienne Bruce (21st).
Wilson’s victory in the women’s race gave her a fourth title in five years and her time of 35:07 sliced 4secs off the record she set in 2009. She said: “I’m pleased with that, but if
Aviemore’s Bryan Evans showed impressive form to win the wheelchair race ahead of Gordon Smith in 29:08.
Women 1 L. Wilson, Carnethy, over-35, 35:07 2 M. Whyte, Inverness Harriers, over-45, 35:22 3 J. Hendry, Metro Aberdeen, 40:06 4 C. Milne, over-50, 40:28 5 J. Erskine, 40:32 6 N. Moir, Aberdeen AAC, 40:53 7 C. Wyse, Kings Triathletes, over-35, 41:18 8 L. Beveridge, Metro Aberdeen, 41:24 9 S. Walker, over-40, 42:06 10 K. Scott, 42:21 Under-20 1 K. Wood, Chapel Cheetahs, 44:35 Wheelchair 1 B. Evans, 29:08 2 G. Smith, 35:56
Ben Hukins
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Men 1 B. Hukins, Aberdeen AAC, 32:01 2 J. Mareque, Edinburgh, 32:48 3 M. Haskett, Aberdeen AAC, 33:01 4 R. Fulton, Aberdeen AAC, under-20, 33:37 5 F. Barton, Keith, over-50, 33:47 6 N. Milovsorov, AFRC, over-45, 33:54 7 K. Greig, Forres, 34:17 8 C. Davidson, over-40, 34:41 9 N. Millott, Metro Aberdeen, 34:49 10 K. Farquhar, AFRC, over-45, 35:11
Acknowledgements
Other Books by Fraser Clyne
I am extremely grateful to everyone at Sport Aberdeen for asking me to write this history of the City of Aberdeen Baker Hughes 10Km. Nigel Spencer,David Henderson and Graham Morrison all prompted me to take on the task and had it not been for their encouragement I would never have gone ahead with it.
‘A Hardy Race - The Scottish marathon Championship 1946-200 and the Scottish Women’s Championship 1983-2000’, (with Colin Youngson). Published 2000.
Scott Cumming, Neil Saddler and Keith Fraser all played a major role in designing and laying out this publication. I am extremely grateful to them for doing this in an expert and patient manner. And a big thank you must be given to Aberdeen City Council Photographer Norman Adams. Norman, like all the dedicated runners, has turned out in all weather to record this prestigious race, capturing some great moments in the race history which are included in this publication. I must also thank my family for allowing me to disappear for hours, if not days, at a time to rake through old papers, bury my head in a laptop, and generally be very unsociable while the document was being drafted. I must also mention those runners who have given me very useful information about the race, particularly Gordon McCulloch who has run in all 24 so far and has kept meticulous records of his performances and impressions of each race. Fraser Clyne, April 2011.
‘Arbroath FC Miscellany: Arbroath Trivia, History, Facts and Stats’. Published 2010.
Aberdeens 10k, The History of the City’s Biggest Road Race ©Fraser Clyne and Sport Aberdeen Fraser Clyne has asserted his rights in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work. Published by Sport Aberdeen. First published 2011. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher and the copyright owners.
Aberdeen’s 10k 10k Aberdeen’s TheHistory Historyofofthe theCity’s City’sBiggest BiggestRoad RoadRace Race The Fraser Clyne ByBy Fraser Clyne