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January 16 2025
Promoting Athletics in Orkney
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TRAINING UPDATE
Just a reminder for all athletes that all training is on as normal NEXT WEEK - Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, but then Primary & Secondary take a break for the October Holidays. Senior track sessions on Wednesday continue throughout the holidays.
First night back at training will be Thurs 30th for secondary and then Tues 4th Nov for primary.
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The Loch Ness Marathon is always an event that draws in plenty of athletes from Orkney despite sitting late in the summer - perhaps it’s the free soup? Or the possibility of seeing Nessie? Either way, today’s effort was no different, with some phenomenal times across the board in pleasant conditions.
Chelsea Cook shattered the Orkney Senior Women’s marathon record, taking more than 12 minutes off the already excellent time she’d set over this course two years ago. Chelsea’s finishing time was 3 hours, 7 minutes and 55 seconds, finishing 11th female and 139th overall out of a field of over 4000.
It was also a big PB for Dawn Williams - perhaps aided by not being dressed as a house this time round - as she set a new Orkney record for the V50 category in 3 hours, 41 minutes and 9 seconds. Dawn finished 11th in her age category - and first female amongst the vegan runner representatives!
Other Orkney runners included club Membership Secretary Mairi Dennison, who donned her own running shoes and made her way around the course in 5:20:30 as well as Cathy Smith (4:01:05), Ian Purnell (4:12:57), Scarlett Palmer (3:53:24), Theresa Sandison (4:27:04) and Georgina Scaife (4:19:44)
Orkney also had one representative in the 10k, with Jennifer Bichan repeating her Island Games track exploits with a PB of 37:11 and was fourth female finisher and 46th overall. Friends of the club Michelle Slater and Carla Deakin also completed the 10k in 41:10 and 1:13:34 respectively.
Congratulations to everyone, and enjoy the soup!
Also worth congratulating are Sarah Scarth and Gary Tait for their successful first race in the 2025 edition of the long-running Orkney Cross Country League which took place at Dounby Showground today. Check out their page (www.facebook.com/people/Orkney-Cross-Country-League/100064798926133/) for the results and photos!
Huge Congratulations to you all π€©πͺπ
Well done everyone π€©
Our friends at Orkney Triathlon Club have rearranged their Aquathlon for Sunday 12th October - it's open to previous entrants and new from 9 years and up.
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The weekend’s sports results aren’t quite finished yet!
After a successful Island Games back home in Orkney, Anna Tait is back running stateside and set a new Senior Women’s Orkney record in the 10k road race at the MLK Dream Run in Portland, Oregon at the weekend. Anna’s time of 35 minutes exactly tied for 1st female with another Celtic connection - Aoibhe Richardson of Ireland, the two crossing the line together as the third and fourth overall finishers. Congratulations to Anna, who now holds Orkney records from 1500m on the track up to 10km on the road.
There were also two Orkney runners at the Edinburgh Men’s 10k on Sunday, over what is a seriously up and down course around the landmarks of auld reekie - there’ll be some debate about whether conditions were easier or harder than the runners faced in Dounby in the Bichan family WhatsApp group no doubt as Magnus Bichan completed the course in 41:38 while his sister Jennifer finished 2nd female back home in Dounby. Also racing was Club Athlete of the Year Ian MacDonald, who finished in 61:08 - a second place finish in the M75 category.
Meanwhile, the endurance athletes are at it again, this time at the Highland Fling 53 mile trail ultramarathon. Colin Barnett finished 25th overall in 9h 7m and 8s, with Elspeth Fay also finishing in 14h 15m and 13s, third in her age category.
Well done to all athletes who travel to compete - this weekend sees the Loch Ness Marathon, 5k and 10k - we know of a few travelling already but do let us know if you’re joining them and the very best of luck!
Well done to all! Xx
Well done everyone π€©
DOUNBY PHARMACY 10K 2025 REPORT
It's been a busy day!
The 2025 Dounby Pharmacy 10k saw 54 runners complete the course, led home by Scottish international runner - and new Orkney resident - Annabel Simpson who broke the female course record, finishing in 35:26, just ahead of four Orkney Island Games representatives - David Grant (1st Male), Craig Moar (2nd Male), Gary Ward (3rd Male) and Jennifer Bichan (2nd Female). Vikki Budge was the third female finisher.
The runners faced windy conditions, particularly across the second half of the course which begins at Dounby School, turns past the Merkister Hotel before rejoining the main road just after the Harray Hall and returning to Dounby. Many runners were flying through the first 5k and would have had PBs in mind before hitting the winds on the climb back towards the finish line. Occasional heavy rain showers also served to dampen runners, if not spirits, and it was to everyone’s credit that the race ended with as many runners as it started. Among the finishers were a considerable number tackling this distance, or in some cases any distance, for the first time, including track athlete Elsie Hutchison who was the fourth female home and was able to cheer home her mum Shelagh shortly afterwards.
The race was well marshalled, and the runners were greeted by a good number of spectators along the route - mostly human, but just past the Merkister, two emus were a surprising sight - proof if it was needed of the lure of Orkney felt by folk and flightless birds across the globe.
On their return to Dounby School, runners were cheered home by earlier finishers, organisers and supporters and tucked into some hard earned snacks along with their medals. Rory Oag was particularly keen to get to the finish line, putting in a serious sprint finish despite already having 9.9k in his legs.
We’re pleased to report that all runners got in and there was time for the presentations before the largest of the rainstorms hit and sent folk scurrying to their cars. Well done to all runners and thank you to the marshals, sponsors and volunteers at this season ending Orkney Athletic and Running Club event - we look forward to seeing you all again in 2026!
Thanks to Jack from Dounby Pharmacy for coming along to present medals and trophies! and thank you to Katie Hall for taking photos - more to come in the morning
Haha I was trying to overtake Cathy at the end there π
Wow - incredibly impressive to run a course record time in yesterday's conditions! The last 4k felt like running through treacle, so amazing to see the times the faster runners can still turn in.
Well done everyone π€©
Rory
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As well as providing regular athletic instruction and training sessions, one of the key aims of OARC is to promote pathways to performance and as part of this, the Club organises and participates in a range of home and away competitions throughout the year.