Promoting Athletics in Orkney

Orkney Athletic and Running Club added 133 photos and a video.

2 days ago

... See MoreSee Less

+

Orkney Athletic and Running Club

2 days ago

OTE Kirkwall Half Marathon 2026

Ava Luke cemented her successful transition to road racing after years of success on the track, completing today’s OTE Kirkwall Half Marathon as the first female finisher and fifth overall in a time of 1h 31m 45s, just inside the Island Games qualification standard. First overall was Stromness’ John Gonnella, who followed up an impressive weekend at the Edinburgh Marathon festival, in which he finished 15th in the 10k on the Saturday before placing 35th in the Half Marathon the very next day, with a storming run to finish in 1h 16m 45s, about thirty seconds ahead of reigning Champion Bobby Oag.

The race saw 47 finishers, a strong field who took on challenging weather as fog and showers gave way to a humid morning: although we were all glad to have finished before the forecasted heavy rains set in throughout the afternoon. In the age groups, Bobby and Ava were the first senior finishers with John the first veteran male.The veteran women's category was a head to head between two representatives of the Vegan Runners club, with Marti Spence (1:45:58) finishing about a minute ahead of Dawn Williams (1:46:54).

The super veteran (55+) category was won by a very impressive run from Mervyn Hourston (1:40:09) with Alyson Young (2:08:39) the first female super veteran. The course is not usually PB material, so a huge well done to those who recorded their best efforts, which (according to my Strava, so an incomplete list!) included Ava Luke, James McKeever, Karen Petrie, Catherine Green, Andrew Currie, Scarlett Palmer, Donna Stephenson, Harvey Crew and Chris Moore. A lot of others recorded their best times over this course, and well done to them and to everyone running.

If I may be permitted a brief personal interlude, it was a tough old race on my poorly trained legs and I’d particularly like to thank every marshal, particularly those handing out drinks and wine gums - despite nearly pouring a surprisingly blackcurrant flavour water over my head to cool down! Also thanks to the gentleman who was walking his beautiful sandy three legged greyhound down Bloomfield Road which gave me a real lift at a tough moment!

As ever, the race was only able to go ahead thanks to our volunteer marshals, timekeepers, photographers and organisers: thank you to Carrie & Sarah for organising as ever and to Craig for taking on the Run Director hi-viz as well as doing a grand job of putting out and collecting up the signs. Those three in particular take on a lot of responsibility in organising the local races and it would be great to have a few more hands involved: if you’d be able to help before or after events occasionally with putting up signs, organising marshals or anything else, please do get in touch.

There is a second OTE Kirkwall Half Marathon on August 16th which will be round the Island Games (Route Two) multi-lap course. Mark the date in your diaries! ... See MoreSee Less

+6

Orkney Athletic and Running Club

1 week ago

Photos from Taylah Paterson's post ... See MoreSee Less

+

Orkney Athletic and Running Club

1 week ago

𝐎𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐀𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫
A Saturday night check-in on a few OARC athletes who’re competing this weekend around the UK and beyond.

Emily McArthur has had an interesting week: she’s stayed down in England since the BMC in Manchester last weekend and has been training with Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow AC and staying with their legendary coach Conrad Milton. You may remember that Conrad visited Orkney on holiday in September 2021 and spoke to our athletes about his long career as a coach to thousands of athletes including Sir Mo Farah, Hayley and Liz Yelling. Conrad is known for his generosity and Emily tells me she’s gained enough tips to see her through her athletics career!

Today she pulled on the WSEHAC vest to compete in the National Athletics League Premier Division fixture, an incredibly high level of competition and one that Emily rose to meet, running both the 800m and 400m. In the 800m she finished 3rd in the A Race in a time of 2:12.79, a very similar time to last week but in a totally different style of race which went out slowly, showing her maturity as an athlete to be able to adjust and still perform her best. A few hours later, she ran her first 400m of the outdoor season in 58.68, a couple of seconds outside her personal best but an excellent effort on tired legs and in the middle of a 25 degree day - you’re not in Orkney any more Emily!

Well done to Emily and thank you to Conrad Milton and WSEHAC (not on Facebook, but www.instagram.com/wseh_ac) for giving her the opportunity!

Meanwhile, Taylah Paterson is in Brussels with the Scotland 4x100m squad attempting to run the qualifying standards for the Commonwealth Games. The results of this one forced me to try and translate some Dutch from the competition website, but I’m fairly sure that Taylah ran the individual 100m in 12.03s, a tenth faster than her time at the Loughborough International last weekend as she continues her comeback from injury. There was fantastic news for the relay team as their heat time was 44.60, inside the Commonwealth Games standard - Taylah didn’t run in this race, but is down to run in the final tomorrow, stepping into the not inconsiderable spikes of Alyson Bell. That race is at 3pm local time, 2pm here.

Ewan Foubister competed on Friday night in Glasgow at the Miller Meet, running in the 3000m and recording a PB of 8:55.61.

It’s also the Edinburgh Marathon Festival this weekend, and ahead of the big race tomorrow, the 10k took place today, with OARC’s John Gonnella finishing in a very impressive 16th position (out of more than 2000!) in a time of 35:51.

Well done to everyone competing, and good luck for tomorrow and beyond! ... See MoreSee Less