Athletes on the run for charity

Members of Fife AC gathered at Foodieash for the Brian the Bear Run for Bob, raising funds for Prostate Scotland.
Runners were in great spirits at the event. Pic by  Pete BracegirdleRunners were in great spirits at the event. Pic by  Pete Bracegirdle
Runners were in great spirits at the event. Pic by Pete Bracegirdle

The mostly, field of local runners, was boosted by the welcome presence of twelve Fife AC Wizards training group members making the short journey from Kirkcaldy.

The runners, all respecting safety guidance, started the course from Beechbank, Foodieash in waves of eight spaced out along a long start line.

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Strathkinness junior Marti Pennachio Torres has improved leaps and bounds over the past few months and a determined effort through Cairnie, Hilton and Kilmaron Woods saw the youngster hold pole position ahead of the following five waves of runners.

Pennachio covered the icy, ground rutted 4.4km course in 17 minutes 49 seconds, the sixth fastest time of the day.

Equally impressive was Kirkcaldy junior Katie Sandilands, outsprinting dad Rory over the final 50m, to cross the finish line in second place registering 19.29, ninth equal fastest, a time shared by Cupar veteran Rhona Van Rensburg.

The fastest run of the day came as Scottish junior internationalist Ben Sandilands, Kirkcaldy, starting from Wave 6, crossed the finish line in fourth place clocking a superb 15 minutes 32 seconds.

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St Andrews athlete Craig Morris, currently studying at Edinburgh University, also dipped under sixteen minutes with his 15:49.

Glenrothes Under 15 athlete Reiss Marshall with 16:20 edged Russell Hall, St Andrews, 16:50 for third fastest.

Ceres over 40 veteran James Hall followed in 17.44, less than two weeks after registering an inaugural record for the 55.5 miles (89.22km) Pilgrims Way Trail completed in 9 hours 04 minutes.

Kirkcaldy Wizardress Alison Sutherland finished as third fastest female timed at 20:42.

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Thanks go to the small army of cheery marshals and officials and helpers and to the Hilton and Cairnie estates who gave permission for the use of their land. Margaret Stark, Falkland was on hand donating satsumas to the runners with last November’s Bob Stark Memorial 5km at Falkland unable to take place.

This much smaller limited event, run under Scottish Government guidelines, has to date raised £450 for Prostate Scotland.

Results in order of time: 1 Ben Sandilands 15.32, 2 Craig Morris 15.49, 3 Reiss Marshall 16.20, 4 Russell Hall 16.50, 5 James Hall 17.44, 6 Marti Pennachio Torres 17.49, 7 Hendrik van Rensburg 18.41, 8 Paul Harkins 19.23, 9= Rhona van Rensburg 19.29 and Katie Sandilands 19.29, 11 Rory Sandilands 19.31.