A stroll in the park for the Harriers

ON a warm Tuesday evening, Dumfries Harriers fielded an impressive turnout for one of the season’s most popular events, the Holywood Stroll five-mile race, hosted by Dumfries Running Club. Leading the way was Alistair Barclay, who continued his outstanding season by winning a closely contested race in a time of 31:48, which also secured third place in a highly competitive age category. Alex Digwall followed in 36:13, a strong result as he returns from recent injury setbacks, while veteran Keith Ainslie delivered a steady performance to finish in 37:25. Donna Davidson was the first Harriers female home in 38:57, earning second place in her age category and reinforcing her consistent form. Sonia Marquez crossed just over the 40-minute mark in 40:02 after competing regularly in both Spain and Scotland, and Jennifer Lee, currently preparing for an ultra-marathon, was pleased with 42:56 over the shorter distance. Olga McCready and Jenny McKinney enjoyed a close contest, finishing in 43:34 and 43:52 respectively, and both securing podium places in their age groups. Carol Elliot, still recovering from the London Marathon, finished strongly in 44:58, followed by Karrie Milroy in 45:17 after a year of excellent training. Tina Roscoe, overcoming recent injuries, completed the race in 47:20 alongside Dumfries Running Club’s Louise Craig, while Helen Anderson paced her run well to finish in 47:45. The remaining Harriers crossed the line together, with Graeme Galloway finishing in 52:03 and Gordon Paterson in 52:12.