The final standings for the Bellahouston Roadrunners Winter Handicap Championship 2014/15 are shown below. Well done to our winners Helen and Tony, both are prime examples of what the handicap is all about, with both rewarded for showing vast improvement over the winter. Well done also to everyone who took part and completed the Winter competition.Brian O’Donnell-Club President Women Final Standings Mens Final Standings
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The Scottish Masters Cross Country Championships have been held annually since 1971. It’s a chance for athletes over 40 to prove they’re not over the hill. At least not until they’re halfway round the course and have disappeared over it. Teviotdale Harriers celebrate their 125th Anniversary in 2014, which is why this year’s event was held in Hawick and not anywhere remotely nearby. After seeing the weather forecast, I was clearly several chips short of a fish supper for not pulling out like almost half of the registered field. If, heaven forbid, “I’m a Celebrity…” is ever set in Scotland, Saturday’s event would make the perfect Bush Tucker Trial. The weather wasn’t too bad when Robert, Peter, Shona and I met at the Ski centre shortly after 10:30. Once on the M8 though, the rain became torrential. Ever the optimist, our Club President assured us that it was always drier on the East Coast. Ever the realist, Shona reminded us that it was always colder too. Two hours later we arrived at the Leisure Centre in a very cold, and very wet Hawick, and met Greig and Danielle, and Scott and Linda Kennedy but there wasn’t any sign of Hamish. We got our numbers, put our change of clothes in a locker for after the race and looked to get to the start. It was so cold and wet we decided to drive the 1/2 mile or so. A sensible plan if I had the first clue where we were going. After our impromptu tour of every street in the town, we eventually found the course 5 minutes before Shona’s race, up a steep hill and round a narrow farm track between two houses. The course itself was well designed with a mix of hills, open terrain and muddy farmland, but that was irrevelent. It was just so cold. And wet. The women’s race was won by Angela Mudge of Carnethy Hill RC in 26:06, almost a minute and a half ahead of second place Janet Dunbar of Edinburgh AAC. Shona placed a very creditable 36th in 32:41, and considerately neglected to say how much worse the weather was on the far side of the course. I thought waiting for the 8km men’s race to start were the coldest 45 minutes of my life, as we kept running up and down the field supposedly to warm up. Only we weren’t getting any warmer. And there still wasn’t any sign of Hamish. The relief of huddling together on the start line like a bunch of penguins was far too short lived. The first kilometer was ok, steadily up hill with footing that wasn’t too bad and I could see Robert not too far ahead. After that the course was onto the open moor, with horizontal hail and sleet and a wind that cut deeper than one of Malcolm Tucker’s tirades in “The Thick of It”. Foolishly I’d left my hat, gloves and long sleeved top at home (what was I thinking?!?). […]
Report from David Boag Walking across Place Saint-Michel, towards the Metro, which will take me to the start, I could see a group of bleary eyed revellers sitting in a nearby cafe and clearly they were coming to the end of their own marathon – though more of the drinking variety! Twenty years ago I might have been sitting there with them (who am I kidding – more like five years ago!) wondering why anyone could possibly wish to run over 26 miles on a Sunday morning! Anyway, it was bitterly cold for the start of the 37th Marathon de Paris; the Arc de Triomphe was an imposing, majestic back drop to the start, as almost 40,000 runners gathered to go through their personal pre run rituals. Shortly after 9am my particular group set off down the Avenue des Champs-Elysees – surely one of the best starts to any marathon in the world! I’m never quite sure how the old body will hold up, so I started off looking for around 3hrs 45 mins and if things went well maybe a new PB. The first 5K was not as busy with runners as I remember in previous years, which allowed me to hit target pace from more or less the start, so much so I felt that I had to slow down as we approached Place de la Bastille. The crowds here are brilliant – totally in your face! Shouts of ‘courage’ and ‘bravo David’ send you on your way to Bois de Vincennes, where understandably the crowds thin out a bit. Time to knuckle down, after the opening excitable stages, and focus on maintaining target pace – at this point I also passed a ‘running’ Tour Eiffel… I wonder how he got on? Anyway, made sure I kept taking food and drink at every 5K stage and things were going well as we left the park to head back to the city centre. We hit half way just before we reached Bastille for the second time… the crowds are still as noisy! A change to previous years and we get some lurid sports drink here, it looked like blue Aftershock…fortunately it didn’t taste like it! We cut down to the Seine, past Notre Dame, and the river is on our left for the next 7 Km or so. A few tunnels to head through that give a bit of shade and quite frankly play havoc with the Garmin, so this calls for even more focus on keeping a steady, constant pace. The Tour Eiffel comes into view on my left – it’s not moving this time – awesome! To my right is the Trocadero and things, I sense, seem to be shaping up well, though I have done enough of these to know not to take anything for granted! In my head I keep telling myself to get the ‘third’ 10 K out of the way and then see how you really ARE coping! I get through 30Km and […]
Bella were, as ever, well represented at parkrun. The weekend saw the 44th running of the Glasgow parkrun event, and the first running of the Edinburgh parkrun. A great day for the Bella Posse at the Glasgow parkrun today, Sat Oct 17. Scott Kennedy who seems to have caught the parkrun bug, in between running marathons, took a further 8 seconds off of last week’s course PB to finish third in 17:44. Jane Simpson continued the fine form which made her Bella Member of the Month by going one better than her second place last week to win the women’s event in 19:30, taken a further 24 secs off of last week’s course PB! Club President Robert McEwan retained his place as best age grade %, by achieving 79.01% with a time of 19:08. Bruce Carse also earned a new PB and John Sandbach and Sandra Houldsworth both took part in the Pollok Park event with excellent first runs. Position Athlete Sex Run Time Age Grading % Age Category Personal Best 3 Scott KENNEDY M 17:44 76.41% SM35-39 New PB 5 Bruce CARSE M 18:15 70.87% SM30-34 New PB 10 Al MACLACHLAN M 18:42 78.88% VM50-54 13 Robert MCEWAN M 19:08 79.01% VM50-54 16 Jane SIMPSON F 19:30 75.90% SW30-34 New PB 45 John SANDBACH M 21:45 64.67% VM40-44 1st run 53 Linda KENNEDY F 22:01 69.19% VW35-39 66 Murdoch RODGERS M 22:49 69.69% VM55-59 80 Sandra HOULDSWORTH F 23:58 61.89% SW30-34 1st run Last week’s winner Carnegie Harrier Andrew WRIGHT was the first athlete across the finish line today. He completed the course in 15:49 and posted an age grade score of 83.35%. A total of 193 runners completed the course. Over in Edinburgh: Some 204 runners completed the inaugural Edinburgh parkrun in a Baltic, sunny and surprisingly wind free Cramond foreshore…………. and of course Bellahouston Road Runners were represented at the historical event. Strong performances from Richard Leyton and myself earned us both all time PBs. Richard took 16 seconds off of his best 5k time to finish in 48th position in 20:43, an age grade % of 64:04%. I proudly displayed my Bella vest as I finished four places ahead, in 44th place with a time of 20:19 (wava 73.75 %) some 19 seconds better than my previous best 5k time. Running legend Neil Renault (Edinburgh AC) led from the start and was first over the line in a time of 14:59, an age grade of 86.1% and in a day when loads of cyclists and triathletes took part, it was fitting that the first woman home was Rachel Ramsay of Edinburgh Road Club who completed the course in 20:48, 71.31%. Thanks to Ian Goudie for the race reports, and a huge thanks to the teams of volunteers that made both the Glasgow and Edinburgh parkrun events such a success on Saturday.
Last night’s AGM saw a new committee elected for the next year. We’d all like to thank committee members who were standing down for all their help and dedication over the last few years, particularly Scott Kennedy and Club president Emma Birnie who’d both served for a long time and given so much to the club. We’d like to wish the new committee all the very best over the next year, which next year will see the club’s tenth anniversary. The new committee is: Club President:: Robert McEwan Club Secretary:: Carla Deans Membership secretary:: Maddie Smillie Treasurer:: Peter Gallanagh PR officer:: Alistair Kell Womens captain:: Jane Wild Men’s captain:: Brian O’Donnell Social convenor:: Lucy Mackay Ordinary member 1:: Jim O’Hara Ordinary member 2:: Julie Fitzpatrick
This year, the club will be organising the following open event: The Jimmy Irvine Bella 10K – an open 10k event in Bellahouston park. Takes place in November. Why not join our announcement mailing list to be amongst the first to here about future details!? We also organise quite a few club-members only events including: January indoor races at the Emirates Arena. Outdoor 3k track races in April/May. The President’s Cup – a 5k handicap event for club members, held in June. Any queries on any of our events should be sent to races@bellahoustonroadrunners.co.uk
Club President Emma has some great news about the 2009 Bog and Burn Championship: Tonight saw the final race of the Bog & Burn series at Hillend Ski centre in Edinburgh. A mere (but very tough) 1.4m race up and down Caerketton hill. Three Bellas – John Milligan, Jane Simpson and myself racing with me taking 2nd place in the womens race and Jane taking 4th place and John getting a pb for the course! The race was followed by a tasty bowl of soup and a roll at the Steadings pub and the prizegiving for the series. Bella featured quite heavily in the line up of prizes and John and I came away armed with enough booze to open a small off-licence! Amongst the winners were: Kenny Richmond for 3rd place overall Andy Birnie for 2nd MV40 Iona Robertson for 2nd place in the ladies series Emma Birnie for 3rd place in the ladies series Jackie McGuire for 1st LV40 A brilliant effort from a ROAD RUNNING club eh! Well done to all.
Chief Bella supporter (and surely member-in-waiting) dd_bdlm sends this report from yesterday’s Skye Half Marathon: The Skye Half Marathon turned out to be a purple dominated affair. Around 300 competitors ran in sunny but windy conditons. The race was led from the off by Graham Bee (Fife AC) who won in an impressive 1.15.48 Second was Gordon Lennox (unatt) and then the intrepid purple trio of Scott Kennedy (3rd), Andy Birnie (4th) and Greig Glendinning (5th) easily brought home the team prize. Second Claim Bella Andy Joyce (today running for Stornoway) was 6th. Christopher McKiddie also ran for Bella but unsure of his time. The ladies race was won comfortably by club president Emma Birnie managing to make it home just under 1.30. The prize giving had the nature of a take-over about it with the boys winning their place prizes & team prize and Andy also winning MV40 prize. Then Emma also won the Female Vet prize as well as the overall first female. With a very generous if unusual prize list next year we will need to consider a Bella Van to bring it all home! Photos: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=8 … 6e23d6cc15
The club is now a charity, and has adopted a new constitution. The details of the new board of trustees are detailed on separate page, but will eventually replace this page entirely. The old club had defined roles, outlined below. Preserved here for reference. President • To represent the best interest of the Club and further these in accordance with the wishes of the Club Members. • To promote the Club internally and in the wider community. • To chair the meetings of the Club Committee and the Annual General Meeting, ensuring that the formal procedures and agenda of the meetings are adhered to. • To summarise decisions made at Committee meetings and ensure these are accurately minuted. • To agree the agendas for meetings with the Club Secretary, ensuring all relevant issues raised by Committee members or other members of the club are dealt with appropriately. • To lead the Committee, ensuring where possible contributions to discussions from all Committee members lead to consensus decisions and where they do not to have power of casting vote if this is required to deliver a majority. • To be approachable by any Club member and be able to deal with or redirect to another Committee member all points of enquiry. • Be a joint signatory for the release of Club funds. • Be the main spokesperson for the Club on issues of public interest, as agreed by the Committee and with advice from the Public Relations Adviser. Vice President • To deputise for the President in their absence, including taking over the chair, until the next Annual General Meeting, if the President resigns or is removed for any reason. • Work to promote the Club internally and in the wider community. • Chair Committee meetings in the absence of the President, and handle any situation that would normally be required to be dealt with by the President. • To represent the best interests of the Club and further these in accordance with the wishes of the Club members. • Alongside the President, the Vice President will act as a spokesperson for the Club on issues of public interest, as agreed by the Committee and with advice from the Public Relations Adviser. • Any other roles required by the committee Club Secretary • To support the administration of the Club Committee and its associated activities. • Agree agendas for Club Committee meetings and the Annual General Meeting with the Club President, and issue to Committee members and other Club members as appropriate. • To service these meetings as minute Secretary and to issue minutes in time for agreement at subsequent meetings. • To provide an address and contact for all correspondence to and from the Club, including receipt of information from SAF, notification of races, etc. • To complete and submit annual registrations to SAF, etc. on behalf of the Club. • Participate as a Committee member in the overall organisation of the Clubs affairs. • Any other roles required by the committee Treasurer • Management of Club finances and advice on all business proposals/plans. • Maintain accurate records of all receipts and expenditures associated […]
Cross Country (XC). Two words that strike fear into the hearts of the most hardened of runners! Cue school memories of being forced to run around a field in freezing January blizzards that seem to colour memories of what is actually a really fantastic form of running. XC can seriously improve your overall running fitness and moreover, is less impactful on the joints. It’s also very often a whole load of fun to boot! Despite the Club carrying the ‘Road Runners’ name, XC has always been an integral part of our activities and we always try to encourage our runners to take part in events. The XC season normally starts when the road racing calendar diminishes, beginning with short, fun, relays in October and progressing to some more demanding races in February and March (culminating in the Scottish Athletics National XC at Callander Park, Falkirk). Whatever the type of race you choose to do, XC is a seriously good way of improving your running and building strength in the leg muscles, particularly those stabilising muscles in the knees and ankles that are less challenged on flat roads. Running on grass, trails and mud also gives much more cushioning than Tarmac, so the legs take less of a pounding. All-in-all it’s a thoroughly worthwhile form of running. We’ve had our fair share of XC success in recent years, winning relay team prizes as well as individual medals at both local and district level. We have a dedictated XC Club Championship programme and the establishment of the XC District Leagues (in no small part due to the efforts of our former President, Richard Leyton) also gives us a chance to compete locally with fellow clubs (West District) in a 3 race series each year. Despite being located in the heart of Glasgow, the Club has access to a huge range of XC and trail routes in wonderful green spaces including Bellahouston Park, Pollok Park and Linn Park (to name but a few) and notwithstanding having good access to glorious countryside and woodland north and south of the Clyde. So why not take advantage of our location and give XC a try!
This page hold a copy of the old club rules, and are provided for reference purposes only. As of 8th May, 2017, the club has adopted a new constitution as part of its change to a charitable status. Details on this can be found on our charitable status explanation page. The rules below were in effect until this date. Former constitution (to May 2017) The Club rules are intended to set out a formal structure for the governance of the Club and also to protect the Club ethos: that we welcome members of all abilities and from all backgrounds, and that we will ensure that members can train in a supportive and harassment-free environment. 1. Club Name 1.1 The Club shall be called “Bellahouston Road Runners”. 2. Membership 2.1 The Club shall consist of amateur athletes of both sexes. 2.2 Application for membership shall be made in writing (using our standard form), along with the Club fee, to the Secretary and be approved by the Committee. This shall be returned if membership is refused. 2.3 The subscription fee must be paid for the current season before a member can compete for the Club. 2.4 To resign a member must inform the Secretary in writing. 2.5 The Club and all members shall agree to abide by the Scottish Athletics Codes of Conduct for Coaches & Athletes. 2.6 Any member guilty of misconduct (i.e. behaviour contrary to this Constitution or the standard set by the Scottish Athletics Codes of Conduct) may be cautioned once or expelled from the Club by a majority decision of the Committee. Any person expelled will have the right to appeal to the Committee within fourteen days. The committee members are subject to the same disciplinary measures as ordinary members. 3. Discrimination and Harassment 3.1 Bellahouston Road Runners has adopted UK Athletics Welfare Policy and Procedures as part of the Club Rules. Copies of these Policies and Procedures can be found at www.ukathletics.net. In line with these Policies and Procedures, there must be no unfair discrimination on the grounds of gender, marital status, race, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, age or religious belief. 3.2 Members have the right to train in an environment free from humiliation, or behaviour that creates feelings of unease or distress such as sexist, racist or sectarian language, unwelcome remarks or touching, physical violence or the threat of physical violence. 3.3 The Club will not permit or condone any form of harassment or bullying, whether at the Club, races, via the internet or at any other times. Any member who commits a serious violation of this policy will be asked to resign from the Club, although we accept that sometimes harassment can happen unintentionally and this will be dealt with appropriately. 3.4 Every member has the right to complain about breaches of the above policy. Complaints will be dealt with seriously, confidentially and quickly. In the first instance, complaints should be directed to the Welfare Officer. 3.5 Definition: Discrimination comprises a wide range of unacceptable physical, verbal or non verbal behaviour that affects other people’s […]