Lothian Running Club hopeful for Festive Frolics return

Dec 22 2011 by Kieran Westbrook, West Lothian Courier

LOTHIAN Running Club will be hoping the weather forecast predictions for a milder spell over the next few days is correct as they put together final preparations for their Festive Frolics Handicap Races on Boxing Day, writes Shane Fenton.

Ever-present on the running calendar since 1986, the races were cancelled in both 2009 and 2010 because of heavy snow preventing access to the course.

There are two handicap races, over 7km and 14km which get underway at 11am, and runners can enter on the day up to 10.30am at the Cockleroy Car Park.

For the not-so-serious runners, there is the Cockleroy Chaser Fun Run over a course of approximately 1km which starts at 11.15am with entries accepted up to 10.45am.

Both handicap runs use the same tough loop starting near Cockleroy Car Park, heading east through Beecraigs, round Beecraigs Loch, up the sawmill hill and returning, via Balvormie, to climb Cockleroy just before the finish.

The surface varies from short sections on tarmac to firm trails within the woods, to rough tracks and includes the ascent and descent on grass of Cockleroy.

Some sections could be very wet and muddy depending on the weather.

The Cockleroy Chaser is run up and down Cockleroy, from the finish area of the Festive Handicap.

And runners of all ages are welcome, though parents should supervise very young competitors.

Lothian Running Club's Brian Turner was the victor in this weeks Falkirk Parkrun.

Due to a fallen tree in the Callendar Park, the course had to be altered slightly and was a bit longer than the usual 5k.

Brian's winning time was 18 minutes 10 seconds.

Next club runners home were son and mother Iain and Jill Horsburgh in 27th and 28th places respectively.

Iain finished first in the J14 section with his time of 24.03 while Jill’s 24.26 time handed her second in the overall female classification.

Making up the handful of club runners on the day were Martin and Shona Greig, with Martin 30th in [25.27] and Shona 35th and 6th female timed at [26.03].

56 completed.

Ian Hall was the club's only runner in this weeks Edinburgh Parkrun finishing 81st of the 145 finishers in 26 minutes 26 seconds.