OVER 300 runners competed in the ladies-only Smokies 10-mile road race at the weekend.
This event, the first club championship qualifier of the new season, is the 22nd Smokies race hosted by Arbroath Footers.
Dumfries runner Lisa Finlay romped home with a minute to spare in an excellent 63.36, well-clear of Shetland AC's Alison Bri
stow (64:46) and B. Joiner of Wee County Harriers (64:59).
Judith Turner, in fifth place over all, led the Carnegie Harriers to the team prize, ahead of the local Forfar Road Runners ladies, comprising Cath McInally in ninth (70:47), Donna Pass, a personal best (72:45) and Angela Phillip (74:23), with Fife AC in third place.
Other local finishers include Elizabeth Montgomery Fox (personal best in 80:27), Lorna Cameron (81:26), Liz Nicoll (84:19), Eileen Jackson (93:34), Sandra Pattie (93:52), Dawn McFarlane (98:51) and Karen Fletcher (99:01).
Hopefully, now that the snow is starting to disappear off the local hills, club runners can now get in some serious training in preparation for the spring marathons in Lochaber and London, the Highland Fling and Cateran Trail ultra races and a host of half marathons and 10K events that count towards the club championship.
Club training nights are on Wednesday at 6.30 pm from Forfar Lochside Leisure Centre and new members are welcome to pop along and join in.
