Cowalfest 10K and 5K Trails Races winners (click to enlarge)
The Cowalfest 5K Fun Run and 10K were once again well received on Sunday (12 October) with runners coming from as far as Perthshire to participate in the stunning setting of Benmore Botanical Gardens. The weather was perfect and times were fast in the well attended 10k.
David Millar defended his 2013 title in a blistering 34 minutes, followed closely by Dunoon Hill Runners own David Walsh, Lisa Marshall and Pam Forsyth. Local Sam Way also ran a very keen race to finish first veteran male, followed by Marion Houston picking up the female veteran trophy.
In the untimed 5K Fun Run, a large number of participants, some out for their first time, had a fast race with local Dominick Kerr picking up the trophy very closely followed by Nicky Ritchie. Clare McFadden running for Dunoon Hill Runners lifted first female home while Mhairi Hunter won the first local female, all runners of course received a finishers pottery medal specially designed by Blue Sky Craft and a goody bag.
Organisers said: “The Cowalfest committee would like to thank all staff at Benmore Botanical Gardens and the shop and café, volunteers and marshals without whom the races would not be possible, sponsors including Run4It, 9Bar, SCOTTISH RUNNING GUIDE, Purdie’s Dunoon, Fynest Fish Inveraray, Argyll Holidays for providing our much needed water station and junior goody bags, Winston Churchill Venison, Loch Fyne Oysters, Fyne Ales, Blue Sky Craft for the pottery medals and Ken Clark Photography for providing the runners with some very special mementoes. Look forward to seeing you all next year.”
Photos courtesy of Ken Clark Photography can be found here.
Photos courtesy of Alan G Forsyth Photography can be found here
Race results are here.