Scottish under-20 800m track champion Michael Ferguson showed impressive endurance strength to win the men’s six-mile race at the opening meeting of the Running Shop winter cross-country series at Knockburn Loch near Banchory.
The Banchory Stonehaven AC runner, who will compete in next weekend’s East of Scotland cham- pionships at Dundee, completed the testing course in 34min 22sec to finish 18 sec ahead of former Highland Cross duathlon champion Rob Brookes (Cosmic Hillbashers).
Four-time Ythan Challenge adventure race winner Kevin Harper (Cosmic Hillbashers) was third in 35:04 while Ruaridh Campbell (Montrose and District AC) won the over-40s prize when finishing fourth overall in 35:35.
Aberdeen AAC teenagers Callum Symmons, Steven Murray and Jordan Chapman dominated the men’s three-mile race by filling the first three positions.
The trio, all aged 17 or under, recently gave Aberdeen AAC a team victory in the Scottish short course championships at Glasgow’s Bellahouston park.
At Knockburn they were separated by just 27sec, Symmons winning in 16:30, Murray taking second spot in 16:40 with Chapman finishing third in 16:57.
Tammy Wilson (Garioch Road Runners), who won the Beast adventure race on her last visit to Knockburn in October, scored another assured victory in the women’s six-mile run.
The Kintore athlete completed the course in 38:46 to finish 48sec ahead of leading veteran Veronique Oldham (Aberdeen AAC) while Stephanie Provan (Deeside Runners) was third in 40:56.
Union Street mile champion Carly McNeil (Aberdeen AAC) led the way home in the three-mile competition, clocking 19:05 to defeat Becky Dunphy (Arbroath and District) by 25sec.
Great Britain modern pentathlon international Eilidh Prise (Aberdeen AAC) was third in 19:42 while Angela Hepburn (Aberdeen AAC) was the leading veteran in 21:19.
Ellen Stickle won the under-17 age division contest in 20:20 with club-mate Lise Theron runner-up in 21:49 and Sally Stewart (Mackie Academy) finished third in 22:34.
There were further Aberdeen AAC wins from Kirsty Oldham (under-13 girls) and Lewis Watt (under-11 boys). Banchory Stonehaven AC also enjoyed success in the age group races with victories for Clare Stewart (under-15 girls), Joseph Wright (under-13 boys) and Kate Hare (under-11 girls).