Hundreds of fleet-footed competitors strapped on their running boots for Newburgh’s first beach race on Saturday- and there wasn’t a mention of sand in anyone’s shoes.
Mike Bland won the inaugural Beach Bash 10km at the Aberdeenshire town- even though he did not know he would be running until shortly before the start.
The race, which followed a testing route through the Ythan sand dunes and the trails of the Forvie nature reserve, attracted a capacity field of close to 200 runners who had to struggle
against a strong southerly wind and cool temperatures.
Bland, who helped organise the event along with Kirsty MacRae, Mark Walker and Phil Astley, originally thought he would be too busy to compete.
He said: “I was supposed to be taking the photos and helping with the timing but my wife offered to take over the photography to allow me to run, so I guess it’s a bit embarrassing that I went on to win.
“I’ve been running and doing some small triathlons for the past eight to 10 years and the only other race I’ve won was at Collieston last year, but that was only because some of the other, better, local runners weren’t there.
“I live just outside Newburgh, close to where the race goes, so I know the route very well. It’s a fantastic course and I really enjoyed it.
“There were a few of us vying for the lead in the first half. Martin Burns flew along the beach and I didn’t think I’d get him, but I finally caught up on the way back. I eventually got away on my own over the final 2km or so.”
Bland won in 40min 14sec while Rab Murray, who competes under the banner of a Garioch running group known as The Darkside, finished runnerup in 40:22. Burns, from Newburgh, was third in 40:40.
Insch runner Jenni Rees-Jenkins, who also represents The Darkside, led home the women’s field in a time of 47:02 to secure her first race victory.
She said: “This was the first race I’ve ever won so I’m absolutely delighted.”
Kirsty Robson (Metro Aberdeen) was second in 48:26 and Colleen Black (The Darkside) finished third in 49:15.