Hot Runners at the Tom Scott Memorial Race

I returned to Strathclyde Park for the second time in the weekend but this time I had no thoughts about running but instead was intent in catching some of the country’s long distance runners on camera.

The Tom Scott Memorial Race was first established in 1962, to perpetuate the memory of a young man whose life was unfortunately cut short at the early age of 29, when he was tragically killed in a motor traffic accident whilst travelling to take part in a road race in the North of England.

Over the years some fine runners have graced this event with: Scottish Olympians; European Contenders; Commonwealth Gold and Silver Medalists all taken part. The course has changed over the years and although this year’s event clashed with a number of other races including: the Lochaber, Brighton and Paris Marathons as well as the Edinburgh Half Marathon, the field still consisted of some great runners. A few of them, such as UK Olympic Marathon qualifier Andrew Lemoncello, may have been happy with getting a relatively low key race in the week before the London Marathon, whilst others, were, no doubt, attracted to the race as it kicks off the Stewarts Scottish Road Race Grand Prix. Many more were chasing individual PBs, with a few running their first ever ten mile race.

With the sun beating down on the, almost entirely, un-shaded course and temperatures of above 20C, some runners were more able to cope with the conditions than others.  160 runners completed the ten mile course with Shettleston’s Eritrean pair of Tsegai Tewelde and Teweldeberhan Mengisteab taking Gold and Silver, with times of 50:08 and 50:13 respectively. Central’s Ross Houston earned Bronze in 50:31. A total of 19 runners completed the two lap course in under one hour, including California based veteran, Lesley Marshall (nee Paterson), who set a new record in the women’s event, with a fantastic time of 56:20.

Despite being impeded by a dog during the race, Irvine’s David Millar won the Veteran Men’s race in 52:35.

Kibarchan AC’s Gemma Rankin was the first Scottish Athletic Senior Female to finish, in 1:00:08. Victoria Park –CoG’s Claire McCracken and Claire Thompson were the proud winners of the National and District first and second prizes in the Veteran Female race. Of course, as usual, everyone who completed the race deserves huge congratulations as do the organisers and volunteers who ensure that the race remains as successful as ever, a fitting tribute to Tom Scott.


Personally speaking, for me it was a great chance to meet up with some running buddies and encourage them on their way around Strathclyde Loch.


Tom Scott Full Results
Round the Loch (6k) Results
Photos