White Balance

White balance (WB) is the process of removing unrealistic colour casts, so that objects which appear white in person are rendered white in your photo. Proper camera white balance has to take into account the "colour temperature" of a light source, which refers to the relative warmth or coolness of white light. Our eyes are very good at judging what is white under different light sources; however digital cameras often have great difficulty with auto white balance (AWB). An incorrect WB can create blue, orange or green colour casts. Understanding digital WB can help to avoid colour casts created by the camera's AWB and help to improve photos under a wider range of lighting conditions. Most cameras provide a number of predefined choices with names such as cloudy, daylight, flash and incandescent for adjusting white balance.


To further complicate things, some scenes will have a number of different light sources, such as indoor and natural lighting. Under such circumstances the AWB will be an average of the colour temperatures and will tend to exaggerate the difference in colour temperature for each light source. Setting the camera to incandescent will produce one photo, whilst setting it to daylight will produce another. However neither would be correct, the solution to this scenario would be to custom the white balance for the actual light conditions. Most cameras also come with a Custom White Balance setting. In this mode take a photo of a white object (a sheet of white paper or a professional white balance card also known as a grey card) under the lighting conditions of the scene. Set your camera to Custom (a mode in the white balance menu) and fill your viewfinder with the white paper. When you press the shutter, your camera will take a reference picture and use it as the source for the rest of your photos white balance (read the instructions for your specific camera model). Remember when you change locations and or lighting you will need to take a new white balance reference.

AWB

Tungsten

Sun

Custom WB

George Cummings Relay Race Photos and Results

Well done to everyone who participated in the warm sunshine in Houston on Saturday afternoon.  Some great performances and some excellent first time experiences too.

Men's (4x2.7mile)

1. Shettleston Harriers 51:44
2. Inverclyde AAC 52:59
3. Kilbarchan AAC 53:36

Women's (3x2.7 mile)
1. Kibarchan AAC A-Team 45:01
2. Kilbarchan AAC B-Team 49:22
3. Springburn Harriers 49:37
1st Veterans - Bellahouston Harriers

Race photographs

Prize Giving Photographs

George Cummings Trophy
2010 Mens 4x2.7ml

Pl No Club Team Time 1st Runner Time 2nd Runner Time 3rd Runner Time 4th Runner Time
1 30 Shettleston Harriers 0:51:44 Paul Sorrie 12:48 Matthew Gillespie 12:31 Mika Deason 13:52 T Menisteals 12:33
2 23 Inverclyde AC 0:52:59 Kenny O'Neill 13:40 Craig Ruddy 12:42 Graeme Hyett 13:28 Mark Pollard 13:09
3 39 Kilbarchan AAC A 0:53:36 Conor McNulty 13:56 Derek Hawkins 12:23 Rober Quinn 13:38 Paul Leck 13:39
4 32 Giffnock North 0:54:54 Grant Muir 12:57 Martin Fishwick 13:46 Michael Cross 14:41 Luke Traynor 13:30
5 57 Irvine AC 0:55:26 A Allardyce 13:58 J Finlay 14:02 D Millar 13:05 P Cullinane 14:21
6 24 Inverclyde AC B 0:56:42 Sean Gaffney 14:15 Andrew Campbell 13:57 Kevin Kane 13:10 Thomas Jamieson 15:20
7 50 Glenpark Harriers A 0:57:33 D Henderson 14:09 S Trainer 13:47 A McCall 14:42 M McLoone 14:55
8 49 Ronhill Cambuslang 0:58:01 Ian Munroe 13:38 Alaistar Campbell 14:58 Ian McQuorodale 13:57 Scorr Hunter 15:28
9 33 Bellahouston Harriers 0:58:18 Andy Campbell 14:23 Bryan Lamb 14:22 A Zerzghi 14:15 Brian Douglas 15:18
10 40 Kilbarchan AAC B 0:58:25 Russell Mountford 14:19 Gary Rankin 14:33 Thomas MacDonald 14:35 Craig Haxton 14:58
11 31 Shettleston Harriers B 0:58:42 Azz E Zouchi 13:54 Marc McColl 14:33 Neil Deerey 15:06 Gary Burnett 15:09
12 45 Bellahouston RR 0:59:18 Greig Glendinning 14:17 Grant MacDonald 15:12 Bruce Carse 15:06 Liam Conway 14:43
13 21 Garscube Harriers 0:59:59 Gavin Chambers 14:36 Marco Consani 14:49 Stephen Mulrine 14:26 John Murray 16:08
14 56 Kilmarnock Harriers 0:60:43 Cameron Wilson 15:02 Scott Martin 14:42 Les McDerment 15:47 Connell Drummond 15:12
15 25 Inverclyde AC C 0:60:58 Neil McLaughlin 14:37 Gerry Gaffney 14:56 Jude Bolton 15:06 Campbell Cromar 16:19
16 51 Glenpark Harriers B 0:61:05 S Lyon 14:24 K Gill 16:08 D McLaughlin 15:13 A Henderson 15:20
17 43 Kilbarchan AAC E V 0:61:58 Gordon Tenney 16:25 Jim Ferguson 16:18 James Snodgrass 14:37 John McMillan 14:38
18 60 Calderglen Harriers 0:62:16 David Watt 14:05 Eddie Reid 16:29 C McDougall 15:13 Jim Holmes 16:29
19 52 Glenpark Harriers C 0:62:37 A Fisher 15:19 J Knowles 15:35 S Campbell 15:46 A O'Rouke 15:57
20 28 Kirkintilloch Olympians 0:62:39 Paul O'Connor 14:55 Robert McLachlan 15:26 Gary Mitchel 16:57 Robert Rogerson 15:21
21 34 Bellahouston Harriers B 0:63:33 Bryan French 15:39 Mark Paterson 15:40 George Adams 16:27 Garry Stewart 15:47
22 26 Inverclyde AC D 0:63:50 Greg Williams 14:56 Michael Houston 14:45 Mathew Thomson 15:43 David McKenzie 18:26
23 58 Irvine AC B 0:64:00 B Craig 15:29 G Irvine 15:08 J Sneddon 16:23 S Connell 17:00
24 53 Glenpark Harriers D 0:65:18 G Smith 15:05 S Watson 16:28 M Harrington 16:33 K Pride 17:12
25 59 East Kilbride AC 0:65:50 Jamaie Clements 15:00 Willie Taylor 16:25 Niall Walker 17:35 Graeme Haddow 16:50
26 63 Westerlands 0:67:13 John Quinn 16:16 Don Reid 16:20 Hamilton Semple 18:08 Ken McMahon 16:29
27 29 Kilrkintilloch Olympians B 0:67:41 Tom McChord 16:58 Chris Craig 17:20 Naeil McCover 17:49 Paul O'Connor 15:34
28 41 Kilbarchan AAC C 0:68:10 Robert Allison 17:03 Chris McCelland 16:43 Donald Kennedy 17:06 Stevie Hards 17:18
29 22 Garscube Harriers B 0:68:39 Rob McLennan 15:42 Andrew Griffiths 17:58 Ross Martin 16:16 Stephen Cullen 18:43
30 46 Bellahouston RR B 0:69:27 Gordon Clements 17:13 Alex Lawther 17:40 Alan Moss 16:37 John Sanbach 17:57
31 54 Glenpark Harriers E 0:69:34 G McGratton 16:18 K McCartney 17:47 E Currie 17:56 B McLaughlin 17:33
32 61 Calderglen Harriers B 0:70:07 Brian McDougall 16:31 Ian McKenzie 18:31 George Stewart 18:07 David Henderson 16:58
33 35 Bellahouston Harriers C 0:72:08 Alan Dick 17:05 Iain Burke 17:37 Tom Keenan 18:52 Nail Campbell 18:34
34 42 Kilbarchan AAC D 0:72:15 Neil Fowler 17:34 James Ferguson 18:01 Jim Mcmillan 18:35 Graham McMillan 18:05
35 27 Inverclyde AC E 0:73:58 G Hegarty 17:41 T Tracey 20:32 J Smillie 18:13 17:32
36 Bellahouston Harriers D 0:77:16 William McAllister 19:09 Ian MacLeod 21:27 Pete Cartwright 18:16 Robert Young 18:24
37 Xania Harriers 0:00:00 A Quinn 16:44 J Daniels J Galloway J Freil
38 Lasswade 0:00:00 Barney Phillips 13:30 Niall Sheehan 13:52 John Murray 14:04 Paul Elliott
# 44 Kilbarchan AAC F 0:00:00 Dougie Biggart 20:51 Gardener Masson 19:56 Brian Graham 21:39 Andrew Clugston
# 55 Glenpark Harriers F 0:00:00 T Knight 17:36 B Kangley 18:13 22:01
# 62 Calderglrn Harriers C 0:00:00 Colin Banks 18:38 Dvid Laudrope 18:52 Russell Couper 20:59 Allan Mclellan
# 64 Irvine AC 0:00:00 James Young 25:26
Fastest lap - Derek Hawkins (Kilbarchan) 12.23

Trust Inn Trophy
Womens 3x2.7ml
1 96 Kilbarchan AAC 0:00:00 Elspeth Curran 14:07 Natalie Sharp 15:35 Kerry Lang 15:19 .. 45.01 .. record
2 95 Kilbarchan AAC B 0:00:00 Christina Rankin 15:51 Nynke Mulholland 17:17 Leanne Hamilton 16:14 49.22
3 100 Springburn Harriers 0:00:00 Danielle Brown 14:49 Fiona Gentles 15:40 Caroline Brownlie 19:08 49.37
4 93 Garscube Harriers 0:00:00 Laura Devine 17:06 Marian Kelly 18:02 Carole Setchell 16:14 51.22
5 85 Kilmarnock Harriers 0:00:00 Kara Tait 16:01 Paula Wilson 17:35 Elizabeth McDerment 17:53 51.29
6 99 Bellahouston Harriers Vets 0:00:00 Suzanne McMahon 17:39 Erica Christie 17:52 Bernie O'Neil 18:07 53.38
7 83 Greenock Glenpark 0:00:00 Lynne Rogers 18:17 Alison King 17:13 Susanne Coyle 18:21 53.51
8 87 Kirkintilloch Olympians 0:00:00 Ann Marie McCaffrey 17:43 Maria McChord 18:17 Susan Addison 18:15 54.15
9 80 Calderglen Harriers 0:00:00 Joanne McEvoy 17:20 Mary Goldsmith 18:42 Francis Maxwell 18:29 54.31
10 86 Lasswade 0:00:00 Keira Murray 15:06 Wilma Kerr 19:29 Lorna Rice 20:11 54.46
11 78 Bellahouston RR 0:00:00 Shona Donnelly 17:09 Jane Wild 18:43 Maddie Smillie 19:45 56.35
12 92 Garscube Harriers B 0:00:00 Ailsa Currie 18:07 Heather McIntosh 17:57 Natasha Mulrine 20:42 56.46
13 90 Kilbarchan AAC D 0:00:00 Michelle Bell 19:19 Kate Gillies 17:34 Emma Haddock 19:58 56.51
14 94 Inverclyde AC 0:00:00 Emma Rice 15:53 Emma Fulton 21:35 Rachael Bushfield 20:19 57.47
15 82 Greenock Glenpark Vets 0:00:00 Fiona Cunningham 19:51 Susan Clark 20:14 Terry Wall 19:04 58.19
16 91 Kilbarchan AAC C Vet 0:00:00 Anji McGuiness 18:22 Wanda Phillips 20:58 Jackie Campbell 19:46 59.06
17 84 Kilmarnock Harriers B 0:00:00 Rosemary McMillan 21:02 Karen Quinn Avryl Cornforth 01:51 61.51
18 98 Bellahouston Harriers A 0:00:00 Louise Andrew 20:43 Melanie Ronald 20:39 Suzanne Boyle 21:07 62.29
19 89 Kilbarchan AAC E 0:00:00 Rhona Martin 19:32 Janice Ross 22:08 Siobhan Inglis 21:31 63.11
20 79 Bellahouston RR B 0:00:00 Jane Galt 19:35 Julia Harris 19:21 Carla Telfer 25:59 64.55
21 97 Bellahouston Harriers B 0:00:00 Kristina Greig 19:57 Kathleen McLeod 21:47 Liz Gordon 26:54 68.38
# 81 Greenock Glenpark B 0:00:00 Heather Kangley 20:15 Janet Henderson 24:56
# 88 Victoria Park 0:00:00 Claire McCracken 16:05 Claire Thomson 16:40
Fatest Lap .. Elspeth Curran (Kilbarchan) 14.07 .. record
Winning time .. 45.01 record

Creative Exposure



Full Auto



Manual



Last week at our Intermediate Digital SLR Photography course we learned about 'creative exposure'.  The photo above was taken on 'full automatic' mode and as you may be able to see the flash fired.  The photo on the right was taken on manual with the 'correct exposure' setting.  Whereas the photo shown below was delibrately over exposed to show what the photograph should look like.



Creative Exposure



      







5k PB Smashed at Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock Harriers and AC have been holding monthly 5K Time Trials, since 29th June, these have been staged on a flat and accurately measured ‘out and back’ route on the cycle path from the town’s Western Road towards Knockentiber. There have been some decent times recorded by club members, so I thought I’d join them for the fourth and final one of the summer series. Western Road is one of the longest roads in Kilmarnock and I didn’t know where the cycle path was until I noticed a few runners turning off the road and followed them down beside a freight railway line. There was a record turnout of some 28 runners plus another four officials. I had a chat with a few of the Harriers, including new Glasgow parkrun convert John Parker who had run a fantastic 20:07 at the event on Saturday..


After a short warm up and stretches I joined the throng of runners and was informed of the race format. Runners would be set off two at a time, at ten second intervals, with the fastest runners leaving first. I was assigned number 15 and Brian Darroch, who has become something of a Nemesis to me, number 16.

Keith Haining and Ross Connelly were first to set off and then Scott Martin and Connell Drummond. Graham Cairns and Laura Haggarty set off just before Brian and I, I’ve been beaten in a few races by Laura in the past but don’t think I’ve raced against Graham before. It was then our turn and I shot off leaving Brian behind right from the off. I was a bit surprised at that and although it would have been good for us to push each other around the course, I decided instead to concentrate on the two in front and try to narrow the gap. This wasn’t going to be easy as they had been placed in front of me because they are faster than me and on top of that they had been given a ten second lead. Although the course was mainly flat there were a few twists and turns along the way, which meant that you couldn’t always see those in front of you. I was delighted with my time of 3:57 for the first kilometre but knew from past experiences that I was unlikely to maintain such a pace. I kept to the task and was making up steady progress on Graham and Laura but my time for the second kilometre had slipped to 4:05. Paula Wilson gave me some encouragement as I rounded her at the half way point and started the journey back. I noticed that both Tom Wyper and David Lowden had overtaken Brian, as I pursued the two in front of me. The third kilometre had also taken 4:05 but I had caught up with Graham and Laura and I sped past the two of them as they ran shoulder to shoulder. However Graham, in particular, wasn’t for giving in easy and he chased after me running on my heels, the fourth kilometre had taken us 3:58 and we had made ground on those in front of us. I was feeling sick as I continued to work hard in the last kilometre but held on until a few hundred metres from the finish, where Graham overtook me and left me in his trail. Every second counted through and I pushed myself on with Graham and now John Parker in sight. I managed to find a wee bit extra when I saw the finish approaching and crossed the line with a final kilometre of 4:01. A total time of 20:06, some 13 seconds than my best ever time, recorded at the Edinburgh parkrun on 17th October 2009, and 36 seconds faster than my official PB of 20:42.

The conditions had been ideal for running and there were some great performances on the night, with many runners improving on their times from previous months.

Thanks to timekeepers Jim Young, Hugh Rankin and Ian Gebbie and to Paula Wilson, who marshalled the halfway point, and to Al Murray who quickly compiled the results.



Full Results
Keith Haining 17.05, Ross Connelly 17.37, Scott Martin 17.45, Connell Drummond 18.09, David McLeod 18.29, Les McDerment 18.39, Kara Tait 18.52, Alan Brydon 18.56, Mike Corson 19.24, Richard Skillen 19.37, Alasdair Murray 19.42, Ian Goudie 20.06, Graham Cairns 20.11, John Parker 20.13, Laura Haggarty 20.21, Scott McKee 20.29, Tommy Wyper 20.33, David Lowdon 20.37, Brian Darroch 21.32, Liz McDerment 22.10, Roddie Pugh 22.39, Adam Law 22.54, Scott Withers 23.25, Reed Wyper 23.48, Karen Quinn 23.50, Ian McAughtrie 23.57, Derek Middleton 25.07, Ian Sloan 32.10.

Monster Pull Out for Me

Is Nessie Dead?

I’ve finally decided to join the list of those pulling out of this year’s Loch Ness Marathon. I only entered it because I won a free place in a competition but the thought of having to turn up at Bught Park at 7:30am for a 10:00am start was never appealing to me.  It’s just too long a day for me with my Chronic Fatigue. The memory of Edinburgh 2008, when I collapsed with exhaustion, still hangs over me.  Although I am now a lot better, a full marathon might just be too much for me at this stage. 
Of course I’d still like to run another Marathon but one which doesn’t involve being up three hours before the start would be much better for me. I do enjoy following a marathon training schedule and the discipline it gives. I’ve benefitted this season with significant improvement in my performances at other distances. As it happens, the Scottish Veterans Club has a Half Marathon on the same day as Loch Ness and is much more accessible to me, being held in Clydebank. It’s a handicapped race so it should be quite interesting to see how it works out and hopefully it will be an enjoyable day, maybe see you there?

My 50th Glasgow parkrun



Pic by Alasdair Mackay

It was back to racing in the cooler Scottish climate on Saturday and despite a poor night’s sleep I was looking forward to my parkrun. However due to too much gabbing, I ended up with a minimal warm up and joined the assembled throng just before the start. I say just before but I was much earlier than the ever late Chris McKiddie who joined us just as we set off. We set off and headed down the hill and turned left, where to my surprise dozens of runners overtook me. I was sure I was doing fine, so I tried to ignore them as much as possible. As we turned left into the woods the path was quite congested, a sharp right turn took us to our first hill and as I raced up it I managed to overtake a few runners, including regular Martin Myant. Up and over the glade and I was making my way through the field. I was surprised to overtake Campbell Joss for the first time in my running history, however as we approached the sharp left turn, I found myself boxed in by other runners and he overtook me. I caught up with a guy a dark blue vest and although I passed him, he returned the favour. There was another runner, in yellow, ahead of us and I used him as my target. It wasn’t long until I overtook Campbell again and I could here him saying something, although I’m not sure if it was words of encouragement to me or to him self. I passed ‘blue vest’ on the hills but he caught me again soon after. I could see David Mooney and youngster Roisin McShea in the distance and felt that I was closing the gap on them. As I made my way over the glade for the second time I overtook ‘yellow vest’ and then Roisin. Just before the left turn I was found myself behind ‘blue vest’ and A. N. Other who were running shoulder to shoulder, a quick cough and the parted, allowing me to run through them. At the left turn, I heard Steward Jim Carson shouting on his Bellahouston Harrier club mate Erica Christie and realised that she must be on my tails. I sprinted past a couple of runners but it was to little avail as she soon went flying past me. I tried but I could not hold on to her, my head went down momentarily but I soon picked up the pace and headed up the last hill. I had a decent finish, counting every second as a prisoner but I was still overtaken in the final strait. Oh no, not ‘blue vest’ again, I thought to myself and was relieved to see the diminutive figure of Roisin sprinting to the finish.
In my 50th Glasgow parkrun I had finished in 48th place out of 258, with a time of 20:57, the first time I had dipped under the 21minute barrier at the Glasgow parkrun and five seconds off of my course PB. Erica was very happy with running a seasonal best of 20:52 to place third female. Kilmarnock’s John Parker also earned a PB by finishing in 20:07, whilst new Kilmarnock Harrier Ian Logan completed the course in 26:42.

Perhaps the performance of the day was Jenny Healy who took another 37 seconds off of last week’s PB of 25:02 to record a time of 24:25 and place first in her category.

It was also good to see Norman Boyle and Louie Plenderleith making their long overdue parkrun debuts.

Daniel Bradford, who won the Strathclyde parkrun last week, won the Glasgow event this week, finishing with a new course PB of 16:52. Ann MacPhail also earned a new PB and was first woman over the line in a time of 18:50.

Results

Photos

Kilmacolm 10k and Half Marathon Results and Photos

I took my bike and hangover down to Kilmacolm to take some photos of the local 10k and Half Marathon races.  Much of the races is along the N75 cycle path.  Continuing his great season, Greig Glendinning was the clear winner in the 10k, with Carrie Gibson being first woman. Inverclyde AC's Mark Pollard won the HaM, with Jennifer Lynch winning the women's race.

Photos 1


Photos 2

10K RESULTS 2010
Pos No Name 1st N M/F Time
1 393 GREIG GLENDINNING M 00:34:50
2 293 NICHOLAS LEITCH M 00:36:07
3 369 ALAN MCLEAN M 00:36:51
4 343 BILL BRECKENRIDGE M 00:37:28
5 239 GRAHAM ANDERSON M 00:37:29
6 411 THOMAS JAMIESON M 00:37:40
7 387 STEVEN CAMPBELL M 00:38:38
8 234 JACK KNOWLES M 00:38:39
9 352 MARTIN DOW M 00:38:58
10 268 ALAN CROMBIE M 00:39:06
11 211 CARRIE GIBSON F 00:39:43
12 252 GRAHAM ROBERTSON M 00:39:52
13 425 MICHAEL HARRINGTON M 00:40:01
14 365 DAVID MCCORKINDALE M 00:40:03
15 395 TOM REID M 00:40:30
16 316 FRANCIS McKNIGHT M 00:40:33
17 394 MARY MCCUTCHEON F 00:40:43
18 355 CAMERON McLELLAN M 00:40:52
19 375 DAVID PRENTICE M 00:41:10
20 318 STEWART BURNS M 00:41:21
21 409 KENNY PRYDE M 00:41:28
22 323 ROBERT URUHART M 00:41:40
23 313 PAUL MONAGHAN M 00:42:07
24 257 ALLAN DAVID DICK M 00:42:11
25 373 FRASER DRUMMOND M 00:42:19
26 200 MURRAY GRAY M 00:42:26
27 372 ANDREW MCCULLOCH M 00:42:41
28 397 INNES THOMSOM M 00:42:52
29 412 MARTIN GRAY M 00:42:57
30 414 NEIL THOMSON M 00:43:41
31 205 PAUL McCROREY M 00:43:44
32 240 IAN C MARSHALL M 00:43:46
33 236 MICHAEL ABRAM M 00:43:54
34 289 ROBERT CUMMING M 00:44:07
35 241 DOUGLAS COOPER M 00:44:17
36 359 ALEX LAWTHER M 00:44:18
37 261 STEWART McKINLAY M 00:44:20
38 345 STEPHEN McDADE M 00:44:22
39 248 NOREEN CROMBIE F 00:44:37
40 350 ALAN DAVID ROBERTSON M 00:44:45
41 201 DAVID CARRUTHERS M 00:44:52
42 209 STEPHEN DEVLIN M 00:45:03
43 207 JAMES McCORMICK M 00:45:17
44 351 IRENE McARTHUR F 00:45:23
45 304 TOM KEENAN M 00:46:01
46 294 MARGIE LEITCH F 00:46:05
47 306 EMMA MACKENZIE F 00:46:13
48 403 DAVID MACKENZIE M 00:46:18
49 410 JOHN MORRISON M 00:46:19
50 344 SUSAN BRECKENRIDGE F 00:46:36
51 329 JOHN AIRE M 00:46:38
52 422 STEWART MERRY M 00:46:47
53 413 ALLAN CASEY M 00:46:55
54 426 ALLAN RENNIE M 00:47:00
55 202 MARK ARMSTRONG M 00:47:04
56 348 STUART WILSON M 00:47:05
57 307 TIM MACKENZIE M 00:47:05
58 300 JIM NELIS M 00:47:29
59 270 ROBERT PETTIGREW M 00:47:29
60 259 MARK TURNBULL M 00:47:34
61 347 CLAIRE THOMSON F 00:47:38
62 404 IAIN MCKENZIE M 00:47:55
63 244 BRONWEN ARTHUR F 00:47:56
64 382 CLARE BETHEL F 00:47:59
65 213 CHRIS BARRY M 00:48:04
66 214 LINDSAY McLEOD-KENNEDY F 00:48:23
67 353 JOE DOW M 00:48:28
68 421 SANDRA FRASER F 00:48:31
69 242 ALLAN K GRAHAM M 00:48:31
70 416 ROBERT MCLEOD M 00:48:34
71 262 ROBIN ABRAM M 00:48:47
72 334 LIAM McLEVEY M 00:48:57
73 269 GARY MILLER M 00:49:06
74 317 JACKIE McLAREN F 00:49:11
75 287 MARY-JO McPHERSON F 00:49:18
76 278 ROBERT LAVERTY M 00:49:19
77 388 CLAIRE HAMILL F 00:49:40
78 322 KENNETH GRAHAM M 00:49:41
79 360 MICHELLE BUTTAR F 00:49:41
80 335 BOB McCAFFERTY M 00:49:43
81 280 DAVID HADDOCK M 00:49:48
82 349 JOHN ASHMORE M 00:49:56
83 407 RAYMOND SCOTT M 00:50:10
84 298 GRAHAM MONTEITH M 00:50:38
85 367 JOHN HENDERSON M 00:50:48
86 310 ZOE MONTEITH F 00:50:59
87 340 KATIE THOMSON F 00:51:10
88 327 BARBARA WALKER F 00:51:27
89 408 MICHEAEL GRANT M 00:51:37
90 389 JAMES DOHERTY M 00:51:43
91 381 GAYLE ECC;ESTON F 00:51:48
92 311 GERARD McDADE M 00:51:58
93 383 CATRIONA LANGFORD F 00:52:01
94 227 JAMIE HOWIE M 00:52:10
95 301 SEAN McFARLANE M 00:52:33
96 232 ROBIN JAMIESON M 00:52:40
97 418 ROSS HUNTER M 00:52:56
98 273 DAVID HYSLOP M 00:53:00
99 292 WENDY ASLETT F 00:53:01
100 377 PAULINE SELVEY F 00:53:04
101 396 BARBARA REID F 00:53:05
102 309 JOHN AITKEN M 00:53:06
103 284 STUART MacDONALD M 00:53:14
104 225 GEORGE CARTER M 00:53:23
105 328 KAY TENNANT F 00:53:42
106 305 SALEM TAREK M 00:54:02
107 288 HELEN LUNDIE F 00:54:13
108 208 FINLAY SMITH M 00:54:17
109 226 MICHAEL PEARCE M 00:54:22
110 324 PAUL YACOUBIAN M 00:54:25
111 267 KIRSTIN ARTHUR LEVITT F 00:54:28
112 223 PAULA VOSPER F 00:54:29
113 272 DAVID McISSAC M 00:54:30
114 275 SCOTT HENDRY M 00:54:44
115 220 JOHANNE BEGG F 00:54:52
116 299 DAVID MUNRO M 00:54:53
117 218 VERONICA McCARTHY F 00:54:55
118 228 LISA RICE F 00:55:01
119 276 ADRIAN RICE M 00:55:01
120 277 JIM CARSON M 00:55:02
121 374 GRACE METTHEWS F 00:55:06
122 251 ANNE MILLER F 00:55:10
123 320 DAVID MILLIKEN M 00:55:17
124 332 GERARD McNELLIS M 00:55:30
125 215 LINDA CARROLL F 00:55:37
126 370 JENNIFER GRAY F 00:55:55
127 338 LAURA LAING F 00:55:59
128 392 GILLIAN ROSS F 00:56:04
129 401 ROY MACDONALD M 00:56:04
130 384 KEITH MACDONALD M 00:56:32
131 229 JANICE LINTON F 00:56:43
132 417 SUSANNE MITCHELL F 00:56:44
133 376 HAZEL ANDERSON F 00:56:47
134 336 ELAINE A MACLEOD F 00:56:50
135 326 GILL HALL F 00:56:56
136 325 STEPHEN MACDONALD M 00:56:56
137 319 DEBORAH HAGGERTY F 00:57:07
138 219 SAMANTHA PTOLOMEY F 00:57:21
139 339 COLIN THOMAS M 00:57:21
140 231 WILMA BIRCH F 00:57:27
141 274 KAREN ANDERSON F 00:57:29
142 354 ROISIN O'DONOGHUE F 00:57:54
143 217 JACKIE SAYERS F 00:57:54
144 237 SOPHIE MILLER F 00:58:02
145 333 CHRISTOPHER REYNOLDS F 00:58:15
146 368 ROBERT CORRIGAN M 00:58:17
147 366 DAVID BRUNTON M 00:58:24
148 378 ELAINE KEAN F 00:58:25
149 420 EVIE JACKSO F 00:58:29
150 297 BERNADETTE ALLTOFT F 00:58:29
151 296 DONALD CLARK M 00:58:52
152 346 A LIKITH M 00:59:06
153 286 JOANNE McDOWALL F 00:59:07
154 302 FIONA McFARLANE F 00:59:13
155 224 JEAN HAMMERMAN F 00:59:17
156 230 JANE GODDARD F 00:59:25
157 263 GRAEME KIDD M 00:59:31
158 246 GRACE HARRISON F 00:59:54
159 245 VIKI WILKINSON F 00:59:56
160 312 IRENE McDADE M 00:59:57
161 419 VICKY CHALMERS F 00:59:57
162 363 ELAINE CLARK F 01:00:10
163 402 LYNN MCCRACKEN F 01:00:13
164 235 ANNA BECK F 01:00:13
165 379 KIRSTEN FORBES F 01:00:27
166 285 SHARON McNEIL F 01:00:34
167 415 SIOBHAN MACBEAN F 01:00:42
168 424 CATHERINE MACNEIL F 01:01:17
169 206 MARK RUDDY M 01:01:42
170 331 HELEN PATTERSON F 01:03:18
171 341 CATHERINE JONES F 01:03:27
172 337 NEIL ASH M 01:03:42
173 238 CLARE BECK F 01:04:09
174 260 JOANN LOVETT F 01:05:41
175 423 SUSAN RAE F 01:05:53
176 216 CHERYL THOMAS F 01:06:03
177 203 STEPHEN McGOWAN M 01:07:16
178 283 KEVIN McFADDEN M 01:07:47
179 303 MOYRA MABE F 01:08:16
180 204 JULIE LEPICK F 01:08:17
181 247 JULIE McEWAN F 01:08:38
182 254 DAVID BROADIS M 01:08:50
183 308 HUGH MITCHELL M 01:09:00
184 212 IRENE LAMONT F
185 358 LESLEY McEWAN F 01:10:30
186 291 ANDREW A CAMERON M 01:11:17
187 266 JOANNE McFADDEN F 01:12:21
188 405 ELIZABETH HAVENS F 01:12:38
189 386 TONY MURPHY M 01:13:12
190 406 LEONA BURNETT F 01:13:59
191 258 ALISTAIR McPHAIL M 01:14:19
192 281 TOM MONTEITH M 01:14:19
193 250 JANE SMILLIE F 01:14:19
194 249 SUSAN COLLIN F 01:14:22
195 282 ALISON TYLEY F 01:14:22
196 279 YVONNE FULTON F 01:14:38
197 362 SHELLY MCLAREN F 01:14:38
198 380 MONIKA LYALL F 01:16:34
199 398 LORNA THOMSOM F 01:17:19
200 399 MORVEN SUTHERLAND F 01:17:19
201 390 PAULA MIDDLETON F 01:24:41
202 271 FRANCES CLARK F 01:32:31
203 221 FRANCES CLEGHORN F 01:32:31
204 256 JOHN TAYLOR M 01:35:06
205 253 CAMERON H PARKER M 01:44:58

KILMACOLM HALF MARATHON RESULTS 2010
Pos No Name 1st N Time
1 561 MARK POLLARD 01:11:47
2 583 GRAEME HYATT 01:14:28
3 556 JOHN SHARP 01:22:14
4 550 JOHN McLAUGHLIN 01:23:43
5 597 SPEPHEN SPEIRS 01:24:52
6 537 ROBERT WILSON 01:26:11
7 585 ALAN O'ROURKE 01:26:25
8 517 ANDREW OSBORNE 01:28:38
9 544 MIKE FARMER 01:28:41
10 518 COLM DUNNE 01:31:08
11 582 ROSS KNIGHT 01:31:52
12 564 PAUL McKENDRY 01:32:11
13 557 ALISTAIR MACDONALD 01:32:28
14 535 STEWART NEILANDS 01:33:02
15 572 WILLIAM PATON 01:33:21
16 577 WILLIAM TAYLOR 01:33:53
17 596 CHRIS KINNAIRD 01:35:12
18 500 SAM THOMPSON 01:35:24
19 523 JENNIFER LYNCH 01:36:35
20 531 ROBERT ALLISON 01:37:11
21 506 HILARY MILLAR 01:37:18
22 584 DANIEL IRVINE 01:38:27
23 538 STUART McDONALD 01:38:39
24 581 GREGORY ALLAN 01:39:04
25 579 JOHN WESTON 01:39:20
26 591 NEIL FOWLER 01:39:24
27 524 LEWIS BECK 01:39:58
28 567 PETER MIDGLEY 01:40:06
29 554 DEREK SOMMERVILLE 01:40:12
30 573 HANLEY ANDY 01:40:27
31 570 ANDY McPARLAND 01:41:29
32 502 KEVIN NOLAN 01:41:43
33 560 WILLIAM TAYLOR 01:42:13
34 541 JIM McCAFFER 01:42:35
35 521 GORDON ADAMSON 01:42:57
36 589 STEPHEN FORBES 01:42:54
37 509 PAUL FULTON 01:44:03
38 594 ALAN FITSIMMONS 01:44:34
39 532 RUSSELL SHIELS 01:45:09
40 543 STEVEN LOGAN 01:45:50
41 545 DAVID GROVES 01:46:17
42 519 JOSEPH JUDGE 01:47:18
43 580 LYNSAY MILLER 01:47:43
44 547 MARK McDONALD 01:48:12
45 592 TONY BURKE 01:48:13
46 571 THOMAS TAYLOR 01:48:17
47 522 KENNETH McCORMICK 01:48:42
48 549 STUART DUNCAN 01:48:57
49 542 GARY ODAM 01:49:06
50 587 ROBERT ATKINSON 01:49:06
51 525 ALLAN MOORE 01:49:30
52 539 DEREK O'HAGAN 01:50:53
53 528 NORMAN GROVES 01:51:18
54 551 SHONA YOUNG 01:52:50
55 512 LESLEY McKERRAL 01:52:57
56 501 ADAM JUDGE 01:53:06
57 555 IAN TYRRELL 01:55:05
58 511 MORAG M McLELLAN 01:55:05
59 548 ALAN CRAWFORD 01:55:25
60 566 RICHARD MACNEIL 01:55:32
61 590 SUSAN CLARK 01:55:34
62 588 IRENE MELVILLE 01:55:52
63 562 BRIAN BROWN 01:57:38
64 552 PETER COWIE 02:05:22
65 513 COLIN MARSHALL 02:05:28
66 563 PAULINE SINCLAIR 02:05:59
67 520 FIONA McCREADIE 02:06:57
68 565 IAN RUTHERFORD 02:07:30
69 516 CHRISTOPHER HANNAY 02:07:46
70 586 PAUL DONNACHIE 02:08:31
71 540 NEAL DRUMMOND 02:08:47
72 536 JOHN JOSEPH DOHERTY 02:12:52
73 530 STUART McDONALD 02:13:01
74 534 EWAN McCRONE 02:13:47
75 527 GEORGE CHRISTIE 02:14:01
76 558 KARRIN GEORGE 02:14:52
77 569 CHRIS CAMERON 02:17:36
78 515 GAYLE McKAY 02:21:17
79 568 PAMELA GREENE 02:29:45
80 514 CHRISTINE McLUSKEY 02:29:54
81 526 MANDY MORGAN 02:29:54
82 595 CATHERINE MCHARGEY 02:30:40

Scottish Veteran Harriers Newletter Photo

I started the Intermediate Digital SLR Course at the Metropolitan College in Glasgow last Wednesday, after missing the first class.  My initial reaction is that it seems like a good and enjoyable course, with a good mixture of students.  Hopefully I'll see the benefits in my photographs in the future but in the meantime it was nice to see one of my photos used as the cover page in the recently published Scottish Veteran Harriers Club Newsletter.

Swieqi 5k Results

Jonathan Balzan

This year's Swieqi 5k road race held on Friday 10th September 2010 attracted a healthy field of some 118 runners.  The course had been altered since last year but was no less challenging and made more difficult with the hot and windy conditions.  St Patricks AC's  Jonathan Balzan was first over the finish line, the thirty year old runner completing the hilly course in a time of 16:33, more than one minute ahead of runner-up Roberto Abia Carrasco.  Despite still recovering from a triathlon on the previous Sunday, Carl Attard placed third with a time of  17:51.

For the second consecutive year, Starmax Athletic Club's Josann Attard won the women's race, finishing in a time of 20:54.   Making her comeback, after being out since March due to injury, Mireille Bonnici Kind really enjoyed her race, placing second with 22:13.  LRC's Daniela Casha finished third in a time of 23:06. 

I may well have placed first MV50+

Placing	Number	Name	Surname	Timing
1	167	Jonathan	Balzan	16.33
2	545	Roberto	Abia Carrasco	17.35
3	99	Carl	Attard	17.51
4	180	Rodney	Cassar	18.12
5	297	Kevin	Zammit	18.27
6	533	Vince	Ghigo	18.30
7	177	Simon	Camilleri	19.10
8	175	Morgan	Brimmer	19.12
9	284	Richards	Polis	19.16
10	290	Mark	Soler	19.59
11	279	Aaron	Mifsud	20.17
12	459	Karmenu	Gatt	20.20
13	292	Stephen	Spiteri	20.22
14	543	Tonio	Farrugia	20.24
15	519	Daniel	Mckaen	20.45
16	369	Josann	Attard	20.54				f
17	189	Eugenio	Farrugia	20.59
18	77	Luke	Micallef	21.19
19	174	Manfred	Borda	21.2
20	283	Mario	Pisani	21.25
21	170	Inaki	Berroeta	21.29
22	644	David	Bonnici	21.43
23	289	Adrian	Sciberras	21.45
24	383	Sandro	Caruana	21.49
25	194	Ian	Goudie	22.07
26	377	Mireille	Bonnici Kind	22.13				f
27	538			22.20
28	75	Kurstin	Gatt	22.37
29	287	Stephen	Sammut Nurminen	22.39
30	176	Michael	Camilleri	22.46
31	172	Alan	Bezzina	22.49
32	179	Joseph	Casha	22.53
33	294	John	Zammit	22.58
34	199	Victor	Laurenti	23.01
35	643	Francis	Gilford	23.05
36	384	Daniela	Casha	23.06
37	541	Ian	Grech	23.11
38	547	Alan	Formosa	23.16
39	282	Andre	Muscat	23.17
40	540	Steve	Camilleri	23.21
41	288	Donald	Scerri	23.26
42	299	Renaud	Matthew	23.28
43	456	Ramona	Engerer	23.28
44	458	Joe	Aquilina	23.42
45	188	Alan	Farrugia	23.42
46	173	Jesmond	Bonnici	23.44
47	295	Carmel	Zammit	23.46
48	500	Andy	Grech	23.47
49	181	Shaun	Clark	23.47
50	98	Brian	Aquilina	23.56
51	542	Luke	Attard Montalto	24.00
52	191	Mark	Fountaine	24.06
53	446	Shaena		24.09
54	280	Raymond	Mifsud	24.10
55	182	Alexander	Cutajar	24.11
56	73	Kenneth	Gambin	24.13
57	537	Christopher	Sammut Nurminen	24.30
58	169	Chris	Bergedahl	24.55
59	498	Monica	Piscopo	25.03
60	445	Leanne	Scibberas	25.03
61	379	Kelly	Busuttil	25.05
62	380	Lonneke	Calleja	25.07
63	389	Lisa	Pace	25.11
64	455	Lara	Buttigieg	25.22
65	79	Marc	Agius Fernandez	25.50
66	517	Nicholas	Naudi	26.17
67	168	Bartolo	Vronsky	26.21
68	291	Oliver	Spieri	26.34
69	518	Charles	Tedesco	26.54
70	398	Rosemary	Hollingsworth	27.04
71	539	Owen	Camilleri	27.07
72	457	Saviour	Buhagiar	27.08
73	281	Luke	Mizzi	27.20
74	76	Julian	Mifsud	27.26
75	72	Chris	Delia	27.39
76	277	Anthony	Marmara	27.40
77	198	Victor	Jacano	27.41
78	450	Claire	Ellul	27.43
79	544	Malcolm	Portelli	27.50
80	381	Clementina	Camilleri	27.59
81	440	Elizabeth	Pisani	28.31
82	196	Paul	Grima	28.39
83	622	Ruben	Debono	28.40
84	370	Christine	Attard	28.46
85	400	Giulia	Muscat	28.49
86	536	Winston	Pirotta	29.24
87	373	Marouska	Azzopardi Duca	29.25
88	171	Manuel	Bezzina	29.38
89	195	Joseph	Grech	29.54
90	276	Pete	Mann	30.07
91	385	Moira	Cassar	30.37
92	187	Nicky	Farrugia	30.38
93	299	Matthew	Renaud	30.53
94	397	Mary Rose	Herd	31.01
95	460	Michael	Calleja	31.45
96	387	Deirdre	Farrugia	31.57
97	396	Jennifer	Gerada	31.57
98	74	David	Zahra	32.22
99	193	Joseph	Gauci	32.23
100	394	Sue	Gauci	32.24
101	376	Josian	Bonello	32.26
102	399	Tiziana	Muscat	33.06
103	388	Jennifer	Farrugia	33.19
104	80	Ralph	Agius Fernandez	33.23
105	449	Maria Elena	Zammit	33.45
106	374	Naomi	Barry	34.04
107	185	Robert	Dingli	34.05
108	444	Raissa	Sciberras	34.07
109	371	Martina	Azzopardi	34.08
110	391	Cristina	Fountaine	34.38
111	197	Carmel	Herd	35.29
112	442	Christine	Scerri	36.48
113	390	Isabelle	Fereday	36.54
114	546	Paul	Attard Baldacchino	37.47
115	461	Francesca	Attard Baldacchino	37.50
116	470	Annemarie	Vella	37.53
117	183	Sergio	Degabriele	38.10
118	452	Stephanie	Demarco	38.17

Papal Visit to Glasgow

I know that people get very uptight and defensive about their religions which is more than somewhat surprising as they very rarely have any say in what religion that they 'join'.  It's almost a matter of chance, depending on which bed you were born in and what era.  As an Ayrshire Atheist I believe it would be good if people made rational choices but unfortunately that is not the case when it comes to organised religion.  Until that time comes I'll just have to muse over the words of the great Ayrshire Internationalist Rabbie Burns who wrote:

Ye see yon birkie ca'd 'a lord,'
Wha struts, an' stares, an' a' that?
Tho' hundreds worship at his word,
He's but a cuif for a' that.
For a' that, an' a' that,
His ribband, star, an' a' that,
The man o' independent mind,
He looks an' laughs at a' that.

From: Is there for honest poverty

Golden Sands to St Paul's Bay & Back - My Malta 10k

 After my 5k race in Friday’s heat, the weather was a bit cooler on Saturday evening so I decided to run a little further.  I settled for 6.55k, which included an elevation gain of 109m, which I had to endure both on the way out and back. Route

Unfortunately on Sunday evening the weather was at its hottest yet, which was a shame as I wanted to run at least 10k.  I ascended the 30m from Golden Sands to the dusty road which leads to the other side of the island and St Paul’s Bay.  I was pleasantly surprised to see another couple of guys, at different points, also running along the fairly busy road.  I arrived at the pleasant coastal town and headed along past the locals and tourists on the narrow promenade until Garmin indicated that I had run 5k.  At this point I was 4m above sea level but I kept going a little further uphill until I came to an appropriate turning point and headed back.  By the time I had reached the roundabout and the slight climb out of St Paul’s the sun had gone down and been replaced with a head on breeze.  My sun glasses were still useful on the way back though, as they kept the dust thrown up by the cars out of my eyes.  I was really enjoying my run and was feeling good as I climbed up to the 50m high point before turning right and running downhill to the hotel at 20m.  A total of 10:09k in 51:26.  Route

After a short warm down I headed up to my room in my sweat soaked vest and to the balcony for my stretches as my bath poured and I replaced some of the lost fluids.  I then headed down to Apple’s Eye where I sat under the stars, overlooking the bay and enjoyed the local tasty dish of Bragjoli, washed down with the local Medina red wine.


10k Route

Swieqi 5k Race, Malta



Post Race

 My first ever race overseas was Friday’s (10 Sept) Swieqi 5k on the Isle of Malta.  I managed to find my way across the island from Golden Bay to Swieqi and uphill to Ibram Church, arriving about ten minutes before the scheduled start at 6pm.  I picked up my number and safety pins and joined the queue for the toilets.  I changed into my Scottish Veterans vest and chatted with the local runners, many from the St Patricks AC Zurrieq Wolves ASC and the Ladies Running Club, as the clock ticked down.  I was advised that the course was very hilly and had little shade and that last year the race had started at 6pm on the dot, despite the organisers being advised that a number of people were still in the toilet queue.  This year common sense prevailed.  

The race announcements were in Maltese and the only words I made out were ‘5k’ and ‘goody bag’.  They must have said something religious as the assembled runners crossed themselves, before we set off at 6:07.  The start was on the road next to the church. The road was flat and shaded and I hoped that the locals had been winding me up, however after about ten seconds the route took a right turn and we climbed, from 79m above sea level to 97m, as we turned left, then right and then left again to complete the first 400m of the course.  I was pleasantly surprised to find myself reasonably far up the field and absolutely delighted to see that the route then descended.  I pride myself on knowing how to run downhill and I managed to catch a few runners as we ran down Triq Tai-Francis for almost 400m along the side of a park.  We then turned left away from the park and through a residential area, which took us down Triq Il-Mizura and passed the 1k mark. Garmin indicated a pleasant 4:07.  The marshal pointed us down to our right and I was still catching one or two runners as we continued downhill along Triq Il Keffa for a further 500m, to 50m above sea level.  We turned right again and the park was back on our left hand side as we ran down Triq Il-Ossam before leaving the park, turning left and after reaching the lowest point of the route at 35m we started heading uphill slightly along Triq Is-Swieqi.  The sun was beating down on us and the wind was in our faces as we turned right into the rolling Triq Il Gizimin.  The second kilometre had taken 4:01.  But I wasn’t getting carried away as I had observed the ‘finish line’ painted on the road beside the ‘start line’ and knew that at some point we would be faced with an uphill climb.  The pack had spread significantly by this stage, I couldn’t hear anyone behind me and I could see an athletic lass about four places ahead of me, so I made her my target.  We then turned left, right and left again as we made our way through the houses.  I was so glad to see a couple of lads handing out bottles of water, I was less happy though when some of it went up my nose!  A quick couple of coughs and I poured some water over my head and took a quick mouthful before disposing of the bottle and catching the guy in front.  We turned left back onto Triq Is-Swieqi and headed in the other direction for a bit before turning right and passed the 3k mark on Triq Is-Sik.  The third kilometre had taken a disappointing 4:29.  I was feeling shattered now but I was still making ground on those in front.  A left turn took us onto Triq Il Tiben, I was surprised to overtake the lass and another guy as we started our climb. A left turn took us to the 4k mark at 50m above sea level.  The 4^th k had taken me 4:44!  There was no chance of me having a grand stand finish as I dug in deep to keep moving.  A sharp left and a right turn took us back onto Triq Il-Ossam.  We turned up to our right and retraced our footsteps along Triq Il Keffa, uphill this time.  I was hoping to see the church but it was not to be.  Although I was shattered, I couldn't hear any runners behind me and know one caught me, I assumed that the heat, wind and hills must have been having the same effect on them.   After climbing up another 400m, I turned right back onto Triq Il-Mizura but still no church in sight.  I could hear the supporters cheering and it gave me a lift as I turned right onto Triq Ta L’Ibrag and the steepest part of the route.  The church was in sight and proudly adorned in my bright yellow Scottish Veterans vest, I ran past the supporters and back up to 79m above sea level and then turned left to cross the finish. The 5th k had also taken me 4:44, a total time of 22:07.   

I was happy with my time and my effort as the organisers presented me with my medal and I handed in my race number and received my t-shirt, fruit, water and goody bag in return – impressive for a free event!  I chatted with a few other runners and thanked the organisers before getting changed and heading down the road to wait in vain for the last bus to Golden Bay.  I had been advised that the last bus left St Andrews at 7:30pm but it never appeared, perhaps the bus driver had meant to say 17:30.  However I had taking precautions and brought enough funds to pay for a taxi back.  However there didn’t seem to be any taxis on the road.  A local shopkeeper advised me where a private hire could be had.  The taxi driver was more than happy to take the fare and after a detour to let off his original fare in Valletta we headed to my hotel, where after a bath I headed to the local bistro for a hard earned dinner washed down with a bottle of Victoria Heights Gozo red wine.  

Route