Aaron Hoyle won the men’s section in the tough, six-mile Rigg Race at Balerno in which an unprecedented six runners broke the 33-minute barrier.
The Corstorphine AAC runner covered then distance in 31min 20sec, finishing 19 seconds ahead of runner-up, James Wright (Lothian RC).
Third was Robert Simpson (Edinburgh Athletics Club) with a time of 32min 14sec.
The first Harmeny runner to cross the line in the men’s race was Murray Duff who was tenth.
Rachel Normand of Carnethy Hill Racing Club won the ladies race with a superb run and she finished in 36min 39sec, just ahead of the 2025 winner, local runner, Rachel Caves (Harmeny AC) who clocked 37min 37sec and she finished as the first local female.
Rachel came home in 16th position and Rachel finished 20th overall.
An excellent performance by Corstorphine saw them take five of the top ten places which comfortably gave them this year’s Club Trophy.
Entrants came from clubs including Portobello, Penicuik, Moorfoot Runners, JogScotland, JogPeebles, Wee County Harriers and Kinross Road Runners.
Congratulations were extended to all including the last runner to complete the course in 1hr 18min 43sec.
The race is traditionally held on the Monday evening of the Balerno Children’s Gala week towards the end of May and the course starts in Malleny Park and runners head up through the village, along the Rigg Road an back down through Cockburnhill to finish at the rugby club.
It evolved from a post-war walking event for local Balerno Mill workers and became an official running race in 1963.
Steve Brown, the current race director, thanked all the 180 competitors who finished and he added: “Thankfully the rain held off which made for good running conditions, and there were some great performances throughout the field.
“It was a very tough competition in the men’s, with an unprecendented six runners breaking the 33-minute barrier which is often enough to win the race, incredible running.
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RESULTS: 1, Aaron Hoyle (Corstorphine AAC) 31min 20ec; 2, James Wright (Lothian Running Club) 31.39; 3, Robert Simpson (Edinburgh Athletics Club) 32.14; 4, Telfer Gray (Corstorphine AAC) 32.26; 5, Iain Hutchinson (Corstorphine AAC) 32.41; 6, Alex Leutchford (HBT) 32.58; 7, Gary Constable (Edinburgh Athletics Club) 33.30; 8, David Hall (Corstorphine AAC) 33.39; 9, Chris Poxton (Corstorphine AAC) 33.44; 10, Murray Duff (Harmeny AC) 34.17.
WINNING RUN: Aaron Hoyle (Corstorphine AAC) making his way down Johnsburn Road towards the finish. Picture Nigel Duncan
The full results are shown below:
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LEADING LADY: Rachel Normand (16) behind Rory McCarthy (unattached). Picture Nigel Duncan
FINISHING LINE CLOSE: James Wright who finished second. Picture Nigel Duncan
LOCAL HEROINE: Rachel Caves second in the ladies race but member of Harmeny AC. Picture Nigel Duncan
THIRD MAN: Robert Simpson (145) leading fourth-placed Telfer Gray (214) in Johnsburn Road. Picture Nigel Duncan
HARMENY FIRST: Murray Duff who was tenth overall but is a member of the local club. Picture Nigel Duncan
