True Grit

South By Five – Bellahouston Park falls in early January. Always going to be a cold one in Scotland. In the 23/24 series, the race was postponed due to a severe freeze, despite Michelle and I gritting parts of the course the night before.

Fast forward 12 months and we were back in a similar position. With planned Saturday parkruns and other events in the city over the weekend falling by the wayside as early as Friday, it was clear it would be a challenge for South By Five to take place as planned. A challenge we accepted. We couldn’t let you guys down eh?

With a slight increase in temperature forecast for early doors on Sunday, Michelle and I went into overdrive on Saturday. Wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow of grit was filled up from the bins in the park, and liberally sprinkled on the route. We were determined the show would go on!!

Early Sunday we were back out for a course inspection. The grit had done it’s job, and the all clear was given for the race to go ahead. Calum Wallace and myself adding some extra grit to the route where required.

History in the making

Finally! Finally, I created a route in Bellahouston Park I am happy with. The prevalence of tarmac on the route we had has always made it a series anachronism, a hang over from when the series was conceived under the TRB banner back in the heady days of pre-Covid.

A bit of mud, a wee bit of added elevation and a whole lot of history was added to the route.

Bellahouston Park was the site of the Empire Exhibition in 1938. A huge tower, and multiple “Palaces” added to the park. The Palace of Art remains, and the Palace of Engineering relocated out towards the current Glasgow Airport.

The Tait Tower had such prominence it could be seen 100 miles away. The route now passes through the site of the Tower.

More about the Exhibition can be read here – it’s well worth a read. The construction timescales of the site meant it was all completed in 18 months!!

The route

Whilst the route was updated, we kept in the classic bits! THAT staircase, the wee nod to the South Side Six race DNA that runs in the veins of Sx5.

That iconic tree lined avenue that forms the start and finish line, and those amazing heroes in hi-viz, without whom we would be unable to perform the miracles we do.

The wide looking line makes the start photos looking a scene from Braveheart – or maybe Zulu! A massed charged towards our intrepid photographer, Kev, who captures the scene for you all to replay.

📸 Kev Queenan

The fast outbound loop past the pitch and putt, before the aforementioned steps, from there the route changed up..up into the mud and trail section. Cutting past Tait Tower, through the tunnel and down the trails and onto the tarmac downhill.

📸 Ian Cochrane

Another long sweeping fast section right to the bottom of the park, before the long drag back up passing the House For An Art Lover designed by the acclaimed Charles Renee Mackintosh (well worth a visit) and passing the 10-ton elephant, made from the recycled metal of scrapped Glasgow built locomotives!.

📸 Blythe Lindsay

Continuing uphill – I know, I heard you swearing at me! – towards the back of the ski slope, before a slight reprieve, a short downhill and round pass the remains of the ceremonial platform for the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1982!

Time for lap 2, and then onto that down hill tree lined sprint finish! Phew!

The race

With last year’s series winner, Cameron Muir, watching on and this year’s series leader, Ruan Van Rensburg still not returned from festive break, it was the Bella Harrier, Callum Wallace first to charge up the infamous steps. Giffnock AC’s Oliver Traynor in close pursuit. Wallace commented post-race that he now understood how Ruan feels…Ruan who usually feels Wallace breathing down his neck!

Ultimately Wallace took the race win, taking the tape in 18.35, 13 seconds in front of Traynor. Cambuslang Super-vet and super-smiler, Richard Cooper held off a late charge from Bellahouston Road Runner, Ryan Macready crossing the line in 19.52 and 19.59 respectively.

Visiting Irish runner representing Donegal’s Rosses AC, Bernie Boyle took the lead early in the women’s race. Similar to the men’s event the leader was hard pressed by the local Bella Harrier, Karen McQuarrie, who continues to make strong performances throughout the series. Boyle took the tape in 22.25, with McQuarrie just 8 seconds adrift. Rival Bellhouston Road Runner, Jen Conway took the third spot in what was a club championship event which saw 13 Road Runners cross the finish line.

Full results can be found here

With wee battles between friends, rivals that don’t know they are rivals, and age category tussles we head towards the last race with lots still to run for.

The series

The win will be decided in the last race. Should Ruan win, he will be crowned King of the South. Should Calum win, the result standing between them will be tied. All sorts of convoluted systems have already been suggested on how to settle this should it arise. We watch with bated breath and see how it unfolds. The rest of the male podium is also all to play for with Richard, Ryan, and Lukasz Pudlow all to run for, and Eddie Neilson an outside bet for a podium step as well!

Karen currently leads the females, with early pace setter Lindsay Branston in second. With three of the top four ladies yet to complete 5 races, they must show (and perform) at Queens Park to stay in contention, or it could be all to play for with the chasing pack!

Current series standing are available on the results pages, click the “Series Standing” tab under the event title.

Runners must complete at least 5 of the 6 events. If a runner completes 6 races, then their worst performance isn’t counted. A full explanation is available of the Info page of the results site.

South By Five Awards

As South By Five draws to a close, it’s time to look at awards…

It’s a very democratic and open process, get involved, let us know who should win.

Make up your own category with our “Wildcard” prize…

It’s a quick an easy process which we encourage all our participants – runners and volunteers – to take part in.

Give it a click (or copy and paste) and give them 2 minutes of your time…

https://tinyurl.com/3z6sdht6

Go Yellow

Thanks very much to all those who came in yellow and/or donated. We managed to raise over £100 for the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice which is located adjacent to that amazing finish line in Bellahouston Park.

Foodbank

Thank you for your Foodbank donations which were given to the nearby Glasgow SW Foodbank based in Govan.

More thanks

Our amazing team of marshals outdid themselves – what a racket!!

Thanks to: Lynn Connor, Cha Harris and Trevor, Cedric Moreau, Callum Wallce, Magda Thomas, Liz Deans, Angus Robinson, Ray Loughran, Calum Roach, H, Michael McNamara, Clare Taylor, Alison Wright, Phil Hume-Hopper.

Also huge thanks to those behind the lenses we had: Kevin Queenan, Robert Hill, Bill Oliver, Ian Cochrane, George Wilson, Laura Lennon, Blythe Lindsay.

Next

We’re looking forward to seeing you all for the grand finale at Queen’s Park on Sunday 19^th January.

Please bear in mind that registration will take place at Wellcroft Bowling Club, on the corner of Queens Drive and Balvicar Drive. This is NOT near the start line (500m away up hill!). Registration will and must close at 10.15. Please ensure you allow plenty of time to get there and register. Race brief will take place at 10.25 adjacent to the start line, just before the hill to avoid the weather. Race start will be at 10.30.

Castlemilk Trail Race

Nearly sold out, takes place on February 16th.

Enter at www.entrycentral.com/acorntrails

http://www.entrycentral.com/acorntrails