An exhibition…

Number 5

The moon was still riding high as runners made their way to a frosty and cold Bellahouston Park for the fifth installment of the 2025/26 South By Five series.

An early course inspection by Callum & Magda and Alex & Fletch led to a few “hotspots” (coldspots i guess) being given a bit of the grit salt treatment to ensure the course was ready to run. Then just prior to the race the council came round and gave the park a sprinkle too. A bit of frost and ice is no issue for the Acorn heroes! Thanks for the help, the show must go on!

Yin/Yang

This route is the yin to Pollok Park yang. The mudfest just before the Christmas break might not have been universally enjoyed by all, so here we give folk a break and send them up the infamous “Bella steps”, and then for a wee history tour through the remains of the Exhibition Tower, then round past the Palace of Art (another relic of the Exhibition) before running past the Elephant and the House of An Art Lover. Up past the back of the ski slope, and up past the sermon spot of Pope John Paul II’s Glasgow visit, and round to do it all again! Then a downhill tree lined sprint finish! The perfect antidote to the Rhododendron Trail at the previous event!

Go Yellow

Adjacent to the start/finish is the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice. In keeping with their theme, the dress code was Go Yellow. Donations made by participants and Acorn Trails totalled just over £200! Thank you all.

Bella Battles

With the 3, 2, 1 GO instruction from Michelle, the tide of yellow stormed away from the startline for a fast getaway towards the aforementioned steps!

Five races into the series, many runners have now picked their individual battles and targets. Alot of the opponents identified have probably no idea they are being lined up! Wee pockets of familiar faces that we run with at at consistent pace through the series and come to associate with, working out if we’re running faster, too fast, slower etc. However it was noted in post race discussion with one runner, Jim (Speakman not the Dog!) that the tarmac of Bella had totally reset these bubbles, with people’s ability varying with the different underfoot conditions. Those usual targets were now way down the road so to speak!

The apple cart and form book were upset! And this was apparent throughout the field.

Mud loving Callum Wallace (Bellahouston Harriers) showed strength and versatility that will keep his club coach happy, storming off in to the distance pushing hard on both laps to take the top step by nearly a full minute!

Richard Cooper (Cambuslang Harriers) used his experience and gritty determination to wear down the youth of Garscube Harrier, Ethan Tyler and take the second spot setting up a fabulous battle in the last race at Queens Park for the series podium! We look forward to watching that one!

Equally, the women’s battle for the podium is going to the final race.

Kristina Glynn once again dominated the race, keeping last year’s series winner and Bellahouston Harrier clubmate, Karen McQuarrie firmly in second spot. Laura Lennon (VP-CoG) staked her claim for the series podium spot with a commanding third place finish at Bella taking her marginally in front of Shropshire Shuffler, Sarah Jeffries, leaving it all to play for at the finale in Queens Park.

Series standings

The series standing are counted using a runners best 5 performances from the 6 races, counted on race position not time. If you have only completed 5 events all of them will be included. If you have completed 6 then your “worst” performance will not be counted. We realise that Christmas is a busy time for folk and may lead to a missed event or the dreaded winter illness, hence the 5 from 6 approach.

Race results and series standings can be found on separate tabs at:

Results and series standings

And it doesn’t matter if you’re not up there fighting for podiums! South By Five is still great fun throughout the pack from back to front. Just ask our tail runner, Colin the Clown/Cone/Carrot

And we’ve prizes throughout the field for all sorts of folk…make sure to cast your vote and have a say on who wins the wacky prizes…

Sx5 25/26 Prizes – Fill in form

Dress code

Speaking of Colin…..Dress code for Queens Park is “South By Five”!

So pick a colour from our rainbow and come accordingly, or wear Sx5 merch! We’re asking the regulars to wear their usual colours to help this along:

Red – Richard Cooper

Orange – who does orange? 🤷🤔🤔🤔

Yellow – Gillian Gallagher, Paul Foster, Micky Anderson

Green – Richard Stark, Anna Conlon, Alan Brown – rocking those Acorn Trails tshirts

Blue – Jog Scotland Carluke squad

Purple – Simon Wells, Kev Queenan, Team Nimmo

Foodbank

Thanks for all your donations at Bella, these will be added to the Queens Park donations and collect by the Glasgow SE Foodbank based in Govanhill, who we have supported over previous years.

Hi-Viz Heroes

The Bellahouston Park event couldn’t have been held without the support of our amazing hi viz heroes:

Paul Fletcher, Callum Wallace, Magda Thomas, Cedric Moreau, Lynn Connor, Cha Harris, Anna Deboub, Fiona McDonald, Charlie Gorrie, Karis McDermott & Skye, Steven Ross, Sam Ham, Michael Devlin, Ray Loughran, Garry Smith, Calum Roach, Catherine Mulaney, Bruce Oxley, Doubles & Sophie, Colin Gray, Robert Hill, Seoras Buchanan

Paparazzi

Kev Queenan, George Wilson, Ian Cochrane, Blythe Lindsay, Alan Jones and team.

Next up

The Grand Finale….

We head to Queens Park.

Remember now, registration isn’t near the startline….please arrive in plenty of time to register AND get to the start.

Registration will take place at the Wellcroft Bowling Club, 163 Queens Drive, G42 8QR.

Can’t wait to see you all there.

Presentation of all the prizes, of which there is many, (Sx5 25/26 Prizes – Fill in form ) will take place back at the Wellcroft after the race. Soup, tea and coffee available and the bar will be open – cash only. Nearest cash machine is Victoria Road.