Law and District AAC athlete is Scottish University champion in successful month for club
Emily McNicol won a top prize in a month when several others won medals
Law and District AAC athlete Emily McNicol is Scottish University champion after winning the women's race at the 8km Dumyat Hill Race in Stirling.
Emily was 33rd overall with a time of 38.55mins in a field of 340, in a Scottish Students' Hill Racing Championship. Her Glasgow University team won gold as well.
Several athletes took part in the West District Championships at Ayrshire Athletic Arena in Kilmarnock, with eight medal winners and three championship titles won on day one.
Under-17 athlete Cameron Chambers won double championship titles in 800m (2.02:31) and 400m (52.58).
In the same age group, Lucas Davidson won 100m in 11.73 seconds.
Gregor Davidson won silver in discus (10.49m) and bronze in javelin (18.72m).
U13 Ross Murphy won bronze in long jump with 4.13m, U17 Erin McGurk won silver in 300m (42.10) and U13 Abbie Boyle was second in 800m in 2.29:89.
Competing in 100m were: Under-15 boys: Stefan Cowan (5th), Harrison Hamilton (9th) and Alfie Brown (10th).
Under-13 boys: Ross Murphy (4th), Gregor Davidson (11th).
Under-15 girls: Cara Murphy (18th), Carys Kennedy (25th), Chloe Gardiner (30th).
Under-13 girls: Victoria Carr (8th).
Under-17 Women: India Wood (20th).
Competing in 800m were: Under-13 girls: Allyssa Bennet (6th), Grace Frood (9th).
Under-15 boys: Jamie Mackie (8th).
Long jump: Under-13 girls: Natalie McCabe (12th), Victoria Carr (16th).
Shot put: Under-13 girls: Grace Frood (6th).
Day two of the competition saw an early silver medal win for under-17 Johann Gillon in hammer, with a fine throw of 45.07m.
Also achieving silver was under-15 Roisin McClelland in javelin in 25.79m.
Further results were: 200m: Under-15 girls: Cara Murphy (11th), Carys Kennedy (18th), Chloe Gardiner (23rd).
Under-13 girls: Grace Frood (9th).
Under-15 boys: Stefan Cowan (4th), Harrison Hamilton (8th), Alfie Brown (9th).
Under-13 boys: Ross Murphy (4th), Jack Hamilton (8th).
Under-17 women: Erin McGurk (4th).
Under-17 men: Luke Evans (6th).
1500m: Under-15 boys: Alexander Wotherspoon (4th), Declan Hare (11th).
Under-13 girls: Helena Wotherspoon (8th).
Under-13 boys: Ross McLean (4th).
Under-13 Anna Boss was 11th in javelin and fifth in high jump, and under-15 Declan Hare was 10th in long jump.
Head coach Pat Kelly attended the West Districts and said: 'I could not help being very proud to see parents and coaches help all of our young athletes to shine in this competition.
'We have great young athletes who try their hardest, and many over the weekend got their reward, whether it was their first medal or personal best.
'For many it was their first outing in a major competition.'
Meanwhile, Ross McLean won the P6 boys' race of 1.8km in a time of 6,39 mins at the Scottish Primary Schools' Cross Country Championships at Kirkcaldy.
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2 days ago
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Law and District AAC are shining stars as they bag great times in the sun
Athletes took part in several events over recent weeks Law and District Amateur Athletics club clocked in personal best times in the Sri Chinmoy 5k race at Silverknowes beach in Edinburgh. One of the fastest and most elite courses in the UK, with personal bests almost guaranteed, athletes travel the length and breadth of the country to compete, with 540 runners let loose down the esplanade. Ryan Kellock was first club runner to finish in 81st place in 15.47, with Emily McNicol clocking in at 16.48, making her seventh female and 190th overall. Grant McKenzie was 206th in 16.59, and Ross Hill 234th in 17.12. Finn Milligan, Rich Beattie, Bobby Hill, Logan Whitton, Elaine Boyle, Christine Neill, Mark Milligan, Lesley Graham, and John O'Leary also took part. The club was represented at the UK International track relays in Loughborough by Owen Murphy, who helped Scotland Under-20s to second place in the 4x100m. Owen's sister Cara finished fourth in the Para 100m at under-15 level. Success continued in the Lanarkshire AAA Track Relay Championships at Shettleston, with nine teams making it into podium positions. Five teams won gold, three silver and one bronze. Gold-winning teams were: U13 girls 3x800m: Abbie Boyle, Maya Carmichael, Grace Frood. U15 boys 4x100m: Alfie Brown, Harrison Hamilton, Joshua Gartshore, Stefan Cowan. U17 mixed 4x400m: Lucy Corns, Luke Evans, Erin McGurk, Cameron Chambers. Senior mixed 4x400m: Callum Hall, Lauren McNair, Hannah Kulke, Matthew Gillon. Senior women's 4x100m; Jade Gray, Lauren McNair, Hannah Kulke, Sophie Evans. Silver-winning teams: U11 girls 4x100m: Isla Mackey, Isla Dickson, Neve Shepka, Libby Boyd. U13 boys; 3x800m: Ross McLean, Jack Hamilton, Christopher Traynor. U13 girls 4x100m: Victoria Carr, Lily Crawford, Lexi Boyd, Grace Frood. Bronze: U17 women's 4x100m: India Wood, Rachel Williamson, Sophie Dickson and Erin McGurk.
Daily Record
25-05-2025
- Daily Record
Law and District AAC athlete is Scottish University champion in successful month for club
Emily McNicol won a top prize in a month when several others won medals Law and District AAC athlete Emily McNicol is Scottish University champion after winning the women's race at the 8km Dumyat Hill Race in Stirling. Emily was 33rd overall with a time of 38.55mins in a field of 340, in a Scottish Students' Hill Racing Championship. Her Glasgow University team won gold as well. Several athletes took part in the West District Championships at Ayrshire Athletic Arena in Kilmarnock, with eight medal winners and three championship titles won on day one. Under-17 athlete Cameron Chambers won double championship titles in 800m (2.02:31) and 400m (52.58). In the same age group, Lucas Davidson won 100m in 11.73 seconds. Gregor Davidson won silver in discus (10.49m) and bronze in javelin (18.72m). U13 Ross Murphy won bronze in long jump with 4.13m, U17 Erin McGurk won silver in 300m (42.10) and U13 Abbie Boyle was second in 800m in 2.29:89. Competing in 100m were: Under-15 boys: Stefan Cowan (5th), Harrison Hamilton (9th) and Alfie Brown (10th). Under-13 boys: Ross Murphy (4th), Gregor Davidson (11th). Under-15 girls: Cara Murphy (18th), Carys Kennedy (25th), Chloe Gardiner (30th). Under-13 girls: Victoria Carr (8th). Under-17 Women: India Wood (20th). Competing in 800m were: Under-13 girls: Allyssa Bennet (6th), Grace Frood (9th). Under-15 boys: Jamie Mackie (8th). Long jump: Under-13 girls: Natalie McCabe (12th), Victoria Carr (16th). Shot put: Under-13 girls: Grace Frood (6th). Day two of the competition saw an early silver medal win for under-17 Johann Gillon in hammer, with a fine throw of 45.07m. Also achieving silver was under-15 Roisin McClelland in javelin in 25.79m. Further results were: 200m: Under-15 girls: Cara Murphy (11th), Carys Kennedy (18th), Chloe Gardiner (23rd). Under-13 girls: Grace Frood (9th). Under-15 boys: Stefan Cowan (4th), Harrison Hamilton (8th), Alfie Brown (9th). Under-13 boys: Ross Murphy (4th), Jack Hamilton (8th). Under-17 women: Erin McGurk (4th). Under-17 men: Luke Evans (6th). 1500m: Under-15 boys: Alexander Wotherspoon (4th), Declan Hare (11th). Under-13 girls: Helena Wotherspoon (8th). Under-13 boys: Ross McLean (4th). Under-13 Anna Boss was 11th in javelin and fifth in high jump, and under-15 Declan Hare was 10th in long jump. Head coach Pat Kelly attended the West Districts and said: 'I could not help being very proud to see parents and coaches help all of our young athletes to shine in this competition. 'We have great young athletes who try their hardest, and many over the weekend got their reward, whether it was their first medal or personal best. 'For many it was their first outing in a major competition.' Meanwhile, Ross McLean won the P6 boys' race of 1.8km in a time of 6,39 mins at the Scottish Primary Schools' Cross Country Championships at Kirkcaldy.
The Herald Scotland
09-05-2025
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Unique hill race which began with £1 bet celebrates 50th event
A prominent fixture in the hill running calendar and highly competitive, the event sells out every year and the fastest runners complete the gruelling challenge in little over 30 minutes. But it's the quirky history of the race that makes it truly unique. While standing in the University's Gannochy Sports Bar in 1971, Stirling psychology lecturer Dr Ranald Macdonald laid a £1 bet claiming 'no member of the University could, without mechanical assistance, do the return trip from the Gannochy to Dumyat in less than an hour'. On graduation day 1971, intrepid researcher John Evans won the wager – completing the run over a rocky, rough terrain with three minutes to spare. In 1972, a small group of athletes took part in a run to and from the summit – however, there was no formal mass start nor winner – before Professor Ian Thomson, the University's first Director of Physical Recreation, oversaw the creation of an official event from 1973 onwards. It has run almost every year ever since – becoming a staple in the University's sports calendar on the first or second Wednesday of May. READ MORE: How Scotland's Parkruns set off on the road to success How Scandinavian style outdoor saunas changing the face of swimming in Scotland Scottish racing driver makes pit stop in Stirling for graduation ceremony Dr Macdonald had his £1 returned to him decades later – when, on his retirement in 2007, his colleagues presented him with a framed note in recognition of the part he played in the founding of the race. Cathy Gallagher, Executive Director of Sport at the University of Stirling, said: 'With an intriguing history, and a stunning setting, the Dumyat Hill Race is unique to the University of Stirling, Scotland's University for Sporting Excellence. 'We are delighted to be celebrating the race's 50th edition and it has been great to see yet another sell-out event in 2025. Decades after it was established, the Dumyat Hill Race continues to bring together students, staff, alumni, athletes and the wider community with the core message of health and wellbeing at its heart. We are proud to have reached this milestone – and look forward to another 50 years of success.' This year's race – which doubled as the Scottish Student Sport Hill Running Championship and the Scottish Hill Running Race – took place on the evening of Wednesday, May 7. Men's winner Angus Wright, of the University of Edinburgh, came agonisingly close to beating the course record – missing out by just one second – with a time of 32 minutes, 14 seconds. Fellow University of Edinburgh runner Matt Knowles continues to hold the record after setting a time of 32 minutes, 13 seconds in 2024. Terry Macdonald, widow of lecturer Ranald Macdonald, with the £1 note (Image: Jim Mailer) Speaking after the race, Mr Wright said: 'It was a really nice course, and a lovely evening for it. For a hill, it's quite fast and quite runnable – especially the descent, you can definitely get the legs moving! 'I was a bit behind at the top, but I had a really good downhill section – it was really good fun. I only realised towards the end that I was in a winning position and had a look back, and that might have cost me the course record in the end, which is a shame. But it didn't even occur to me that was a possibility, so I'm not worrying too much. 'It was a good fun course, and I look forward to coming back next year.' In the women's race, first-time hill runner Emily McNicol, of the University of Glasgow, won with a time of 38 minutes, 55 seconds. That record continues to be held by former World Mountain Running champion Dr Angela Mudge, a former student and an honorary graduate of the University of Stirling, with a time of 36 minutes, 36 seconds set in 2007. Ms McNicol said: 'It was great fun – and hard work! I've not ran Dumyat before; it was my first hill race, and I really enjoyed it. There were great views at the top, but it was hard coming downhill. 'Towards the end, people were shouting that I was the first female – so I just kept going. It's quite special to be the winner in the 50th edition of the race.' In addition to competitive runners, the event also attracts students, staff and community members alike. Daniel Færestrand Ellefsen, from Norway, is studying MSc Human Rights and Diplomacy at Stirling and decided to give the race a go. Asked about his running background, the 28-year-old joked: 'There's not actually much to tell! I've been running a little bit – I've always been athletic – and I enjoy the slow-paced tranquillity of running. 'This was a fun little challenge, right here at the University, so I thought I might as well take part.'
