Raring to go?!

On Sunday 9^th May 2010, keen runners fled from prison as the Inveraray Jail Break race returned to Argyll for a second year.  First place male category winners failed to beat last year’s records whilst all three first place female category winners beat the records.

The warder rings the escape bell!

Thirty-four runners from near and far set off from Inveraray Jail at 11am to the clang of the warder’s escape bell.  The race continued up some 250 metres high to Dun na Cuaiche, the watch tower above Inveraray.  The runners thinned out as the steep climb took hold and by the time the summit was reached the result was decided as Philip Price reached the top ahead of all others.

The going gets tough!

Runners completed the circular route down at the finishing line in the grounds of Inveraray Castle.

The event was part of this year’s Inveraray Bluebell Festival, an exciting month long programme of cultural events taking place in the Inveraray area by Loch Fyne.

Winning categories included first male and first female junior, senior and veteran.  The overall fastest time recorded was an impressive 29 minutes and six seconds from first male senior Philip Price.  The fastest female time was 32 minutes 34 seconds, from first female senior winner, Emma O’Shea.

2010 – this year’s first place winners:

• First male junior – David McAlister – 31:22
• First male senior – Philip Price – 29:06
• First male veteran – Alan Smith – 29:55
• First female junior – Freya Corner – 40:07 – (RECORD)
• First female senior – Emma O’Shea – 32.34 – (RECORD)
• First female veteran – Dinah Bosomworth – 37:20 (RECORD)

All the Winners

2009 – last year’s first place winners:

• First male junior – Paul Cameron – 28:54
• First male senior – Nick Emsley – 28:46
• First male veteran – Paul Thompson – 29:14
• First female junior – Naomi Sturrock – 44:14
• First female senior – Naomi Dixon – 41:02
• First female veteran – Fiona Corner – 38:59

Participants each received a free Inveraray Jail T-shirt and there were trophies, medals and prizes for category winners.  The race catered for a range of running enthusiasts.