Newburgh Beach Bash 2018 Race Report
Saturday 17 March saw the fourth annual Newburgh Beach Bash 10k race across the picturesque Forvie Nature Reserve.
With the winter the north-east has experienced this year, the organising committee started to get nervous about the event conditions when, a week before, the weather forecast indicated heavy snow on the day of the race. However, over the course of the next few days, the forecast improved (really?!) and despite extreme winds from the east, it became clear we would not have to consider cancellation.
258 runners descended on Newburgh early Saturday morning, a dry, but cold and windy, day courtesy of the ‘mini Beast from the East’. Due to the 40-50 mph strong easterly wind, a minor course deviation was put in at the point where the route meets the North Sea coast. Instead of the usual sand-blasted exfoliation, runners were treated to a rather steep, but short, hill climb over the dune complex onto the beach.
Unsurprisingly the extreme weather conditions impacted times, so the course records were never really under pressure. Despite this, Keith Ovenstone came home in a very respectable 38’58” to retain his title from 2017. Newburgh Dunes RC pair of Fraser Drummond and Martin Burns came home in second and third place with times of 39’04” and 39’12” respectively.
Susan Strachan from Peterhead Athletic Club was the first lady home in 48’00”, followed by Julie Thomson (49’03”) and Kym Booth (49’12”).
| Keith Overstone (left), with Fraser Drummond (right) and Martin Burns (behind) | Kym Booth (left), Julie Thomson (centre) and Susan Strachan (right) |
| Photos courtesy Dave Cowe |
Other prize winners were:-
| Male | Female | |
| Under 18 | Calum Cumming (50’14”) | Lauren Astley (57’42”) |
| Veterans | Kevin Harper (41’02”) | Debbie Brazier (49’38”) |
| Super Veterans | Rab Murray (42’14”) | Debbie McPherson (58’19”) |
Full results can be found on the Stuweb site https://www.stuweb.co.uk/race/1Oh/
Photos from the day can be found at the links below, courtesy of Dave Cowe and Ray Liversidge.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148215206@N07/sets/72157691545501332
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ps3FZvtDv0ZB8clEmXbDJzcicIpl41pq
As ever, the event would not have been successful without the fantastic support of our sponsors and local community. Sponsors of the event this year were Ingram’s Home Cure (gold sponsor), K.F. Watson Electrical (silver) and Watson Family Butcher (bronze). Registration was handled by the Newburgh Jog Scotland team and post-run home bakes and soup and home bakes courtesy of Newburgh Gala and The Newburgh Inn. And finally, a special thanks to the volunteer marshals who probably had the toughest assignments of the day given the conditions, ensuring safety of the public and runners, and encouraging all the participants during their run.
The 2019 Beach Bash and our 5th hosting of the event is already in the planning, so watch our Facebook page and website for more details.
Mass congregation of Duners prior to the race start! Best turnout ever!
