RUNNERS turned out in force recently to take part in a milestone event hosted by a West Fife club.

A total of 400 competitors headed to Devilla Forest, near Kincardine, for Carnegie Harriers' annual Devilla Trail Races, which were held for the 10th time.

Having been unable to take place in 2021, due to COVID-19, and 12 months later, due to storms Arwen, Malik and Corrie, the 2023 edition did go ahead, with weather conditions ideal for racing.

Participants aged from 15 to 76 travelled from across the central belt to compete and, due to favourable underfoot conditions, course records tumbled.

One of the highlights in the Harriers' calendar, the event consists of two races - one over a 5K distance, and one of 15K - and start and finish within the grounds of the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan.

In the 15K race, Pitreavie AAC's Rebecca Burns broke the women's record by 14 seconds to win in a time of one hour and 55 seconds, whilst Perth Road Runners' James Waldie, winning for the third time, broke his own course record in the men's race by 50 seconds in a time of 51.59.

Elsewhere in the 15K races, the host club's Isobel Burnett (1:15.53) placed as the first F60 runner, whilst Joy Gudgin (1:12.33) was second in the F50 category, behind PH Racing Club's Judith Turner (1:09.49).

In the men's 15K, PH's Bryan James (57.55) finished fifth overall, with Aaron Bennet (59.23) placing as the first junior male, whilst Pitreavie AAC's Iain Howatt (1:04.49) was the fifth M50 competitor home.

The women's 5K race was won by Central AC's Catriona Kane (19.58), with the men's event claimed by Fife AC's Ben Kinninmonth, who also won the Harriers' Graham Clark Memorial Race, at Knockhill Racing Circuit in August, in a time of 17.05.

Carnegie Harriers' Barry Davie (18.38) was the first M40 runner home, while Pitreavie's Desmond FitzGerald (19.57) and Timothy Compston (20.24) placed first and second in the male 50 category.

Ian Stewart (19.41) was the first M60 runner for PH, whilst Pitreavie's Pamela Pattison (25.16) finished first in the F70 age group.

Race director, Allan Macaulay, praised Carnegie Harriers members and friends for their contribution to ensure the 10th anniversary event was such a success, with nearly 60 volunteers covering various roles that allowed it to operate smoothly, generating plenty of positive feedback.

Over 100 over the competitive runners were from Dunfermline and the West Fife villages, with 44 per cent of all runners coming from across the Kingdom, while all of Fife's running clubs – Carnegie Harriers, Anster Haddies, Beacon Runners, Fife AC, Kirkcaldy Wizards, Leven Las Vegas, Meedies Running Club, Pitreavie AAC and PH Racing Club – were represented.