The 2009 Moray Forest Runs series came under starters orders on Wednesday evening when a big crowd of 227 runners descended on Culbin Forest.  The fixture clash with the Champions League final meant that the turnout for the adult race was slightly down on last year, but the 1-mile junior race attracted a record field of 90 children.

  There was a new name on the winners’ list as unattached Hopeman runner Robbie Paterson, son of well-known Moray Road Runner Ewan Paterson, broke the tape in 27:42 for the 5-mile route.  Paterson was 22 seconds clear of one of the UK’s leading Under-21 orienteers, Edinburgh University’s Hector Haines, who had spent most of the day training in the Nairnshire hills. Just 4 seconds behind Haines was Forres Harrier Paul Rogan, who has now run in 10 of the 11 Culbin races held since the event began in 1999.

  In the ladies race it was Forres Harrier’s young Scottish-capped under-21 runner Eleanor Duncan who repeated her 2008 victory by coming in 23^rd overall to win in a time of 33:09.  Duncan, who was running in the children’s race as recently as 2005, was 30 seconds clear of Buckie High School pupil Rebecca Taylor, making her debut in the event with a fantastic run for her age.  3^rd place went to Lydia Davies of Moray Road Runners who was 34^th overall in 35:07.

The 1-mile children’s race has been a feature of the Culbin run since 2001, and for only the second time in the race’s history, the 6-minute barrier was broken.  The previous best, set in 2004 by Grant Cameron who was 5^th in last year’s adult race, was 5:48 but this time it was Fraser Scott, a 13-year–old S1 pupil at Forres Academy, who shattered that record.  Fraser came flying down the home straight to win in 5:41, knocking 30 seconds off his time from last year. 19 seconds back was Milnes Primary’s Gavin MacDonald with Samuel David who attends Dyke Primary a further 22 seconds adrift in 3rd.  The fastest girl was Mosstodloch Primary’s Dionne Milne who has been a regular in the race since 2004.  But special mention has to go to young Hannah Rogan, whose older sister Kirsty runs for Scotland at cross country and hill running.  Hannah is a high jump specialist with no pretences toward distance running, but she has now competed in all 9 of the Culbin children’s races, first taking part when she was 4 years old.  An amazing achievement!

  The Culbin Forest Run is a major fundraising event for Dyke and District hall, and this year’s event was the result of the efforts of around 30 people from the local community.  The hall’s funds benefited to the tune of over £400, bringing the total raised since the event began to about £4500. Local farmer Gordon Ferguson, the Hall Chairman, presented the prizes which were donated by McKenzie & Cruickshanks of Forres, the Old Mill Inn at Brodie, the Knockomie Hotel and Brodie Castle.  “It’s been another great evening for our community,” said Mr Ferguson afterwards.  “With the exception of Mike Rodgers who co-ordinates the whole thing, none of us are runners and it’s great to be involved in such a fantastic spectacle.   It’s also really nice to be able to lay on a race for the children, and to have 90 taking part with such enthusiasm and energy is tremendous. We even had a 3-year-old out there running! I’d particularly like to thanks the Spar Shop at Kinloss and the Co-Op and Tesco stores in Forres for providing the refreshments which has allowed us to put on the children’s event free of charge.” 

  The success of the Culbin event has prompted other Moray village halls to stage their own events, and the next one in what has become the Moray Forest Runs series is at Roseisle Forest on Wednesday 10^th June when Roseisle Hall Committee will be running the event, assisted by Forres Harrier Mark Ellis.  The race starts at 7.15 pm with registration from 6.15.  There will also be a children’s race at 6.45.  The series then moves on to Quarrelwood in Elgin where Spynie Hall are the organisers.  Because of the Red Arrows display in Forres earlier the same evening, the start times for this race might be delayed by an hour, and this will be confirmed at the Roseisle event.