MORE than 400 runners took to the streets of Dumbarton last Thursday in the new Babcock 10k series event.

Olympic steeplechaser Wayney Ghebresilassie, representing Shettleston Harriers club in Glasgow, was the first to cross the line, clocking a time of 31.05, a minute ahead of the next competitor.

Dave Shaw, of Dumbarton, was first local man, finishing in 35.54, and Lindsey Currie collected the ladies award.

With temperatures above 20 degrees and blustery conditions, there was not likely to be any new records set in a sun-soaked Dumbarton last week.

Wayney’s pace was relentless at the front and he strode home comfortably, with over a minute to spare over a resurgent Stuart Gibson from Cambuslang.

The races were loaded with past winners, national champions and internationals which included Defending champion and course record holder, Tewolde Mengisteab, also a Shettleston Harriers runner, finished third, bettering his fourth place finish at last week’s Helensburgh 10k,with Geordie teammate Daniel Bradford coming in just after.

With three in four, Shettleston were unstoppable in the team race, backed up by Paul Sorrie in fifth and Amanuel Hagos returning to form in sixth.

The former Polaroid series winner Amanuel has fought back from a bout of tuberculosis to run in an impressive time.

The sub 29 minute man has represented his country of birth , Eritrea in World and African Championships and is a past multiple winner of the former Polaroid Series. The club stalwart has fought back from a bout of tb and is a great role model to younger club members. Cambuslang packed well in the scrap for second team and beat Bellahouston Harriers by four points.

Bruce Carmichael impressed with his 34.13 to take first in the over-40s and tenth overall.

Chris Upson won the over-50s with 36.27 in 32nd, and Terence Coyle delivering a swift 38.37 to prevail in the over-60 category.

Bella’s Jack Heathwood sneaked inside the top ten to take the under-20 award in 34.07.

Past Helensburgh 10k winner and record holder, Lyndsay Morrison from Central AC squeezed home by eight seconds, in 37.07, ahead of Fiona Matheson 37.15 who was the first over-50 in second place, for Falkirk Victoria.

Last week’s Helensburgh winner Jill Knowles, of Scottish Prison Service, demonstrated great consistency against a tougher field with third in 38.48. Local girl, Lindsey Currie was first over forty in fourth, after finishing second last week.

She was backed up superbly by series treasurer, Charlene Kelly in ninth and Vigil Marie Garcia in eleventh to allow Dumbarton to sweep their second team award ahead of Garscube and Bellahouston Road Runners.

Erica Christie impressed as always in taking the over-60 award in 43.41.

For the second week in a row Chris McClelland and Elaine Boyle took the Team Babcock awards in 35.56 and 49.54.

Babcock’s Director of HR, Ian Moss and former Commonwealth Champion, Lachie Stewart did the honours in starting the race and presenting the prizes.

Kevin Johnson, from Helensburgh AAC and helped organise the race series, said: “The runners all enjoyed their medal, goodie bag and more generous prizes thanks to our new sponsor, Babcock.

“The quality of the field was very high and Wayney Ghebresilassie, who ran in the London Olympics and is still only 22, is definitely the main in form in Scottish distance running at the moment.”

He thanked Start Fitness and More Mile for providing good bags for finishers, and AG Barr and Asda Dumbarton for providing refreshments for racers.

See pages 52 and 53 for a full list of race results.

The second leg of the Babcock 10k Series moved to sun soaked Dumbarton yesterday, Thursday 11th May.

A record entry of over 500 runners were met with temperatures nudging 20 degrees Celsius and blustery conditions for the fast, flat and mainly traffic free course.

Both races were ‘loaded’ with past winners and multiple national champions and internationals which included defending champion and course record holder, Tewolde Mengisteab from Shettleston.

The conditions meant that records were unlikely but winner of last week’s Babcock Helensburgh 10k, Ghebresilassie of Shettleston wasted no time in getting to the head of proceedings for opening kilometres close to three minutes.

Wayney soon proved, once again to be in a class of his own after Olympian Derek Hawkins was a late withdrawal with a sore back after his Danish half marathon at the weekend.

Wayney’s pace was relentless at the front and he strode home comfortably with just over a minute to spare over a resurgent Stuart Gibson from Cambuslang.

Tewolde Mengisteab of Shettleston is improving his fitness every week and improved a place on his run at Helensburgh to come home third,