2008 Results

Results (overall) - download (PDF format)

Results (categories) - download (PDF format)

Results (teams) - download (PDF format)

Scott Races home to win 2008 Challenge:
ABERDEEN runner Scott Young defeated a field of 350 to win the eighth annual Dominion Gas Ythan Challenge on 29 June 2008.

He held off a strong challenge from Peterhead AAC's Andrew Greig to win by four seconds in a time of 47 minutes 20 seconds. James Parker, of Turriff, came in a further 13 seconds behind in third position while Steve Reeve (Moray Road Runners) was fourth overall and first home in the 40-plus veteran age group.

Metro Aberdeen runner Rob Taylor – event winner in 2002, 2003 and 2004 – picked up the over-50s supervet prize when finishing eighth overall.

Over-35 veteran Elaine Whyte of Fraserburgh Running Club won the women's title for the second time in three years when placing 16th overall in 52:40. Behind her was fellow veteran Michelle Green (Moray Road Runners) in 54:02, while defending champion Donna Gray took third position in 56:04 and the senior women’s title. The over-45 supervet prize went to Forfar's Cath McInally who clocked 56:33.

The open team prize went to the Metro Moaners, comprising Rob Taylor, John Park, and Graham Strachan, while the first corporate team home were Andrew Crichton, Farquhar Mitchell, and Martin Elrick, alias Mitch’s Mentalists Acergy. The Scottish Ambulance Service team of Josh Williams, Craig Bruce and Lorna Donaldson took the uniform prize.
As usual, the race started and finished at the Meadows, with runners setting off at 11am and then heading along the side of the Ythan into the beautiful Esslemont Estate, usually closed to the public. Here the adventure really began, with a variety of obstacles to slow down the runners and the river Ythan to navigate before they headed back to the Meadows.

This year’s Dominion Gas Ythan Challenge was for the first time organised by the community groups which benefit most from the event through an organizing committee comprising representatives from The Meadows sports centre in Ellon — where the popular event starts and finishes — and Ellon Rugby Club, Ythan Amateur Swimming Club, Ellon Ladies Hockey Club, the Middleton Trust, and Ellon ATC.

The main event sponsor for the third consecutive year is Aberdeen-based Dominion Gas, leading suppliers of industrial cylinder gases to the global oil industry and previously known as Dominion Technology Gases.

Organising committee chair Ian Griffiths, of Ellon Rugby Club, said: “We are delighted with how this year’s race went and our aim is to ensure it remains a flagship annual event, not just for Ellon but for north-east Scotland.

“We have had some excellent feedback, and will take on board all suggestions made.

“Our main sponsor was once again Dominion Gas, whose generosity meant we could use computer chip timing for the third year running – this time using Aberdeenshire Council’s system for the first time – to separate the entrants into three waves. This meant there were no bottlenecks on the course and we were also able to offer a swift results service.

“We are really delighted with how the race went and would like to offer our congratulations to all the category winners and also give a huge vote of thanks to Dominion Gas, to all our other sponsors and supporters, to Charles and Angela Wolrige Gordon for allowing us to use Esslemont, and to the many volunteers who helped out on the day.”

As usual, the race started and finished at the Meadows, with runners setting off at 11am and then heading along the side of the Ythan into the beautiful Esslemont Estate, usually closed to the public. Here the adventure really began, with a variety of obstacles to slow down the runners and the river Ythan to navigate before they headed back to the Meadows.

Our thanks for making the 2008 event such a great success to:

> main sponsor Dominion Technology Gases

> prizes sponsored by Mizuno 

> The Running Shop Aberdeen and Inov-8 for providing prizes

> Sangs of Banff, who for the eighth consecutive race provided our runners with water on the course and at the finish line

> Costcutters of Ellon for their continued support in providing goody bags for all finishers

>  Dome, for donating and maintaining this website

> Race consultants Alastair and Alice Simpson for their invaluable input, advice and support before, during and after the race

> We’d also like to thank everyone else involved, in particular Charles and Angela Wolrige Gordon for once again allowing us to stage the event on the beautiful Esslemont Estate.
Our thanks too to the following, in alphabetical order:

>  George Chalmers, for donating and delivering straw bales

> HM Coastguard Aberdeen, for organising the river obstacle

>  St Andrew’s First Aid Grampian

>  ...and to everyone else who gave up their time to help in the run-up and on race day