Friday 20th June 2025: Some of the best road runners in Scotland and beyond lined up in Glasgow on Friday evening for the 2025 Brian Goodwin Memorial 10K. The popular summer race, hosted by Bellahouston Harriers, returned with a sell-out field of 550 runners ready to take on the fast two-lap course around Pollok Park.
A fantastic turnout from Greenock Glenpark Harriers ensured we were the most highly represented club outside of the hosts, with an amazing 39 Harriers making the start line on the night. The beer and burger at the finish which were included in the entry may have added to the event’s appeal for club athletes and social runners alike!
With sunshine and a light breeze forecast, expectations were high for the conditions being ideal for racing, and the event combined top-level competition with a relaxed Friday evening atmosphere. However, the weather had other ideas, and the soaring temperatures added an huge degree of difficulty for the runners as the 7.30pm start time approached – the race went on to register one of the highest DNF counts the event has seen – sadly six of these being Glenparkers.
Men’s Race
Kilbarchan AAC’s Olympian Callum Hawkins quickly took the lead from John Bell of Inverclyde AC in the first mile of the race. Hawkins went on to comfortably win the event for the fourth time with a finishing time of 29:52. Bell secured second place in 31:18, while Robbie Ferguson of Kilbarchan AAC came in third with a time of 31:37.
For the Harriers, there were some outstanding performances on the night – first Harrier home Steven Campbell had one of his best runs for a while to take first place in the V50 category, with a superb time of 38:11 – great to see Steven hitting form again. A creditable effort from Stephen Harrison put him into third in the same category, despite falling just outside the sub 40 with 40:27. Stephen Hanley and Oliver Reilly had a good battle around the course, with Hanley edging ahead with a time of 39:12 at the line, Reilly crossing just three seconds later but both men easily inside the senior top 50.
The other Campbell representing the Harriers – veteran Stephen Campbell – had a fantastic run to register in third place V60 with a time of 45:31, and he was followed by Robin McAuslan in V50 5th with 47:45. Alan Robertson smashed his PB to hit the top ten in the V50 category, although his time of 45:55 would only last as PB till the following Sunday’s Port Glasgow 10k when he did it again!
The efforts by the Greenock men’s team put us in 8th position overall in the team standings.
Women’s Race
Fionnuala Ross achieved her first victory at the ‘Goodwin, finishing in 34:37, a full two and a half minutes ahead of her closest competitor. Ross, who has represented Ireland three times at the European cross-country championships, ran alongside John Carr of the host club for much of the race before pulling away. The fight for second place was tighter, with Holly Little of Cambuslang Harriers taking second in 37:07, and Grace Whelan of Central Athletics securing third in 37:24.
For the Harriers, club champion Jill Cox has been struggling with injury and fitness recently and started the race unsure of how it was going to go, so it was great to see her push hard to record second in the ladies V45 category with a time of 41:26. Jill Rooney had an outstanding evening to place 26th in the ladies senior category, with 47:02.
The ladies recorded two category first places, with Jill Aikman’s time of 50:48 top of the pile in the V50 group, and Charlotte McKay (1:05:40) once again best of the V70 ladies, another fantastic achievement from Charlotte. Lynne Harrison continues her long recovery from injury with her best run for some time to take V50 4th place, 51:42 being her best 10k for months, another Harrier who’s time would be bettered at Port Glasgow on the Sunday.
U20 Erin McEleny took 2nd spot with a time of 1:07:18 and the efforts of the ladies put the Greenock girls into 5th placed team overall.
A huge thank you to Bellahouston Harriers for hosting the event and for their hospitality afterwords.
OFFICIAL PHOTOS: Brian Goodwin Memorial 10K – 20th June 2025 | Flickr
