Greenock Glenpark Harriers had just one representative at this year’s Tweed Valley Ultra Marathon, but what a performance it was. Kyle Wilson stormed to victory in the 65km multi-terrain race, finishing first overall in a superb time of 5:35:57.
The Tweed Valley Ultra is one of Scotland’s premier trail events, covering 65km of forest tracks, riverside paths, moorland climbs, and rolling hills, with over 5,000 feet of ascent. Starting and finishing at the Glentress Visitor Centre near Peebles, the course is renowned for its beauty and brutality, testing endurance, strategy, and resilience.
Kyle set out strong, making is intensions clear, and soon found himself in a battle with three other runners, including ultra specialist Pierre-Alain Bouffandeau, Max Millar and Adam Paterson. The decisive moment came at the Southern Uplands climb, where Kyle pushed hard to break away from pack. The consistent training and elevation within his weekly milage paid off in this section.
From mile 14 onwards he led the race, but knew the group would be working together to close him down. Kyle described the race as brutal, saying, “I was in the pain cave the last 8 miles… every muscle in my body was cramping up. The pain was unreal, but I was not going to let 1st place slip”. Despite fuelling challenges, Kyle forced his legs to keep moving even as fatigue set in. His determination paid off, holding off a chasing pack of highly decorated ultra runners.
The calibre of the field made Kyle’s victory even more impressive. Pierre-Alain Bouffandeau finished 2nd, having previously won the 2024 Great Glen Ultra (72 miles) and placed 2nd in the 2025 Norn Iron 100 mile Ultra. Adam Paterson took 3rd, having beaten Kyle by 50 minutes at the 2024 West Highland Way Race (Kyle’s training clearly paid off to turn the tables here). Robert Clyde came 5th, winner of the Forth Ultra (April 2025) and 3rd at Ultra Scotland (56 miles). Anna Rutherford was 7th overall and 1st Female, one of Scotland’s most decorated ultra runners, consistently finishing top female and often among the leading men. David Shaw also competed, recently representing Scotland at the Anglo Celtic Plate 100km, where Kyle was 1st reserve.
This win caps off an incredible year for Kyle, who has built one of the most impressive ultra portfolios in Scotland:
- 3rd place – Devil o’ the Highlands (April)
- 2nd place – West Highland Way Race (June)
- 1st place – Glenmore 24 Hour Race (September)
- 1st place – Tweed Valley Ultra (November)
Another outstanding win for Kyle, showcasing his consistency at the highest level. Performances like this are sure to put him firmly in contention for Celtic Plate selection in 2026. Full results available here.