The 12th Simmer Dim Half Marathon was held on Sunday and won by Steve Daye. A large field of 96 runners set off from Cunningsburgh for the 13.1-mile run, finishing at the Clickimin athletics track in Lerwick. This year had the largest entry in the history of the race, and it attracted a good number of entries from outwith Shetland, with 44 athletes travelling to the isles to compete.
Shetland AAC athlete Daye led comfortably from the start to finish in a time of one hour 16 minutes and 55 seconds.There was a close race behind him for second place which eventually saw Russell Gair take the lead from Unst man Matthew Cox as they came into town. Gair finished second and first veteran in 1:21.20, only 12 seconds ahead of Cox. With only a few weeks to go until the island games Daye and Cox look to be in good form for donning the Shetland vest.
For the women it was one of the contingent of Aberdeen Metro runners, Alison Matthews, who celebrated her birthday by finishing first in 1:29.40. Locals Fiona Shearer (1:40.41) and Susan Linklater (1:45.35) were second and third respectively. Interestingly all three were also in the veteran class.
Seventeen-year-old Eldon Wigram was the youngest runner and he finished 13th in 1:34.22 while everyone was delighted to see the return of Island Medics celebrity 85-year-old Bobby Thomson who broke his hip in the race last year. With the loudest cheer of the day he crossed the finish line in 3:15.46.
The Simmer Dim Half Marathon is supported by the Shetland Amateur Athletics Club and the organising group would like to thank everyone who helped the event run smoothly and gave up their time to help, particularly all the marshals, timekeepers, water station helpers and medal lasses, Chris Hamer and Derek Ross on the support bikes, the Shetland RAYNET group for support vehicles and radio communication, Daniel Mainland and Neil Bristow for first aid cover, Peter at John Leask and son who laid on the bus, JW Gray and Co. for the water, Dawn and Intersport for help with t-shirts and everyone who provided food for the lovely spread in the shed!
