Belhaven's Thursday Run Breeds Success Galore for Belhaven’s Crop of 2026!

This is the time of year when pupils are the most focused on achieving well at the Belhaven Run. The ground is hard, they are well-rested due to the more leisurely pace of cricket when compared with other sports and, for many of them, this is their last ever chance to get their personal best. The crop of 2026 certainly did not disappoint.

Thirteen runners in Forms 4 and 5 ran the 3k route and all gained their personal bests, bar a couple who pushed themselves to, and beyond the limit, and had to pull out due to fatigue. A special mention should go to Harris and Alfie S. in Form 5, who finished in the amazing time of 12m 12s and 12m 13s. I am sure that we will see these two runners on the sub-12-minute board next year. Finlay T., who is already on the board from last year, came home in 11m 51.

Form 3 did not disappoint, with Brixton, Joseph and Archie B. running just outside the 12-minute mark for the three laps but, as ever, the gong was taken by Monty S., who beat not only his own best of 10m 39s, but also the F3 record of 11m 05s, and in posting a time of 10m 32s, is just ten seconds behind the all-time Run Record time for all years.

We saw an outstanding run in F2 from Xander L. who came home in 10m 54s – the fourth fastest runner we have had around the course. There promises to be more from him next year as he and Patrick T., who was ahead of Xander but pulled up, push each other to ever greater levels of achievement.

In Form 1 we saw a host of great effort and results, as Wilbur, Oscar, Tristan and Rodrigue all went under 12 minutes, the latter three for the first time (and Tristan by just one second!), and we also saw the final run from Clemmie G.-C., a Belhaven great who has posted the third-fastest time by a female on the course.

A brilliant display of guts and skill. It has been a great year for running – the best in my eighteen years here. Well done to all who participated.