RUNNERS from all corners of the country descended on West Fife as Carnegie Harriers' popular Devilla Forest trail races returned.

Around 500 competitors from across Scotland, ranging from Aberdeen to Dumfries, made their way to the scenic woodland near Kincardine to participate in competitions over 15 kilometres and 5km.

Carnegie Harriers, who are based in Dunfermline and gained Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) status in 2022, ran the event for the 11th time and, despite boggy underfoot conditons, three course records were set.

One of those came in the men's 15k race for Aberdeen AAC's Michael Ferguson, whose time of 51 minutes and 34 seconds took 25 seconds off the previous record that was set by James Waldie 12 months ago.

Dunfermline Press: Michael Ferguson won the men's 15k race.Michael Ferguson won the men's 15k race. (Image: Allan Mcaulay.)

He finished ahead of runner-up David Webster, of Dundee Road Runners, who timed at 53:44, whilst Ferguson's club-mates, Fearghas Thomson and Steven Murray, placed third and fourth respectively, with Shettleston Harriers' Shaun Mochan coming home in fifth.

Pitreavie AAC's Chrissie Maitland finished second in the women's event behind Dundee Road Runners' Mairi Littleson (63:45), whose club-mate, Alison McNeilly, an F40 age group runner, finished third.

Dunfermline Press: Mairi Littleson was the winner of the women's 15k.Mairi Littleson was the winner of the women's 15k. (Image: Allan Mcaulay.)

Danielle Callaghan, of Falkirk Victoria Harriers, was fourth, ahead of junior runner, Tasha Myles of Strathearn Harriers, who finished fifth.

There were a total of 366 finishers in the 15k, the team prize for which went to Dundee Road Runners, with Fife AC in second place.

Over the shorter distance, which had 125 finishers, Ben Kinninmonth, of Fife AC, made it two successive men's race victories.

His time of 16:24, more than a 90 seconds ahead of second-placed Aaron Ritchie (RTC Warriors, 17:58) also bettered the previous course record of 16:35, which was set by Michael Healy in 2018.

Fife AC's Matthew Fisher, who, like Ritchie, is a junior, was third in 18:11.

Junior runners claimed the top four spots in the women's race, which was won by Corrie McGougan of Falkirk Victoria Harriers, who set a new female course record of 18:17.

Dunfermline Press: The competitors had to endure tricky underfoot conditions.The competitors had to endure tricky underfoot conditions. (Image: Fiona Rennie.)

She shaved five seconds off the previous best, set by Kathryn Pennel in the inaugural event in 2012, and claimed victory ahead of Pitreavie's Mirabelle Meade, who ran a time of 19:32.

Millie Gairn (19:45), of Airdrie Harriers, was third, whilst Mirabelle's twin sister Maisey, also a Pitreavie runner, finished 14th overall and took the first junior female prize.

Pitreavie AAC were winners of the team prize with 18 points, whilst the Harriers' Steven King was third V50 in the 15k, with Alan Murray fourth V50; Sam Laird third F40; Joy Gudgin first F60; and Hayley Penman first female junior. In the 5k, Lesley Reynolds was the first F50 runner.

A total of 70 volunteers from the Harriers, in addition to 34 runners, participated, as well as 75 from Pitreavie AAC, 11 from Fife AC, and seven from Dunfermline-based PH Racing Club.

Carnegie Harriers cater for the interests of road runners, as well as cross-country, ultra, trail and hill running, and for more information, visit their website, or find them on Facebook.