Boswood and Normand in Carnethy double at Highland Fling
Highland Fling, 53 Mile Trail Race
Inc. 2026 Scottish Athletics Ultra trail Championships.
The 18th running of the 53-mile Highland Fling race, which starts in Milngavie and finishes in Tyndrum, took place this weekend.
The race was also the Scottish Athletics Ultra Trail Championships. Starting from Milngavie train station, the 427 runners had an early start but perfect running weather: cool, no wind and misty on the trails.
Rowan Boswood of Carnethy, was first to the Beech Tree Inn at approx seven Miles in 46:18. He was closely followed by Florent Weillaert (HBT) in 46:27 with Adam Gray (Penicuik) in third place with a time of 47:58.
Debbie Greig (Alford) was the first female through the checkpoint in 52:33. Kirsty Luke was just behind her in 53:01, with Rachel Normand (Carnethy) third place with a time of 53:27.
The two leaders swapped places before Boswood regained the lead at Balmaha (18 Miles). Boswood recorded 2:10:48. Weillaert reached Balmaha in 2:11:25, while Gray was still third in 2:20:08.
Greig maintained her lead in the women’s race and opened a bigger gap on second place, reaching Balmaha in 2:37:41. Normand caught up and overtook Luke Luke & reaching the checkpoint CP3 in 2:39:42. Beth Langley had moved into third place with a time of 2:42:37
The temperature started to rise during the morning as the runners headed for the shade on the technical, loch side section.
The women’s race also started to heat up, with Rachel Normand taking the lead & reaching Inversnaid (app 33 Miles)in 5:10:10. Beth Langley had moved into second place with a time of 5:16:01, and Debbie Greig was now third with 5:17:52.
As the men reached Inversnaid, there was a change in the places, with Gray moving into 2nd place in 5:30:48. Rowan Boswood was still in first place with a time of 5:06:31 and Florent Weillaert in third at 5:31:33.
At Beinglas (40 Miles), there was another change in the positions in the women’s race. Beth Langley arrived at the checkpoint in first place in a time of 06:36:07, just over 20 seconds ahead of Rachel Normand in second, 06:38:26. Greig was still in third place with a time of 07:01:59.
Rowan Boswood stayed strong on the final 13-mile section, winning the race for the fourth time in 06:46:00.
This beat his previous best by over four minutes. Rowan now holds the second and third fastest times for the race behind Rob Sinclair’s record of 6:41:13. Florent Weillaert regained 2nd place after Inversnaid, finishing in 07:18:46. 3rd place went to Adam Gray in 07:19:45. Gray also finished as first V40.
Rachel Normand, having paced herself well, moved into 1st place again and ran out a comfortable winner in a time of 08:37:07. This was Rachel’s second win after previously winning in 2018. Beth Langley, completing her race in 08:54:29, finished in second place. Debbie Greig hung on for third place, finishing in 09:23:26.
In the Non-Binary category, Finn Boyd of Maryhill (pictured above) was the winner in a time of 13:48:11 .
Other Scottish Athletics category winners
Masters:
WV40 Lynsey Parker. Maryhill. 10:14:10.
MV40 Adam Gray, Penicuik. 7:19:45
FV50 Debbie Martin-Consani Garscube. 11:24:38.
MV50 Marcus Scotney, Strathearn. 08:05:32.
WV60 Nora Pykkönen, 13:06:48.
MV60. Craig Clarke, 13:21:32.
Men’s Team Results (TBC) on top 3 times
- Hunters Bog Trotters. Florian Weillart, Sam Lloyd, Dave Ward.
- Carnethy. Rowan Boswood, HamishWaring, Elliot Sedman.
- Portobello Running Club. Donald Macrae, Oliver Girdham, Alan Risk
Women’s Team Results (TBC) on top 3 times.
- Carnethy. Rachel Normand, Rowen Burns, Celia Waring.
- Portobello RC. Lizzie Polgreen, Heather Darling, Sarah Connolly-Gordon.
- Garscube. Nicola Adams-Hendry, Debbie Martin Consani, Amanda Connelly.
Thank you to John Duncan, Noanie Heffron and the Fling team for organising and to Paul Collins for the report.
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