21 October 2012 Beat Beethoven at Stirling University
Sun, Oct 21st 2012 at 12:00 am - 2:00 am
The Beat Beethoven Fun Run is a fun fund-raising event for runners, jogger and walkers, adults and children and relay teams. It was held on a glorious Autumn day in the delightful setting of Stirling University on Sunday 21 October.
Beethoven well and truly beaten!
On a sunny autumn day last Sunday, Stirling University was the venue for the inaugural Beat Beethoven Fun Run.
375 runners and walkers, many in fancy dress, composed themselves for the 5k or 2.7k circuit round Airthrey Loch accompanied by the sound of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.
Over £6000 has been raised to date with more to come for the two deserving charities, Children's Hospice Association Scotland and Parkinson's UK who were there to lend a hand and support the event.
Steve Courtney of Central FM was conducting proceedings and University fitness instructor Gillian Gilvear got the competitors warmed up for the event. Steve even allowed an encore to encourage some of the participants to complete the course within the 36 minute and 27 second timescale.
The Warm Up
There were lots of family entries, including Scotland Rugby star Tony Stanger, his wife Bid and their 3 children, Rosie, George and Jack who have supported the event from the start.
We even had the Winton family - Stuart, Helen and 10 year old Lizzy, neighbours of Peter and Paddy Holmes, who had flown in overnight from New York arriving in Edinburgh at 8.00am and took part in the run at 11 am!
The Start
Groups included 28 from the Friday night Dunblane Beavers, 8 from Hotel Connexions, Dunblane and 16 very colourful entrants from Rainbow Room International in Stirling.
Although it was a Fun Run there were some impressive performances with Alex Donnet crossing the line first in 18 minutes 31 seconds, followed by the first female, Jenny Tattersal in 19 minutes 53 seconds with George Stanger, aged 12 as the first junior in just 21 minutes and 4 seconds.
Rotary Club President Iain Smith said "this has been a magnificent effort by everyone involved to raise much needed funds for two very deserving charities. Particular thanks are due to main sponsors, Phoenix Honda, to Stirling University and Jacqui Mitchell for providing the venue, setting up the course and helping with the website, to all the Diamond Donors and Rotary Club members and friends for their efforts, to Steve Courtney from Central FM and to all competitors and families who came along to support the event."
"The idea was orchestrated by club member Paddy Holmes who deserves a standing ovation for all her and husband Peter's hard work. We hope to run the event next year, but cannot promise the weather will be so good"
We even had support from the national media. Classic FM presenters Jamie Crick and John Suchet were so taken by the idea, they featured it on their shows on several occasions. Jamie Crick's show on the Sunday afternoon gave a special mention to the success of the event and hoped it would attract even more runners next year!
