Glasgow fun bike and run proves to be a monster success

Glasgow fun bike and run proves to be a monster success

Sunday 14 June 2009 

Scottish rugby legend Gavin Hastings led the pack at Pollok Park in Glasgow today (Sunday 14 June) as around 200 people took part in the First Mini Monster Challenge –  the fun bike and run charity event that was launched in 2008.

Under a blue sky and with the sun streaming, competitors representing schools, businesses and charities as well as those just looking for a great day out, ran or cycled their way round the park, taking part in either the adult or family and friends relay races, organised by the world’s leading transport operator, FirstGroup.

Gavin and the rest of Team Hastings competed in the family race, which comprised two running sections, each 1.5km long, and two 5km cycling sections. And while they put in a terrific effort, a team of two from Hollybrook School – ‘The Fast Guys’ – took first place with an impressive time of 38 minutes and 13 seconds. Jordan Brady from Johnstone and David Singleton from Croftfoot (both 15) lived up to their team name and were delighted to pick up the winning trophy. “We just wanted to have fun and keep fit”, they said.

ScotRail’s Kenny’s Team – led by the company’s Finance Director, Kenny McPhail – were the first FirstGroup family team to cross the finish line in just over 52 minutes thanks to the efforts of the team from Netherlee: Kenny, Anne, Keir (10) and Lewis (8) and their very own cheering squad, Eilidh (6).

A special mention also went to Croftfoot’s Kevin Smith – ‘The Big Man’ – who completed the family course on his own in less than 40 minutes.

In the more challenging adult race, which is made up of two runs and two cycles – 3km and 10km respectively – a team from Glasgow’s Fusion Triathlon Club (one of the newest and fastest growing clubs in Scotland) took the top spot, completing the event in 1 hour 2 minutes. Team members David Ogg, Gordon Durnan, Mark Austin and Graham Leitch all had a terrific time and declared the First Mini Monster Challenge “a great event”. John Dargie, who runs the club, added: “Events like this are so important as they take sport down to a grass roots level and give everyone the chance to get involved, especially kids. It’s great to see so many young people here today, getting into sport and getting fit.”

Mark Savelli, Managing Director of the city’s biggest bus operator, First in Glasgow, competed in the adult race. He said: “Once again, there was a terrific turnout and the event was very well-organised – it was great to take part and even better that we were very lucky with the weather! What a fantastic day.”

Also taking part was a team of four from British Transport Police, who each ran or cycled around the course wearing their full uniform - no easy feat in the blazing sun!

ScotRail’s ‘Team Planners’ continued the company’s success, becoming the first FirstGroup team to complete the adult race, with a finish time of 1 hour 18 minutes. ScotRail Managing Director, Steve Montgomery, was delighted to present the team – John McCargo, David Henney, John Kerr and Scott MacGregor – with its trophy. He said: “I am, of course, delighted that our teams did themselves proud today and looking around, it’s clear that this event has been a Monster success. We’ve got groups of people that work together taking part, families having a terrific day out and competitors of all ages and all abilities – and that’s what Mini Monster is all about. And not only that, the event raises a terrific sum of money for our charity partner, Save the Children, as well as competitors’ own chosen charities, so it does a lot of good.

“I was very impressed with everyone today and my congratulations go to all those who took part – they are all winners.”  

Gavin Hastings concluded: “The fantastic thing about the Mini Monster Challenge is that we have teams made up of serious athletes taking part alongside people who have never given an event like this a try – and each and every one of them had a great time. Everywhere you looked, people were having fun, cheering each other on and generally having a ball – and that is really exciting. Speaking for my own team, we all had a fantastic time and I look forward to doing it all again next year.”

Three First Mini Monster Challenges have still to take place this year and it’s not too late to register a team for the events in Manchester (28 June), Yorkshire (5 July) and Bristol (12 July). Places are also available for the original First Monster Challenge – a 120km bike and run duathlon – which takes place in Inverness on 12 September. Information on all these events can be found at www.firstmonster.com.