Refugee takes first prize in Dumbarton Babcock 10k race

Taha Ghafari, of Shettleston Harriers, recently relocated to Glasgow and recorded the second fastest-ever time in the Babcock 10K Series in Dumbarton last Thursday, finishing in 29 mins and 54 seconds.

It was 14 seconds short of Tewolde Mengisteab’s course record in 2009.

Ghafari represented the international refugee team in both the World Cross-Country in Australia and the European Cross-Country in Italy.

The race took place in Dumbarton last week (Daren Borzynski) (Image: Daren Borzynski)

(Photo: Daren Borzynski) (Image: Daren Borzynski)

He certainly has an impressive pedigree which allowed him to put 68 seconds between himself and his closest pursuer Ryan Thomson of Cambuslang, who was second, and Gregor Yates of Inverclyde in third.

Gregor and Ryan were close behind in the race (Photo: Daren Borzynski) (Image: Daren Borzynski)

This year, the Babcock 10K Series attracted more than 2,000 entries across the three races in Dumbarton, Helensburgh and Glasgow Green.

(Photo: Daren Borzynski) (Image: Daren Borzynski)

(Photo: Daren Borzynski) (Image: Daren Borzynski)

All finishers of the races received a unique commemorative medal, as well as a goody bag containing a different item of merchandise at each event.

(Photo: Daren Borzynski) (Image: Daren Borzynski)

Match report of Dumbarton race

And here is the match report to give a rundown of the women's and team races:

Nynke Mulholland of Inverclyde comfortably won the women’s race in 35:47, 65 seconds ahead of ‘super vet’, Lesley Bell who, as an over-forty, claimed second place by 13 seconds from Rebekah Russell of Bellahouston Road Runners.

(Photo: Daren Borzynski) (Image: Daren Borzynski)

(Photo: Daren Borzynski) (Image: Daren Borzynski)

And Sophie Canty from Dumbarton claimed the Series title, with 5th, after winning the Babcock Helensburgh 10K on May 4th.

The ultra-consistent Fred Davies of Shettleston won the men’s Series title in sixth.

Shettleston predictably won the men’s team race, with first, Mark McKelvie fifth and sixth from Bellahouston Road Runners and Greenock Glenpark.

Lesley Bell led Garscube to the women’s team title from Shettleston Harriers and hometown favourites, Dumbarton Athletics Club.

(Photo: Daren Borzynski) (Image: Daren Borzynski)

The event also included the Dunbartonshire AAA Championships, which were won by Garscube’s Colin Whitby in 33.08 and Sophie Canty in 39:25.

Alan Blair and Fiona Balfour swept the board in all three races to claim the Team Clyde men’s and women’s titles.

(Photo: Daren Borzynski) (Image: Daren Borzynski)