The Stonehaven Half Marathon and Fun Run are organised with the assistance of Aberdeenshire Council and the LEADER newspaper, and held in July each year. All ages turn out to raise funds for local causes and compete for the trophies on offer. The main race circuits the Town with the start and finish being in the Leisure Centre car park adjoining the Beach Esplanade

The 1997 Race Results

One of the organisers Jean Smith German explained that the high temperature and a swirling wind meant that about 50 runners did not finish and found the going too tough, several at the three mile mark (almost exclusively uphill from the start at that point).

The race was a triumph for Fraser Clyne (Metro Aberdeen) who won for the second year in a row - and completed a notable hat-trick. The 41-year old former international runner won by a wide margin and clipped a fraction of a second off his winning-time in 1996, coming home this time in 71.41mins. That's consistent running for you!

Fraser also won the Stonehaven Marathon some time ago - over the original, different route. He was three minutes ahead of Matt Smith, a student attending Boston University in the States and third place went to Stonehaven man Mike Simpson (Aberdeen AAC) with a time of 75.01 mins.

Bill Adams of Metro Club, Aberdeen, took the super veteran honours and also helped the Metro team win the team trophy for a fifth successive year.Christine Gutteridge (Fleet Feet Stonehaven) won the women's title. Christine is a doctor in Portlethen and was running in the Stonehaven event for only the second time. Christine said she had run faster than her winning time of 89. 13mins for the half marathon. There was an international note, in the places in the women's race as well. Champion in 1988 and 1989 Uli Simpson, Aberdeen, was second and another visitor, Giuseppina Merline from Italy, came in third.

The organisers were "delighted" by how the race was run, and thanked the police, race officials, local club members who manned the "watering stations" and marshals for their help and the public for their continuing keen interest in the big event.