Night Moves
The Forth Valley Night League reached its halfway point with the opening race of 2025 at Bonnyfield, near Bonnybridge, and there were exciting finishes on all three courses.
Six-time King of the Night Graham Gristwood was out for his first run of the season, having missed the first half of the campaign due to being away in England, and he won an epic battle with Chris Smithard that only really evolved in the gaffled stage to take the victory in 26.44. Chris was 24 seconds back in 2nd place, with Will Hensman solid in 3rd (33.12).
STAG's Rudi Paul continues to lead the way overall, but saw his lead cut to a single point by Alexander Hunt, albeit he has one race in hand, while Paul Hammond overtook another STAG athlete,Frederik Nordvall Forsberg, for 3rd place. Scarlett Kelly has a comfortable lead in her bid to retain the Queen of Winter ladies title.
Fraser Cheyne looks like the man to beat on the Short course this year, as he claimed his third win on the trot, by more than five minutes and in a time of 32.31. Lucas Baikie and Esme Kelly came off the final control neck and neck, and Lucas was able to take back two seconds on the run-in for 2nd place (37.50), with Esme at least having the consolation of extending her overall series lead to 47 points.
Alice McDaid and Rachel Kirkland are also well placed atop the league table, while James Edward has the current lead in the men's stakes from Rob Truswell, with Fraser Cheyne looking threatening in 3rd.
Long-time Novice course leader Bryony McLeod has called a halt to her season, as she's due to give birth next month, which opens the way for the chasing pack to make a late-season impression. It fell to Helena Carey to post the winning time on the Bonnyfield course (20.30) but she had to look lively to repel the challenge of juniors Sean Truswell and Lachlan Carruthers, who were 15 and 16 seconds back, having been first and second going into the final checkpoint.