Organisers apologise after Glasgow trail race runners led in wrong direction by prankster
A number of participants in the event at Castlemilk Woodlands found themselves lost after a route arrow was buried by a member of the public
There’s mystery surrounding the actions of a Glasgow prankster who sent runners in a trail race on a wild goose chase.
Dozens of participants in Sunday’s event at Castlemilk Woodlands found themselves lost, having left the marked-out track.
Member of the public moved route arrow and posed as a marshal
It later emerged a member of the public had buried a large route arrow, and then moved a smaller one to change the direction of the route.
Not only that, but it is believed the individual then posed as a race marshal to guide participants in the wrong direction.
Organisers of the Castlemilk Trial Race, Acorn Trails, are apologising to runners who were led up the garden path, calling the actions of the mystery trickster “reckless”.
In a Facebook post Acorn Trails said: “Aside from an absolutely great day and race, I'm left with some bitterness, anger and disappointment.
“Towards the end of the route, a member of the public took it upon themselves to bury a large route arrow, and then move a smaller one to change the direction of the route. They then imitated a marshal and pointed runners in the incorrect direction.
The pettiness endangered runners taking them away from the safety of a marked and marshalled course, and forced them further into the park., towards the road and away from any first aid provision they could have potentially required. It makes me rather angry that anyone could be so reckless.
I'm also disappointed that an easy fix for this, an actual Acorn Trails marshal deployed at this spot would have alleviated this issue. That's our fault, and one for which I whole heartedly apologise. We have limited resources at our disposal, but ultimately it's my decision as to where they are deployed. In hindsight it seems I got this location incorrect, and it needs more than course marking to assist runners.
It's hard to factor in interference from mischievous folk, and this was a spot we didn't think would have such an issue.”
The company is offering a 50% discount to anyone affected to entry to their next event in Linn Park next month.
"It could have been very dangerous"
Kevin Dunn was one of the runners left chasing their tails on Sunday.
He tells Northsound 1 News there was a lot of confusion among participants: “I think we went off-track after about five-and-a-half miles and realised at about six-and-a-half. Luckily there was someone with a phone who was able to find out where we were and how to get back.
“It wasn’t until we got back that we found out it had happened to a lot more runners than us, and that is was a member of the public who had got involved and sent us in the wrong direction.
“It could have went very wrong if they’d sent us down the wrong direction.
“Although I can slightly see the funny side, it could have been very dangerous as well.”
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