WATCH - Teacher returns from Italy to win Nairn Turkey Trot on Boxing Day
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AN English teacher working in Italy who came home to visit his mother for Christmas was crowned this year’s winner of the Nairn Turkey Trot 5k.
Thomas Doney came out on top at the race held on Boxing Day as he claimed victory with a winning time of 16 minutes and 29 seconds.
He beat Eoghan Macnamara into second place with Donald Macaulay finishing in third place in what proved to be a close contest yesterday morning.
Doney (36), who works as an English teacher in Trieste in north-east Italy, is originally from Elgin.
But his mother moved to Nairn and he was visiting her for the holidays.
He says he was pleased with how he performed to claim the title for the first time, having previously finished in third place in 2018.
“In 2018, I finished in third place wearing a Spiderman costume,” he said.
“I was wanting to wear something more Christmassy so I decided to wear a hat as well as some Christmas socks.
“It was a good time, as the course was quite tricky and slippy and there was stairs.
“I managed to do the course in 16 minutes and 29 seconds.
“I predicted that I would manage to do the course in 16:30, so I might be in to win the closest prediction time as well.
“It was nice to take the win at the race.”
Doney is a relative latecomer to athletics, as he only took up the sport at 27.
This year, he has managed to run a marathon in two hours and 30 minutes and five seconds.
He says he was looking to go under two hours and 30 minutes in the marathon, but hopes he will be able to do that in 2023.
“I was gutted that I was five seconds over two hours and 30 minutes as I really wanted to get under that time.
“However, I was slightly a bit late getting under that time.
“I will be competing in the Milan Marathon next year and I will look to break the two hour and 30 minute mark there.
“I will also look to take part in a bit of cross country in the north of Italy.
“Cross country in Italy is slightly different to races in Scotland.
“It is not quite as gruelling, muddy and undulating in Italy as it is in Scotland.”
The Nairn Turkey Trot was put into doubt after a tree fell onto part of the pathway at the riverside which formed part of the course last weekend.
However, organisers managed to arrange for the large tree to be removed from the pathway to allow the race to go ahead.
It was the first time that the Nairn Turkey Trot had taken place in three years.
It was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the impact of the pandemic and restrictions which were in place.
The race allowed up to 300 runners to take part where they registered at Nairn Dunbar Golf Club before competing.
n More Turkey Trot pictures in Friday’s Inverness Courier.
