Rigg Race Balerno
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Rigg Race Balerno
The Rigg Race is an annual running event staged in Balerno, organized by Harmeny AC in cooperation with the Balerno Children’s Gala Society. The event traditionally takes place on a Monday evening in late May.
The route covers a distance of approximately 6 miles (nearly 10 km). The race starts at Malleny Park, the home of Currie Rugby Football Club. From the park, the course leads participants up through Balerno village and continues toward the Pentland Hills. The route passes the ruins of the Marchbank Hotel and reaches the Red Moss, which is a protected site of scientific interest.
The course continues along East Rigg, offering views of the Pentland Hills to the left. After reaching the end of a long, gently climbing straight section, the route turns right and encounters a small incline before beginning a descent. A tree-lined straight leads runners back toward the village centre, followed by a long descent that returns to the finish line at Malleny Park within the rugby club grounds.
Registration for the event is managed online on a first-come, first-served basis. The race offers different entry tiers for affiliated and non-affiliated runners. A special reduced entry fee is available for participants who choose to run in fancy dress. All finishers receive a medal, and trophies and category prizes are awarded following the competition.
The Rigg Race has a history dating back to a walking event for local mill workers. It became a running race in 1963 and was later established as a Scottish Athletics permitted event in 1998. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
