THE HISTORY OF THE RED HOSE RACE
The race has been held every year since 1508 except in times of war and during the two Foot & Mouth disease outbreaks in 1926 & 1952. The outbreak in 2001 was over by the time the race was due to be held. James IV of Scotland granted the lands of Carnwath in 1508 to John Lord Somerville with unusual terms; “Praying thence yearly one pair of hose containing half an ell of English cloth at the feast of St. John the Baptist, called Midsummer, to the man running most quickly from the east end of Carnwath to the cross called Calla Cross”.
Such is the origin of what is believed to be the oldest footrace in Britain. There was probably a military reason for imposing this duty on the owners of the Carnwath Estate. A fast runner could bring news of any approaching invasion from the South to Edinburgh and the red hose would be the insignia by which he would be recognised.
The Carnwath Estate came into the Lockhart family in 1684 when Sir George Lockhart acquired it from the Earl of Carnwath.
*** The Red Hose race is now a licenced race with Scottish Athletics ***
PLEASE REMEMBER YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LIVE IN THE BELOW PARISHES TO TAKE PART IN THIS RACE
Red Hose Socks can only be won by a resident within the Parishes of Auchengray, Braehead, Carnwath, Carstairs, Covington, Dunsyre, Dolphinton, Elsrickle, Forth, Libberton, Quothquan, Thankerton and Walston
RED HOSE RACE WINNERS - 2025
RED HOSE:
1st: Connor Brown
2nd: Stuart Barr
3rd: Callum Dunlop
Other Runners:
Anna Baillie
Helen-Jane Gisbourne
Chris Huntley
Frida Lindblad
Alan McFadden
Gordon McMorran
Jenny O'Donnell
Alister Stewart
GENTS:
1st: Seyd Taha Ghafari
2nd: Roy Loewen
3rd: Adam Kelly
Other Runners:
John Arthur
Max Arthur
David Baker
Rich Beattie
John Hamilton
Nigel Holmes
Grant MacKenzie
John O'Leary
Michael Tweedie
LADIES:
1st: Emily McNicol
2nd: Sarah Loewen
3rd: Mari Wallace
Other Runners:
Karen Baker
Elaine Boyle
Chloe Dunlop
Lou McConnell-Trevillion
Audrey Taylor
Moira Wilson
UNDER 16's - GIRLS:
1st: Lucy Taylor
2nd: Abbie Boyle
3rd: Olivia Taylor
Other Runners:
Allyssa Bennet
Lexie Boyd
Libby Boyd
Gaby O'Donnell
Ivy Taylor
Sadie Taylor
UNDER 16's - BOYS:
1st: Blair Beverley
2nd: Jamie Mackie
3rd: Finlay Coubrough
Other Runners:
James Bennet
Blake Carmichael
Harris Neilson
Oliver Taylor
Oscar Taylor
Connor Brown winner of the Red Hose 2025
