Westies Christmas Handicap

MONDAY 27 DECEMBER 2010


Shafted by the Shanghai Shuffler -
well, all except John Hamer who had a great run to win the 2010 Christmas Handicap at Carbeth. Rumours of EPO, HGH and all sorts of Chinese funny stuff abound re Dodgy Dave, and we await the results of the dope test with bated breath. That aside, it was a minor epic getting to the start this year, as lying snow on the "high road" led to some dodgy conditions, with half of us leaving our cars at the Carbeth Inn and running to the start. A round ten Westies made it, and timekeeper Drew as well. Dave left it a bit late, but spot-on to head off with Steffen at the back of the field. Muffy arrived fashionably late and meandered round herself. Studs and ice grips abounded and John Hamer's Kahtoola Microspikes payed off as he romped home over 3 miles of slushy snow well ahead of a fast finishing Dave, followed closely by Pauline. The fancy dress theme was kept up well by Pauline, John H and a few others, and a cold Carbeth Inn hosted us afterwards.

1. John Hamer 23m 08s
2. Dave Calder 20m 21s
3. Pauline McAdam 25m 34s
4. Helen McPherson 27m 03s
5. John Donnelly 22m 19s
6. Cat Miller 25m 54s
7. Steffen Gorgas 21m 47s
8. Myra McAdam 31m 30s
9. Elizabeth Adam 30m 08s
10. Muffy Calder 31m ??

Frozen Falls of Clyde

SUNDAY 26 DECEMBER

A walk and a chance to take some pics of the frozen Falls of Clyde at New Lanark.

Westies Sunday Golf Outing

9 Westies put the disappointment of not getting over to Peebles for the Baxter's Bash aside and met at Milngavie Train Station instead. We had fine weather, icy paths and 100% snow cover for our tour of Milngavie's finest golf courses. Mugdock's own paths were treacherous, even if you were Kathoola-spike'd up like John Hamer, so we opted for the (white)greens and fairways,which were generally firm and not too icy . 9 miles later, and hardly any falls, we had a well deserved round of hot chocloate and cakes. A cracking morning out, and to cap it all the snow only started falling after we had left Costa's - excellent!!

Snowy East Kilbride Scenes

Lomond Hillrunners' Weekend in Birnam

Laggan was called off due to the weather, so Adrian Davis kindly put us all up at his guest house in Birnam. We enjoyed a snowy run/walk/flounder up Deuchary Hill (509m) on Sat and wandered up Birnam Hill (404m) on Sunday.

Alan's post =
The 'not pissed off at being off piste' trip to Birnam

And Gord said - let there be snow - and there was snow - and it fell and kept falling

and the trip to Laggan did not come to pass

but a prophet arose from the wilderness (Birnam)

and his name was Adrian

and he said - all you Lomies how run and are not now able to run

come to me and I will give you a bed at the Inn and sustenance

and the three wise men - Uncle Alan, Mr Refill and Jabbers did follow their TomTom to the wilderness bearing gifts of great worth - cans of black nectar

and it came to pass that Lucy did arrive seeking a bed at the Inn with her Kipper and John from the West did also journey north to swell the throng

on the first day they were joined by Mel and in the company of four dogs did journey through the snowdrifts to the heights of Deuchary hill - and the snow and ice did gather on Jasper and Kippers nether regions and they were sorely troubled!

that night the innkeeper did ply the multitude with fine food and wines and Prophet Paddy with his quiz were sorely missed

on the second day the sun did shine on the wilderness and the Lomie throng made their way to the summit of Birnam hill

from the top they looked around in wonder from peak to shining peak and the Prophet Adrian did say

'there's some soup left - Gord hath revealed a short cut unto me!"

back at the Inn Jabbers did spot three feet of snow on the hump of his camel and wishing to avoid a penalty of 60 shekels and three lashes did shovel the snow from his hump

and the lomies did bow down and give thanks to the prophet of 'Farty owls' before departing to their own lands

Uncle Alan

Saturday's details
Sunday's details