Glen Rosa Hill Race

Sat 16 June 2007

Where were the women??!!
Yes, for the first time that any of us could remember there were no women running a hill race! Shock horror!! Well if you weren’t there, man or woman, then you missed a fine day out, just a pity about the rufty-tufty race that we had to endure in the middle of it. Westies had about a quarter of the field for this 13 mile – 5800 feet race from Brodick castle down into Glen Rosa, up onto the ridge and along to Cir Mhor, down to The Saddle, up to Goatfell and back down to the Castle. The clag was down on the tops and it was a bit windy at time, but generally it was not too bad at all. If you forget about the unnecessary near-drowning experience of Murdo by Scott (avoiding the nice wee bridge metres upstream), the steep, chaucy (and slow) 1st climb, the rough meandering contouring, the lonely plod up North Goatfell chasing Dave Rogers’ shadow and the dilly-dallying run down off Goatfell then I suppose I quite enjoyed it really. Carnethy pipped us for the team prize on time of the first 3 runners, despite us having 5 in before they even had 3 finishers. Don showed that he is in fine form for his forthcoming 50th later in the year, followed by Murdo then a close bunch of Scott, Dave and Steffen then me and Jason (sorry for leaving you pal but we had a ferry to catch). A truly classic race that deserves a bit more interest than the 27 (all male) runners who turned up. Thanks to organiser Paul and his helpers, and especially to all the Mountain Rescue people manning the many checkpoints.

1st - J. Ashcroft - 2h 38m 38s
2nd - S.Fallon(V40) - 2h 43m 18s

6th - Don Reid - 3h 04m 56s
9th - Murdo MacLeod - 3h 11m 30s
13th - Scott McKendrick – 3h 17m 10s
14th - Dave Rogers - 3h 17m 18s
15th -Steffen Gorgas - 3h 17m 38s
17th - John Donnelly - 3h 25m 47s
23rd - Jason Kaushal - 4h 30m 01s

Organiser's Report
Results

Tayvallich Hash Camping Weekend

8-10 June 2007
A weekend of glorious weather in deepest Argyle for the Trossachs Hash House Harriers annual camping trip to Tayvallich. Friday night was spent in the Tayvallich Inn enjoying a few ales. On Saturday I cycled over to the start of the run near Cairnbaan. We enjoyed a lovely run round the forest tracks and Crinan canal paths, with a beer stop nera some ancient cup & ring stone markings. Lunch was in the beer garden of the Horseshoe Inn in Kilmichael Glassary. I then spent 2 hrs or so cycling back to Tayvallich in the glorious sunshine, visiting the ancient hill fort of Dunadd and Crinan on the way. The Sat BBQ was a roaring success in perfect weather. On Sunday the run was at Lochan Coille-Barr and a great trail was laid by Ian and Simon in the woods. Lunch was again at the Horseshoe Inn, and then home!

Photos

Duddon Valley Fell Race

Saturday 2nd June 2007

I returned to this Lakeland Classic (@18 miles/1900 metres)to see if the presence of a much bigger British Champs race could spur me on to a rare PB. It certainly did - by 20mins, aided by cooler conditions and a decent winter free of injury. I was chuffed to just get under 4hrs in 3h 58m 20s,171st of 367 starters, though I was still well over an hour behind the winner Ian Holmes and 40 mins behind the first lady. Chris was well ahead of me as usual, but still feeling the after effects of Jura last week, and Ellie had a smashing run to finish only 3mins behind me.

Duddon Valley website
Photos

Cornalees Hill Race

30 May 2007



A lovely evening down in Greenock for the Westies versus Greenock grudge match in the hills. I kept a steady pace up to the top, legs feeling a bit heavy, and then spurred on by Ellie and Cat right behind me I put in a bit more effort for the downhill return. Great views over the Firth of Clyde. Tea and buns were gratefully devoured in the Greenock clubhouse. Thanks to Stevie and his clubmates for their hospitality.

Results
Chris'photos