A delayed start due to slow registration of over 200 racers, 24 Carnethies, a strong Westerly, the threat of rain, we are off.
The ups went up, the alongs wiggled along with an additional diversion adding a few minutes to some, stiles took the weight of many, and the descents were generally frantic combinations of sprinting, stumbling and extreme bum sliding. At least there were less thistles it seems this year (by the time I got there) and it was dry. Many showed signs that an adventure was had on the steepest descent.
Records were broken again despite the additional meters run with Jasmin and Charlotte beating the previous women’s record and Jasmin taking another record title. The men’s race was tight and an apparent poor route choice in the final woods gave Don Naylor of HBT another win. The young Carnethy pretenders aren’t pretending any more with Andrew Gilmore having one of his best races finishing 5th ahead of those Carnethy’s with a few years on him. Copious tea with home-made scones and jam at the end [except for the slower runners! – ed]. Nice. Others may have won prizes but I had to dash.
Results at: http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/RaceResults.aspx?RaceID=RA-0196&Year=2014
Mark Hartree