We were staying in the area for the Easter Holidays, so we thought we’d try the local hill race – Cioch Mhor, from Dingwall. Perhaps because it was in holidays, more Carnethys had made the long drive than I’d expected. The weather was perfect, cool with intermittent sunshine, although a bit muddy underfoot. The first part of the run is up a relatively gentle slope to a trig point over very runnable terrain, with excellent views, followed by an extremely pleasant descent on grassy slopes. This was brought to an abrupt end with a wade through a thigh deep river, before a further ascent to Cioch Mhor, where we had great views over to Ben Wyvis. The return was by the same route. I’d hoped to make up a few places on the return, but instead lost a few. The race was won by Gordon Lennox from Inverness, and Highland Hill Runners took the team prize. I was a disappointing 45th, which I’m blaming on forgetting my fell shoes (although it might help me in the forthcoming handicaps!)
The post-race food was excellent, particularly the quiche and the pancakes. Overall, a fantastic race – well done to the organisers and marshalls.
Paul Burns
The weather was glorius as we stood on the starting line for the Cioch Mor hill race in Dingwall, sunny with a cool breeze. The route started with a steep climb up to the top of a hill. This being my first hill race I had dismissed the mans comments at the start about the muddy track only to realise now that my trainers and brand new leggings would not be in the same condition at the end as they had been earlier on in the morning! Apart from that the route was brilliant. The view coming down off the hill was fantastic – so good infact that I thought I’d not take the marked route, but rather the ‘scenic route’. Apart from the occasional scare from a protective mother cow I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing. However the best bit by far was the selection of sandwiches and home baking at the end which rounded off perfectly a brilliant day.
Rowan Burns