Arthur’s Seat Handicap 2015 – A course of many colours
There’s a gaelic proverb my Dad used to relate when he was thinking of home that translates to “blue are the hills which are far from us” and most of us will remember our own “blue remembered hills” as A E Houseman aptly called them but here, as usual, was a familiar and close hill or range of hills for the final handicap of the season, Arthur’s Seat, which in the autumn sun wore a coat of many colours of oranges, browns, reds and yellows.
Some 40 reds and yellows, including one just complete yellow belly – Westies Pete Baxter – turned up to help, watch, take part or actually compete in this the 13th Arthur’s Seat Handicap Race. The range of handicaps was easily matched by the range of route choice – Hilary did both tops on Whinnie Hill for example but was protested for coming off the wrong top (?). The Wise Woman managed to find more bits of Arthur’s Seat than anyone else and so was out there for a wee bit longer than anyone else and somehow Willie failed to win despite a generous handicap over an area he knows so well.
Our race coincided with a British Military Fitness Training Team night, plus an Edinburgh University Hash night if my passing glimpse of Ian Jackson running past was correct. One of the BMFT girls seemed to be confused when she queried what we were up to. “We’re the Brutish Militant Fitness Training Team” I let her know but I somehow don’t think this gave her any sense of relief as she scurried off. I was only trying to help. Why don’t people want to be informed these days?
All hill races have their highs and lows and a high point of tonight was to see Colin Pritchard back out there doing the business and not last as he’d expected. The low point? Sadly Cat Meighan is off to live in Inverness in a few days and so this is the last Carnethy run she’ll do for a while although she will be back for the club pub run in December.
But enough I hear you ask, who won the race? Who won the series? Well, that’s Phil our handicapper’s department but I can say that Digby had an impressive race win tonight although I suspect he cheated by not stopping to take selfies, so there might be a steward’s inquiry. The overall winner? Well they quite simply exemplified our handicap’s ethos that was first advanced, adopted by oh, erm, me – that “many that are first will be last and the last will be first” and she was. Wise, wise, teachings now it seems.
Nick Shierloh’s album here. Results below.
Nick Macdonald
As British Military Fitness appeared and disgorged a decided unmilitary collection of exercisers across the start line the first runners set off. Local knowledge or good recceing is a definite advantage on the handicap. The Mon lunchtime handicap runners have the edge here, knowing all the little short cuts that save time.
Slightly alarming appearance of a helicopter and an ambulance but apart from some blood trickling down Joanne’s knee we all got back to the finish intact. I was first back – this diet’s finally paying off – Euan’s tiny little legs giving me the edge on the downhill. Now, don’t lose the results this year Phil. They will appear shortly. Maybe.
But at the prize giving the series was won by Ladies Captain Helen Wise, on her first visit to the Arthur’s Seat, where her circuitous route left her last on the night!
Digby plus a bit from Willie
Runner | Handicap | Run Time | Finish Time | Points | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Digby | Maass | 10.31 | 45.19 | 55.50 | 50.0 |
Euan | Burns | 3.22 | 52.59 | 56.21 | 48.4 |
Bob | Waterhouse | 15.07 | 41.59 | 57.06 | 46.9 |
Willie | Gibson | 12.09 | 45.54 | 58.03 | 45.3 |
Andy | Spenceley | 21.17 | 36.48 | 58.05 | 43.8 |
Win | Rampen | 13.06 | 44.59 | 58.05 | 43.8 |
Neil | Burnett | 22.25 | 35.41 | 58.06 | 40.6 |
Alan | Swanson | 19.52 | 38.54 | 58.06 | 40.6 |
Alan | Hogg | 21.23 | 36.44 | 58.07 | 37.5 |
Holly | Burns | 14.01 | 44.38 | 58.39 | 35.9 |
Adam | Gamble | 0.00 | 58.47 | 58.47 | 34.4 |
Alastair | Heggie | 0.00 | 58.52 | 58.52 | 32.8 |
Anthony | Hemmings | 22.09 | 36.43 | 58.52 | 32.8 |
Phil | Young | 18.36 | 40.16 | 58.52 | 32.8 |
Mark | Hartree | 21.17 | 37.50 | 59.07 | 28.1 |
Peter | Baxter | 12.57 | 46.51 | 59.08 | 26.6 |
Alistair | McGowan | 0.00 | 59.08 | 59.08 | 26.6 |
Moira | Stewart | 12.01 | 47.14 | 59.15 | 23.4 |
David | Harrington | 18.36 | 40.53 | 59.29 | 21.9 |
Irene | Schierloh | 4.04 | 55.25 | 59.29 | 21.9 |
Andrew | Shepherd | 21.19 | 38.30 | 59.49 | 18.8 |
Joanne | Anderson | 17.23 | 42.32 | 59.55 | 17.2 |
Cali | Ingham | 2.22 | 57.33 | 59.55 | 17.2 |
Craig | Mattocks | 25.38 | 35.06 | 60.44 | 14.1 |
Anna | Hayes | 15.41 | 45.27 | 61.08 | 12.5 |
James | Hardie | 23.49 | 37.98 | 61.47 | 10.9 |
Richard | Chandler | 0.00 | 63.06 | 63.06 | 9.4 |
Sandra | Chandler | 0.00 | 63.07 | 63.07 | 7.8 |
Phil | Humphries | 21.10 | 42.50 | 64.00 | 6.3 |
Hilary | Spenceley | 1.56 | 66.44 | 68.40 | 4.7 |
Cat | Meighan | 14.47 | 55.28 | 70.15 | 3.1 |
Helen | Wise | 17.06 | 56.23 | 73.29 | 1.6 |