Blustery conditions prevailed in the Cairngorms for the Meall a Bhuachaille race on Saturday, where Mike Andrew and I represented Carnethy. The weather, combined with an exorbitant £10 entry fee, seemed to have kept many away, and it was a select crowd of hopefuls who set off into the wind along a forestry track. The climbing started a couple of kilometres in, with an extended but very runnable climb up to the summit of Meall a Bhuachaille.
I managed to gain a couple of places on the ascent, including passing Mike three quarters of the way up. The final hundred yards of the climb were a struggle due to headwinds which required a near horizontal position to make forward progress, however once the cairn was rounded the wind became a blessing, blowing us home along the ridge. I held my position, making up another on the final run in to the finish for seventh overall. Mike was a minute behind in tenth, losing out to an HBT rival for first vet.
Much to the chagrin of the locals who thronged expectantly at the finish, Dave Wilby of Highland Hill Runners lost out to a visiting yorkshireman for first place, the misery of the host club being further compounded when Rachel Limbrick, also of HHR, was pipped at the post in a sprint finish for first female. A rainbow appeared as events drew to a close, which was a nice finish to the day.
Results on the SHR website: http://www.shr.uk.com/NewsItems.aspx?NewsItemID=1904
Extensive photos (including one which captures both Carnethies) are on the HHR facebook page: here
Chris Busby