After the torrential rain and gales over the previous days, I thought this one was going to be rough. I’d done the Park Run the day before to toughen myself up. As it was, the rain had gone and the wind had dropped to a light breeze by the time I got up to Baddingsgill.
16 runners entered, which was a bit up on last year. The usual haggling over handicaps took place but Eddie was taking no excuses. Mine was pretty good at -1. I caught Robin Thomas pretty quickly, (he’d stopped for a “comfort break” at the top of the first hill) out of view of Viv. I caught her just after we passed some highland coos on the trail. The sharp pointy horns looked a bit menacing, so we both took it carefully. It was such a lovely sunny day by then I took a photo and lost the lead. The path was extremely wet and the first bridge was almost submerged.
I’d got back into the lead by the turn up at Cauldstane, but on turning could see my lead was rather precarious. Half the field passed me on the blistering descent. The photo might have cost me three places and Ray just pipped me by 1 second.
Claire Ward was first home in a close finish. Thanks to Jimmy Cooney for organising. A marvellous wee race.
Brian Howie
Results
Posn. Name Time In H/Cap Actual Remarks
1 Claire Ward 49.45 -8 41.45 1st.Female
2 Miles Carter 49.49 -7 42.49
3 Donald Naylor 50.24 -16 34.24 Fastest
4 Dave Steele 50.44 -6 44.44
5 Paul O’Brian 51.29 -3 48.29
6 Philis O’Brian 51.57 -5 46.57
7 Malcolm Parry 52.11 -11 41.11
8 Ray Ward 52.46 -15 37.44
9 Brian Howie 52.47 -1 51.47
10 Steve Laverty 52.51 -8 44.51
11 Neil Pendrich 53.32 -11 42.32
12 Ian Campbell 54.13 -6 48.13
13 Brian Pendreigh 54.45 -7 47.45
14 Viv McLeod 57.30 0 57.30
15 Ken Mortimer 59.22 -10 49.22
16 Robin Thomas 62.34 0 62.34