The 25th running of the Manor Water Hill Race was a damp affair. The promising forecast didn’t quite happen and it rained for much of the race. Thankfully, the rain was warm, although the muddiness was not conducive to fast times. Carnethy DOMINATED the men’s race with a Carnethy 1-2-3. Stewart Whitlie led the field followed by John Hammond and Michael Reid. In the women’s race there was a good battle between Kathy Henly and Mary Hunter with Kathy taking it in the end.
There were, of course, the sheep trials to keep everyone entertained post-race. Moss Paris-Rawlick and Beinn McVey-Milne should perhaps get a move on with the training for next year, as the competition on the field was somewhat fierce.
Thanks to everyone who helped and special thanks to Chris Henty for his very impressive planning (right down to bottle opener supplied for the post-race beer). Despite the weather, it was a great day out in the Borders. Strava Flybys
Results here
Euan Boyd
With a backdrop of “come by” or the Borders equivalent we gathered for the 25th runnning of the race. It was claggy above and claggy below. On a dreich day the going was really tough with plenty of mud and gloopy, gooey peat in the heathery trods. Manor Water always feels like two races back to back. Approaching the final climb of the first race to the top of the oddly named Scrape the ultimate winners – Stewart Whitlie, John Hammond and Michael Reid (finishing in that order) – thundered, if that is the right word for soft wet moss, down.
First race was a good result – let’s have the prizegiving! 1st V60 and beat Gordon again. But then there’s race No2 back to the start. Slipping and sliding and tripped up by my flapping leggings first Gordon steamed by, then someone who with black hair should have been a V40. How was I to know – a rival! I should have made a bigger effort at this point instead of trying to stuff my soaking gloves back into a bumbag that refused to swivel.
Welcomed home by the traditional cries of ‘he’s catching you!’ I scoffed, but there actually was someone. Not a V60 so no problem. In the great Manor Water tradition the next thing is a bottle of beer thrust into your hand. Those who didn’t have wet children who needed to be rushed home retired to the tea tent for very good cake and coffee. I hugged the urn to try and warm up.
Sadly the 25th running of the race memento – a coaster – hadn’t been delivered in time. Unless we hear different you can pick yours up at Tinto or the AGM. So a good reason to attend both! Thanks to Euan for stepping in to supervise in the absence of race director Chris Henty.
And who could forget the small pit behind straw bales…
Digby
Alan Hogg’s photos –