Gallery of race photos here – https://www.flickr.com/photos/
Clachnaben in Aberdeenshire was the 1st of the 6 selected Scottish Hill Running (SHR) Championship races. Landing on the same date as British Champs in Mournes, this was a bit of an opportunity to score for those that stayed behind in Scotland.
The course took runners over two prominent peaks, Mount Shade and then Clachnaben in 13.6km and 690m. If you’d been none the wiser you might have thought you’d entered an obstacle course based on the first km. There were several fallen trees to hurdle, dips to drop into and streams to cross. After the start, the course settled into the more traditional Scottish hill racing, with long open climbs with vague muddy paths. As Harry Gilmore described it is “a proper hill race”. The changing terrain did show up runner’s strengths and weakness, with continuous back and forth passing. Those with faster flat pedigree had the final advantage. The last 3km was the fastest section of the course and the race was eventually won here.
Dan Dry from Shettleston Harriers finished 1st. Carnethy’s Andy Fallas finished 3rd and won the v40 category. Carnethy’s Andy Macrae won the v50 category with multiple tactical tumbles to block or disorient other competitors, we’re not sure.
Laura Dozier was the sole Carnethy lady on the start line. The ladies’ winner was Erin McFadden from local Stonehaven running club.
The course was not the only obstacle. Anyone with an expensive car might not have liked the track to the parking, which was the parking. It did look like some alternatives down the road for the BMWs. A short supply of safety pins also became a bit of a problem. Luckily Andy Fallas had bag full, enough to supply his teammates. Something we should probably all have in our kit for races.
Thanks to Cosmic Hillbashers, marshals and supporters. It was a well-marked course and fantastic location which was worth the travel.
Full results here: https://www.webscorer.com/race?raceid=272943&lang=en or on SHR
Information about SHR, can be found here: https://scottishhillrunners.uk/Championship.aspx?ChampionshipID=C-001
Finally, the club was handed the large quaich for winning the 2021 championship. It is now in Andy Macrae’s possession or tumbling down a hill side.
Andrew Lamont