Old News January till March 2010
- 31st March 2010
Snow on the Craiglockharts
Bad weather abating a gallant Wednesday crew
headed over Blackford, Craiglockharts, and took in the Braids on the
way back. Michael and Ian hit the wrong road in the estate coming in
to Braid Park and reputedly were seen heading past the Tusitala on the
'Quick' way home. Apart from the unavoidable stretches on tarmac, run
was mostly on a surface consisting of mud overlaid by a thick wedge
of melty snow, an unholy combination that gave some trouble except on
the tops were the snow was still crisp and the running good. But cold!
Good to get back to base in fast-falling darkness, where sadly KB was
shutting early. Having run along the Braid Burn we removed to the Braidburn
to meet up with stalwarts. R
- 29th March 2010
Braving the Boghall Ladies Run
Last Monday, Carnethy Ladies were very keen
to welcome in British Summer Time by reccieing the Boghall handicap
route. I should have been suspicious when Margarent picked me up and
told me she had phoned 5 other ladies who all had good excuses for not
joining us.
It was quite damp as we headed up the track past Boghall farm. We were
briefly distracted by a new fence but soon found ourselves on the summit
of Allermuir. At this point we implemented plan B and headed back the
way we had come.
A recent article said that if you had the willpower to go for a run
in the rain it counted for more than a run in the dry. On this basis,
Margaret and I have earned a year's supply of chocolate tonight.
Steph
- 29th March 2010
East Lothian Duathlon - Sunday 28th
Keith Burns organised another very succesful
East Lothian Duathlon on Sunday and made sure the rain didn't start
until we'd all finished. 31 people took part making up 20 units, consisting
of either solo efforts (with option of cycling the hills as well as
the roads), team, tandems. The race traversed East Lothian, running
to the top of Lammerlaw, cycling the 10 miles to Traprain Law, climbing
that, cycling the 9 miles (into a strong headwind) to North Berwick
Law and running up and down that to finish. Report
and results
- 27th March 2010
Saturday Skylining
Five Carnethies, Mike, James, Andy, Ian and
Gio, ran around the Pentland Skyline on Saturday morning. 4:30 to get
all the way round, including several stops along the way. Gio showed
off his amateur dramatic skills but his performance can only be described
as wooden. Doing our bit for Keeping Scotland Tidy we picked up two
abandoned empty bottle of Martini, on the top West Kip. I can recommend
the Stoats bar for a much needed energy boost. A quick pint and a plate
of chips in the newly refurbished Stable bar rounded off a great run.
Michael
- 26th March 2010
Excellent start to Scottish Championship
Helped by the massive turnout at Chapelgill,
and encouragement from our Captains, Steph and Jon, Carnethy have taken
an early lead in all the team categories in the Scottish Championship,
i.e. Women and Men's Senior teams and Women and Men's Over 40s teams,
as well as being well placed in many individual categories. Championship
positions can be found here
- 24th March 2010
Wednesday night run - splendid turnout
Nineteen showed for the run - a fast jog across
to the Braids and up to the first tee. Willie gave the sign, and we
sprinted for the flag on the green distant in the dark and gorse. Back
down to the next tee and off we go again, sometimes into those horrid
lights from the golf range at the bottom, sometimes sheer uphill slog,
and the bumps! But we all made it in excellent time and up and over
back to KB to meet up with latecomers. But beware. KB will soon be shutting
early.
- 22nd March 2010
Carnethy double at Criffel Hill Race -
Sunday 21st March
The day after the lung and leg burster of Chapelgill,
Adrian Davis and Jacqui Higginbottom both showed remarkable powers of
recovery by winning at Criffel. In fact all the other Carnethies running
at Criffel had also done Chapelgill - being the Wilson's and Bruce Milne
! Results
- 20th March 2010
Chapelgill Hill Race (Scottish Championship short
race)
There was a massive turnout of Carnethies at
the Chapelgill Hill Race with an amazing 34 turning out (or 20% of the
field !) - some, that could be gathered together, are in the photo above.
They must have been attracted by the thought of getting a championship
mug (only another 3 races to complete !) and the lovely warm sunshine.
These were among a record field of 178 runners who took to the hill
in perfect conditions.
Sam Hesling was the first Carnethy home with a brilliant run in 4th
place - just shows what 7am training runs with Olly does to you (or
was it the fame of being interviewed for the club journal !). Steven
Fallon was next after a storming descent, just in front of Stewart Whitlie,
and Ronnie Gallagher was first over 50 in 13th place and these four
led Carnethy to the men's team award, so taking an early lead in the
Scottish Champs. As so often, Jacqui Higginbottom was the leading Carnethy
woman from the large team that took part.
Results
- 18th March 2010
Aberlady Submarine Night Run
Robin Haynes, assisted by Derek Bearhop led a group
of 15 runners on a hunt for midget submarines in Aberlady Bay last night.
After a crawl through the buckthorn and a visit to Gullane car park, we
ran out along Gullane Spit and climbed on to the submarines. Then it was
back to Duck's in Aberlady for some good food.
View Route
in a larger map
- 10th March 2010
Muscle Imbalances - Club talk by Nicky Smith
An massive turnout of about 35 people listened
to a fascinating lecture by Nicky Smith on muscle imbalances and injury
at Kings Buildings, which can perhaps be summed up by: the cause of
your injury is unlikely to be where you are hurting (but eg the opposite
muscle group); you are most likely to be injured if you have had a previous
injury (and just let it get better); beware of stretching - only stretch
what needs stretching not what you think needs stretching (and only
after exercise) and much more. Great to see so many out after training
on a wednesday night. Thanks to Jon Ascroft for organising.
- 8th March 2010
The Whisky Chaser (A Nip up the Pentlands)
- Sat 6th March
It had become apparent that we had an event missing. We have the Christmas
pub run and the summer pub 'n chips and nothing in between, so a run
involving whisky at the beginning of spring was the obvious choice.
The basic idea was simple, five single malts with differing distinctive
qualities would be consumed at the five stops along the run route....more
- 7th March 2010
Sunday Pentlands Club Run
Oz Oswald, Andy Millard, Andy Fallas and
I set of from Swanston, first heading west past Torgeith Knowe and over
Smithy Cleugh before hitting Howden Burn. The paths were generally excellent
with the snow which had been threatening to slow things up having largely
melted lower down. We headed south to the coll between Fala Knowe and
Allermuir, and onwards and upwards to Castlelaw, where we were greeted
by the beaming smile of Nigel Rose who had foresaken the path to the
summit for a more direct attack on the hill.
We stopped for a good natter at the top and discussed the virtues of
better path and high risk of being shot vs rubbish path and low risk
of being shot for Nigel's descent. Having drunk a skinfull the night
before, and with eyes now glowing red with the onset of hangoveritis,
the ever smiling Andy made his excuses and legged it off home towards
Nine Mile Burn, and we left Brian to dodge stray bullets on his way
down to Glencorse and legged it north.
We three headed up and over Allermuir and Caerketton before dropping
down to Swanston and heading our seperate ways. The going has improved
somewhat on last week, although the snow is still deep (and sticky)
in places. Wading through the cornice on Allermuir provided plenty of
entertainment, as did the looks we were getting from walkers who must
think we are all stark raving mad.
Great run and great company. What more could you ask for.
Sam Hesling
- 4th March 2010
Fortes fortuna adiuvat*
I was slightly put out by Olly's suggestion of
running to work at 7am - I mean that is just downright late for a man
who values his sleep as highly as, well, something not very valuable.
We headed out round Blackford and through the Braids before heading
over the bypass and on towards Allermuir. "That's odd, the snow
looks really bright". Despite being cloudy the snow was reflecting
light from somewhere, but it wasn't before we hit the top of Allermuir
that we realised where.
Ten meters from the top and a vista opened out, a swirling sea of cloud
beneath our feet made us both feel like we were floating in some surreal
world made up only of the tips of white hilltops. All we could do was
stop and stare and point and laugh and attempt to make Olly's uber bling
phone take some pictures. Above the cloud floated the tops of Caerketton,
Capelaw, Castle Hill, Carnethy, Scald Law, the Kips and Black Hill,
and all around the cloud rolled towards every horizon masking Fife,
Grangemouth and other illustrious locations which would normally make
up the vista on a clear day.
But we had to go to work. Olly headed down towards Boghall and I raced
towards Caerketton to soak up the view before lobbing back into town.
A lone skier had skinned up Caerketton, his jaw practically on the snow
and camera in hand. "I was up the Ben yesterday but this is way,
way better.....".
Moments like this make you realise just how lucky we are with these
wonderful wee hills on our doorstep, and such excellent company with
whom we have to share them.
Sam Hesling
*Fortune favours the brave - Ed.
- 3rd March 2010
Wednesday Run - The Seat
Sixteen showed on a cold night, and WG's hormones
are on the rise so it was straight to Arthur's Seat, avoiding the mad
University servitor, blipped the Innocent, and headed straight straight
up, finding the snow at the top. Willie's instructions (trail shoes)
were put to task. Thence down, where the only problem was frozen puffs
of breath picked out like galaxies by headtorches to blind you - yet
another reason not to illuminate (perhaps) - over Whinny Hill and down
to "the Mac" - where Joanne had a nasty tumble on difficult ground (but
mustered determination to master the full round). Ramon left us at this
point, and all up to the top of the crags, and down to Pollock Halls
for another "who can get their ribcage through this (horridly tiny)
slot" (Bill G you will remember this - we're still trying) and the sensible
ones ran around. Fastarmac back to KB where stalwarts were awaiting
and WG got another yellow card. Truly a great run.
- 28th February 2010
WHW weekend 27-28 Feb, and a bit of snow
Michael organised another smashing weekend where
we all ended up, well after dark, yet again pounding up the road into
a subzero Crianlarich ... Some things never change. And for good measure
some snow so thick that one is reminded of the old expression - 'Hill
runners speed in where wiser men fear to tread'. Full report is here.
- 28th February 2010
Borders Winter Cross-Country Series, Peebles
The 6th and final round of the Borders
winter Cross-Country series took place at Peebles on a freezing day
but, amazingly snow free course, (considering all the deep snow passed
on the way to Peebles from Edinburgh). Only a few Carnethy made this
final race and the run of the day was from the club president, Gordon
Cameron, who was second by only a few seconds in the Over 50 category.
Stewart Whitlie was 8th overall and first Over 45.
As it was the final race, the series prize-giving was held afterwards
and all who completed the series got a special collectors T-shirt plus
a horse brass ! Carnethy members picked up quite a few trophies for
the series: 1st Over 45 Stewart Whitlie, 1st Over 50 Andy Spenceley;
1st Over 50F Hilary Spenceley; 1st Over 55F Anne Nimmo; 3rd 35F Pam
Whitlie; 3rd Over 45 Adam Ward; 3rd U20 Trevor Wilkinson. Results of
Peebles race and series here
- 20th February 2010
Circumnavigation of Edinburgh 2010
A good turnout in splendid sunshine, and seven
made the whole 33 miles - five runners and two bikers, a record! More
than a dozen took part. Well done all. Prelim report is now here
Richard, Michael (bikemeister KB)
- 13th February 2010
The 40th 'Tiso' Carnethy 5 Hill Race
No records broken but near perfect conditions
for the race, though some hard ground on the course and a decent snow
patch to help the final descent. 488 people started and 485 finished
- slightly down on last year, but still the second largest field ever...and
they all got 40th anniversary mugs !! If you missed collecting yours,
please contact the organiser on the race page.
Actually there was a record broken and that was by the race
winner, Rob Jebb (Bingley). He became the first man to win 5 times
! Rob won in 48:41, but he was chased hard by Andrew Symonds (Carnegie)
48:58 with Prasad Prasad (Clydesdale) 3rd and just sneaking under 50
mins. In 4th place was 18 year old Robbie Simpson (Deeside) - surely
someone capable of winning in a year or so ! First over 40 was Mark
Harris of Fife AC 54:49 in an excellent 12th place , while the latest
recruit to the ranks of the "old men", Ronnie Gallagher (Carnethy)
was first V50 in 58:32. Successfully defending his V60 title was Jack
Holt of Clayton-Lee-Moors in 62:51, while first V70 was Bill Gauld (Carnethy)
in 89:31 (he is 77 in a few days!).
First woman was Claire Gordon of HBT in 65:12; first F40 (and 4th woman)
was Shileen O'Kane in 67:56 (one of our welcome Northern Ireland visitors)
and first F50 was Jocelyn Scott (Fife) in 74:55.
The team race for the Claymore was very hard fought but organisers,
Carnethy, just got it by 4 points from HBT - to win it for the 3rd year
running...and sent HBT home to think again! Lochaber made the most of
their long journey down to the race by not only bringing Jimmy Jardine,
who completed his 40th race - i.e. he has never missed one !! - but
they also won the women's team prize - well done !
Among the 5 new members of the 21
Race Club, was the first woman to join this exclusive club ... Pat
McLaughlin of Westerlands - congratulations, Pat !
Thanks to all those in the hall who donated money to the Haiti Appeal,
we collected £32.44
Results
Team
Results Scald
Law Junior Race results Click
here for photos by Cameron Scott (Flickr)
Photos by Willie Lyall
(except last one)
- 10th February 2010
Wed Night Run - the traditional pre-C5 Carnethy
recce
Meeting at Flotterstone, a great turnout headed
up Turnhouse to find the snowline and up to the summit for a quick drop
back to the col, and up Carnethy to group up at the burial cairn (photos).
Then the scree down the lee of Carnethy was interesting - frozen and
covered with snow at the top, giving way to a brilliant downrun at lower
levels. And this year even the run back over "le bog" wasn't too bad
- mostly frozen. Willie observed that, unusually, (i.e. never seen that
before) there was not the slightest breath of wind - but maybe all that's
being held in store to be unleashed for the race at the weekend....
Swift return to Flotty (sadly the inn is looking unkempt) so all to
the Steading for good food and craik. Ta SB and WG for leading.
R
- 8th February 2010
Monthly Sunday Pentlands Run
The monthly run in the Pentland followed a very
traditional route from Hillend, over Caerketton, Alliermur and Castlelaw
before returning via Alliemuir and Caerketton. On the path from Caerketton
to Alleiumuir we came across a wooden post, which had been buried in
the ground, which has been inscribed, “JG 1950”. No one
on the run had seen this post before, which would tend to suggest that
it has been recently buried in the ground. Does anyone know what the
memorial commemorates?
Mike O'Connor
- 7th February 2010
Borders Cross-Country Series, Galashiels
The 5th of the Borders Cross Country Series
was held on a new and extremely tough course at Galashiels today. More
like a hill race with lots of steep climbs across rolling Borders sheep
pastures..and just when you thought it'd be all downhill to the finish,
another climb was thrown in. Should be easy for hill runners - joke
! Hills always seem harder when running cross-country and you're "supposed
" to run them hard. But a really excellent course and a good day
for running. 5 men and 3 women took part from the club. Stewart Whitlie
7th, 1st M45; Adam Ward 11th, 3rd M45; Andy Spenceley 27th, 1st M50;
Gordon Cameron 31st , 3rd M50; Hilary Spenceley 91st, 2nd F50; Pan Whitlie
102nd, 4th F35; Anne Nimmo 115th, 1st F55; Trevor Wilkinson 123rd 4th
Junior. Andy, Hilary and Anne have now won their categories in the series
with one race to go. Results here
- 6th February 2010
South American Duathlon win for Angela
Angela Mudge, currently cycling from Equador
to the bottom of South America, arrived in El Calafate, Patagonia yesterday
and not wasting time, finished 2nd overall and 1st woman in the El Calafate
Duathlon today - consisting of a 20km mountain bike plus 15km road run
This was the Carnethy life
member's first race in South America. To quote Angela "my trainers
are knackered and had no bounce for the tarmac nor did my legs - but
at least I bagged a race in Argentina!!" The
race was won by her travelling partner Steve Bottomly (Pudsey).
- 3rd February 2010
The Wednesday Run - a long fast snowy trek
Great run, KB up and over the braids through
crisp snow, then down to Fairmilehead - WG's in training so over the
bypass and head for Swanston, and finally head back through snow showers
via the Braidburn and fast over Blackford hill for the lovely snow run
back down to KB for hot shower + cold pint. As we sat in the union the
flakes were coming down thick and fluffy
- 31st January 2010
Borders Cross-Country Series, Spittal Point,
Berwick
On a freezing, but sunny day and with a strong
wind, the 4th race in this winter series was held at Berwick-upon-Tweed
on an out and back course consisting of half on beach and rocks (and
guaranteed wet feet, with an incoming tide) and half on cliff top paths,
normally muddy but this time frozen. , 6 Carnethies took part, 3 men
: Stewart Whitlie (finishing in 4th place & 1st Over 45), Adam Ward
(13th, 4th Over 45) & Andy Spenceley (23rd & 1st Over 50) and
3 women : Hilary Spenceley (1st Over 50 F in 105th) , Pam Whitlie (109th
and 3rd F35) and Anne Nimmo (1st Over 55 F in 115th). So yet again we
completed a team, finishing 2nd, which leaves us in 3rd place in the
series so far. Results here
- 28th January 2010
251 years of Burns celebrated by 51 people
Willie Gibson’s followers were noticeably
more distant this year having seen how ruthless he is with that sgian
dubh! Or maybe he is practising for the next time somebody tells him
that he is still not slim. Personally, I was trilled to hear that Jamie
Thin also honours the spuds. Hey Jamie – don’t fall in love
too much – we all know what happened to the millions of Irish
when they grew fond of this marvellous vegetable. Bob Waterhouse’s
Selkirk Grace sounded more like a soliloquy from a Coronation Street
character. Sam Hesling shared some of his mortal memories with us. It
was the first time I had seen somebody having a go at Olly Stephenson
– most club members are of the understanding that we can’t
afford to lose a good race organiser.
My interest was aroused during Bob Johnson’s
toast when he swore that a woman’s bodily hair and a flymo make
a great match. I could see Joanne Thin trying to distract young Sinead
when she heard what came next from Bob. Joanne’s comical reply
was polite in contrast. Bill Gauld once again used the supper as an
annual test of how bad his tinnitus has progressed. Michael Baldock
and Moira Stewart gripped the audience with the piano and a song. Also
well done to Sinead Thin, Margaret Forrest, Richard Lathe, Mark James,
Gio MacDonald and Hilary Spenceley. An even bigger well done to all
those who offered time to finish the 12 year Highland Park, you have
contributed too. An open waist coated Nigel Fawthrop (the MC) wound
down the proceedings and wished us well.
Shane
- 24th January 2010
Devil's Burdens Relay, Lomond Hills - Sat 23rd
Jan
This was the first big event of 2010 (just a
few weeks before the next, the Carnethy 5 race) and Carnethy were out
in force with 7 teams of 6 (i.e. an amazing 42 runners from the club
! ); made up of 2 Women's teams, 1 Senior Mens, 2 Men's V40, 1 Men's
V50 and a Carnethy Allstars. All teams got round in good spirits, often
with close racing and competition between teams. The first Carnethy
team home were the Mens V40 A team who were first V40 team and a very
impressive 4th overall (behind Shettleston, Bellahouston and Ochils)
out of the 120 teams running. The Senior Men's team picked up throughout
the race and ended not much further back, then followed the V40 B team
and, close behind, the Allstars team and V50 team. The Women's B team
was in an earlier start half hour ahead of the main field (a perk for
the slower teams! ), and the Women's A team gradually pulled them back
until both Women's teams were neck and neck coming towards the finish
- good incentive for both teams.
Report and photos
(please send your reports to the web team - women's reports very welcome!)
and Results
here.
Carnethy Runners:
Over 40s A (4th and 1st Over 40s): leg 1 Bruce Smith&Steven Fallon;
leg 2 Adrian Davis; leg 3 Stewart Whitlie&Adam
Ward; leg 4 Ronnie Gallagher
Senior A (17th): leg 1 Shane Bouchier&Andy
Millard; leg 2 Sam Hesling; leg 3 Andy Fallas&Matt Davis; leg 4
Cameron Burt
Over 40s B (25th): leg 1 Gregor Heron&Paul Ritchie; leg 2 Gio MacDonald;
leg 3 Olly Stephenson&Mick James; leg 4 Bruce Milne
All Stars (33rd) : leg 1 Willie Gibson&Jamie Hardie; leg 2 Jon Ascroft;
leg 3 Cameron Scott&"Harry" Neil Gilmore; leg 4 Tim Darlow
Over 50s (58th) : leg 1 Bob Johnson&Andy Spenceley; leg 2 Brian
Howie; leg 3 Keith Burns&John Blair Fish; leg 4 Jonathan Whitehead
Women's A (71st & 8th F): leg 1 Jessie Gebhard&Kim Martin; leg
2 Lucy Hailey; leg 3 Jacqui Higginbottom&Helen Bonsor; leg 4 Lucy
Colquhorn
Women's B (102nd): leg 1 Margaret Forrest&Kirsty Loudon; leg 2 Joanne
Anderson; leg 3 Anne Nimmo&Joanne Thin; leg 4 Hilary Spenceley
- 20th January 2010
The Bobscaper - Banshees and Trolls
A splendid evening, with spectres, trolls and
banshees, not to mention incandescent swords, sparklers, and, for good
measure, some sheet ice on the run up to the top of Caerketton.
The organisers report:
Twenty or so runners turned up for this historic event celebrating the
Celtic creatures of the past. Some had a notion of what to expect but
the innocent and naïve were totally clueless. Two teams took to the
slopes to face the wild squawking banshees, screeching kelpies. Some
runners encountered strange hairy beasts which on closer inspection
turned out not to be Willie. The closely contested challenge enabled
intellectual runners to seek out ancient trinkets hidden on the haunted
hill of Caerketton. They were rewarded with bountiful biscuits, brews,
beverages. After a shaky start and some wayward thinking of a younger
member of their team, the trolls recovered to take the trophy and celebrated
by eating not their usual fare of billy goats but the Steading's finest.
Our newest international atheletes were perhaps surprised by the event
and described it as 'very fun' . Will they join us again? We hope so……
Cali, Bob & Mike
- 20th January 2010
Cross-Country Championships 9th January
Carnethy helped out again at the International
Cross-Country, but the marshalls look rather warmer than the runners....
Joseph Ebuya (Kenya) won the men's, followed by countrymates T Mbishei
and E Kipchoge. Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopa had a disappointing finish
at 4th. First GBR was Chris Thompson, only a minute behind over the
9 km. For the women, double Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia)
was followed by V Cheruiyot (Kenya) and K Gezahegn (Ethiopia) - but
the brits did a grand job, with positions 4,5,7,8 for the home team,
led by Hayley Yelling only 14 seconds behind the winner over the 6 km
course. Commentary here
- 13th January 2010
Wednesday Sledging and Slogging Slowly over the
Snowy Slopes
Two weeks of wednesday night to report on. Last
week with a lethargic feeling brought on by over indulgence over the
festive period, I decided that a night of sledging on The Braids was
more appealing than a run. Somehow my email didn't go out,
I turned up with two sledges and the 7 other runners that turned up
were keen on the idea. After a hard run to the Braids Pistes there was
a bevie of hill reps interseprsed with sledging. A great night out.
Tonight some fourteen of us gathered to run the golf courses. The slushy
snow led to a tiring run, only 5.6 miles but it felt harder. A bit slippy
but still bright with no need for torches. We ran to Braids and circumnavigated
Mortonhall before returning over Braids summit. A very pleasant pint
at KB ended a fine evening.
- 3rd January 2010
Junior Senior Relay - Flotterstone
A good turnout of runners braved the snow for this years relay.
Deep snow caused the courses to be shortened, as going off route led
to deep snow drifts.
The race was won by Lauren's Lurchers.
Results and full report are
here
- 2nd January 2010
Culter Fell on New Year's Day
A recent change in plans allowed me to do something
this year that I've always wanted to do but never had the opportunity
- an ascent of Culter Fell on New Years Day, with the possibility of
being first to the top (easily verified in snow!) So, while revellers
were sleeping off the excess of the night before I jumped into the car
for the short drive to Birthwood at the foot of the fell. My usual training
run is clockwise up King's Beck to the top of the fell then back down
past Fell Shin and the shooting butts. As I left the car I entertained
notions of including Cardon and Chapelgill tops (not the race route!)
but very shortly this plan was kicked into touch, and a few times as
I fell through crust into deep drifts and underlying bogs I wondered
whether I would even get to the top. However, I eventually got there,
stopping to take pictures of Chapelgill and the ice rime features on
the fence that separates Peebleshire and Lanarkshire. Tinto looked awsome
in full snow cover and I must admit to hoping that the 2010 race has
more favourable conditions. On the way down I met the members of the
Upperward Mountaineering Club who were out on their annual New Years
Day trip up the fell, and enjoyed a chat with a few of the group leaders,
turns out a few of them also live in Carluke not far from me. While
they were kitted out in full mountain hill gear I think some may have
had reservations about me being clad in hill running kit, and about
10 years ago I would have felt the same. However, I now believe fast
and light is probably safer in the long run, at least in the Border
hills. Plus, I've been up there many times over the past 30 years, in
all conditions (physical and weather). Having been first up Culter Fell
this year and decade, the next logical move is to be last up on both
occasions. I've already started planning but will leave the choice of
tent and sleeping bag until nearer the time, and as I start another
decade of hill going I hope that it's as much fun as the last three
have been. The picture album is here.
Cheers, Cameron
- 2nd January 2010
Blizzard on the Circo Recce
Michael and I got whited-out on reccying the
circum-edin route, a new track around the other side of the substation
(where on the pub run we all encountered a horrid new fence), more old
railway, local lads artistically active under the bypass, and some scenes
of winter wonderland. Drive back tonight was treacherous sheet ice,
2 mph, a passing runner waved as he sped past, and it's still snowing…
Richard
- 2nd January 2010
Greenmantle Dash
A lower than usual number of runners arrived
in a snowy Broughton for this year's Greenmantle Dash. The course was
also slightly altered, taking a track behind the school thus missing
out the wall and burn crossing, although one bonus of the recent weather
was that the swamp before the first road section was solid. We set off
from the brewery in a heavy snow fall and followed good tracks of compacted
snow across the fields to the foot of the climb. Thankfully the front
runners had broken trail for the rest of us through the deep snow on
Ratchil Hill so the climb wasn't as bad as it looked from the bottom.
A quick descent and the usual dash along Dreva Road saw us back at the
finish behind the village hall, where food and free bottle of Broughton's
finest awaited us.
Six Carnethies took part: Tim Darlow, Bruce Smith, Gregor Heron, Cameron
Scott, Dougie Shiell and Craig Henderson.
Cameron Scott
Results to follow on SHR website.
Not only was I at Greenmantle Dash (accustomed
as I am to being overlooked) but as second M60 I was awarded a small
prize ...
Rod Dalitz
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