Devil's Burdens, 31st January 2004
) Single file through the woods up East Lomond |
We had 5 teams running in this year's Devil's Burdens. It is the best hillrunning relay in the Scottish calendar and, being in January, the weather can make or break it. The conditions also depend on which leg you are running! Our men's and ladies' A teams were in the lead going into leg 3.........What happened? Stories here.... Leg 1 (pairs) Although
the weather looked horrendous the running was good if perhaps a little
slippy on the steep slopes. It was more difficult for the cars than
the runners to get to the changeover. The wind was behind us (unlike
in leg 3) and we could really enjoy the snow. The added bonus of running
this leg is that you can change into warm dry clothes and cheer the
rest of your team on safe in the knowledge that you've done your bit!
Leg 2 (single)
Leg2/3
................only to find Mick James alone saying "No Ricky! Do you want to run again?". So off I set with Mick dragging, pushing, pulling and willing me on up the slope. We dibbed and headed through the snow for Bishop Hill, accompanied by Robin and Brian (vets team). We seemed to find this no bother. After that we got in tow with a couple of lads who seemed to know the way and sure enough the Devil's Burdens appeared and we got up West Lomond. Coming off though we somehow went totally wrong and took 15 minutes at least to sort ourselves out (another Willie and Mick epic!), and ran down to hand over to Graeme. Willie Gibson (Men's B) Jill Tait and Maggie Creber set off on leg 3 (for the Ladies A team) in the lead, but Westies ladies stuck to the 'direct route' from Bishop Hill and ended up well in front! Leg 3 Wet, white and wild is how I'd describe leg 3. We dropped down off Bishop Hill instead of carrying on along the ridge and we only realised things didn't look quite right when we reached the bottom! Rather than re-trace our tracks through thigh deep snow, we contoured round and found a runnable track. We headed back on course over the Burdens and on to West Lomond. A good bearing took us directly off the summit. There was nothing for it but to sledge down on our bums. Great fun and some of the most challenging conditions I have experienced on the hills to date. Jill Tait (Ladies A) Leg 3 Apparently, we had a 4-minute lead at the start of leg 3, thanks to an excellent run on leg 2 by Mark. Apparently, we had extended this to a 5-minute lead by the summit of West Lomond – thanks to Adam A. pulling me along at a very “steady” pace, with me shouting directions from about 10 yards behind. Apparently, we even got the descent off Bishop Hill spot on! (for the first time in three attempts in my case). Approaching the summit of West Lomond – with the next nearest team a considerable way behind us – Adam apparently tempted fate with the following words: “Garry, it’s in the bag”. Apparently, this was a case of foolish optimism as, apparently we were later spotted by some of the chasing teams contouring anti-clockwise around the southern slopes of West Lomond??! Apparently, this diversion cost us about 15 minutes, and therefore first place. Apparently, it’s going to take some time for me to live this down! Garry MacInnes (and Adam Anderson) Men’s A. Leg 4(single) Usually the fast guys on leg 3 appear about 11:50, but as I couldn't even look up the hill due to the pelting snow and strong wind, or see up the hill due to field level mist, I wasn't expecting to be off in a hurry. Leaders, Lothain appeared about 12:20 with following teams well spread out. Then Elsie and Christine from Westies appeared- both excellent navigators. I pitied Maggie and Jill, especially as I had called off leg 3 on Friday. We huddled in Willie's landrover and Gordon primed himself for his leg 4 with week old orange juice with added mould floaties. He thought the substantial biological culture was ice. Maggie and Jill appeared triumphantly a while later, having taken a lengthy diversion, and I plodded off in the slush with Ben, quite relieved that the pressure was off. It was quite horrid till in the forest then the snow laden boughs lightened my mind and I enjoyed a hard push from there on. Ben slowed me down with two loo stops (25secs x 2) so I blame him for the 4 mins (can't add) down on my last leg 4 time. It felt funny sprinting along the Estate road with no one in sight. Thanks for the great support at the end. Sorry about the lack of humour. Kate Jenkins (+Ben) Ladies A |
) Head down and get into a rhythm |
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) Snow fell gently down in the woods above Falkland |
) Once out of the woods you could follow the footprints in the freshly fallen snow |
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) The snow muffles all sounds except your own heavy breathing! |
) Margaret and Phillipa get the view from the back! |
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) A short breather at the stile |
) Moira pushing up the final bit of road to the changeover |
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) Evidence of what awaits weather-wise once they're out of the woods |
) Anne and Moira split the Westies pairing in the run up to the changeover |
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) Brian and Willie at the end of leg one, running for the vet team |
) Andy and Jamie finish leg one for the B team |
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) Hilary finishing leg 2 |
) There were some youngsters running too (adult-in-tow) |
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) The winning team (Lothian) with just 500 metres to go. |
) Kate Friend and Joanne Thin set off on leg 3 |
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) Ben spotted Adrian and set off to tie him up! |
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) Who says it's not fun! There's gallons of soup waiting at the finish. |
) Joanne finishes for the Ladies B team |
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) Graeme Carracher sporting shorts on leg 4 |
) It was a day for the club pertex top! |