Two Buachailles Race 28^th Sept. 2002

Kate Jenkin's Report
" As I heaved my heavy unrested (as usual!) legs up Coire na Tulaich I was soon passed by lady after lady and was now fourth and not far off fourth last! However, after a tough scree ridden pull I was encouraged to see marchsals Nick & Steve shouting encouragement as we made our way west along the ridge. Soon it was time for a hellish descent with rocks, tussock and slimy rock slab to the low col blessed with Many and his orange sheet so we could all see where he was miles below. At least I caught one lady. A gruesome angled climb followed up the steep slopes of Buchachaille Etive Beag and I stumbled toward the top being passed by Lindsay and Fiona on their way down already. A fast tussocky descent followed, back to grinning Manny, then my favourite part (which everyone else hated!.. a long boggy saturated peat and rock track to the finish. Thunder thighs did the trick and carried me past Fiona Dahl and poor Lindsay about 300m before the finish. Dick’s prizes were customary beer, however uncharacteristically the prize giving was only about an hour after the race, not four!

Well done, Dick, a great race and well done weather. Cool and clear. Perfect. Where were you all?!

Kate"

Willie Gibsons Report
"It was John Coyle's stag weekend, but we still had time for this great race. John was wearing his pink fairy skirt as we headed off up the Coire na Tullaich, it was a fairly tough start but was runable until we hit the scree. I was trying to keep up with Spenco while watching Phill Davies, Paul Sheard and John disappearing into the distance.
At the top of the climb Nick MacDonald and Stevie Rawson (having climbed up curved ridge) were shouting us on and telling the Carnethies the best line. On the descent off the top Don Reid made to overtake but his foot slipped and he let out a yell, I asked if he was OK and he said "yes" so I carried on down tho the col and then down the tricky descent to the valley. Richard Shaw and Bruce Smith overtook me on the descent, I was too busy thinking of falling over to care.
the climb up the second Buachaille was rough but I overtook Bruce by the col and Murdo and Richard at the top. They soon passed me again on the descent and I was just behind Murdo as we passed Manny the marshal at the start of the boggy run. I pushed past Murdo and saw Richard in the distance, the hearing footsteps behind I thought Murdo was catching up. It was Dave Rodgers fresh from the Mournes last week who breezed past.
I enjoyed the boggy run in and managed to hold on to 8th place.What a great race
The Stag was third, one of the Best Men was first and the other was first Dog.

Willie G"