Goatfell Hill Race 2004
Robin Haynes

After a shower, several mugs of tea and some very much needed sandwiches and cake, I jumped on my bike and peddled wearily over to Lamlash, only to discover that Derek had hitched a lift back to Brodick in the ambulance I passed en route. In the hospital, I was told he “had cleaned up nicely” whilst the doctor was still with Jane who was “in good spirits”. This struck me as being a poor indicator of Jane’s well being- she always seems to be smiling and cheerful! Sorry to miss you there, Jane- I had to dash back up the road to see if the other wounded party needed to go home.
I caught up with the other wounded party sitting rather forlornly outside the tent in Glen Rosa, drinking tea and clutching a note about head injuries the hospital had given him. Miraculously, he had not broken any teeth or his nose, was not concussed and had been deemed to have enough blood left to allow him to be discharged. No stitches either- he had literally been glued back together. He did seem a bit miffed that the medical view was that he shouldn’t drink for 24 hours though. In Brodick, we met up with Dougie Shiel who told us that Jane’s injuries merited urgent surgery and she was being airlifted off the island. Sitting in the evening sun, with the damage partly hidden behind a beerglass, Derek ruefully reflected that he had, in a perverse way, been rather lucky. Jane, many folk were asking after you and I know I am not alone in wishing you a speedy recovery.

The race……well Ronnie Gallagher won having pulled past Dave Cummins on the final road section, first Carnethy was Adam Anderson in 4th and first (of very few….where were you all?) lady was Alice Scriven in 1.43.04. Many thanks to Paul Emsley and Arran Runners who made this an excellent event (with the possible exception of making us run round the rugby pitch at the beginning and the end)- it is a big shame the rescue arrangements were needed.