As forecast, the freezing rain stopped just in time (but not the wind!) and the sun came out to shine on a great day’s racing. With wet snow, lots of mud and a strong wind, it was not a day for fast times and so it proved with only 28 of the field of 498 under the hour.
What a race it was at the front. The first four were the winners of the last four years, so all knew the feeling of crossing the line first! For most of the race the battle at the front was headed by last year’s winner Finlay Wild (Lochaber) and the 2012 winner Orlando Edwards (HBT), with Orlando pulling away on the top half of Carnethy only for Finlay to almost, but not quite, close the gap on the descent. These two broke away from the chasing pack of 2011 winner Tom Owens (Shettleston), 2010 winner (plus plenty of other years) Rob Jebb (Bingley) and Andrew Fallas, the first Carnethy runner. Kenny Richmond (Shettleston) won the Over 40 category for the fourth year running, from the 2001 race winner, Jim Davis (Borrowdale), an impressive result.
The women’s race was equally close, with Sarah McCormack (Moorfoots), who has been second the last two years behind Angela Mudge (Carnethy), taking advantage of Angela not starting, to record a fine win, just doing enough on the descent of Carnethy to keep in front of Charlotte Morgan (Carnethy), who took second. Shileen O’Kane made her journey from Northern Ireland worthwhile by taking the Over 40s award, though the first overseas runner and so winner of the Abernethy Quaich was Samuele Poletti from Switzerland.
Hunters Bog Trotters recorded their first team win for quite a few years in the men’s team, but there was a real battle for second place eventually won by Shettleston, as three teams, Shettleston, Carnethy and Helm Hill Runners, were separated by only 5 points. Hunters Bog Trotters also claimed the women’s team on countback as they recorded the same total as Carnethy, but got their counters in first.
Two people were awarded a Quaich this year for completing 21 races, Des Crowe(Dundee) and Sandy Bennet (Unattached), while Jimmy Jardine (Lochaber) completed his 44th race, i.e. he still has never missed one, which is probably the most impressive result of all!
Article by winner Orlando Edwards here.
Results and Team Results. All previous results are on the race web page here.
Digby’s photos here, Bob Marshalls’ here, and some pics from Charlie Ramsay here. Cammy’s photos here. Allan Gebbie’s here, Matthew Curry’s Photos here, Nick Schierloh’s here
Mary Lye’s interesting blog report of the race is here.
Luke Foss (Law & District) had a clear win in the Scald Law Junior Race from Tom Harris (Fife), with Charlie Burnett (Carnethy) being fastest in the ‘To the Col’ Fun Run.Scald Law Results