As Scotland basked in fabulous weather for a change, and folk headed north and west for Highlander’s, Helensburgh’s, Trotternish’s, Orchy’s, etc, a group of 8 Carnethy’s headed south to the Yetholm Hill Race on Sunday. I travelled with Mike Andrew who was planning for a MV50 win to add to his Borders series tally and was quietly hoping Stewart Whitlie would have taken the kids to the Meadows Fayre or the beach. Unfortunately for Mike, the car next ours in the car park contained Stewart with family.
A relatively small field of about 65 folk paid our £5 and sweated around a great wee anti-clockwise route of tops and green hills for just under 13km and just over 750m of climbing. The running was a mix of great green trods and dry paths with a few potholed areas and rushes to slip through. I stripped off to get some sun and did pass a few folk but noticed on the steep hot climb that took us to the top of The Curr and the turning point, that the winning time would already have already finished (note to self: must try harder). From the turn for home, the route descended the Pennine Way to the East of the Halter Burn on a long and fast descent of Steer Rig with one last climb over White Law that took us down to the finish.
A youthful HBT Doug Tullie won in 68:31, Barefoot Brian Marshall came 3rd. Carnethy’s got a few prizes although Mike went home sulking a bit over his lost points from Stewart, consoled by 3 beers, a water bottle and not having to drive.
Stewart Whitlie –1st MV50, 2nd overall
Mike Andrew – 2nd MV 50, 6th overall
Sally Best – 2nd female
Carnethy Men – 1st team (as Neil Pendrich (13th) and Steve Simkin (29th) had left, I took the beer (36th)!)
A couple bailed out due to injury and sickness, getting lifts off from the Borders MRT – who gratefully received a worthy donation of ~£350 from the event.
Photos courtesy of Mike Andrew
Mark Hartree
It was a beautiful day in the borders for my first hill race of the year – a carefully chosen Kirk Yetholm. Inspired by Nicola Dunn’s report from a couple of years back, I was pleased to see a very small female turnout, thus maximising my chances of finishing in the top 10 women. This was easily achieved as only 8 women stood at the start line. Six Carnethies lined up for the off, with excellent results: Stewart Whittlie was 2nd overall and first MV50; Mike Andrew was 6th and 2nd MV50; and I was 40th and 2nd female. Woohoo!! Very sorry to see Nicola turn her ankle coming off the first hill (and no I didn’t trip her up in my eagerness for a prize). Get well soon Nicola. The chaps won the team prize too (joint with Moorfoots), and over £300 was raised for mountain rescue. A great effort all round.
Here are the links to some photos taken by Steve, and the full results.
Sally Wastling