Packing a challenging 10km route in each host city, with tough and engaging obstacles every kilometre, you will pit your wits against fellow “Survival” competitors in a test of stamina, grit, speed and guts. Possibly the UK’s toughest obstacle course? Maybe. Possibly the UK’s most action-packed 10k. Maybe. The must-do events of this year? Definitely.

Find out more about Survival of the Fittest CLICK HERE

Congratulations to Tommy Lawrence and Alison West who are our 2008 Hill Running Grand Prix champions. Our popular series of hill races saw 46 club members take part in this year’s Grand Prix which featured 13 events with the best 7 to count. The opening event was back in February at the Carnethy 5 and it reached its conclusion at the Tinto Hill Race on Saturday.

Tommy Lawrence who has been in superb form on the hills this year won the men’s title with 346 points while Alison West won the ladies title for the 9th time in the past fourteen years with 298 points.

There was a tremendous battle between Steven King and Kenny MacDonald for 2nd and 3rd position and after their 7 counting events they were both tied on 341 points.
Looking at their 8th best counting event they were both still tied together but Steven edged ahead on their 9th best result by a mere one point to claim 2nd spot overall with Kenny securing 3rd. Andy Sim enjoyed an excellent year on the hills placing 4th on 327 points and Colin Reynolds placed 5th on 326 points.

Well done to Allan MacAulay who won the M50 award with 317 points (6th overall) and to Neil Campbell who won the M40 award with 222 points (8th overall).

Our ladies club captain Fabienne Thompson was in great form on the Scottish hills placing 2nd female overall with 250 points and Gail Murdoch excelled finishing 3rd lady with 145 points. Congratulations to Morna Fleming who wins the F40 award with 137 points (4th overall).

The hill running awards will be presented at the King Malcolm Hotel, Dunfermline on Sunday 14th December at our annual awards evening.

If you enjoyed being out in the hills and would like to do more of that this year do yourself a favour and join Scottish Hill Runners.

It is only £8 for the year. For this membership fee you get a range of benefits including:

• A regular newsletter (by post or email).
• An annual journal (by post).
• Public liability insurance protection (including when acting as a race organiser).
• A comprehensive Race Calendar (including highland games races) (by post).
• The website.
• Accurate up-to-date information on all aspects of hill racing, training, long distance challenges and non-competitive hill running in Scotland.
• Sponsorship and support of many races.
• Opportunities for group travel and accommodation to selected international events.
• The open Scottish Hill Runners Championship, contested over six races, with the best four to count. These must include at least one from each distance category.
• A clear policy of encouraging and defending open access to hill races throughout Scotland. We welcome your views and contributions, whether you are a member of Scottish Hill Runners or not.
• An annual prize giving and social event at the end of the season.

For more information go to the SHR website at http://www.shr.uk.com/HowToJoin.aspx

You know it makes sense.

Well done to Pauline who bought a ticket from Davie Atkin at the Tinto Hill race. She guessed closest to Davies finishing time in the Everest Marathon and has won herself a bottle of Champagne.

Well done to Davie for completing this tough event. Result below

Place 36.        David Atkin                                7.13.51             GB                  Vet 50

Davie sent along a picture of Everest and the brown dog that followed him during the race as he thought it was more photogenic.

There will be a Boxing Day Club Run at 10am from Dunfermline Academy of Sport.

This will be an easy pace, social run with re-grouping and will go down to Rosyth along to Pattiesmuir across to Limekilns around the loop and back.

The total distance will be around 6 miles and is a an excellent way to burn off those excess Christmas calories.

Meet in the car park at Dunfermline Academy of Sport ready to set off for 10am.

If you would like to contact us just give me a phone on 01383 622612 or

email me on neil<AT>namaste.demon.co.uk (replace <AT> with @)

We now have a new Captain in Geaoge Murdoch. George have been very helpful and supportive over the years and has been a real champion for hill running. I am sure the success of the Hillbillies will be maintained under his stewardship.

Well done George.

 Please do not post personal details that you do not wish to be shared with the world. e.g your home address, your mobile or phone number etc.

On this point if anyone is arranging a run or meeting for a race please post a central point such as a sports centre, car park etc. and not your own house address.

On another point please do not post or use the club email list to advise of ad-hoc runs that are on club nights without checking with the “committee”.  We have come to an arrangement that the club is together on Tuesday nights and if we are doing hill training runs under the club name we will be doing them on Thursdays.

As a Club we have a duty of care to our members and any activity that is done in the clubs name is done responsibly and safely.

This is not intended to stop any other types of training.  If you wish to do something different on club nights that is fine just contact the people you wish to train with directly by email or phone rather than posting it to the blog or using the club email list.

End of Sermon.