Saturday 5th July - Dollar Hill Race

The Lairig Ghru Race lived up to its usual reputation of uncertain weather ranging from baking heat to wind and rain during the course of the event. No hail stones were reported which can only be a plus.

Check out Phil’s FULL report HERE

On Saturday Andrew and Neil headed off to Arrochar for the SHR Long Classics series race, The Arrochar Alps.

This is a great race that takes in 4 Munros and if you are not ascending you are descending.

We were treated to a “selection” of weather and being able to navigate was essential as there were a few parts of the course where there were no marked routes and you could hardly see your hand in front of your face.

Results

Photos HERE

Link to SHR full report, results and more photos HERE

The Mull Hill Race is an SHR counter on the 19th of July. Andy has been in touch with the race organiser, John Coyle, who has given us this information about travel plans for the Mull Hill Race.

“The Race will be about 1200 so there is time to get the ferry and get back on time for the 1700 to Oban. I will pick people up by minibus if they book in advance. I’ll keep you informed when I get the final details on the Carnethy site.”

Details now on the carnethy site at http://www.carnethy.com/ri_mullmonsterette.htm#JuneTechnorati Profile

Seven Hillbillies made the trek down to Dumfries and Galloway for the Durisdeer Hill race. Tommy L , Steve K, Kenny M, Andy S, Alison W, Neil C and Sandy B.

Gregor was shouting, “What took you so long!”

We were rewarded by great weather and a well organised race, new course records with a great feed at the end. Perhaps a theme emerging here. Thanks to Adam Anderson of Carnethy the race organiser for a great race and loads of cakes.

Race Profile (click for larger image)

The registration and cake eating were both in an old church and the latter sitting amongst the headstones of the graveyard. Quite symbolic.

There was a record race entry of 300. Normally it is a much smaller field.

Some Photos from Tommy HERE

I don’t have full results yet. Winners HERE

Thanks to Chris Upson & SHR we have a whole bunch of photos HERE

Full Carnegie results soon.

What is Steve King thinking? HERE

Answers in the comments section

The Durisdeer Hill Race takes place on Saturday 14th June and is the third counter in the 2008 SHR Championships. The race is 10.5 miles with 3800ft of climbing.

Entries are £5.00 and close on Saturday 7th June.

An entry form can be downloaded HERE.

The race is also the 5th counting event in our Hill Running Grand Prix and a good turnout of club members is requested.

The Taylors (Garry and Judy) travelled the long way to the Borders town of Kirk Yetholm to take part in this years race, which was being run anti clockwise.  Despite leaving home at 10am with bright sunshine and slightly clouded skys they were soon in the low cloud, heavy rain of the Borders.  On arrival it was very apparent that many other people must have left their homes in the same conditions, NOT expecting NO VISIBILITY, VERY COLD, WET and WINDY as this years race was entered by 66 competitors, more than double of last year !!!!

Richie Cunningham brought his tally to 317 miles of racing in 2008 so far when finishing 28th out of 245 starters in 3.23.39 at the Dudon Valey Fell Race on Sunday.

The race is one of the Long Classic series of English fell races, covering 20 miles around the head of the Duddon Valley in the lake district, with 6000ft of climb over Harter, Hardknott, Little Stand, Swirl How, Dow Crag, White Pike and Caw.

The weather was hot and sunny for most of the race making for tough going, although this meant the ground conditions were perfect for fast running. Richie still had some of the effects of Jura in his legs on some of the long climbs and he admits to starting to feel it in the last few miles but all in all had a very good race.

Photos HERE

After Jura last weekend I was not to sure about this race and only made up my mind to run it on Friday. I headed up the A9 on Friday night and got there just as the sun was going down.

Saturday morning looked a bit misty and as the morning went on it burnt off to leave a really sunny day. Two weekends with great weather. People will think I’ve been away on my holidays with the tan I’m building up.

Here is the race profile from my Garmin so you can see what it looks like. (click on the thumbnail to see full size)

I really enjoyed the race which has some tough climbing and equally tough descending. It might not be as long as some races but I can certainly feel it in my legs today.

Best of all they laid on a massive spread of food at the end, worth travelling up just for that.

Thanks to Ross & Highland Hill Runners for putting on a well organised race.

I would certainly recommended it for next year. Let’s see if we can get a few more Hillbillies up there.

Photos HERE

Despite conditions being akin to the AMERICAN WAREWOLF in LONDON the Taylor’s travelled to Crieff to take part in the race from the town square, up the “KNOCK” and around the forest a few times with the occasional steep climbs thrown in just to make things more interesting.

This years race was extended to just over the 5 miles due to forest work being carried out. The steep start then the long road section settles you in before you hit the paths to the KNOCK which is reached fairly quickly.

The mist made some sections in the forest quite interesting as visibility was severely reduced and at times a head torch would have helped !!

Judy ran out the comfortable ladies winner in a time of 36.14 whilst Garry returned home in 43.14.

From our roving reporter Gary T