Four Hillbillies made the trip to Ben Venue for the new hill race. Welcome back to Tiger who was running his first race in two years.
Due to the high winds, 70 mph and the fact that the mountain rescue guys could not stand up on the ridge it was decided to run an alternative route this year.
It was a good and well organised race with a good feed at the end which is always welcome.
Roll on next year and we can run the full course.
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5 Hillbillies decided not to go ” Doon the water” on the club coach. Instead they opted to head for the hills at Comrie for the annual Comrie Hill Relay. For their efforts they were rewarded with great weather, a really enjoyable race and a BBQ with a cricket match put on for good measure.
Neil Campbell ran leg one which was a well marked trail route up through the forest on to the hills to be met by Tom Bowie and Allan Macauley. Tom and Allan did the only real Hill leg of the relay picking up quite a few places in the downhill section. Paul Davis took on the longest section of the route.
Although it was in the hills Paul said it could have easily been run in trail shoes. For the last section after 3.5 hrs of race time they had a mass start where Campbell Reid ran the Carnegie anchor leg. Again this leg could easily be run in trail shoes and is reasonably well marked. Campbell finished well to the applause of the crowd sitting on the bank eating burgers and cake.
A big thanks to the organisers for putting on such a good race with a great feed at the end. Carnegie was put to shame by Becon, another Fife club, who managed to get three teams out. Let’s see if we can do better next year.
The course is really only 3 trail legs and one “proper” hill leg so we only need two hill runners per team and 3 road/trail runners. Anyone who has done the Devils Burden could easily do this.
From race organiser Phil Mestecky:
“Well done to Ochils men’s and women’s teams who won just about everything at this years Comrie Relay. The men’s team set a new course record of 3:17:12 and picked up all 4 leg winners prizes with Prasad Prasad and Ross Houston setting new leg records on legs 1 and 4 respectively. Corstorphine finished strongly to overhaul Strathearn and fend off Carnethy for second place.
Ochil Ladies held off the challenge of the home club to win the women’s competition by 5 minutes. First vets team was Carnethy with Beacon retaining their Mixed team title.
The weather was excellent and the free barbecue went down a treat with all the teams that sat around in the sunshine enjoying the cricket match put on for their entertainment.
All race proceeds went to Pancreatic Cancer Research in memory of Strathearn’s Simon Wake who died at the edn of October last year.
Thanks to all organizers and helpers on the day.”
Congratulations to Carnegie club member Andy Symonds who along with his Saab Salomon Outdoor Team mate Tom Owens are the winners of the 5th Gore-Tex® Transalpine Run. The eight stage event began on Saturday 5th September in Germany and involved the teams of paired runners completing a 238km course with 15,422m of ascent. After leaving Germany the runners ran an incredibly challenging course across the Alps in Austria and Switzerland before finishing in Italy. Andy and Tom’s winning time of 24 hours 02 mins 47 secs was a course record and almost two hours ahead of the 2nd placed team. A breakdown of the inividual stages can be found below; Andy Symonds got his 8 day Gore-Tex® Transalpine Run of to the perfect start on Saturday 5th September by winning the opening stage from Oberstdorf in Germany to Lech am Arlberg in Austria. Running with team mate Tom Owens (Shettleston Harriers) they covered the 35.03km course complete with a vertical ascent of 2,543m in 3 hours 35 mins 09 secs. The 2nd placed team finished in 3.49.56. Andy’s race report from Stage One can be found HERE. Sunday’s Stage 2 involved 23km of running with a 2014m climb across the Austrian Alps from Lech am Arlberg to St.Anton. Andy and Tom continued their impressive form from the opening day by winning Stage Two in 2 hours 39 mins 54 secs to extend their overall lead. Andy’s race report from Stage Two can be found HERE. Andy extended his overall lead by winning Stage 3 from St.Anton to Galtür in a course record of 3 hours 43 mins 56 secs. This 33km stage involved 2437m of climbing. Andy and his team mate Tom Owens now hold a 50 minute advantage moving into Day 4. You can read Andy’s Stage 3 report HERE. Stage 4 on Tuesday featured 39.9km of running with a 2339m climb from Galtür in Austria to Scuol in Switzerland. This was the longest stage of the event and Andy and Tom maintained their excellent form, winning the stage in 3 hours 51 mins 25 secs. You can read Andy’s Stage 4 report HERE. Stage 5 on Wednesday involved the competitors tackling a 963m uphill race over 6.19km. Andy and Tom both decided to take this short stage at an easier tempo before the distance increases over the next three days. The pair still ran extremely well finishing 2nd overall on the day and only ten seconds behind the stage winners. You can read Andy’s Stage 5 report by clicking HERE. Stage 6 on Thursday saw Andy and Tom get back to winning ways by covering the 37.02km (1332m climb) route from Scuol (Switzerland) across to Mals im Vinschgau (Italy) in 3 hours 9 mins 14 secs. The second placed team were a further 6 minutes behind and Andy’s team now have a lead of around 60 minutes with two stages remaining. You can read Andy’s Stage 6 report HERE. Friday’s penultimate race saw Andy and Tom break the Stage 7 record by over 40 minutes by covering the 34.51km course (2004m climb) in 3 hours 34 mins 46 secs. The route from Mals to Schlanders im Vinschgau featured the highest elevation of the event with the competitors running across a high alpine pass at 3012m. You can read Andy’s Stage 7 report HERE. The final stage took place over a 28km course (1817m climb) from Schlanders to Latsch im Vinschgau in Italy. Andy and Tom maintained their incredible form to win the stage in 2 hours 46 mins 51 secs. Videos from each stage of the event can be viewed HERE and the event website HERE.
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Ben Nevis Hill Race profile 2009
Seven Hillbillies made the trip to Fort William for the annual Ben Nevis Hill race. To say the conditions were poor would be an undestatement. It was raining and fairly misty in the park before we started. As we waited to be safety checked we were told that there was 25mph winds at the top and a wind chill factor of -3 degrees C. Nothing like boosting our enthusiasm.
Steven praying for better weather
Race Route
Clinbing up was just one long slog through the rain and wind with the burn crossings made more interesting due to the amount of water rushing down them. Once at the top and thoroughly chilled we had the fun of getting back down again. This is always an interesting part of the race and this year was no different. Well yes it was as the rain had created mud flows in the scree fields and the grassy bank was as soft and slippery as it had ever been. Passing down there was like carnage with bodies strewn all over the place as they slipped and slided down towards the burn.
Great fun and a very memorable race.
Still grim at the end
Race route & conditions
Results
Sandy Bennet 1:59:46
Steven King 2:22:52
Judith Turner 2:32:48
Tom Bowie 2:36:53
Neil Campbell 2:38:52
Andy Sim 2:48:55
Alison West 2:49:31
Full results CLICK HERE
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Richie Cunningham places 24th at Mont Blanc Ultra
After last year’s success at the Ultra Trail du Mont-Blanc, Richie Cunningham returned to compete in the Ultra Trail Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie in the Mont Blanc area.
This gruelling event attracted an international field of 416 ultra athletes who covered the 105 kilometre route complete with 6700 metres of ascent. Richie placed an impressive 24th overall in 17 hours 16 minutes and 8 seconds.
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Seven Hillbillies contested the Ochil 2000′s Hill Race where Andy Symonds placed 4th overall in 2.52.48. Scott Bradley covered the 18 mile route (5000ft) in 3.10.58 finishing 15th and Judy Turner was the 9th lady (55th overall) in 3.52.57. Fabienne Thompson finished 10th lady (66th overall) in 4.01.01 and Tom Bowie placed 2nd M60 (67th overall) in 4.02.09. Dougie McGarry finished 74th in 4.08.22 and Colin Reid was 75th in 4.08.40.
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Alison West added to her recent Bog and Burn title winning an award in the F50 Category at the Lomonds of Fife Hill Race. Along with Lynne Bennet and Morna Fleming the ladies also scooped the women’s team prize.Ten Harriers in all completed the challenging route, made more interesting by gusting headwinds for the run back towards West Lomond. Derek Cassells made a great hill running debut in a Carnegie vest, finishing 17th in 1.56.44. Tommy Lawrence placed 25th in 2.03.23 and Tom Bowie finished 2nd M60 in 2.11.04 up the field.
| Pos | Runner | Cat | Time |
| 17 | Derek Cassell | M | 01:56:44 |
| 25 | Tommy Lawrence | M | 02:03:23 |
| 39 | Tom Bowie | M60 | 02:11:04 |
| 51 | Allan MacAulay | M50 | 02:16:07 |
| 55 | Lynne Bennet | F | 02:19:15 |
| 58 | Phil Smithard | M60 | 02:20:39 |
| 68 | Neil Campbell | M40 | 02:31:22 |
| 71 | Andrew Sim | M40 | 02:35:07 |
| 72 | Alison West | F50 | 02:36:24 |
| 79 | Morna Fleming | F50 | 03:04:36 |
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The 2009 Bog and Burn Hill Race Series reached its conclusion on Wednesday evening at the Caerketton Hill Race from Hillend Ski Centre, Edinburgh. Andrew Wright placed 3rd on the night at Caerketton covering the short but sharp hill race in a very fast 13.44. This result ensured a 2nd place finish overall for Andrew based on his four best results from the ten race series.
The Bog and Burn series of ten midweek hill races began back in April at the Whangie Whizz in Carbeth and incorporated hill races at Kaim, Dumyat, Kilpatricks, Cort-ma Law, Ben Sheann, Red Moss, Maddy Moss, Turnhouse and finally Caerketton.
Andrew’s consistent form saw him place 4th at the Whangie Whizz, Kaim, Dumyat and Red Moss, 3rd at Caerketton and 2nd at Bean Sheann, Maddy Moss and Turnhouse Hill Races.
HBT’s Murray Strain won the overall title after winning three events and placing 2nd at one event.
Congratulations to Carnegie’s Alison West who was the leading F50 at the Caerketton Hill Race in a time of 21.08 and wins her age group title in the race series.
Andy Sim is currently 10th overall in the Long Classics Hill Race Series with three events remaining.
The 11th event in our Hill Running Grand Prix takes place at the popular Lomonds of Fife Race at 1pm this Sunday (16th August) from Strathmiglo Village Hall. Entries are £5 and the race is 11 miles with 3400 feet of climbing.
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Fergus and Calum were both competing in the Durness Highland Gathering Hill Race again this year.
Fergus ran the 4+ miles in 28.50 taking first place in the 16 & under category, lifting the trophy in the process. He can now add his name to the old shield. Calum had his first year in the open event and ran to a worthy 3rd place in a time of 25.25.
The event is really a multi-terrain race with one big climb up to the top of the cliffs.
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Andrew Wright placed 2nd overall at Wednesday’s Turnhouse Hill Race covering the 3 mile course (1100 feet) in 26.35. Steven King in 28th position (31.23) was the next Carnegie runner to finish and Judith Turner placed 4th lady in 31.47.
Alan Manson finished 50th in 33.32 and David Greig was 76th in 36.34. Carnegie’s hill running captain Andy Sim placed 80th in 36.50 and Allan Macaulay was 85th in 37.58. Well done to Alison West who was the leading F50 in 38.07 and Morna Fleming who timed at 45.23.
The race was won by Murray Strain (HBT) in 25.05 and there were 116 finishers.
37 club members have taken part in our Hill Running Grand Prix so far this year and after 9 events Alan Manson leads the men with 309 points followed by Andrew Wright who has 297 points. Peter Simpson is currently 3rd overall with 287 points. Alison West with 390 points leads the ladies with Morna Fleming in 2nd place with 329 points and Fabienne Thompson, 3rd on 249 points.
The 10th event in our Hill Running Grand Prix is on Sunday 9th August at the Glenshee 9.
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