The opening event in the 2008 Buff SkyRunner World Series took place from Berga, Catalonia, Spain on Sunday at the Mountain Marathon of Berga.
This gruelling event over 37km involved an elevation gain of 2960m. Our experienced SkyRunner Andy Symonds placed 4th overall in the 2007 World Series and Andy has got his 2008 campaign of to a superb start placing 5th overall and leading GB runner in 3.31.32 at this opening event in the six race series.
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Well done to the Hillbillies who enjoyed a great day out at Ben Lomond. The weather was kind and the views were great.
26 Sandy Bennet M40 01:24:44
63 Judith Taylor F 01:36:43
86 Alison West F50 01:49:25
87 Garry Taylor M40 01:49:30
96 Neil Campbell M40 01:53:31
Full race results HERE
5 Harriers headed to Scotland’s most southerly MUNRO to compete in the Ben Lomond Hill race. The Taylor’s (us!) were joined by Sandy Bennet, Alison West and Neil Campbell. On the approach to Rowardennan, Loch Lomond was like a mill pond, the sun was shining brightly but the top of Ben Lomond was shrouded in heavy cloud as if saying, ” COME UP HERE, IF YOU DARE”
With all gathered for the 1pm start the sun dimmed it’s intensity but left a very muggy feel, almost as though thunder and heavy rain was about to appear. The horn went and the slog commenced. The first rise up through the woods then over the rock strewn paths splits everyone up into a very long conga. It is so strange to see the walkers watch in disbelief as you go by them and you can almost see the thought bubbles above their heads saying “YOU MUST BE MAD”.
The race covers 9 miles and the organisers take you off the easier tourist path on two occasions, just in case you start to enjoy yourself too much !!. Each route change took you up very steep grassy slopes rather than the zig zag path until you reached the summit cairn where the cloud had now cleared and the sun was shining. You also began thinking to yourself, “NOW I HAVE TO RUN DOWN NEARLY 3,200ft!!!”
On the way down Mr Taylor managed to go over on his ankle which brought tears to his eyes ( poor soul I hear you say!!!!)
All the 5 Harriers completed the event and first home in 1hr 24min 44secs was Sandy Bennet (26th place) followed in 63rd position and 3rd Female Senior in 1hr 36mins 43 secs was Mrs Taylor. Alison West having passed the hirpling Mr T was next in 1hr 49mins 25secs (86th) with Mr T just 5 secs behind in 1hr 49mins. 30secs (87th). Neil Campbell was 96th in 1hr 53mins 51secs.
Gaz & Jude
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Well done to all the Hillbillies who took part.
52 Sandy Bennett MV40 00:43:18
58 Nick Weir M 00:43:47
74 Judith Taylor F 00:45:14
104 Robbie Mackenzie MV40 00:47:03
149 Andrew Sim M 00:51:22
156 Tommie Lawlor MV50 00:51:46
166 Garry Taylor MV40 00:52:06
180 Alison West FV50 00:53:51
221 Neil Campbell MV40 00:59:33
Full results HERE
Pictures at the summit HERE
Pictures at the finish HERE
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On Saturday 7 Hillbillies made the trip up to Banchory for the Clachnaben Hill race.
It was worth the trip as Richie picked up third senior and Richie, Tommy and Kenny picked up the Mens Team Prize. Well done Guys.
We also got a smattering of spot prizes, some Grand Prix points and it was a great day for a run.
Some more photo’s of Clachnaben Hill Race courtesy of Scottish Hill Runners HERE.
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Well done to all the 47 Harriers who turned out yesterday for the Tinto Hill Race that has to be some sort of a record!! What a fitting tribute to George.
The results are here tinto-2007-results.pdf
As this was the last counter in the Hill Running Grand Prix Iain has updated the results on the main website http://www.carnegie-harriers.co.uk/
Photos before the start from Fabienne & Neil HERE
Photos at the Finish from Clodagh HERE
Even More photos from Fiona HERE
There is a great article and a good photo of Tommy battling with Angela Mudge on the Scottish Hill Runners website HERE
Race Report by Garry Taylor
TINTO Hill race 2007
Ladies and Gents. Saturday 10th November, 2007 was indeed a day to remember. We, as members of a great club mustered together to show how strong we can be when sadness is still around us. We were able to show to our friend George Murdoch how much we cared for him. I am also very sure that George would have been looking over us with his customary big smile.
I am sure the Tinto Hill race will never in its history have seen so many orange and green vests. Sunglasses should have been the order of the day as we dazzled all the other entrants.
47 Harriers on the start line, how good was that!! As a tribute to our Hill running captain, I am sure we did him proud.
Off the race started, up over narrow paths, jostling for ground to put your feet down on, running like startled sheep trying not to think of the torture ahead. The 246 racers moved into a long conga line. We got our own place to run and walk up and over the rocky paths and outcrops of the approach to Tinto. For those brave enough to look upwards the mist had already started to descend on the top making it look like a real moody moutain.
The biting cold wind was soon forgotten about as the lungs roared and the hearts pounded. It was a reasonable ascent but no matter where you looked you could still see how far it was to the top!!.
As the front runners hurtle towards you as speeds you can only imagine you could do on a mountain bike or a car you let yourself think, “IT CANNOT BE FAR TO THE TOP NOW” How wrong were many of us !!!!
At last the top was in sight and the thought of “HOW AM I GOING TO RUN BACK DOWN” coming into the minds you realise what a special breed real Hill Runners really are (MAD)
It is very warming when you see some of the clubs elite road runners doing so well on the ascent but funny how scared they looked as they attempted their descent.
In all another great day for the Harriers. Great runs by many but special mention to Tommy Lawrence, Judy Turner and Fabienne Thomson. Tommy showed how classy a runner he really is and how he can mix it with the best with a great time of 34.11. Judy Turner (39.19), running like a demon, making it to third position and beating some very good females and males on the way down and Fabienne winning first over 40 prize (45.36).
In all this race was a day out to remember for many reasons. I am sure we will have turned many peoples heads with so many vests shining brightly in the late afternoon sunshine.
To close, the tribute to GEORGE MURDOCH was absolutely fantastic.
Garry Taylor
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Carnegie’s Andy Symonds headed 124 runners to win Saturday’s Pentland Skyline Hill Race covering the 16 mile course with 6200ft of climbing in 2.31.38. Alasdair Anthony (Ochil Hill Runners) placed second in 2.33.04 and Grant Stewart (Edinburgh Athletic Club) was third in 2.34.39. Dougie McGarry was the only other Carnegie athlete taking part finishing 103rd in 4.07.02.
After recovering from an achilles injury which hampered the start of Andy Symond’s season he has went on to enjoy a superb year of running. Andy’s form has been excellent on both the Scottish hills and European mountains with success at the Lomonds of Fife, Ochil’s 2000 Race, Tour of Fife along with 4th place in the Buff SkyRunner World Series.
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I think Colin Reynolds was the only Hillbilly to complete Devils Beeftub. Steven King, Andy Hunter, Phil Smithard, Paul Hutton and Jim Small did Merrick on Saturday.
Results are HERE Results from Merrick
It is worth mentioning that Colin is the only Harrier to have completed enough events to count as a SHR championship finisher. Well done Colin.
Richie Cunningham was out in the hills over the weekend. Richie ran the High Peak 40 on Saturday, a circular 40 mile route starting in Buxton in the Peak District in Derbyshire, and taking in the Goyt Valley, Mam Tor and Tideswell Dale a mixture of road, trail and fell running. He finished in 9th place in a time of 6:43:21.
If you have any results you want posted just leave them as a comment and I will get them posted.
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Saturday 1st September – Ben Nevis Hill Race
Sandy Bennet placed a fine 53rd at the Ben Nevis Hill Race covering the route up and down Britain’s highest mountain in 1.52.38 and Fabienne Thompson finished in 2.38.30.
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Fresh from his recent victories in the Tour and Lomonds of Fife, Andy Symonds notched up his third consecutive win on Saturday at the Ochil 2000′s Hill Race.
The event organised by Ochil Hill Runners saw Andy lead the Carnegie men to team success covering the 18 mile course with 5000 feet of climbing in 3.00.31.Richie Cunningham ran well placing 14th in 3.38.25 and Dougie McGarry was 25th in 4.06.08 winning Carnegie the team award with 40 points. Jon McDonald completed the challenging course in 5.22.20 in 56th position.
The complete set of results can be found HERE.
