July 9, 2008

Dollar Hill Race

Saturday 5th July - Dollar Hill Race

Carnegie hit the heights at Dollar Hill Race
Nine members of Carnegie Harriers contested Saturday’s Dollar Hill Race which incorporated the Scottish Athletics Hill Running Championships. Congratulations to our men’s team of Tommy Lawrence (7th in 1.21.44), Richie Cunningham (22nd in 1.30.22), Kenny MacDonald (28th in 1.33.21) and Steven King (29th in 1.33.28) who won the men’s Scottish Championship team award over this demanding 9.4 mile course. Very well done to Alison West (1.58.07) who excelled to win the Gold medal in the Ladies senior veteran category and to Fabienne Thomson (1.47.06) who won bronze in the F40 age group.

Dollar Hill Race Report - Courtesy of Phil Smithard

SCOTTISH HILL CHAMPIONS for the Club

LADIES SENIOR VET - 1st - ALISON WEST

CARNEGIE HARRIERS - 1st - MENS TEAM

LADIES VET - 3rd - FABIENNE THOMPSON

All did the club proud today with 6 of the 9 CH starters gaining Scottish Medals. Alison (I’m glad to be back on the hills) West had a sound and happy run for Gold and Fabienne (Only one fall today and onto soft grass for a change) Thompson to gain Bronze. Tommy Lawrence, Richie (Hi, how are you doing?) Cunningham, Kenny (These hills are my back garden) MacDonald and Stevie King all ran well taking the Scottish Championship Men’s team prize over the tough Dollar Hill Race course.

Sadly the four ‘team’ guys had beetled off home for a shower and it was left to the supporting cast to collect the gold medals and all those bottles of beer, some of which may not make the distance (well, there are costs you know). Lochaber AC took the Ladies team Prize.

The weather was good in the main with an easterly wind and some rain that gave good support towards Andrew Gannell Hill, but a little tougher on the descent from Kingseat and the run over Bank Hill.

Nine CHs toe’d the line and once again the route avoided Buzzard Wood and went up Dollar Glen with Jethro Lennox leading on the first climb and then throughout the day to take the winner’s rostrum. Tommy was not too far distant on the first climb out of the wood being just off the back of the chasing group of three in eighth position. swapping places on the course he did very well to gain another place over the piece to finish a well deserved seventh. Following in short order through the field were Stevie, Richie, Kenny, Colin (who cycled up from Dumps as a warm-up), Fabienne, Andy (with big smile and lots of encouragement from the spectotors - if it’s tough, you can give up now!), Allan (you’re doing fine, there’s hundreds behind you —- but there’s millions ahead of you) and happy Alison. The long line of runners (?) wended their way up Saddle Hill by a different route again this year selecting one that is probably very near optimum and avoiding most of the bracken.

The supporting cast just about made it along Bank Hill to see Jethro whizz down from Kingseat and vault the gate at the bottom - very impressive, but not to be outdone, Tommy again scored an impressive 9.4 for artistic interpretation for his vault - a one handed one - that really should have had a prize all of it’s own. Changed positions (same as at the finish) showed in the team order for the club as they came down the hill, so the ups and downs of the route had certainly taken their toll while no doubt the tough races of last weekend and midweek had probably depleted some of the normal energy reserves.

Supporting cast exited off Bank Hill directissima to try to catch some of the team finishing, but turned into a busted flush as the one in the yellow jacket got buzzed yet again by the residents of Buzzard Wood and the one on the red jacket couldn’t bear the thought of another attack and bloodied head, so returned via Stirling.

Cakes and goodies afterwards were excellent and worth the trip out in themselves.

Results below and am advised that intermediate splits by marshals were taken and should appear on the results website in due course.

The course has varied over the years with short and long versions, detours round the playing fields when the pavilion was under repair and the two routes via Buzzard Wood and the Dollar Glen, so PBs are difficult to judge. However, the 2006/7/8 races were via the Glen and on that grounds, everyone got a PB and I think that Tommy, Stevie, Fabienne, Andy and Colin were first timers so they’ve set themselves targets for next year.

Individual

1 Jethro lennox ??

7 Tommy Lawrence 01:21.44 5th MS

22 Richie Cunningham 01:30.22 13th MS

28 Kenny MacDonald 01:33.21 6th MV

29 Stevie King 01:33.28 18th MS

74 Fabienne Thompson 01:47.06 3rd FV

75 Andy Sim 01:48.08 29th MS

80 Colin Reynolds 01:51.12 31th MS

87 Alan MacAullay 01:55.09 8th MSV

91 Alison West 01:58.07 1st FSV

104 Finishers