Carnegie Hillbillies - Hill Running in Scotland

Turnhouse Hill Race

Neil — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:07:19 +0000

4 Hillbillies, Alison, Kenny, Paul & Neil, turned out on Wednesday evening to take part in another of the SHR Bog & Burn series. The Turnhouse race is a short sharp hill race with a good finish.

It is a good race for next year if anyone fancies a short fast hill race on fairly easy terain.

Race Profile

Thanks to our temporary photographer Colin R for the photos below.

Results

36 Kenny MacDonald v40 00:33:18
48 Paul Hutton m 00:37:17
50 Alison West fv50 00:37:29
55 Neil Campbell v40 00:38:27

Thanks to SHR for the following

Full Results HERE

More Photos HERE

The Mull Monsterette - A great day out

Neil — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:37:29 +0000

Five Hillbillies made the treck up to Mull for the Mull Monsterette, Part of the SHR championships. It was a great day that was well organised considering the logistics needed to get so many runners registered, onto the hill and back safely. The weather was clear and very windy on the tops. A great race to practice your climbing as it just went up and up.

Before

After

A slide show of photos HERE

Race Profile

Carnegie Results

Position Time Name Category
22 02:06:25 Tommy Lawrence m
28 02:08:37 Sandy Bennet mv40
65 02:39:53 Andrew Sim m
82 02:56:55 Neil Campbell mv40
83 02:57:56 Alison West f50

Full Results HERE

flickr photos

Maddy Moss Hill Race

Neil — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:46:42 +0000

A great turnout of Hillbillies was seen last night. I think there was 15 or more including the Ladies (3).

Great running conditions and a good field for this short, sharp midweek race.

Here are the Carnegie results

	Pos	Runner	Cat	Time
1	24	Sandy Bennet	M40	00:59:43
2	35	Steven King	M	01:01:59
3	54	Kenny Macdonald	M40	01:04:27
4	62	Nick Weir	M	01:05:06
5	71	Kate McKinnon	F	01:07:31
6	80	Colin Reynolds	M	01:09:38
7	86	Andrew Sim	M	01:10:39
8	95	Paul Hutton	M	01:14:05
9	96	Alison West	F50	01:14:08
10	101	Allan MaCauley	M50	01:14:55
11	106	Campbell Reid	M	01:16:33
12	110	Neil Campbell	M40	01:17:48
13	113	James Small	M40	01:18:25
14	116	Paul Davies	M40	01:18:46
15	133	Morna Fleming	F50	01:39:07

More photos HERE

More Photos from SHR HERE

Full results HERE

Alva Games Hill Race

Neil — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:00:56 +0000

This 1mile race with 1200ft of near vertical ascent through bracken and gorse attracted a Games record of 65 runners. The now typical summers day (breezy and cold) meant the narrow paths may be more congested than usual so the “get away from the track” and onto the start of the hill was going to be more important.

The starters gun fired and off the field went. Judy hoping to defend the BOFRA title she won last year keeping all the other females in her “sights” and me hoping it was not going to be as bad as it was last year.(So much for positive thinking at this stage) The lap around the games track then the “LOUP” over the park wall taking you along the road to the start of the hill got the large field almost into single file.

The going was tough as this weeks rain had made the paths very wet and slippy. Once over the fence at the golf club the only way is up. Although initially breezy and cool we both very quickly warming up!! The struggle to the summit seems like forever and near to the top it is so steep you are using hands to pull the grass (saves you falling downwards too!) to get you up where the mind wants you to go but the legs are struggling to agree!!!!!

Judy was only some 10yds behind the eventual race winner at the summit however just after reaching the marker she heard a loud crack after going over badly on her left ankle, which saw her lose ground on the descent. I am sure you can imagine how bad it is to come down with two good feet ( This year we both also wore padded cycling shorts to stop grass and bracken going into places its not supposed to!!!!)

She continued on and finished in a PB of 26.52 some 3.16 quicker than last year despite the ankle problem. She still managed 2nd lady. I managed to survive the descent in one piece and finished in a PB of 33.31, 1.29 quicker.

At the end the First Aid staff were in full swing as it appears as though the conditions had taken its toll on many of the competitors. Judy required their help and indeed that too of the Queen Margaret A&E on Sun morning. Nothing broken but very painful torn ligaments diagnosed.

Here’s to the 2009 race and hopefully a few more Harriers being there. Grand Prix event maybe??

Garry & Judy Taylor

Alva Games Hill Race

Neil — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:20:22 +0000

Hi Guys,

Alva Games hill race is on tomorrow for those not having anything on. A torturous 1 mile, almost vertical with a fair bit of scrambling included and then some sledging back down on rear end (recommend cycle shorts or close fitting shorts as bracken and grass has a tendancy to go where it is not supposed to.) Race start around 4pm and is free. Entry to games, which start at 1pm is £5. Best to enter before 3pm and this allows you to watch how it should be done by juniors!! This race alway attracts around 30 from England as it is a BOFRA event. Prize money good too.

Lets see some more bright vests there other than Judy and I

Garry

THE LAW BREAKER HILL RACE

Neil — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:15:00 +0000

THE LAW BREAKER HILL RACE

Carnegie Harriers in association with Run Ecosse are pleased to announce that a new hill race will take place in the Ochil’s this Boxing Day. The race which is the idea of club member and Run Ecosse owner Andrew Wright is called The Law Breaker and will take place at 11am on Friday 26th December from Tillicoultry. The route will follow a 5km course with an ascent of 594 metres from Tillicoultry Glen to the summit of The Law and back. Race entries will be taken on the day from 9am at the Centenary Hall, Hamilton Street, Tillicoultry and awards will be presented in all categories. The race website can be found HERE and we hope that there will be a good turnout at our new event. Further details will be announced shortly. Run Ecosse stock top products for runners, triathletes and orienteers. The shop is located at 202 Grahams Road, Falkirk and their website can be found HERE.

Dollar Hill Race

Neil — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:24:08 +0000

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

Team

1 Carnegie Harriers 1st Men

Lairig Ghru Race, Braemar

Neil — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:43:11 +0000

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

Training for Mountain Running.

Neil — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 21:51:22 +0000

Here is a link to a good article about training for mountain running HERE

It is from the Australian Mountain Running Association

http://www.mountainrunning.coolrunning.com.au

Arrochar Alps Hill Race (Come and have a go if you think you are hard enough)

Neil — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:20:17 +0000

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

28/06/2008 - Arrochar Alps, 13 miles, 7900ft
29th	Andy Sim	05:35:39
35th	Neil Campbell	06:34:57

Photos HERE

Link to SHR full report, results and more photos HERE