Arrochar Alps 2009 →

What a beast of a race! This resurrected long classic lived up to its billing as a SHR Championship counter this year by providing a brutal course, testing conditions and fantastic Westies hospitality. 100 runners started out, 73 finished in a variety of interesting route choices and a couple of dozen found (or not found) it all a bit much. I was pleased with my own wee race, starting nice and steady out along the wooded path in Glen Loin to the Loch Sloy dam getting nice and warmed up for the first brutal slog of the day up to Ben Vorlich. Up top in the mist people seemed everywhere, but Steffen and I seemed to hit the summit cairn reasonably well, before we then started worrying about where to make the cut-off down the steep slopes to the dam wall. A rollicking slide/controlled fall down a couple of thousand feet deposited us nicely at the bottom before having to do it all again up the craggy and claggy ascent of Ben Vane.

Steffen, Louise Burt and I teamed up to pool our random guess-work round the numerous crags and outcrops and managed to find the top quite well, coming across quite a bunch at the top, including fellow Westie Ellen. I lost ground on the descent here and made a slow plod up Beinn Ime, where magically I found the Westie crew on the summit shrouded in mist and barbeque smoke. A handy point off in the direction of the path set me off into the gloom where I came back across Steffen, who advised me that the wheels had just fallen of his mean German racing machine. Together we found the meandering path down to the bealach where Dave Calder and Elsie Riley were doing a grand job.

Being careful to not go up the Cobbler, as some indeed did, the last and easiest slope up Narnain felt quite good and I managed to pull away from Steffen. Val and Christine greeted me at the top, and that only left the tough descent all the way back down to sea level - sounds easy said quickly! It was a tricky descent, full of twists, turns, scarmbles and jumps and I gingerly made my way down with no one around to spur me on till I realised that arch rival Davy Duncan was fast approaching. That was the last thing I wanted after almost 5 hours on the hill but I was determined to stay ahead, and he was equally determined to catch me. So we both hared it along to the finish along the last mile of forestry track at full pelt, and I just held him off to finish under the 5 hour mark.

Only then did I realise that may of the runners I had assumed were well finished were in fact nowhere to be seen. The stories all emerged back at the hotel where the Westies crew put on a great spread of food, goodies and huge amounts of Loch Fyne ale for the prize winners. A great day out and a well organised event by Rob and the dozens of others who all helped to make it happen. Cheers everybody.

results

photos

by John Donnelly in the category of club races | 3 comments | Tue 30 Jun 2009

Calderglen 10k Trail Race 2009 →

26th June 2009

Ah, the boak. It takes 3 known forms - the wet boak, the dry boak, and in particularly nasty cases, the green boak. There's something about blasting up hills in this race then trying to cling on to the speedy roadsters on the flat bits that makes you feel like you want to boak. Graham Kelly and I compared notes afterwards, and we had both felt the urge to boak during this race.

Not that the race is in any way unpleasant. As Graham noted, many hill races would be delighted to get this turnout, and the event seems to grow every year. Despite being entirely off-road over an enjoyable but testing course, it also attracts the speed merchants who would never come near a hill race, but the line between this and some of the short hill races is a very fine one indeed. It's a shame it's so near to the Arrochar Alps race in the calendar, as it really should attract more Westies too.

Conditions were perfect this year - warm, but with a midge-repelling breeze, and sheltered on the trails. If anything, the undergrowth gets more unruly each year, and overtaking is tricky in many places. Another fouled-up start meant I over-compensated on the "wee lap", and never managed to catch the female winner Claire Thompson of BRR. She must have been a minute or more in front of my 43:30(ish) in the end. That was a 20-second PB for me over my 2007 time, so I was pretty happy. I was aided by a long-running battle with a Clydesdale guy and 2 others, with my faster uphills cancelled by their quicker flat runs.

Graham fared considerably better, blasting out the start and on to a 41:36 finish. That may even include a stop near the end to pose for Mirsia's camera.

Great race, as always. Give it a go next year folks, I reckon you'd like it.

by Johnston Orr in the category of Trail Race | 7 comments | Fri 26 Jun 2009

Seven Hills of Edinburgh →

Sunday morning (21.6.09) alarm shattering Hyndland before 6 a.m. Can you believe it, no , neither can I.

Well we said we would go, so.........Taxi booked-far too early for trains to Queen Street. This was Calder and Semple venturing East for an amble round those certain seven hills, with a lot of ducking &diving , bobbing & weaving, thro' streets, lanes, alleyways, cobbled lanes, wall-climbing . Oh yes, it's all here in Edinburgh.

In light of the above, even locals are out reccing the course, as it gets overgrown in places, and perhaps shavimg off seconds by the latest route down an alleyway.So, quite rightly you are already saying what chance has an honest Western runner got with these Dell Boys ducking & diving.Well, we're up for it. Determined to enjoy the day,whatever it may bring. In fact it brought the most glorious day: bright, clear day. Of course as runners,we'd say too damn hot,and it was. As we looked at the last half mile at 9 o'clock it was aleady hot.

So,where are we going - what hills? Starts and finishes at Calton Hill, Castle Rock, Corstorphine Hill, Craiglockhart Hill, Braid Hills, Blackford Hill, Arthur's Seat, back to Calton Hill.You have to clip your number at each summit, but then you are free to choose your own route to the next peak. Hence the fun begins. Finding streets, avoiding cars, tourists, etc. are just part of the urban furniture.

Dave claims to have entered this race in 1984 and 1987 , so long ago that we are not going to dispute it. Anyway, a mere 12 years ago, that's a distinct advantage for route finding. Turns out we were both pouring over our maps for hours to familiarise ourselves with the streets of the Capital. This seemed to pay off for both of us, as neither of us made an absolute horlicks of our chosen routes. Well, almost that is, when Semple knowing that cramping was on it's way on the approach to Arthur's Seat , tried to shave vital minutes off the time with a cunning little dive into the side streets , only to end up in a building site, then a wall with barbed wire, followed by the wall-climbing exercise, and the jump off it that had reverberations thro' parts of the body that had just better not mention.

Yes, it was the heat, and any other excuse will do for any shortcomings. There have been a few races, where "totally wabbit" is the only succinct expression for state of being after a hard slog of a race, (Moffat being one-almost comatose-if memory is accurate). So it was that a sprint was "not entirely in evidence" in "coming to the last" on this occasion. Thanks again to Jane, who was out supporting at several points in the race and seeing runners battling to drag themselves up Arthur's Seat.

This is a very well organised race, hospitality at the finish, water stations thro'out the course - and we certainly needed every one of them. Very friendly crowd, being urged on, and families at the finish enjoying the sunshine. One for your diary next year.

We were invited by the HBT contingent for some light refreshments nearby. Naturally we accepted the kind offer and joined them for a drink, and another, and another,and...................................

Quite frankly, can't remember anything about that part of the day, or as they say, that'll be another report- I'll let Dave fill you in.

by Hamilton Semple in the category of Hill Race | 3 comments | Mon 22 Jun 2009

7 Hills of Edinburgh Race 2009 →

There are few enough good reasons to venture to Edinburgh, but this is one that I can recommend to all Westies. And so it was that Hamilton and I ventured to Queen Street for the 7:50 Sunday morning train to Waverley. This event starts at Calton Hill before visiting Castle Esplanade, then the hills at Costorphine, Craiglockhart, Braid andBlackford before scrambling up Arthur's Seat then 'sprinting' back to Calton. Although you have to visit the hills in that order, you can run between them any route you want...well, within reason, that is! Obviously the locals have inside knowledge but thie merely serves to provide a convenient excuse for a slow time.

It was a glorious day, too warm for running but great for the views of the city. After I inardvertantly bumslid down Princes Street gardens, Mr Semple stole a lead which I struggled to make up through the west end of the city, Eventually I caught up with him before Costorphine, where I burned him off on the gentle ascent past the zoo, never seeing him again for the rest of the race. I started feeling the heat a bit during the last third of the race as we headed towards Arthur's Seat. Still, I was happy enough with my 2:15 finish, even if it was considerably slower than my last attempt in 1987, as I never tired of explaining to anyone who would listen! Hamilton came home a few minutes afterwards.

There's a great atmosphere at the event, which is brilliantly organised, with plenty food, commemorative coasters and spot prizes at the finish. We finished off the day joining Jamie, Nixon and a few other Trotters in the Guildford Arms for a few beers. Biggest surprise was the late arrival of Robin Thomas, who was evidently too busy organising the finishing line quiche counter...ah changed days indeed.

Thanks to Jane for cheering us on at Craiglockhart and at the base of Arthur's Seat, where she guided me up the left hand path, discreetly pointing out that only the fast runners were taking the alternative!

by Dave Calder in the category of Hill Race | 1 comment | Mon 22 Jun 2009

Ben Sheann Race 2009 →

There was an impressive turnout of Westies at the Ben Sheann race on the 17th June. I counted 12 of us, clearly attracted by the forecast of windy weather and the possibility that this would keep away the infamous midges from the start/finish area. How could we be so ridiculously optimistic? Yes, there was a distinctly cool breeze before the event and at first there was hardly a Culicoides impunctatus apparent. With barely 5 minutes to the start however, a guerilla force attacked on all fronts. I'm not sure whether our bright yellow vests makes us more vulnerable to midge attacks, maybe one of the club's resident zoologists can tell us?

Onto the race itself, which Chris has rightly described as a minor classic.Enjoyment isn't a word I would use to describe the ascent or the descent but certainly there were periods of exhilaration. I spent most of the climb with Cat clicking my heels, whilst on the way down I was waiting for the inevitable suicidal charge past from Ellie. I wasn't disappointed, though she waited until about 50 metres before the bottom of the woods before attempting to overtake me on my left side, only to end up in the adjacent ditch! Ooops, I was devastated, as one can well imagine, and barely managed to put worries about Ellie's health to the back of my mind as I sprinted towards the finish line in what I regarded as a respectable time.

I haven't seen any results yet. But, all in all it's a fine wee race, worthy of the long Wednesday night journey to Strathyre. As I've often said to Muffy over the years, it doesn't need to last long to be a memorable event!

by Dave Calder in the category of Hill Race | 4 comments | Mon 22 Jun 2009

Glen Rosa Horseshoe 2009 →

A day trip over to Arran is always a good thing. For one it is an amazing wee island and getting on a boat to anywhere makes it feel a whole lot further away than in reality.

Mirsia and I jumped the 08:33 train which meets up with the ferry at Adrossan. My usual beans on toast wi tattie scone was missed due to a silly long queue. On the sail across, Mirsia asked where the route took us but all I could do was point to the thick grey cloud sitting on the hills. By the time we were on the bus along to Brodick Castle it was also tipping down with rain!

Race brief over and it was time to run - the first few km are along the estate road then into Glen Rosa. I became aware of someone directly behind me and invited them to run through since I felt the world was passing a little quickly for the start of such a long event. Turned out to be Don Reid - we chatted a bit as we started to climb up the Glen. Over the bridge and up towards Croc Breac I heard a shout - turns out Mirsia and been invited into the back of the landrover by the Mountain Rescue who had come up to see us through !

Don and myself took a couple of slightly different routes to just below the summit of Beinn a Chiliabhain and the first of seven controls (none of these appeared any quicker than the other I might add). Over the summit and look for the start of the flagged section - JESUS ...the grassy gully was steep. I fell flat on my backside and got scared ...not a good place for a "tail over apex" experience. I spotted some nice grippy scree and decided that was exactly what I needed. No sooner had I started onto this and I heard a cry of "Graham ...up here". It was Don pointing out that I had completely missed the fact the flags traversed the hill and not down into the glen (where I was headed). A lesser gentleman would have used my mistake to competitive advantage. Rejoining Don, we continued the traverse toward the bealach below Cir Mhor - nasty deep heather indeed. I found a bit of a path and shouted to Don. Eventually, we crossed the river and took the main path - sheer bliss indeed!

Heading up Cir Mhor we got a chance to see the leading Carnethy runners with Chris and David R not that far behind. On the return to the bealach I was surprised not to see Don and simply thought he had taken a cunning route and catch me lower down (found out later that he retired at the bealach). Briefly exchanged a hello with Murdo and Ellie before dropping down onto the traverse towards the saddle. Met up with David R and we continued through the heather and past the slabs before reaching the saddle. At this point David opened up a bit of a gap and I had a good excuse to stop and empty my stone from my shoe which had been bugging me big style.

The climb up towards North Goatfell went well and included an "interesting" line over some steep and fairly lose ground. The section onto Goatfell itself was fantastic ...never before have I mixed scrambling and racing! Over the summit and only one control to go - the folks heading up the path were fantastic with both words of encouragement and kindly stepping clear to let runners through.

Thankfully I noticed the correct path leading off to the left just after the bridge and was soon bouncing down through the forest towards the finish. Crossed line a few minutes behind David R ...gubbed but happy.

Pleased to report that in addition to Ellie being first lass over the line that Westies also won the team prize. Congrats to all who ran !

Was good to meet up with Johnny Hall from Moorcroft after the race as well.

On a different note the race only had a turnout of 23 runners. It shows hill fickle hill running can be. Carnethy, Jura and the Ben sell out in jig time, Ben Lomond almost always gets over 100+ runners, Goatfell this year had 81 and Stuc had 317 finishers ! I reckon Glen Rosa rates as high as any of those and deserves better support in future years ...it would be a terrible shame if we were to lose such a quality race.

Many thanks to Paul Emsley and team for the organising ...it is appreciated.

Results

by Graham Kelly in the category of Hill Race | 2 comments | Sun 21 Jun 2009

Kirkintilloch 10k 2009 →

18th June 2009

Flat canalside run on a very windy evening. It's a bit asymmetric so it was about 6km into the wind and 4km wind-assisted. Felt tired and demotivated, not very interested in races right now. There's a fine line between starting gently and getting caught at the back of the pack. I was on the wrong side, so immediately shot my time to bits. Made some progress but basically ran like a cow and got a stitch near the end, necessitating a sprint finish to recover a place I nearly lost.

Splits (approx): 4:10, 3:52, 3:59, 4:03, 3:57, 3:58, 3:53, 3:51, 3:57, 3:56

Andy Freer was on cheerleading duties, complete with miniskirt and pom-poms. The horror, the horror...

by Johnston Orr in the category of road race | 2 comments | Thu 18 Jun 2009

Beer Sweat and Gears →

SATURDAY 13 JUNE - NEWCASTLE CYCLOSPORTIF - 102 MILES 6h 19m 1880 metres climb 16.4 mph

Leaving the delights of the new Loch Lochy Hill Race for others to enjoy, I headed to the north east for the Newcastle Cyclone - a 100 mile cycle sportif. Based at Newcastle Falcons rugby ground there were 3 routes, a 32 miler, 63 miler and the big daddy a 102 miler. The route promised miles of quiet scenic Northumbrian countryside and it certainly delivered. I headed off at a steady pace through Ponteland on quiet roads up to Rothbury in the Cheviots. I managed to hang on to the back of a few fast moving "trains" which kept the pace up near 18mph for the first few hours, including one cracking open descent where I reached a scary 43mph!!

Heading west I then cycled through lovely Cocquetdale to Alwinton and over to Otterburn on the busy A696 where I tagged on to 6 local riders who got me through the then wet and miserable weather as we headed over towards Kielder on high windy moor roads. One of them punctured so I headed off solo for a while, going through a bit of a flat patch until Bellingham, where a pack came past me and I tagged on to them over the undulating roads here. The rain stopped, the sun came out and I started to get that final adrenaline rush that would push me on over the last hour or so. I really started to crank up my speed, helped by another cyclist who I had overtook at speed, but tagged on behind me. Together we hared away at 25mph, pulling out all the stops to keep the pace barrelling along. I was on a total high this last part, zooming past the 32 and 62 mile cyclists who had now joined our route, mountain bikers and families all over the place.

I was dead chuffed to pass the 100 mile mark in about 6h 15m, and then ease off for the last 2 miles, totally knackered, but equally enthused about a great day out. Effortwise my heart rate average was 136bpm, about 75% max, pretty high for 6 hours of cycling, as I find the heart rate usually lower cycling, and about what I would expect for a long hill race - that explained why I was drained but euphoric.

www.northernrockcyclone.co.uk

SUNDAY 14 JUNE-ROUND THE ROSES CYCLOSPORTIF - 77 MILES 6h 23m 1685 metres climb

Not content with the 102 miles on Saturday, I headed further south for a 77 mile tour of Lancashire and Yorkshire on the saddle again. Yet another beautiful and testing route and more great sunny warm weather, brilliant. The pace however, was understandably slower, with a lot less cyclists, and Moira and I joined up for a very pleasant ride together. We set off from Tosside on a clockwise loop - out to Slaidburn and on to great wee roads just on the edge of the Forest of Bowland. There was a great drudge of a steady climb up to 427m before a cracking open descent past the Great Stone of Fourstones, before turning right and along beautiful country roads to Giggleswick, near Settle, for the first tea and scone stop of the day. Things were hotting up now and the road headed steeply up out of Stainforth on an amazing road up to the east of Pen-Y-Gent grinding up to 436m. The views though were amazing and helped take the mind off the tired old legs below. A steep descent followed down to remote Halton Gill, before miles and miles of fast gradual descending along lovely Littondale, bounded high on either side by high escarpments. Down past Kilnsey Crag and Conistone and then on lovely wee roads into more tea and scones in beautiful Grassington, a tea stop also last year on my JOGLE cycle. Out of there we headed off for Bolton by Bowland via outstanding rural scenery, undulating but very rewarding. The last few miles were a bit of an uphill drag back to Tosside, but the pint of Blood Sweat and Gears in the local pub made it worthwhile. We headed back in the beautiful sunshine to our luxurious guest house in the village of Austwick - www.austwickhall.co.uk - where we had a great meal and fine ales in the village pub - http://gamecockinn.co.uk . Great not to have to head back on a Sunday evening for a change.

by John Donnelly in the category of non-running challenges | 5 comments | Thu 18 Jun 2009

Traprain Law Hill Race, 13.6.09 →

Ah yes, the annual sojourn to the Eastern edge of the world.

So with 12 minutes to the off, 10 mins. away from the Park, 2 mins for registration, chatting to all, and warm up.

Ample time, I say ample time Enid..

If you have not ventured to Memorial Park, East Linton, this is really a trail race,rather than a hill race.In fact, it has it all; a road start, onto the towpath(get yourself incontention),river crossing, sramble up Law, skite down, towpath, road back dodging the Gala Promenaders-to elevate proceedings.

Apparently there had been a gargantuan downpour just before the start-did'nt see any of it. This was just to make the surface slippy enough for a few near misses on the way down off the Law. But we are not there yet.

So, with it feeling damn hot at the start line, must have been all of a heady 15 degrees(this is hot), after the initial tussles-excuse me missus, on the towpath......cooling down with the river crossing ( Don Reid style.....Dave & I were subjected to his brand of "the river dissnae exist" style of running thro' 50 river crossing on our Skye Extavaganza ). Must say it works! Made up 5 places. Then lost 10. No,no.

Then you drag yourself up the slippery slope,water everywhere.Well at least round your ankles. Then thro' the fields before the climb and it's Mr. Yellow Pants, yes, Davie D coming at you imperceptibly, grinding away apparently effortlessly.

But what of the essential hill, or volcanic dome as they say( tempting us with the prospect of Treasure.....Roman Silver under the Law). It's all over in a blur. Good little scramle up the side of the fence with a sudden shout of Westies, have to at least try now. It was Jane doing her marshalling just at the point that you're struggling the most.

So that's the hill done, skite down, then very flat paths, after another short road section, back to the towpath, over the river with the help of a bridge this time,then on and on. Up ahead the familiar figure of Dave R. (No don't be utterly,utterly, utterly stupid, not the snake, the other D.R.) Was that just a tad over the top?

50 metres ,and this is narrow paths all overgrown on either side. 30 metres and closing. Plus, there's someone behind but not making an effort to pass.

10 metres, but a move from behind, time to grind. Grinding a lot from the path, and now we're up the rise, and on the main street, people ambling about.

"Thank you, Thank you" seems to work when the mother & pram are going to completely up-end you. But this guy behind is not finished yet - he wants some more (where that came from). Battling now-or was it grinding? Full tilt down the last .....before the 90 degree turn. Anyone there and it will all end in tears. Then the cruel little sting in the tail, the last incline and he still wants more, well he got more, the Grinder ground it out you will be pleased to know, (if you're still there?).

After showering,yes,showers, we retired to the marquee for tea and selections of cake.

Another grand day out.

by Hamilton Semple in the category of Trail Race | 1 comment | Sat 13 Jun 2009

Golden Oldies →

...no, not our venerable V60 and V70 colleagues, but old photos.

Long before I joined Westerlands, an archive was created of old photos from club events and races through the years. This included some photos which were removed from the website due to a lack of storage space at the time. With the move to the new site and more hosting space, there has been a demand to reinstate the old photos, so by popular request we now have the return of:-

10th and last Glengoyne Gallop 1995
Ben Lomond 1997
Carnethy 5 1997
Devil's Burdens 1999
Glenshee 2002
Xmas Handicap 2002
Abington to Crook Inn 2003
Kinlochleven 2003
Ochil Traverse 2003
Arrochar Alps 2003

Please bear with me while I grind through the laborious process of reuniting the photos with the reports. I'll post more links over the coming weeks and months as I make progress. Some of the photos didn't have thumbnail images and I haven't had time to create them, so the older reports may look a bit untidy with large images at the bottom (but click on them in case the whole image isn't displayed straight away, e.g. Glengoyne Gallop).

Enjoy!

by Johnston Orr in the category of news | 3 comments | Sat 13 Jun 2009