FRA British Relay Championships

20th Oct 1996

Well done to all those in the large Westie contingent that headed south of the border for the FRA Relays back in October.

After a six am rendezvous at Westerlands (surely a club record), the Glasgow based Westies, several of whom were still recovering from the Hare and Hounds reunion the night before, sped south to meet up with rest of the team at Sedburgh. This miraculous feat of organisation was marred, however, by the discovery that, despite Pat's rigorous planning/cajoling of the previous weeks, we were still a runner short for our mixed-vets team. After much deliberation and a few phonecalls, a replacement was found in Paul McClintock, who agreed to give up his Sunday morning off and drive down the hundred odd miles down to Sedburgh (an act in itself surely worthy of a Runner of the Year nomination).

We were joined in our foray south by a large (and very noisy) Scottish contingent, fielding an impressive fourteen of the ninety-three teams starting. Carnethy, sporting their usual blue woad and ginger bunnets and led by the kilted and claymore wielding Jamie 'Braveheart' Thin, were joined by runners from Cosmics, Livingston and Shettleston.

The steep sided Howgill Fells provided varying terrain for the race with steep climbing and desents, made more trecherous by the continual drizzle, with plenty of runnable bits in between. The relays were run over four legs - two medium solo legs, followed by two longer courses ran in pairs, one of which navigational, all of which finished with an arse-sliding desent off Scald Law back to the finish. Great performances all round by the three Westies teams, who, despite the deteriorating weather, seemed to (mostly) enjoy themselves. Ronnie had a storming run for the 'A' team, where he picked up nineteen places on the shortest leg of the race. For the mixed vets, Keith and Archie belted round the final leg and finished ten places infront of the Westies 'A' team! Not to be left out, Chris and Jenny literally ran themselves into the ground to help bring the Women in 9th place.

Borrowdale finished first and Mr Rigby helped his other club, Ambleside, come in 4th, just in front of Carnethy. Westies A were 48th, the vets 76th, and the Womens' team 78th.

A great turnout and team effort by all concerned, and despite all the hanging about in the rain, a good day out was had by all. Special thanks must go to our hardworking secretary for getting the whole thing organised - well done Pat!

Chris and Jenny sprint for home

Results

1st Borrowdale 'A' 04.14.57

2nd Bingley 'A' 04.18.56

3rd Pudsey 'A' 04.24.14

5th Carnethy 'A' 04.38.13

44th Westies 'A' 05.31.40

76th Westies Vets 06.15.50

78th & 9th Westies Women 06.23.03

Westies 'A' Matt Ogston / Ronnie Gallagher / Brian Bonnyman / Peter Baxter / Steve Wells / George Reid

Westies Vets Pat McLaughlin / Helen McPherson / Jim Hall / Paul McClintock / Keith Adams / Archie Cameron

Westies Women Jane Robertson / Christine Patterson / Helene Diamantides / Elspeth Scott / Chris Menhennet / Jennifer Rae

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