Westies triumph at Two Inns hill race

Results

Five brave Westies runners travelled to the inaugural staging of the Two Inns hill race. The others who stayed away probably did so following some awful weather forecasts. However, given the effort that goes into staging such a long race and given that this is an area of dramatic scenery I thought this is too good an opportunity to miss. As it turned out the mountain gods smiled on us with some lovely conditions of broken warm sunshine and a cooling southerly breeze throughout. Only exception was Fraochaid where towards the top some windproof was required.
The field of 37 runners (I thought there were more) started off in a field opposite the Creagan Inn and immediately begun the steep climb up Beinn Churalain on pretty much wild and pathless terrain. From there the race follows a number of fence lines on a fairly flat ridge with a few smaller tops before the climb up to Fraochaidh. From there on the race follows a slightly better footpath on better ground. The views are now becoming more spectacular with the Ballachulish Horseshoe as well as the Anoach Eagach ridge in full view, plus the hills on the southern side of Glencoe. The last major climb is up Sgorr a’Choise from where you follow some deer tracks back steeply down to the landrover track for the final couple of miles back to the Clachaig Inn. For safety reasons we were taken off the LR track and over some awful un-runnable tussock to cross the road right opposite the car park we go through to get to the finish line. This was by far the worst bit of the entire route.
Our efforts, however, were rewarded with what Manny described the “first Westies team victory in living memory”. Perhaps Manny winning the overall race had a lot to do with it. So congratulations and adulations to him are in order for such a grand achievement.
Refreshments were served in the public bar of the Clachaig Inn plus the usual selection of real ales that the place is known for. What a jolly amazing day out. I shall be back again and again.
Order:
Manny
Graham K
Dave Rogers
Steffen
Brian B

Yours truly.

Posted by Steffen Gorgas on Mon 23 Aug 2010 | 5 comments

Category Hill Race