Two Buachailles

Westies Buchaille under at Glencoe Massacre

Saturday, September 15

Five Black W's were amongst the 34 entries at the inaugural 2-Buchailles Race in Glencoe on Saturday. In true Westies fashion, there were at least an equivalent number of marshalls, all with the usual plethora of excuses for not competing. Organised after several months of extensive negotiations between Dick Wall and the National Trust for Scotland, the length of the course may well have been slightly exaggerated at 10 miles and 6000 foot of ascent, but it certainly felt like it for some of our runners. Dick did point out last week that the weather forecast was for anything between brilliant sunshine or miserable rain, and this prediction turned out to be completely wrong; it was brilliant sunshine and miserable rain. Fortunately for the leading runners, the brilliant sunshine came first. Unfortunately for the long-suffering marshalls, the miserable rain came after 3 hours hanging about on the most exposed points on the trail.

I can't comment too much on the race, except to say that the trail covered all terrain from bogs to ridges to rocks and long grass. Full results will probably end up on Dick's website, but here is a brief resume of the performances of interest to Westies. Ex-member TB Bennet had a good run to finish in 4th position. It was difficult to make him out at first, mainly due to the snazzy poseur-vest of Carnegie Harriers which he had donned for the occasion. I don't even recall him wearing his trademark headband, although I could stand corrected? First Westie home, and 2nd vet, was Don Reid, looking assured as he built up a steady lead over Dave Rodgers, who moved ahead of Blair over the last stages. The needle between Don and Blair is thus certain to continue into the new cross-country season, which commences in a couple of week's time. Keith was first supervet, finishing not too far behind the others, and Drew also turned in a fine performance, even though by his own admission he wasn't enjoying himself.

As for the marshalls, Christine and Noreen were on the Big Buchaille, claiming post-traumatic stress disorder after being stampeded by a herd of bulls in Peru as their reason for not running. Manny spent the best part of 4 hours in a bog (best place for him, some would say!), pleading a knackered ankle excuse; when did that ever stop him in the past? Muffy and Dave (lacking in acclimatisation after the Pyrenees) marshalled on the Wee Buchaille, Muffy drawing the short straw and having to stand at the summit.

Her impersonation of a Penguin descending a Munro was a sight to behold, even if it was due to her feeling "dead from the knee down"; it certainly makes a change from the neck up! It was good also to have a rare appearance from Amanda, who used the lame excuse that she was had just returned from the osteopath as her reason for not running.

Posted by Dave Calder on Wed 30 Nov -0001 | comments are closed

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