HBT Grudge Match →

27th November 2011

Results | Photos

Swanston Village at the foot of the Pentlands was the setting for Sunday's HBT vs Westies, Corstorphine & EUHH Grudge Match.

As usual, Westies were vastly out-numbered by the swathes of brown, however Alasdair bravely lead the Westies charge up Allermuir, complete with trademark rucksack and picnic? I chose a super-slow pedestrian start after my horror show race at Bellahouston the day before. It therefore took a while before I realised that Alasdair was way up ahead. Bit by bit I reeled Alasdair back in and caught him just before Allermuir summit where Ellie was braced in a screaming freezing wind taking photos.

I tried to open a gap on Alasdair on the descent, but was caught by Andy Sims who I then tracked since it was easier than worrying about the route. This took us both past Sula Young (Gay) who was doubling back after a wrong turn. The track dropped steeply to skirt round the edge of a golf course before hitting a pretty level horizontal landrover track where I could generate some speed and get past Andy Sims to finish in 25 minutes-something.

I was then subjected to some hoity toity woman from the neighbouring stables saying she couldn't have riff raff like us hanging around near her horses, and to make the point she violently revved her impressively large black 4x4 at Dan and Sula has she tore away down the track.

I therefore did not see Alasdair, Mindy and JD finishing, although I did see John Hamer rushing into the car park, only to be told that isn't where the race finishes.

The afternoon was rounded off with drinks and prize-giving by Phyllis O'Brien and Sarah O'Neil at the Hunter's Tryst, accompanied with good chat and company from the Boggies.

Posted by Chris Upson on Mon 28 Nov 2011 | 9 comments

Category Hill Race

British & Irish Masters Cross Country →

26th November 2011

Results | Photos | Route

Every 5 years, the British & Irish Masters Cross Country International comes to Scotland, and this year the event was greeted with foul, wet and windy weather at Bellahouston Park.

The women were off first, but the weather was too rainy for me to take any photos, however there was a dramatic conclusion to the race with Scotland taking positions 3 to 5 with Lesley Chisholm edging Melissa Whyte on the line, and F50 10,000m world champion Fiona Matheson working her way through to 5th place.

Peter Matthews of Ireland won the men's race in 24:54 with an incredible 30 seconds lead. Jamie Reid of Cambuslang was first Scot in 7th place. I finished way down the field in 29:36, just behind John Stevenson of Ochils who caught me on the run in. I'm pretty sure the results don't look quite right, but the weather was so awful I'm not surprised that the runners are in the wrong order.

Posted by Chris Upson on Mon 28 Nov 2011 | 4 comments

Category cross country

Razorback Ridge Run →

Before I left Grim gave me a 'Rain Maker'. It seemed innocent enough: a bit of hollowed out wood, some stones inside to make rain summoning rattles and a few carvings on the outside to for authenticity. Harmless ....or so I thought. Now, after numerous drenchings where each time an Aussie has said "It hasn't rained like that for years" I'm beginning to wonder!

This weekend was no different. Following hot (or wet) on the heels of a puddle hopping ParkRun done in a torrential downpour and a trip to Uluru where it rained non-stop for 4 days, I headed to the High Country to do a trail race along the Razorback Ridge and up to Mount Feathertop. The forecast was abysmal .. rain, mist, thunder, gales but none the less I drove to the start hopeful things might improve. Unfortunately they were just as predicted. Thirteen miles of trail were run in mist, pouring rain and gusty winds and at the summit of Mt Feathertop, which apparently has stunning vistas over the entire Australian Alps, all I could see was a lot of swirling clouds. No 'slip slap slop' today, just splish splash splosh in what was "the worst rain we've seen in years".

At the end I was chuffed to have finished, not drowned and not got lost (the compass points the opposite way down here I'm told!). But all this rain got me wondering about the rain-maker. Is it just coincidence ... or is it really Grim??

Posted by Cat Miller on Mon 28 Nov 2011 | 4 comments

Category Trail Race

Dunbartonshire cross country →

Six brave souls battled the elements at the Dunbartonshire Cross Country at Posties Park in Dumbarton. The mens team consisted of Don Reid, John Quinn, Peter Grassl and long lost member Jon Slowe. Muffy and I were the only two ladies present so we didn't have a team. The course consisted of a 2 mile circuit which the ladies did twice and the men three times. It was mainly flat with a couple of slight downhill sections which made for interesting running if you weren't wearing spikes. The men ran along with the women which was unusual but certainly gave you an incentive to try to avoid being lapped for as long as possible. The start was predictably fast with the top men speeding off and the remainder of the field strung out behind. I soon found myself towards the back of the field along with some Helensburgh ladies and worked hard to stay in touch. I was pleased to complete the first circuit in 16.40 and hoped for a finish time of about 34 or 35 mins but alas the heavy ground took its toll and I struggled at the end to finish in a disappointing 37 mins. Muffy had a great run in 33mins and is clearly getting back to form after a long layoff with injury. The finishing order for the men was Jon Slowe (anything but) John Quinn, Don Reid and Peter Grassl. It was a real cross country course with wind rain and glaur in abundance but good fun nonetheless.

Posted by Pat McLaughlin on Sat 26 Nov 2011 | 3 comments

Category cross country

Atkins 3k On the Green →

This was the last in the winter 3 race Atkins series and having got a 3rd and a 2nd already I was really hoping for a first place to let me win the series. Looking around at the start it looked like the main competition would come from Derek Govan but I ended up not seeing him during the race.

We lined up under McLennan arch under slightly windy and cold conditions. Based on the conditions I resigned myself to the fact I probably wouldn't get a PB for the first time at an Atkins race. The race kicked off and I took the lead with a fairly speedy pace. I was hoping for a relatively easy race but ended up with Darran Muir running right on my shoulder and a group of what sounded like about 5 runners just behind, so I upped the pace a bit to try and open a gap but I was followed closely by Darran and I think Crispin Walsh. I felt myself starting to tire a little about 1/3 of the way through so I let Darran and Crispin through and followed up until just before the halfway turn where I overtook Crispin.

Feeling better for the slight rest I got running back in 3rd, after the turn I decided to overtake Darran and try to build a gap. I speeded up and overtook and he speeded up with me, however I steadily built the pace to open up a gap before easing off a little. I think I was about 5-10 metres ahead and every time I could hear Darran's footsteps coming closer I speeded up to keep a decent gap.

Turning on to the finishing straight I was feeling pretty shattered but I thought I've got to win one of these so kept up the effort. About 150 metres to go and with shouts of encouragement from Mark Johnston I picked up the pace for a bit of a sprint finish crossing the line in 9:40 for another PB and 1st place.

1st John Denovan 9:40
2nd Darran Muir 9:43
3rd Craig Mitchell 9:46

I'm happy to say this was my first ever win :-) and allowed me to take the winter series with a 3rd (9:52), 2nd (9:41) and 1st (9:40). The race certainly seems to be getting tougher with 4 runners all finishing in under 10 minutes so I sense the spring series, starting at the end of January is going to be a great little challenge.

Posted by John Denovan on Sat 26 Nov 2011 | 5 comments

Category road race

Eaves Wood Trail Race →

Event website | Activity on Garmin Connect

As last minute preparation before next weekend's British & Irish Masters at Bellahouston Park, the 8.6km Eaves Wood Trail Race at Silverdale near Lancaster looked a good choice. The venue was quite unusual, starting and finishing in Holgates Caravan Park.

Standing on the startline, I could see there were 3 fast guys champing at the bit. And soon after the fast downhill start, I was sitting in 4th place. Carl Bell of Howgill Harriers and the other 2 fast guys quickly disappeared from view as the route twisted and turned into the woods. After a couple of kilometres I was caught and exchanged places a few times with Mark Saunders of Bowland Fell Runners before he got away from me on a steep climb. Around the halfway point I was also caught by another runner, but managed to dig in on one of the long uphill return drags and pulled clear back into 5th position which I held to the end, although Mark who finished ahead of me won't appear in the results since he didn't have a race number. Anyhow, it was a good little low-key race, with a pretty tough undulating course, and plenty of narrow twists and turns, and greasy limestone underfoot to keep you on your toes.

Posted by Chris Upson on Sun 20 Nov 2011 | 3 comments

Category Trail Race

Drum Fada Chase →

This was a great race. Only two Westies namely Jo and myself. An occasional westie Tom Smith won it! Surprised not to see Brian but remembered what day it was! It was a chase from the start as the pack sped off up hill through forest and rough terrain to climb 350m. Then followed a few miles on land rover track which speeded things up more. The descent was great although slightly boggy but very runnable. Results will be on the Lochaber site. I recommend this one. Great home baking to finish.

Posted by Paula Gardiner on Sun 20 Nov 2011 | 3 comments

Category Hill Race

Falkirk Parkrun #19 →

Results

Having spent from 9pm yesterday to just after 8am this morning on a conference call I was in 2 minds whether to do this Parkrun or not, no sleep tends to not make for a very good run. However I had bought a harness for Oscar (7.5 stone Doberman, famous amongst cross countrying Westies) and wanted to get him into his first race.

I decided to go for it even although I felt exhausted. I did a warmup lap of the lake with Oscar pulling away eager to get up to a Doberman canter and me trundling along behind. We made our way over to the pre race briefing where I think Oscar was barking taunts at the other dogs that were about to race.

I didn't really know where to stand for the start so I was about 1 row back from the start when they shouted go. Oscar was a little taken by surprise but settled into a pace as we made our way up to second place, almost wiping out some older runner that seemed to be trying to block us in, a quick hop onto the grass saw us breeze by. As we came into the forest Alastair Hay of Central AC had about a 50m lead. This is where Oscar started coming into his own dragging me through the forest desperate to catch Alastair.

We seemed to be gaining all the way through the forest but after the turn Alastair seemed to be pulling away. Looking back I could see we had a fairly commanding lead over the 3rd placed runner as well (Colin Partridge from Lothian RC again).

As we approached Heartbreak Hill I was thinking this will be great Oscar will drag me up but he spotted some dogs off to the left so decided to mark a few trees on the way up. Once the dogs were out of sight it was full steam ahead to the top for the winding descent out of the forest, Oscar powering ahead all the way. We managed to catch a glimpse of Alastair running along the home straight but he was way out in front leaving Oscar and me to push each other on towards the finish.

1st Alastair Hay - 16:21
2nd Oscar (and John Denovan) - 17:11
3rd Colin Partridge - 17:45

I was really pleased with Oscar's running although I think he was fairly let down by mine today given the lack of sleep. I'm hoping he doesn't ditch me for a faster partner as he doesn't like other people being in the lead in a race (he was very focussed on Alastair all the way through the forest but the dead weight hanging on to his lead prevented him catching up). I reckon we should be aiming for around the 16:30 mark if I manage to get some sleep before the race.

Posted by John Denovan on Sat 19 Nov 2011 | 8 comments

Category Parkrun

Strathclyde Parkrun #82 →

Results

Ran Strathclyde parkrun this morning in 19:25 and in 6th place. Felt strong throughout and was really pleased with the run. It was a lovely morning with the sun appearing just before the race start and no wind.

Perfect conditions and a great start to the weekend.

Had a tough battle with William Reid of Kirkie Olympians who I managed to leave behind in the last ½ k which was a great help in getting my PB

Hope to get under 19 mins at some point this year.

Check the results for the Melbourne Parkrun. Our very own Catriona Miller was 1st female. Westeeeeez

Posted by John Quinn on Sat 19 Nov 2011 | 2 comments

Category Parkrun

Mousdash - Mount Coot-tha, Brisbane →

Results

Before Westies in Scotland had even gone to sleep on Saturday us Aussie Westies had done our Sunday morning run - the Mousdash, a 10.5km race round Mount Coot-tha, which at only 287m, is the highest point in a range of hills on the outskirts of Brisbane.
At 6:30am (early ..but any later and we'd be cooked in the sun) DavidR and I joined another 700 or so runners on the start line, some donning comedy moustaches for 'MOvember': we were already warm in the early morning sun. The 2.5km uphill start did nothing to cool us down and by the top of the climb it was lovely to reach a well-placed drinks station and thrown a few cups of chilled water over our hot heads. The next 6km were great fun: ups and downs on the road snaking round the back of the hill with lovely views, the sun shining through the trees, coasting down the downs passing folks who had the brakes on and then trying to keep on going through the ups. Then, at 8.5km or so, the road headed downhill ... steeply and for ages and ages. Initially my quads were holding up ok as I tried to relax, lean forward etc etc. But after 1.5km they started quivering with every step. The sight of a man with a huge fake moustache running past in starry Y-fronts distracted me for a while, but as he disappeared down the hill (and I wondered if I'd been hallucinating) the legs grabbed full attention again. Nothing for it but to keep going - so with one final downhill and then an uphill finish it was done. Relaxing afterwards in the sun with some chilled water and watermelon was bliss. All in all - Awesome, as they say here!
Results were:
1st Man 38:03
1st Lady 42:19
14th (13th Man) DavidR 43:07
102nd (10th Lady) Cat 50:26

Posted by Cat Miller on Thu 17 Nov 2011 | 3 comments

Category 10k