Beinn Ratha Hill Race

26th April 2003

Last Saturday was the most Northerly mainland event in the hill running calendar and since this is even further afield than the usual Westie exploit, I thought you might be interested in an extreme race report.

First of all it has to be said that Beinn Ratha is in Caithness which is not a County noted for it’s hills; flat as a Westie’s crop top, some might say (not me). However the local (road) running club (which is highly active – particulary the Dounreay section) has admirably supported this event and I was surprised at the good turn out on the day – there must have been 30 or 40 runners, including some from as far afield as Ochils.

I know the hill well, it is a regular training run of mine (yes I do train), although I wasn’t sure of the actual race route. I was worried that I may be lead astray because of spaced runners on featureless terrain but the route was thoroughly flagged (road runners influence again maybe).

It was a beautiful day with a hot sun beating down on Sandside Bay. The becalmed, azur sea could easily have been mistaken for the Med. We parked and registered at Reay golf course clubhouse, much to the chagrin of the members, and then wandered down to the start line in the village.

The first part of the run follows one of the many landrover tracks into the Flow country. After a mile or two of fast running we were diverted onto the moor proper and immediately staggered around on tussocks of campsie proportions. A road runner in front of me swore loudly, stalled, threw is hands up in disgust, caught them and stood aside. Gazelle-like I pranced along, I knew the ferocity of the ticks around here. The slope steepened and soon we were all walking; fortunately I wasn’t overtaken by a local shepherd in tackerty boots.

The summit was manned by a mobile phone. I shouted my number and, cursing the absence of forgotten Walshes, slid down the steep heathery descent. The route then led onto a low runnable ridge with magnificent views of the North coast, the Pentland Firth and Orkney. This was followed by a long and gradual descent down to another land-rover track. Purgatory was the final mile or so on the road, along which I plodded to the finish at the golf course, thankful of the absence of forgotten Walshes.

A fast hill/cross-country/road race then, with a reasonable entry fee (£6/£8) for which we got a T-shirt each, spot prizes and some beautiful engraved glassware trophies.

Oh sorry, the race was won by the veteran Speyside reindeer herder in about 50 mins dead, and a local was the first lady, only just failing to beat her husband, for once. Of note was a birder from Forsinard, who came in second on only his first hill race.

Remember its the taking part that matters.

I was first Westie, by the way!