Ben Lomond report

This years race went really well without any time keeping cock-ups like last year. Going in heavy handed at the start and finish certainly payed off! Despite the ropey forecast, the weather wasn’t too bad although the summit marshals assure me that it was pretty damn cold up top. Fortunately most runners heeded my advice about carrying plenty of gear.

Now to the race – Malcolm Paterson was first to the top (there is a great photo of him focusing on the climb in the SHR website), followed I think by Brian Marshall, who put in a stunning descent to win by a country mile at the end. Nigel had a great ascent to reach the top just behind Andy Kitchen, but a ”crafty” descent route off the summit ridge mean’t that I had to apply a time penalty which unfortunately pushed him down to 4th place. Good packing by Carnethy in 4th, 6th and 7th gave them the team prize. First V40 was Malcolm Patterson and it was left to the Westies golden oldies of Gordon Robinson and Murdo to restore some club pride by taking the first two positions in the V50 cat.

Now to the Wummin! – 1st in was Tracey Brindley with a new course record of 1.17.45 in 10th place overall! Previous race winner Andrea Priestly of Ilkley was 2nd, and now to the good news, 3rd in was an unattached lady by the name of Shona Robertson who ran a great time of 1.27.45 and left with a Westies membership form – good recruiting by my wife! A clutch of Fife ac lady vets stitched up the vet categories, with Louise Burt, and Jocyln Scott lifting the v40 and v50 prizes respectively. Fife AC also took the team prize.

The mountain rescue had a wee bit of work to do this year, as our Marc McColl decided to throw caution to the wind and break his ankle running up hill. Some people will do anything to get a lift. Seriously though Marc, we hope you make a speedy recovery. Another runner broke a finger and there was the usual display of twisted ankles and minor abrasions.

Can I say a big thanks to everybody who helped out on the day, including the marshals who froze their ‘b!!!s’ off on the top, Muffy who was cosy in the sun lounge doing a brilliant job with results, Des, Margaret and Donald on the start and finish, Helen and sproggs in the car park stopping runners getting run over, and my wife and family for doing race registration and putting up with me running arround like a headless chicken. A special thanks as always to Graham Benny who is the unsung hero of this event. Graham marks the course and coordinates the marshals. Runners only get a fleeting glimpse of him on the summit, and by the time Graham gets down to the hotel everybody has left!!

Graham, cheers Mate.

see you all at a race soon.

Don