Ben Venue Challenge

3rd October 2009

A brand new race on the Scottish hill running calendar, and the first hill race ever organised by Bellahouston Road Runners.

The weather was looking a bit iffy before we started, with heavy squalls and violent winds. The start was delayed whilst a decision was made on the safety aspect of the race. Eventually it had to conceded that visiting the tops was simply not an option since the mountain rescue guys up the hill were getting blown off their feet. So ‘Plan B’ was a shorter lower level route that followed the tourist path up to a 575m col, and then back the same way.

The first few km was on hard forest track before emerging on to the open hillside for a couple of kilometres of quagmire to reach the col. Trying to round the cairn on the ridge you were suddenly hit by the full force of the wind that made any sort of progress almost impossible. A staggering lunge to get round the cairn, then instantly jet-blasted back down the hill.

The race was won by Matt Williamson of Bellahouston in 51:17, with Fiona Maxell first lady in 59:22.

Five Westies ran:
9. Chris Upson, 56:20
15. Dave Rogers, 58:28
34. Hamilton Semple, 1:06:15
42. Ellie Homewood, 1:10:49
64. Helen MacPherson, 1:16:59

Full results