Caerketton Downhill

Over to Edinburgh for one of my favourite races. Its all over in a few minutes and all downhill so its all about balance rather than graft. The much younger and much faster JD was the only other Westie and he had his 9 year old daughter Taylor ( I think that’s the spelling) with him. Couple of pot hunters if ever I saw them ……taylor outdid her dad …..she was second in her race while John had to settle for 3rd place in the overall positions, he was only 5 seconds behind the winner, a guy from Edinburgh Uni who took 5 mins 22 seconds a bit slower than the usual winner Alistair Anthony who is still injured. A great first attempt by JD and he will probably be able to take at least 10 seconds or so off next time now he knows the route, he’ll need to as taylor was only 2 seconds from glory in her race so Dad will need to get serious to keep up with her in the future. I’m usually around 6:40 but was just below 7 mins this year as i fell twice, once a bum slide on the steep part which was no problem but then I had a serious face plant, luckily in some longer grass about half way down …..had to haul my sad carcase back up and chase the guy who’d passed me while I was down, just got him before the end. managed to get 2nd V50, albeit way behind the first V50 but ahead of Gus Bowman and Davie Duncan which cheered me up. The prizes as ever were surreal ……you drew a number from a bag and that denoted your prize so JD got Marigold gloves and I got washing up liquid …..there were some alcoholic prizes but no luck this time. Mark Harris was 2nd and 1st V40. Firsl lady was Charlotte Morgan who beat the record she set last year and was 5:40 odds, second lady was Malcolm and Ros’s daughter Neah Evans who was running it for the first time and did a very creditable 6:14, first lady V50 was Jean Bowman and as always she picked a bottle of alcohol to cheer Gus up. I know its a long way for a short race but I recommend you give it a try, pity there aren’t other downhill only races in the calendar.