Devils Burdens

FALKLAND

A record 53 teams completed the club’s Devils Burdens Hill Race from Falkland last Saturday – a six man relay over 21 miles (4100ft) covered in four stages with the first and fourth legs run in pairs.

Following the opening stage over the East Lomond to Holl Reservoir Des Crowe and Adrian Callan held a clear lead for Shettleston Veterans timed at 36:17 followed by Stuart Whitlie and Andy Spenceley for title holders Carnethy (37:11). Damon Rodwell and Brian Bonnyman reached the changeover for Westies in 3rd place.

The second stage from Holl Reservoir over the Bishophill to Scotlandwell saw Glenrothes athlete Chris Russell post the second fastest leg time of 26 minutes to improve Fife from 6th to 3rd. Manny Gorman improved Westies’ position from 3rd to 2nd. Adam Ward, however, brought Carnethy into the lead with the stage’s fastest time of 25:35.

The third stage of this testing race is undoubtedly the toughest with the runners climbing back up the Bishophill before the long trek over rough terrain to the summit of the West Lomond and the steep descent to the changeover above Gateside. Carnethy held their advantage with final stage runner Mark Johnson holding a healthy two minutes lead at the changeover. Westies pair Gary Tompsett and Chris Upson started the stage in 2nd place but failed to hold off the challenge from Shettleston, Fife and Lothian. Shettleston pair Jethro Lennox and Pete Walder clocked the fastest stage time of 48 minutes 22 seconds closely followed by Adrian Davis and William Law for Fife (48.52) and Lothian’s Ian Donnan and David Godfree (48.25).

With barely twenty seconds separating Shettleston, Fife and Lothian the battle for team prizes through the Lomond foothills back to Falkland was definitely on. Lothian’s Colin Meek and Fife’s Graham Bee engaged in keen pursuit first overhauling second-placed Shettleston before rapidly closing down on Carnethy with only 54 seconds separating the first three at the finish. Mark Johnson held on for Carnethy timed at 35:36 with only seven seconds between Meek’s stage time of 34:24 and Bee’s 34:31. Mark McColl held on well to maintain Westies in 5th position. Back down the field Welsh Commonwealth Games athlete Donald Naylor squeezed in with the second fastest stage time of 34:27 bringing Hunters Bog Trotters through into 14th.

RESULTS:

1 Carnethy HR 2:27:45

2 LothianRC 2:28:24

3 Fife AC 2:28:39

4 Shettleston 2:30:14

5 Westerlands 2:35:24

6 Shettleston Veterans 2:38:07

7 Ochil Hill Runners 2:44:36

8 Fife Veterans 2:44:51

9 Dundee Road Runners 2:45:41

10 Cosmic Hill Bashers 2:46:13

11 Lomond Hill Runners 2:47:09

12 Dundee Hawkhill 2:50:51

13 Pitreavie 2:51:08

14 Hunters Bog Trotters 2:52:47

15 Ochil HR Veterans 2:54:09

16 Standard Life 2:55:28

17 Westerlands Veterans 2:55:26

18 Lothian B 2:56:39

19 Westerlands B 2:59:36

20 Fife Juniors 3:00:44