Christmas Handicap 2005

A few firsts at this year’s handicap. More fancy dressers than ever before, with John Hutchinson’s Tarzan, complete with monkey, and Blair’s waiter the best of the bunch. Pat won the event, having set out first and never headed; I don’t recall that happening before. Andy Freer was 5th…it must be a first for Andy not to be last; that honour befell Robert Gibson on his first race for Westies. Don’t worry, Robert, Andy was only last for about 12 years before he started getting a decent handicap.

Despite not running, John Donnelly, generous to a fault, donated many fine prizes, including a vintage bottle of Asti Spumante and a 1987 book on female athletics.

Despite suffering from a bad chest cold, Chris scampered round the course ( no doubt to avoid Drew getting ahead of him in the league) and Fraser ran with a hangover. Grimorr, complete with pinnie, made a pretty good impersonation of the chef Anthony Bourdain.

After the prizegiving in the middle of the road, we repaired as usual to the Carbeth Inn, where we were honoured by the presence of Big Al. A fine end to a fine event.

Thanks to Isabel and Margaret for timekeeping and all the other marshalls and supporters; Sally, Bailey, Karen, Fiona M, Gibbie, John D, Charlie, Fiona H, John H’s Mum, Pat’s Mum, Sandy.

Results:

Place Name H’Cap Time Actual Time

1 Pat 27:29 27:29

2 Muffy 27:36 22:36

3 Roddy 27:52 18:52

4 Ian 28:11 25:41

5 Andy 28:16 26:16

6 Helen 28:26 25:26

7 Nathan 28:26 18:56

8 Chris 28:33 19:03

9 Drew 28:57 24:57

10 Gavin 29:12 22:12

11 Blair 29:14 21:14

12 Grimorr 29:17 22:47

13 Fraser 29:30 19:00

14 Dave 30:14 21:14

15 Grm B 30:22 29:22

16 John H 30:35 23:05

17 Robert 31:04 24:04