Glen Rosa

After such a cordial invitation from Mannie to write a race report for Glen Rosa, how could I refuse, so here goes.

Friday night – 23:10, a thought crosses my mind. I wonder if Glen Rosa is pre-entry? A hasty look at the calender confirms my fears. Shit!! Murdo and I are equal on points in the Westies league, he’s entered and I’m not. A sleepless night folled by a 08:00 phone call to laid back race organiser Dave Freeman and all is well.

Saturday 10:00 am – it’s a glorious sunny morning on the ferry to Arran. Not too many runners on board. There’s 3 guys from Girvan A.C., Dave Cummins, who’s not running, Pete Buchanan and Eddie Dealtry from Ochils, ex-Westie Steve Abrham, a couple of Dundee runners, and of course Westies including Ronnie, Murdo, Drew (and Mgt), Steffen and Anna. If there was not too many runners already on the Island, then Westies were looking good for a team prize!

Saturday 12:05 – approximately 30 runners heavily smeared in Ambri Solaire are jogging out the Castle grounds in brilliant sunshine. This is what running is all about!!Everybody is in good spirits and the pace easy. Ronnie gradually cruises through the field as we enter Glen Rosa. We are in a group of about 12 leading runners, Murdo is lying about 8th and I’m on the back. Michael Diver of Clydesdale drops out the group followed shortly afterwards by Pete Buchanan of Ochils. The group starts to spread out as we flog up the rough slopes of Beinn a’ Chliabheinn. I can’t see Ronnie anymore or the group behind inc. Steff, Drew et al but Murdo is still in sight. The heat is stifling and every burn crossed demands a drink be had.

The first descent of the day into Coire Daingean allows me to catch up the next two runners, one of the trio of Girvan runners, and the 1st lady. I try to be clever and keep height as we contour through the deep heather and they sneak past below me. As we flog up Cir Mhor, Ronnie comes charging down with a commanding lead. I can see Murdo ahead and think I can still catch him. Murdo and I pass each other in opposite directions without him seeing me, leaving him puzzled for the rest of the race as to where I have gone! Descending from Cir Mhor, I re-pass the 2 runners in front of me and set off after Mindy. I see him contour under Cir Mhor and think he has gone too high. I drop lower thinking this is my chance to catch him but as I turn the crags, I see Murdo has got it spot on. Back to square one. I grab one last drink of water below the Saddle and set off after Mindy up the slopes of N Goatfell.

The lady from Carnethy catches and passes me again. She is a strong climber but relatively slow descending and I am confident I will pass her descending from Goatfell. I need not have worried however, because near the summit of N. Goatfell, I see she has made the classic mistake of going to the RHS of the ridge and is too far ahead to call her back! The guy from Girvan is a long way behind and I know as long as I keep him there, the team prize is in the bag.

The summit of Goatfell is a welcome sight. I know I can descend faster than Murdo and although I can’t see him get focussed on catching him. This is where I make the mistake of going down the tourist path instead of the direct route down into the coire, scuppering any chance of catching Mindy.

Mistake No. 2, I miss the turn off into the forest at the burn crossing and end up following the tourist path all the way down to the tarmac road. I panic as every walker I pass say they have not passed any other runners. Finally get back to the finish and cross the line from the opposite direction (much to the confusion of Dave Freeman who initially thinks I have retired) 7 minutes behind Mindy in 8th position. At least I didn’t lose any places!

The prize giving which was held early to allow runners to get the 16:00 ferry develops into a Westies rout, with Ronnie getting a bottle of Whisky and trophies for 1st overall and 1st Vet, Murdo got whisky for 1st V50 in 7th place, and more whisky and a trophy for me as 3rd counter in the team. Not a bad haul! Ronnie, Murdo and I left shortly afterwards to catch the boat.

To Steff Drew and Anna, sorry we were not around to see you finish. Roll on the next round of the Westies championship, I need to kick some ass at Cort Ma Law!