Goatfell, 16th May 2009

Bertie Wooster is Top Man Shocker!

It’s always a hard race, this one. I’ve been running in since 1981 ish and I still can’t get used to the descent, blinded by sweat, calves cramping up and ending up with a stitch. Every time I run it I feel the same, but I still come back for more ‘cos I love it?

Why’s that? Well, for one thing, Westies always seem to take away a few prizes; this year the women took away a trio. Ellie, continuing her road to fitness, was 2nd lady. The recently souped-up Helen took first V50 and finally Pauline took one of the Scott McKendrick-provided spot prizes. The guys got nuthin, well except for Hamilton who got a free a ride to the local hospital to get his gashed hand cleaned…..Talking about Hamilton, I never cease to be amazed by the trickle of interesting features that are revealed about this man. He confessed on the ferry over this morning to being a ZZ Top fan. Yes, that’s right I am tallking about Westies’ own Bertie Wooster here!!! More astonishing was that he also admitted to sporting ZZ Top long hair and matching beard at some point in the dim and not-too-distant past!

Yes, you heard it here first. For those in Westies too young to have heard of ZZ Top, google him and you’ll see how astonishing this revelation is!

Anyway, back to the race. It was a good Westies turnout. I just managed to stay ahead of Ellie on the descent as she whisked past old ZZ. Tony was next home; good to see him out again after Ben Lomond last week. Then came Helen (who cuffed Muffy on the descent), Muffy, Pauline, Pat and Myra. I think we all kind of quite enjoyed it…not quite as epic as Ben Lomond last week, but the macaroni cheese on the ferry home makes any amount of blood and pain just about worthwhile.

The only disappointment was not seeing Chris and David coming through Brodick on a triumphant ascent of Goatfell in the Islands Peaks Race. We were looking forward to cheering them through the village after we had finished racing. However, having been in a leading position after Jura, they were forced by heavy seas to give up and head for Campbeltown. Aw well, no doubt we’ll hear the full heroic story in due course. But what revelations can we look forward to…David R confessing to a 1980’s Boy George look perhaps…now that really would top ZZ!!!