merrick hill race 2007

A good number of Westies made it to Glen Trool for this SHR counter – Luke, Nige, Hamilton, DavidR, Pete + Elsie, Pauline, JD, Murdo, Donald and BrianBr with Keith spectating at a real rough stumble of a hill race.

Mild and overcast at the start, it was straight up from the off, stepping steeply through the bracken to the first top, the Fell of Eschoncan. Then wet trods through the tussocks and I’d found my position as the field stretched out, out of sight on the undulating hag towards, then contouring round, Bennan, we picked up what seemed an interminable wall in the cloud. Slow slow running, spurred on by Elke Schmidt closing behind, I clawed back Bruce Smith. Over Benyellary and more runnable across Neive of the Spit, then leaving the wall for the last slow pull to Merrick. Round the trig and into the teeth of a gale – turned out we’d had a tailwind. The rough descent off the Rig of Gloon into the boggy hollow was enlivened by being passed by front-marker Ray Ward with Stewart Whitlie in pursuit, who’d ignored just a few of the 500 cane markers at a crucial point. The winding ridge towards Buchan Hill was heavy going on wet path, well trodden seemingly by giant cattle. I gave up three places to proper descenders on the final runoff looking down on Loch Trool before the sting in the tail of a nasty stiff haul up to the finish.

Brian Marshall won from Colin Donnelly and Graeme Campbell, while Elke Schmidt took the ladies record. Nige had a strong finish for a fine 6th and Murdo and Pauline picked up prizes.