The Ben

Like most of Scotland on Saturday, Lochaber’s weather was just about perfect for hill running with high cloud and dry- except maybe just a wee bit too warm at sea level.

With the great weather a good crowd watched on as the field of about 370 were set of from Claggan Park by the race sponsor’s (Jack Holt of Clayton-le-moor) charming wife Susan, who relished the moment with a good 10 second blast of the air horn! – just as well it wasn’t a shotgun start!!

The annual sprint/fight/dash/shove/stramash around the park got underway and then out onto the tarmac mile to Achintee with Laurie (“but I’m unwell” aye right!) Anderson using his well honed elbowing technique trying vainly to stay in touch with the leaders Holmes/Jebb/Rodgers/Booth who were stretching the field well out before the hill.

A big crowd at the pub cheered us off up the pony track and other friends & family up to the stile made for a great atmosphere.

The hard work really began with the runable climbs up through the aluminium bridges into the Red Burn gully then the off path short cut at the head of the gully and in to cross the burn at the halfway.

Ian Wellock was giving me a hard time and we pushed each other hard gaining a good few places as we went, with Billy Rodgers (skiver should have been running!) shouting us on from the side.

We caught up with Peter Kennedy and Cameron Watson early on the screes and passed John Hepburn quickly before a good leapfrog battle broke out to lead our group of 4 and Adrian Davies getting a few photos as we went by. After a while I passed the lot of them from behind on a better line and pulled away, getting running quickly once the gradient levelled on the plateau.

Up there the temperature was beautifully cool and I saw Rob Jebb (summited in 58 minutes!) careering towards me with a massive 3-4 minute lead over

Booth/Holmes and Davy Rodgers chasing hard in 4th.

At the turn I counted myself as 12th in around 1:05, and got going fast down over the grey rocky plateau dodging in and out the streams of panting upcoming traffic, quickly passing the red vest of Horwich’s Steve Jackson, before charging headlong into the Red Burn gully were the scree is now so loose and sparse that stupidity favours the fast more than the surefooted!! On exiting the gully, the yellow peril of Stewart Whitlie came back towards me fast and was dispatched to the rear before hitting the muddy steps of the dreaded Green Wall, which with some relief passed without incident – other than a near very steep fall into the burn at the bottom!

Then it was then hard concentration back on the main track, with fast technical running and boulder hopping, and whizzing down the final zig zags above the youth hostel but with no one in sight to pull me on.

The awful road mile was at last reached with failing legs but clapping from the crowds told me of an approaching runner from behind (Cameron Watson) so I had to keep pushing back to Claggan and this nearly let me catch Eryri’s Dylan Jones…but not quite.

I collapsed on the grass a very happy 10th with a new pb and steady stream of runners followed with tales to tell.

Rob Jebb had held his massive lead to take his second win in this classic race which he announced as the “best race in Britain” and then touchingly dedicated to his auld Granny who had passed away just prior to the race.

Booth/Holmes were2nd/3rd and 3 times winner Davy Roger was first Scot home in 4th place.

Ochil’s Stewart Simpson somehow managed to finish, just behind 1st lady Sharon Taylor, with a horrendous gaping wound just below his knee, and LAC’s Neil Arnott crossed the line with a broken nose requiring 6 stitches – both casualties were credited with sub 2 hour times despite their injuries – superb efforts!

However good wishes must go to the runner who apparently keeled over with a heart attack on the tarmac on the way back and was whisked away by paramedics to hospital – fingers crossed he was okay?

The day finished in beautiful sunshine before the entertaining prize giving where Bingley cleaned up on the major prizes 1st male, 1st lady, 1st team with 2nd team Lochaber and 3rd Westies.

The hard earned and much prized Connochie Plaques were awarded to 4 runners including the race sponsor Jack Holt, whos wife was also doling out the silverware.

It was pointed out by our inebriated compere that it was 50 years to the day since the first lady upset the male establishment and ran, unofficially, in the Ben Race, and Kathrine Connochie herself was in the audience, received a huge appreciation of applause by everyone in the hall. How times have changed for the better.

The usual post mortems and plotting for next year continued into the small hours in the Grog & Gruel.

The few Westies there actually all faired quite well in the race with Nige still putting a 1:47 despite being ill in the run up to the race, Luke being 30 seconds on the right side of a new pb and with yours truly also getting a pb we collected bronze medals for 3rd team behind Bingley 1st and Lochaber 2nd – excellent result!

Chris put in a very comfortable 1:53, taking it easy before another European venture in a Slovenian mountain marathon this week.

Dave managed a cracking 2:03 but still managed to grumble in a puddle of slevers about not liking the race and still slow and …….yawn.

Mindy just beat 2;10 and couldn’t have suffered enough, as he was keen to go and watch the Scotland/Italy game straight after!!!

Nae Wummin?! Disgrace on you!

Next year it would be great if every one was on for and if these new club whippets were on the starting line. Just remember to get your Ben application away EARLY, VERY EARLY- Steffan?????

Thanks to JD for his interesting Ben List doc. it’s good reading, eh Dave?

Well done Westies!