Uists part 2 – Ben Kenneth

On Sunday we drove down to the Heather-thatched hostel at Howmore in South Uist and managed to get accommodation in what must be one of the most laid back arrangements ever….the warden was rarely seen and you left your money in a jar on an honesty box basis. Off we go to Lochboisdale to register for the Ben Kenneth race……cost £1 so good bargain….by race start 63 or so are all set to go and Lochboisdale is absolutely bouncing with mobs of people….and we’re off….the crowd roars and the 20 or so local footballers in the entry head off at 400m pace with the rest hanging on…..so quick that we’re at edge of the village before Davie Rodgers can get to the front…..then it’s 300m or so if rough ground and then……yee-ha!…..it’s a swim over the neck of an inlet in the sea loch…..about 20/25m or so after you’ve negotiated the seaweed and rocks…..bit of panic as tide starts to pull you to one side but soon over then up through rough section then steep pull to summit…..manage to beat Davie D and Colin W over water and they only get past me just before the summit and we’ve all been passing footballers all the way up the hill. On the way down I charge past the guys on the steep bit but tweak a muscle on the rough section which means I enter the water level with DD and just ahead of Colin….last effort gets me out of water ahead of both but lose ground to both cos can’t push with right leg. DD takes honours and finishes 11th with Colin 12th and me 13th ….with Joan minute or so behind in 14th. Highlight of the race was the swim which is really unique and the start/finish with the locals cheering, the car horns blaring. The prize giving is special also with everybody in the race being announced to the crowd for a cheer and receiving a glass token of the event. You dont have to swim although the drier alternative route costs you over 5mins and frankly you miss out on the best bit of the race. This is a classic and I will definitely be back. ….Davie Rodgers won in 30:23 with Craig Mattocks 2nd and Stuart Simpson of Ochils 3rd…..1st lady was a local lass called ? McPhee who was 4th overall and Kate J was 2nd lady

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