Sunday 29 September 2019

Two Breweries Hill Race 2019


The annual Two Breweries Hill Race, 19 miles long and over 5,000 feet of climb from Traquair House to Broughton, was again a quality event. The standard was super high this year as it was one of the Scottish Hill Runners Championship series. Race day weather was pretty much perfect for the long tough race being cool and overcast, although there was a pretty stiff headwind when you were on the tops. The ground was pretty soft though after a week of rain everyday and with a field about twice as large as normal as a championship race it was very cut up in sections making it tricky for even the most sure footed. It was won by Tom Owens of Shettleston Harriers – a class runner and his first race since his 4th place at the Ultra Tour de Mount Blanc in 2:48.
Four Moorfoots were racing with some great results. Its often the case that the closer you live the later you arrive and that was certainly the case with all four of us in the last 10 to register (Colin beating Alan to winning the unofficial latest to register award).
In terms of the actual race Simon Hammond was first home in 3:37:20 in 44th taking the best part of half an hour off his PB that he set on his debut last year, next was Colin Williams in 52nd (3:41:06, 10th M40 – the 9th time I’ve done it), David Gaffney had a very solid debut in 4:07:41 (84th, 18th M40) over a race twice as long as he’s ever raced before, and Alan Elder finishing the race 6th time in consecutive years with another PB in 4:19:49 (101st and 20th M50) covering the course an hour quicker the first time he did it in 2014. Full results http://www.twobreweries.org.uk/#results
The race is still probably my favourite race in the calendar and being able to enjoy both Traquair Ale and Broughton Ales at the finish is an added bonus big thanks to Dave to driving!
We didn’t get any start line photos but Andrew Dancer snapped three of us on Hundleshope.




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