Broughton Heights Scottish Champs Hill Race & Baddinsgill Round

The Scottish Athletics Hill Running Championships at Broughton Heights was on Saturday, which also incorporates the East District Championships and the senior/ junior trial for the Home Internationals in September. The weather was blisteringly hot.

The routes are explained as “mainly on hill paths which are generally good underfoot, though can be muddy in places in wet conditions”

Senior : 9.6km, 600m ascent/descent https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/3419982/Broughton-Heights-Hill-Race-Senior-Race

Under 20/Under 17 : 5.1km, 320m ascent/descent https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/3419998/Broughton-Heights-Hill-Race-U20U17-Race

Scout Adkin returned home at the weekend to regain the title having also won at the Eildons in 2016.
Racing in the vest of Ambleside where she now lives, Moorfoot Scout won the title went to in a close race with HBT’s Jill Stephen winning by 20 seconds in a time of 51:18

Scout said:

"it was great to be racing back on the hills where I grew up. It was a short race for me with no long climb to gain my advantage so knew I would have to go fast from the start. Although I think I went a bit too fast and underestimated the gentle undulating sections after the 2 main climbs on the course. The heat was also draining but I somehow managed to hold onto first on the final descent back down the valley (on the John Buchan Way route) to the finish."

Dave Gaffney was also racing, and by his own admission struggled in the second half, however was a able to put in a strong placing and finished 4^th in the East District M40 class, not far of the district medals. 

Also running was ex Moorfoot Lucas Cheskin in a very creditable 15th place.

Beth Hobbs was racing in junior Home International trial and ran superbly to finish 5^th in her U20 age group, an age class where she still has another two years after this one. It looks likely that unfortunately will just miss out on selection with there being only 4 places on team, however two more years to get there.

And in her first foray into hill running Edie Gaffney, aged 6, took park in the under 11 fun run and looks delighted by the signs of the photo below.

Senior results Scottish_Athletics_and_East_District_Hill_Running_Champs_2019

Junior results Broughton_Hill_Race_2019_Juniors

Baddinsgill Round

Sunday saw a lovely, sunny but rather hot day (verging on brutal) for this year’s edition of Baddinsgill Round hill race, in the Pentlands a couple of miles north of West Linton, organised by Corstorphine AAC. Despite the heat it was as wet and boggy underfoot for large sections as ever. Alan Elder and Colin Williams took part in a slighter smaller field than normal with 41 setting off, probably on account of the clash with Broughton. Colin managed to finish 10^th and 1^st in the M40-49 class (but behind 59 year old Colin Donnelly) picking up some well received specially brewed ale, with Alan having a solid run to finish 7^th M50. Full results at: here

Pikes Peak Marathon, Colorado, America
Jacob Adkin was in America at the Pikes Peak Marathon and finished a stunning 14th overall in 3:57:20, 1st in the young guns category (M20-24) in what is regarded the toughest mountain race in the States includes a 7,800 ft climb up to 14,000ft (4,302m) and then turn around and back over the 26 miles. It was won by Kilian Journet in 3:27
https://pikespeakmarathon.org/