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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