Two Breweries 2021 and the Moffat Eagle Hill Fell Run

A large Moorfoot contingent was in action at the Two Breweries long classic hill race from Traquair to Broughton on Saturday 25 September. Results available on https://twobreweries.org.uk/ on the results tab. Well done everyone taking part - a serious undertaking - Simon Hammond, Colin Williams, Nigel Shekleton, Thomas Jones, Kenneth Davidson, Alan Elder, Heather Young and Amy Capper

Great photos by https://www.facebook.com/michaelphilpphotos/

Andy Cox 3rd in the Moffat Eagle Hill Fell Run on Sunday. Great running. Results on the SHR results tab https://www.scottishhillrunners.uk/RaceResults.aspx

 

Amazing Adkins Cap Double Double!

Amazing Adkins Cap Double Double! Scout and Jacob both selected for the GB mountain running world championship team in Thailand in February, both in the uphill only, and the classic up and down events! Details here: https://www.britishathletics.org.uk/news-and-features/teams-completed-for-next-years-world-mountain-and-trail-running-championships/

Full report from Scottish Athletics on the British Hill Running home international and trial where Scout Adkin won an outstanding individual gold by over a minute, and Jacob Adkin heroics where he finished the race in 4th to secure Mens team gold, having fractured his fibula 'I was in a bit of pain but didn’t want to let the team down' and ‘Fortunately it is not a ‘proper’ broken leg,’ ! https://www.scottishathletics.org.uk/68105-2/

 

Iain Veitch wins the Roc Triathlons – twice – Wales and England editions

Having won the Starman triathlon in the Cairngorms in August Iain’s been at it again, winning another mountain triathlons, this time including run sections up and down the highest summits in England and Wales. What a fantastic series of performances and wins!

Last Saturday (25^th September) Iain won The Roc England. https://www.theroc.com/the-roc-england/

This consists of 111km with a total ascent of 6,916ft -

A totally unique race from Windermere to the top of Englands’ highest mountain and back again.

Commencing on the compelling Lakeside shoreline, THE ROC England starts with a 1.5km swim in the captivating waters of Windermere before heading off on a 45.5km bike route full of dramatic, exhilarating sections and plenty of hills before reaching Stool End Farm at the foot of the Langdale Pikes. The race then heads off on foot via Mickleden up England’s highest and most prominent mountain with over 3,000 feet of formidable assent to the summit of Scafell Pike and a 17.5km total round route up and down. The race continues on bike back to Lakeside ending with a 1km trail run to the finish line by Windermere.

Iain won overall in 5:10:09 – but what else would we expect giving his absolutely outstanding form! He completed the Scafell mountain running section in 1:09:41 over 6 mins faster than second fastest

Iain said:

It was a superb event. The swim is pretty straight forward in Lake Windermere but both bike and run sections were tough. You bike to and from the mountain with the run up Scafell Pike in the middle. The weather made things even tougher on the run. It was really claggy and wet underfoot but I suppose coming from Scotland I should have liked that!

And on only 4^th September he had won the ROC Wales as well and set the course record 4:42:40!

115km with a total ascent of 5,825ft
Commencing on the golden sands of Abersoch beach THE ROC starts with a 1.5km sea swim in the idyllic bay before heading off on a 50km fast and progressively undulating bike route into the Snowdon Massif. The race then heads on foot via the toughest route up Wales’ highest mountain along The Watkin Path, 6km of 3,330ft formidable ascent to the summit where you can absorb those exceptional panoramic views before heading 6km back down, 50km return cycle, culminating with a 1km run along Abersoch beach before crossing the finish line.

Nothing else to say other than wow and many congratulations Iain!

England results https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/event-results/events?event=3590

Wales results https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/event-results/events?event=3563

 

Weekend round up 18-19 Aug 2021 - Scottish Half, Eildons, Three Mealls

As well as Dean and Gillian's Loch Tay successes the was more Moorfoot action this weekend

Brian Smith raced in the Scottish half on Sunday. He said:

Great to see the return of mass participation events. The Scottish half marathon starts at Meadowmill sports centre near Tranent and ends at Musselburgh race course. Lots of support on route and a few bagpipers too. I started off too fast as usual and struggled into the wind on the 2nd half of the route. Missed out on my 1:30 target, finishing in 1:31:08. Maybe next time! Looking forward to my 1st full marathon at Loch Ness in a few weeks.

Link to results below: https://www.scottishhalfmarathon.com/results/

The Eildons hill race was on Saturday having been postponed from earlier in the year. It was the 60th anniversary and it was part of the Scottish Hill Runners championship this year and attracted a stronger field than normal years. A different route was used this year in response to COVID restrictions at the time of planning.

A very well organised event by Gala Harriers, many thanks.

There were junior races introduced this year and well done to Elena Lee third female in the Three Eildons 4km hill race. Results: https://www.galaharriers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Eildon-Junior-race-results-excel-2021-PDF.pdf

Three Moorfoots took part in the Three Hills Race covering 4.5 miles/7.1km and 1,500feet/460m ascent.

Milan Misak finished in a strong 17th position, Colin Williams 30th (7th M40) and David Waldie 71st (15th M40)

Colin said: 'Nice weather and I felt like I had a decent run - got carried away on the first hill and went rather purple with the exertion and then had two more hills to do!'

Results https://www.galaharriers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Eildon-Three-Hill-Race-Winners-2021-List-ver-1.pdf Great set of photos here from Michael Philp Photos https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=michaelphilpphotos&set=a.1012369422896561

Further north Pete Hall and Tim Warner were in action at the Three Mealls 18km Trail Race, part of the Salamon Glencoe Skyline race weekend. Tim said "It was a fairly challenging technical course, but really enjoyed it (and didn’t fall over!)."

Details here https://www.skylinescotland.com/trail-races/18k-trail-race/

Results here http://results.opentracking.co.uk/event/threemeallstrailrace21

Loch to Lawers 10K Race Report

 A few months ago Gillian and I entered the Loch to Lawers Half Marathon as we couln't make the Two Breweries.  Its looked a suitably tough substitute a race from the shores of Loch Tay to the summit of Ben Lawers.  On the run up to the race various niggles (and chickening out) caused us to drop to the 10K.

However it was still a stiff challenge 300m ascent from Loch up to the Ben Lawers Carpark and back down.  It was a lovely sunny day and a great trail up through the forest and hill side to the carpark before returning back down the same way.

Turned out to be a profitable day for both Gillian and I, I finished second and Gillian fourth (1st Female) so we won a few quid for a slap up dinner to the Motor Grill on the way home.

Results:

http://results.perfecttimingscotland.co.uk/Results.aspx?CId=20065&RId=90

A superbly well organised event by Tay Fitness who host a whole range of other races that look good too.

https://tayfitness.com/

Keswick Mountain Festival trail runs & Lake District Mountain Trial 2021 reports

 A few Moorfoots were in action in the northern Lake District.

Caitlin Richardson and Ben Brough did the Keswick Mountain Festival 50K Trail Ultra Marathon - actually 32.5 miles/ 52.3km with 5,500 feet / 1,700 metres ascent. Here's Caitlin's summary of their excellent performances - great stuff:

Sunday morning at the Keswick Festival brought perfect race conditions: dry, a gentle breeze and an electric atmosphere at the start line of the Terrex 50km race. The first climb of the race did not disappoint, looking back from the top we were treated to a beautiful sunrise over Keswick.  The route was excellent -   interesting (but run-able) terrain, thoroughly way-marked, 10/10 scenery, and five well-stocked feed stations. In total there were around 200 racers, and a good mixture of abilities. I would definitely recommend the route as a first off-road 50km race. Moorfoots were represented by Caitlin Richardson,  who was the fifth woman to finish with a time of 6:07, and  Ben Brough, who was 8th male in a time of 5hr36.

Full results here: https://resultsbase.net/event/5390/results?round=12710

Meanwhile Pete Hall on the Saturday did the Keswick Mountain Festival 25k Trail Race. Here's his report of a very respectable run:

Running for my English club, Cumberland Fell Runners, I took part in the 25km trail race at the Keswick Mountain Festival last weekend.  This was my first ‘race’ back for a while after lockdown and the inevitable lure of cake, biscuits and pies 😊.

The route was a clockwise loop of Derwentwater, starting and finishing on the edge of Keswick, taking in Ashness Bridge, Watendlath, Rosthwaite, Portinscale and back into Keswick.  25km/16.5 miles, 2000ft climbing….yeah, a nice day out.  With conditions set for 18/19 degrees, with high humidity, it was going to be a little tough for me (‘I’m a 5 degree runner’….as one chap said to me as we ran together)….with an entry of 460 on the day, setting off in small groups, we headed out at 11ish.  Steady running was the order of the day, hence I set off steady….slowed on the hills…continued steady and eventually slowed to a walk towards the end.  A great day out with great scenery, good crack with the other runners and drink station helpers and a less-than elegant crumble onto the grass at the end.  Makes you realise you do need to do a little more training that I had but that you can do it.  3:16:37, a little slower than the sub 3 hours I was thinking but hey….I’m still doing it.   And  its great training for the 3 Mealls Race @ the Glencoe Skyline weekend this coming weekend…surely I can only improve?? 😉  btw…winner did 1:48…..nice time
Full results here: https://resultsbase.net/event/5390/results?round=12709

Colin Williams was also in action in the Lake District Mountain Trial 

Described as  'Classic mountain navigation race over challenging terrain in the Lake District.  The Trial is an annual event held at different venues in the Lake District in mid-September. It is considered to be one of the major events in the fell-runner's calendar. All courses will be severe tests of route choice, navigational skill and stamina in difficult mountain country. Competitors on the Classic route will often cover 25 miles with 8000 feet of ascent and descent. The Medium route will be shorter (about three quarters of the Classic distance). Owing to the severity of these courses, applicants are vetted for fell-running experience.'

I was scared off by the Classic course as the medium still represented a considerable challenge to me. A smaller entry than previous years but I'm delighted to say I won the medium course in 4h08 - to be fair the big guns were in the Classic and the winning time on that course wasn't too far behind, but I'll take it all the same and was glad that my orienteering navigation seemed to be up to scratch apart from one poor route choice. All in all a great day out on the fells iand  contouring across rough ground was the order of the day. Full results here: https://www.sportident.co.uk/results/LDMTA/2021/LDMTA/

Borders Cross Country Series 2021/22 confirmed

https://www.bordersxc.co.uk/

News September 2021

I can confirm the borders cross country winter series will go ahead this year 21/22. Entries will go live soon:

7th November 2021 Lauder

28th November 2021 Spittal

12th Dec 2021 Peebles

9th January 2022 Paxton

23rd January 2022 Hawick

6th February 2022 Dunbar

20th February 2022 Chirnside

6th March 2022 Galashiels

There are a few changes on how the series will be managed.

A new wrist band timing chip will be used to allow a safer environment for officials and runners, in particular officials at the finish line

Each runner will keep their own unique wrist band and will wear this together with their bib number at every race. The wrist bands are light weight and robust and can be kept not only for this series but re-used for future races year after year. There will be a purchase cost of £5 per wrist band. Replacement bands will be available again at a cost of £5 each.

Senior Cost:

£16 for all eight races plus £5 wrist band total £21

Junior cost:

£10 for all eight races plus £5 wrist band total £15

To avoid congestion at registration all bib numbers and wrist bands will be posted out prior to the first race at Lauder on Sunday 7th November 2021.

To minimize mixing of junior and senior participants. The junior race will start at the earlier time of 11:00am. The Senior race will start at the usual time of 12 noon.

Organisers will follow the latest covid 19 guidelines in operation at the time of each race and will expect full cooperation from participants.