Author: The Author

DON RITCHIE: THE HILL-RUNNING EXPERIENCE

Donald Alexander Ferguson Ritchie M.B.E. (1944-2018) became renowned as Don Ritchie, who was reckoned by a leading expert to be the greatest Ultra-Distance runner of the 20^th Century. Before he realised that road and track racing between 50km and 24 hours would be his best events, Donald took part in many Scottish hill races plus one in England and another in Switzerland. From his excellent autobiography “The Stubborn Scotsman”, here are a few extracts.

In 1964, he took part in two hill races: at the Glenurquhart Highland Games (near Drumnadrochit); and Knockfarrel (near Strathpeffer).

1965 featured Donald’s first attempt at the classic Ben Nevis Race: I completed the course in 2-10-21, starting and finishing in King George V Park in Fort William. My diary entry for the race included: We lined up at the start after being checked. There was a false start, but we got underway on the second attempt. It was a fast start, and I kept up with Peter Duffy until the car park. After we started on the mountain path, I lost a lot of places since I was extremely tired and soon had to walk. My back ached from stooping. I kept to the path all the way to the top where it was misty. There we were given a marker on a string, which you put round your neck. I made up quite a few places on the way down, although I had to take care not to lose control, as this could be very dangerous. As I was nearing the bottom the man in front of me fell, so I stopped and asked if he was okay. He said that he was so I continued; my legs felt queer when I started to run on the road again. I was soon back, in the field where we had started, glad to be finished. We were given lemon squash and a seat in the first aid tent. We got showered in the British Aluminum Hostel, and then high tea at K.K. Cameron’s. I enjoyed my day.

 In 1966 he ran two hill races in successive weeks: At the Glenurquhart Highland Games at Drumnadrochit on 27th August I ran in the half-mile handicap and in the one-mile handicap, finishing 7th and 3rd respectively. I then ran in the hill race and recorded my diary: In the hill race I ran easily with the leaders and was 3rd at the top and still in contact. I took the lead, from Mike Davis of Reading and Ian Grant on the descent and led onto the path but, by the road, Ian had taken the lead. I passed him and kept ahead back to the Games field, where I piled on the pace on the track so that I could not be caught. There were 19 in this race so I was pleased with my victory.  

After the Ben Nevis race the following Saturday, I wrote in my diary: went off quite hard from the start to get up with Mike Davis, who I had decided to follow. As we ascended the path, I was surprised that I found it relatively easy, compared to last year. I was able to run well and got past some runners. At the ‘Red Burn’, where there is a choice of route, I chose the path in preference to the scree, which Davis and a few others chose. I was still going surprisingly well and at the top I was 9th. I stopped to put my shoe on properly as my heel had come out. On the way down I was passed by about five runners, while I only passed one. I fell once but managed to continue and passed another fellow only to be re-passed further down. When I got back to the road my legs felt very queer and I was tired. I closed on the chap ahead but did not catch up. I finished thirteenth in 1-54-34: an improvement of 36 places and 15-47 over last year. Peter Duffy was 2nd at the top and finished eighth in 1-51-01, his best ever. If I try this race again, I require to get stronger, to be able to run up faster and also practise running downhill. I think that I will stick to the path going up. After my shower I had my cuts cleaned by a Red Cross lady. The coffee made with milk was very good.

Allan MacRae of Lochaber AC won in 1-43-49, from Bobby Shields of Clydesdale Harriers (1-45-49) and there were 117 finishers. Next day I was a little stiff, but not nearly as bad as the previous year, but my arms were very painful and so were my shoulders and ribs.

1967 included a third Ben Nevis race, after a second win at Glenurquhart: One Sunday in August I went for a training run up and down Ben Nevis while my Grandfather timed me and found that my time from the car park to the top and back was 2 hours. I was very tired indeed and stopped three times for drinks from streams. On the way down I became dizzy and had to stop and rest for some seconds. I tried a different descent and was quite pleased about it.

 At the Glenurquhart Highland Games at Drumnadrochit I ran in the hill-race and finished first in 20-44, beating Mike Davis from Reading. I took an early lead and flogged myself up the hill and reached the top first. There I was delayed as a woman from the Civil Defence insisted on signing her name on my race number. She presumably delayed the others by a similar length of time. I managed to stay in front on the downhill section and, reaching the road, pushed on and finished about 100yds ahead of Davis, feeling ill from my effort.

On the 2nd of September I was back at ‘The Ben’ race and finished 11th; my diary entry was: I felt easy for a start and ran with the leaders, but as we reached the hill I began to slow slightly and then ran with Peter Duffy for a while and felt quite good. Shortly before half way up we were enveloped in mist and it became bitterly cold as wind and a mixture of sleet and rain blasted us. By the time I was reaching the top, my hands and feet were numb. As I turned at the top I began to shiver as I faced the blast and could not stop shivering and could not run fast. My head began to feel light and I had difficulty staying upright. I strayed off the path on the way down and as a result lost some time. I began to feel warmer as I got lower, but I fell once. Eddie Campbell passed me going at a great pace, giving me a shock. I reached the road and managed to pass one runner and reduce Eddie’s lead from half a mile to 22 seconds at the end. I was disappointed at missing 10th place, which is the last of the medals. My time was 4-27 slower than last year due to the bad conditions. I was, however, only 2-22 behind Peter Duffy who finished in 8th place, the same place as he occupied last year. Mike Scott finished 30th, My club-mate, Brian Craig, after reaching the top, collapsed on the way down and was taken down on a stretcher suffering from exposure. He was taken to the Belford Hospital where he was given a warm bath to bring back the heat to his body. I had given Brian a lift through from Keith, so I was responsible for getting him back. He was released from Hospital at about 9pm so we reached his home in Keith at about 12-30 and I reached home at 2am.

Bobby Shields had won the race in 1-41-11 from Mike Davies who finished in 1-45-07. There were 131 finishers in this classic race that year.

In 1969 Donald won three hill races: On the morning of the 5th of July, I drove to Caol near Fort William, where I picked up my Grandfather and continued to Kinlochleven to compete in the Mamore Hill Race, which is 17 miles in length and is part of the Kinlochleven Highland games. My diary entry was: At the start I had thoughts of wanting to win this race and ran with the leaders, Ian Leggett and Peter Duffy, for the first three miles up and over the tough ridge. Shortly after this Leggett pushed on, Peter and I resisted going with him, and we were soon joined by Ian Donald and Bobby Shields, both of Clydesdale, who ran with us for a while. Ian set out in pursuit of Leggett and caught him while Shields went away on the rough section round the side of the Mamore. When I reached the top of the route with Peter, the leading trio were out of sight and by the time we had made our way gingerly down we were passed by another runner, so there were now three of us fighting for fourth place. On reaching the road my legs felt useless and I was unable to go with the runner who had caught us on the descent when he increased pace. Peter and I just ambled along as best we could but, after about a mile, I began to feel my legs were recovering, so I was able to run faster. I left Peter and about two miles later caught the Dumbarton runner who had been with us as we started the road back and also caught Shields. I was now 3rd and could see that I was catching Ian Donald. I caught and passed him and shortly after saw Leggett about 600yds ahead, but I did not think that I had a chance of catching him. However, I realized that I was gaining on him and I felt a cold shiver pass through me when I knew that I could catch him. I caught him sooner than expected because, as I rounded a corner, he was walking only 50yds ahead. In the lead I ran harder, determined not to be beaten now and began to feel quite strong over the last section through the town and into the Games field to enjoy my moment of success. Peter finished 4th. My nipples were bleeding because of my sodden vest rubbing on them causing two great blood-stained patches on my vest. The weather was bad with a howling gale and very heavy showers of rain. 

At the end of August: I got my work finished by 12:00 again and after lunch, drove to Glenurquhart and had just enough time for a toilet visit and warm-up before the hill race at 4:00pm. I had quite a tussle with Alan McRae and Mike Davis. Mike passed me on the descent, but I caught him on the road and after a brief pause at his shoulder I pushed on and beat him by 90yds in 21-29. Alan McRae, the winner of the Ben Nevis Race in 1966 was third. Alan told me that his training was 20 miles a day and an example was 8 miles in the morning in boots on a soft surface and 12 miles of fartlek on roads at night.

On Saturday the 13th of September I again finished my dairy work by midday and drove to Strathpeffer for the Knockfarrel hill race. Thirteen runners and Tom Mackenzie of Inverness Harriers, who was also an official of the North of Scotland AAA, had assembled there, but the organizers, Ross-shire roads, appeared to have forgotten about the race. We decided to have a race anyway and Peter Duffy led along the old railway line until bushes blocked our way. We found an opening leading up to the fields and Peter got out first and was 30yds away by the time I got through and could start running again. On the ridge I lost control and tumbled, which shook and winded me, so Peter pulled further ahead. A quick descent and two better than usual gate clearances brought me to within 10yds of Peter by the farm. I then ran hard to catch him and on doing so ran past trying to look powerful although I was feeling tired and doubted if I could hold the lead to the finish. I managed to hang on to finish in 39-33, which was 15s inside my previous best for this course. Peter was fifteen seconds behind and Joe Clare was third in 42-27. Tom Mackenzie happened to have three plaques in his car, so he presented these to the first three.

In mid-April 1970, Donald finished second (2.25.44) in the Shettleston Marathon. The day after, as I had been staying overnight with Peter and Rita Duffy, I went with Peter to the Chevy Chase 20 miles Fell Race from Wooller in Northumberland. I started off at the back of the field and jogged along and found myself passing runners one by one. It was a tough run and conditions were made difficult by the deep snow, mist and cold wind approaching the summit of Cheviot. I finished 18th of the 50 or so starters in 3-08. The winner recorded 2-44 and Peter, who lost his way at one point finished 12th in 3-04. I did not feel particularly shattered, but my left Achilles tendon was painful; it had been sore before I started this run. I wore my tracksuit during the event and I was glad I had because the snow had a hard crust, which would have cut bare legs when one’s feet went through the surface on each step.

 Completing this race a day after the marathon was not a good idea, for my left Achilles tendon, which had been damaged in the marathon, was made worse and on Monday I had a lot of discomfort on trying to jog. (Typically, Donald persevered and, only two weeks later, won a silver medal in the Scottish Ten Miles Track Championship.)

Two weeks after his very first ultra (The Two Bridges 36 miles road race), came Donald’s last Ben Nevis Race: After another week of the usual routine of driving, working, running, eating and sleeping I ran in the Ben Nevis race again after vowing not to do so last year. For some reason when the race started I was in the tent taking my tracksuit off, so I had to make up a 60yds deficit before I reached the back of the field and by this time the leaders were 100yds ahead. By the start of the Ben path I was 20th. I was pleasantly surprised at my strength on the climb and reached the top in 11th. If I could have run down with more abandon and my eyes had not been watering, I could have caught some of the runners ahead as they were definitely within catching distance. As it was, I feared becoming badly injured, ran down cautiously and was passed by 13 runners before reaching the road, which was disheartening, although I managed to re-pass 3 on the road to finish 21st in 1-55-02. After this, I decided, definitely, not to run this race again, because my downhill running was not good enough and I did not intend to try to improve this. Jeff Norman won in 1-40-45 from Dave Cannon and Mike Davies.

 In 1971, he finished third in the Mamore Hill Race and, not long afterwards, completed a very hot and tiring Enschede Marathon in Holland: A week later, on the 11th of September, I ran in the Cairngorm 10 miles Hill Race and managed to lead Sandy Keith by 40 yards at the summit turn. Thankfully I managed to maintain my lead to the finish, despite very painful blisters that developed under my heels from the fast downhill running on the road section. I finished in 1-15-31, ahead of Colin Martin, 1-16-58 and Sandy Keith 1-17-12.

 As Donald Ritchie learned to peak properly for ultra-distance races, he avoided racing injury-causing hill racing. However, a final two extremely hilly events are well worth mentioning:

1973: On Friday, 13th July, I travelled to Jura, for the ‘Bens of Jura’ hill race. This required driving to Kennacraig, by Tarbert on Loch Fyne, where I left my car and caught the ferry to Port Askaig on the isle of Islay. From there I boarded the Feolin ferry across to Jura, then caught the waiting mini-bus to Craighouse. I booked into the Jura Hotel and walked round part of the course, covering about 10 miles.

 On 14th of July, I had a very hard time in the ‘Bens of Jura’ race of 16 miles over 7 mountain summits, including the ‘Paps of Jura’ for a total of 7500 feet of ascent and descent. My diary entry was: The course was dreadful and, if I had seen it properly before the race, I probably would not have started it. On Friday there was a mist so I could not see more than the third hill. I started quite easily and at the first top I was 3rd and within catching distance of the leaders. I maintained this gap until the third top but, when I started the descent from this, I had to scramble down a cliff and then 2000 feet of a scree slope. My ankles got badly banged and cut so I could not run down the scree like the others and I lost a lot of ground. I felt exasperated and decided that my aim now, must be to finish in one piece, rather than race for a high placing. I lost a couple of places going up the fourth top, but I had moved back to 4th by the top. The descent from this one was extremely dangerous and I lost more places. We were now climbing the ‘Paps of Jura’, which had very steep sides and looked a bit like volcanoes but with pointed tops. At the top of the sixth, I was 7th, but the descent from this one was suicidal with a precipice most of the way round the North side. One competitor; John Marstrand started an impressive avalanche as he descended the very steep scree slope. I made my way painfully and slowly down some very steep scree. At the top of the seventh and final hill I was 8th and after stumbling down through the rough boggy ground, to reach the bridge, which was the last checkpoint, I was 9th. On the 3 miles of road to the finish at Craighouse village hall, I passed two and finished 7th in 4-29-13. Bobby Shields of Clydesdale Harriers was first in 3-54. This is a race I will not try again. I was the only non-hill-running specialist participating. At night there was a Ceilidh in the village hall, which we all enjoyed. The summits in the order of climbing were: Dubh Bheinn (1725ft), Glas Bheinn (1839ft), Aonach Bheinn (1636ft), Beinn A’Chaolais* (2407ft), Beinn An Oir* (2571ft), Beinn Shiantaidh* (2477ft) and Corra Bheinn (1867ft)  [* indicates the ‘Paps of Jura’.]

I could not run for the following five days because my leg muscles were far too painful.

1979: SWISS MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE

I had received an invitation from J.C. Pont, to run in the Sierre to Zinal mountain race in Switzerland, which I had accepted. I contacted some of my running pals to find if they would be interested in participating in this race and combine it with a holiday in France/Switzerland. All agreed so on Tuesday the 31st of July, with Graham Laing as my passenger, I drove to Birmingham via Kirkcudbright over 2 days. In Birmingham Mal Pickering joined us and I drove on to John Lamont’s home in Epsom. John Lamont had arranged for Graham to meet someone from Shaftsbury Harriers, with a view to Graham joining this club as a second claim member and he would not be going further with us. Ron Maughan joined us at John’s and we were soon on our way to Dover, with John driving his well-laden Vauxhall Viva. Rather than search for a campsite near Dover we slept in the car, fairly close to the seafront, after sampling some Fremlings ‘Tusker Ales’. We caught the ferry to Calais next morning and in the evening we ran for about 9 miles in Amiens. I had trouble with my left knee, which became swollen and stiff. For the next 3 days we drove down through France in stages: Vittry-Le-Francois, St Laurent, camping and running until we reached Chamonix. There we stayed for a few days enjoying the good weather and magnificent scenery and some challenging runs, one up to a glacier.

On our way over to Switzerland Ron and I ran for 73 minutes up to 6500 feet from Col de Montets, enjoying the scenery, cool air and sunshine. John discovered that he had lost his passport somewhere in Switzerland, probably at our last campsite. A telephone call to the site office informed us that it had not been handed in, so we were advised to go to the British Embassy in Geneva to get temporary documentation for John. We drove there, located the Embassy and after hearing John’s story an official did the needful. She also invited us to have our passports stamped with the Embassy logo, for its rarity value. Later that day we arrived in Sierre where I registered for the race and was given my agreed ‘expenses’ and the address of my host family, who would provide 4 days ‘board and lodging’. John, Mal and Ron entered the event too. We then had a day to relax before the race on Sunday the 12th of August.

The 6th edition of the 31Km Sierre-Zinal Mountain Race started at 08:00 and required 2000 metres of ascent.  I had to walk most of the early part, as did others because of the steepness of the ascent through the trees. Many passed me on this section, but later, when I was able to run, I pulled back a lot of places. When the path became narrow and stony I slowed a lot as I picked my way along. The views across to the mountains were spectacular when I got a chance to look. Also I became very tired and despite slowing I did not recover, which might have been due to the altitude of up to 2387 metres on that section. On the 745m descent to the finish in Zinal I lost many places finishing 129th in 3-20-47. John was the best of us three, finishing 107th in 3-16-43 followed by Mal, 118th in 3-18-42 and Ron, 300th in 3-48-58. There were 1051 participants listed in the race results booklet, which reflects the popularity of this race. There were 1117 ‘tourists’, who set off at 04:30 to walk the course.

*

Donald was a very good hill runner, of that there is no doubt.  It was not what he will be remembered for and his many ultra distance records will always take precedence in the minds of most.   There are others though, who did run on other surfaces but who were natural hill and fell runners.   Maybe it is in the genes!   At any rate the Shields twins, Bobby and Jim, were more at home on the hills than on any other surface.   Bobby had a whole series of victories in some of the hardest races, he was also second, after leading to the final race, to Dave Cannon in the first ever British Fell Racing championship.   Jim excelled as a vet and even competed for Great Britain in the world triathlon championships.    They’re up next.

One of Donald’s younger clubmates at Aberdeen University was IAN F. RUSSELL, who ran well over cross-country, hated road races but had a real talent for hill running, especially the Ben Nevis Race.

                                                                BEN NEVIS RACE MEMORIES by IAN F. RUSSELL.

Here are some memories taken from my diary and after talking with Helen (now my wife, and was my girlfriend back then). This was my daily diary, and not a training diary by any stretch of the imagination.

From a young age, I knew I could not run as fast as other boys my age, but I could run further! As I progressed through the school, I moved to cross country and hills. At Aberdeen University, I joined the cross-country club – the Hare & Hounds.

My first attempt at the Ben Nevis race was “unofficially” in 1968 (19 years old), at the end of my second year at Aberdeen University Medical School. I had never been up Ben Nevis, and my father and I went to Fort William for the day. I waited at the start of the hill path at Achintee farm and let the first 20 -30 runners go past, before “blending” in. I was pleasantly surprised that I was not left behind, but instead I was making my way steadily through the field. At the Red Burn crossing, I noticed that the half dozen or so runners in front of me left the “Tourist Path” and headed straight up. That suited me fine.

By the top, I was 4^th accompanied by another guy, and only 30 or so yards behind the front two and a similar gap behind. As we headed straight back down, I was aware the first two were gradually eking out their lead, but the guy in 3^rd place was doing his utmost not to let me past and, on several occasions, came close to a face plant if I came alongside him. Since I was a non-counter, I did not want him on my conscience, and I eased off and let him build up a 10 m lead. I was never aware of anyone behind me, and did not look anyway, not even as I grabbed a scooped two handfuls of water crossing the Red Burn at the bottom of the “grassy bank”. When we arrived back at Achintee farm, the leader was well gone, but the second man was only 30 – 40 yards ahead. My time up and down was 1hr 20min –I was surprised how quick it was. I had assumed it would be longer: it was shorter than many of my training runs. However, the time did not mean much to me, much more important was the fact that I could “hack it” with these runners, and I was very happy with that result.

On the drive home, I thought that if I could get a team together from the University, we should do pretty well. I should point out that I was on the border of the first team/second team – sometimes running as 8^th man for the first team and sometimes for the second team.

In preparation for this, I applied for a summer job at the Fort William Hospital, explaining in my letter, that apart from the clinical experience, I wanted to train locally for the Ben Nevis race. On November 21^st I received a letter from Fort William hospital that I had a job (Clinical Clerkship) for next summer, until after the Ben Nevis race:  first part of plan successful! Then Don Ritchie, Colin Youngson, and Charlie McCauley agreed to make up the team of 4.

On 27^th July 1969, I arrived in Fort William, checked into my accommodation in the hospital and went for a run up Ben Nevis. From this point on, on weekdays, my training after work was either up/down The Ben before dinner, or around the Peat Track. The nights I was on-call, I would work out in the physiotherapy gym for 30 – 60 minutes. Weekends always involved a run up The Ben at some stage.

However, on Sunday 24^th August, disaster struck. On Wednesday (20^th) I had run up The Ben with football boots, in the hope that the studs would give me a better grip. They were awful: no grip on stones and rocks, and they dug into softer ground too much on the way down, causing me to fall a couple of times – but nothing serious. On Sunday, I was aware that my right big toe was a bit tender, and as the day progressed, it swelled up. So much so, that at night I could not sleep, and went down to the wards for some strong analgesics. On Monday morning, the locum surgeon, standing in for Ian Campbell, prescribed antibiotics and sent me off to lie in bed with my feet up for a few days. On Tuesday, the lymph glands in my groin were swollen and tender. It was Thursday before I got out of bed and had a light session in the gym. Similar sessions on Friday and Saturday. From Sunday, I did manage some gentle runs on the road, but I felt totally wabbit, with my gut upset from the antibiotics.

Saturday 6^th September 1969 – Ben Nevis Race, starting at the King George’s Playing Fields, Fort William. I met up with Colin (5), Charlie (4), and Sandy Gunn (AAC) (1), but Don Ritchie never turned up.

As soon as the race started, I knew I was in trouble, I felt weak as a kitten, and had no chance of keeping up with the majority of runners as they sped off round the field and up the road. If memory serves, I arrived with the last few runners at Achintee. Then it was onto the “real” hill path, and I took my usual shortcuts, with a couple of guys sticking with me all the time. I felt a bit despondent that I was not shaking them off, but the three of us continued onwards and upwards. One of them “dropped off” quickly a few hundred yards before Red Burn, and as I turned left after crossing Red Burn to head straight up the hill, the other guy stuck to the path. I ploughed on, deep in black thoughts about dastardly fate, but I did pass one or two on this section. Then, as my route rejoined the path near the top plateau, who should I see coming up the track on my right, but Charlie and Colin. I “popped” out in front of them and asked what position they were. I seem to remember they told me they were 9^th and 10^th. Well, that gave my mental state a great fillip, and I thought that if we stay together like this, we will have a team prize.

As before, once I started to come down, I never looked behind, just concentrated on the ground and my feet, so I do not know which way Colin and Charlie went down. I did not lose any places going down, but as soon as I hit the tarmac at Achintee, I realised my legs had gone. I struggled along the road, eventually finishing 20^th (1:56:55) which, I found out at the prizegiving later, was enough to win the Kathleen Connochie Cup for First Junior. Colin came 30^th (2:01:40) and Charlie 63^rd (2:14:7). In the team event we were 4^th with Lochaber the clear winners with a score of 31, Vauxhall Motors (106), Clydesdale Harriers (110) Aberdeen University (113).

I missed 1970 as I was busy with my research thesis at the University during the summer.

And so to 1971.

Saturday 24^th July. I took a weekend off to enter the Half Ben Nevis Race. I have no notes and no recollection of the event, except that my diary notes I finished 4^th in a time of 1h 3 min.

Sunday 15^th August, I arrived in Fort William and checked into my accommodation at the hospital. Like 1969, most evenings were either Ben Nevis, the Peat Track, or the gym.

On Sunday 22^nd August I had a training session up/down the Ben with some of the Lochaber runners (Eddie Campbell, John Marstrand, and Donald MacDonald). My diary notes “beat all three. 1 hour 58 minutes from Claggan.”

Saturday 28^th August, John Marstrand took me in his Aston Martin to the Glenurquhart Highland Games for the Drumnadrochit Hill Race. He warned me to look out for a sharp left-hand turn through a wall on the way down. I was second at the top and then overtook the leader on the way down. But suddenly I was faced with a fence and I realised I had missed the turn. Cursing under my breath I climbed back up what seemed like an interminable distance to the gap. I finished 5^th.

Sunday 29^th August. My Last hard session before The Ben race. This was a race with the Lochaber Team and a few others. Again, my diary notes “beat them all”.

Saturday 4^th September 1971 – Ben Nevis Race – Claggan Playing Fields start.

Like last year, the runners were off “Like Bats out of Hell”, so I found myself having a “slowish” start, but I knew my times and my pace. I arrived at Achintee in the middle 2/3 of the runners, and then it was the hill path proper. I steadily passed runner after runner and, by the time we crossed Red Burn, I could count the guys in front as we headed up the steep scree section – 7 of them. I arrived at the top in 8^th place. On the way down, I passed a few of them, but then lost most of the places on the road run from Achintee back to Claggan. I finished 7^th (1:38:09) to win the Kathleen Connochie Cup once more.

                                                                                                             Ian Russell 1971:The end is in sight.

Saturday 11^th September 1971 Cairngorm Hill race.

Again, John Marstand gave me a lift. For this race, I was an honorary member of Aberdeen AC! At the pre-race briefing, I knew that this was not going to be a good day for me! Very strict rules about keeping to the road, and then when you leave the road, keep to the official path – and no deviation, no shortcuts – or disqualification will follow. As expected, I found the road running and the not so steep slope of the path not at all to my liking. Don Ritchie won, I was 14^th and we were the second team. I have no record of my time. It is not a race I would have had any great interest in repeating, as, for me, it seemed little more than a road race.

Although I did not know it at the time, this was my last hill race. The following summer I got married, then it was my final year at University, graduation and off to Australia.

(Despite giving up hill racing, Ian Russell went on to climb all the Munros.)

Ian added in an email:

“I noted Don Ritchie’s thoughts, which are included in his autobiography.

‘1965

After we started on the mountain path, I lost a lot of places since I was extremely tired and soon had to walk. My back ached from stooping. I kept to the path all the way to the top where it was misty. There we were given a marker on a string, which you put round your neck. I made up quite a few places on the way down, although I had to take care not to lose control, as this could be very dangerous. As I was nearing the bottom the man in front of me fell, so I stopped and asked if he was okay. He said that he was so I continued; my legs felt queer when I started to run on the road again. I was soon back, in the field where we had started, glad to be finished. We were given lemon squash and a seat in the first aid tent. We got showered in the British Aluminium Hostel, and then high tea at K.K. Cameron’s. I enjoyed my day.

1970 – his last Ben Nevis Race

After another week of the usual routine of driving, working, running, eating and sleeping I ran in the Ben Nevis race again after vowing not to do so last year. For some reason when the race started I was in the tent taking my tracksuit off, so I had to make up a 60yds deficit before I reached the back of the field and by this time the leaders were 100yds ahead. By the start of the Ben path I was 20th. I was pleasantly surprised at my strength on the climb and reached the top in 11th. If I could have run down with more abandon and my eyes had not been watering, I could have caught some of the runners ahead as they were definitely within catching distance. As it was, I feared becoming badly injured, ran down cautiously and was passed by 13 runners before reaching the road, which was disheartening, although I managed to re-pass 3 on the road to finish 21st in 1-55-02. After this, I decided, definitely, not to run this race again, because my downhill running was not good enough and I did not intend to try to improve this.’

I think his comments, compared to mine, show our respective strengths and weaknesses (see the last race in my notes – Cairngorm).

Unlike Don, I found the Ben race to be a fantastic experience. I have honestly lost count of the times I have run up and down it and I never once felt in danger of falling while running downhill (with one exception – again see notes).

My Lawrence Ripples were great shoes for this mountain as there is no traversing around or diagonally across contours – just straight up and down.”

Ian Russell also sent information about his earliest hill racing:

“By the time I was 14/15, I was doing most of my running on the local hills and moors, distances of 5+ miles. From my home at the bottom of Glen Fincastle, there was only one way to go – up! But I wanted to try my hand at the local hill race, Craig Varr, at Kinloch Rannoch Highland games (minimum age 15 yrs). Described as 1000ft to the top of Craig Varr and back, total distance 2 miles but feels more!

On August 15^th (1964), at the age of 15, a few minutes before the race, my father (a gamekeeper) introduced me to a gamekeeper (Sandy Masson) who worked on an estate near Kinloch Rannoch. There was also a local shepherd (John ???) who ran, and between them, these two had been the winners of the hill race for quite a few years.

                                                                     I took this photo from the starting point of the race, by the stewards’ tent in the 1960s.

                                                                      The red line depicts roughly the “easy” route up and the “hairy” route down the “cliff”.

                                                                                                  2017: hill runners getting ready for the start

After the obligatory lap of the games park, we were out onto the road. After another 600m, just over the Allt Mor bridge, we turned sharp left (North) off the road, up under the pylon line, straight up a steep “rabbit track” through the bracken and trees, and eventually we came out onto open moorland covered with heather and bracken. I could see a “rabbit” track stretching off in a north-easterly direction to the point of Craig Varr. John was leading, with Sandy and I tucked in behind. He turned to Sandy and said, “Who’s this wee bugger stuck on your tail?” Sandy explained who I was, and told him to go on, as he would show me the way up and down. But no one had to wait, and we were 1, 2, 3, over as many yards, at the top where, if memory serves me right, we got a “National Coal Board” stamp on the back of our hands! We retraced our steps for maybe 50 + yards or so, and then turned sharp south towards the rocky cliff face that is seen from the village. A narrow scree gulley between the rocks appeared and I was given quick “on the hoof” instructions how to tackle this. Sandy and I lost about 20 yards to John, down the scree to the wood, and never made it up again on the run home. Sandy and I finished together (2^nd and 3^rd) with a sprint finish about 20 yards behind John. The route we ran is not described anywhere.

The following year (1965) I went back. On the Friday evening (20^th August) my father and I went to reconnoitre the route. We walked up the hill and examined where the scree slope began. It can’t be seen from the “rabbit” track, so I wedged a dead tree branch in a rock to indicate where it was. Then we went straight down the scree and at the bottom of the hill we cut a path through the bracken so that there was easy access to the fence off the moor into the trees, and back along through the trees to the outward path where it left the road. On the Saturday (21^st August), there was no sign of Sandy or John. I won the race.

I never saw Sandy or John again, but I have since discovered that Sandy went to work at Balmoral and became head keeper. He has been mentioned in the Queens Honours list twice (Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO), 2001, 2011).

In 1966 I set a new record (20 min:20s) and won again in 1967 and 1968. 1968 was quite memorable. There was an army exercise going on, with soldiers camped out nearby. A few minutes before the start of the race two guys with muscles on their muscles approached me. They were army training sergeants. Someone must have indicated to them who I was, and they asked “Are you Ian Russell. “Yes”, I replied. “And you’ve won the race for the past 3 years?” “Yes”. “We don’t know the route, can we follow you?” “That’s OK, as long as you follow me”. And we were off. They tucked in behind me along the road and up the “rabbit track” out of the trees and onto the moor. They could see the “rabbit track” heading off diagonally up the hill. “Is this the path to the top”? one asked. “Yes”, I replied. “See you then”, they said, and off they went. They were at the top about 30-40 yards in front of me, and as they passed me on their way down, they both gave me a big grin, and said “See you at the finish”.

I got my hand stamped, bounded down the scree slope, and ran back along the path cut through the bracken. On the bridge, everyone was cheering, and shouting “You’re first Ian”. I was standing at the finish having a drink when the two sergeants came into the field and started to race each other – you should have seen their faces as they turned the corner of the field and saw me lounging at the finish! They were NOT BEST PLEASED, and rounded on me with a few very choice words – but the gist of it was “You told us that was the F—— way”! To which I replied, “No. You asked me ‘was this the path to the top, and I told you it was! And do you remember the last thing I said to you before the race started”? They looked confused. “I said, ‘That’s OK, as long as you follow me. But you didn’t follow me, did you?” And I walked off. I suspect that they were somewhat embarrassed at being beaten by a “scrawny youth”, and were going to have to take some “stick” when they got back to camp!

Another memory sticks in my mind. I came home from University for a long weekend, which turned out to be rather damp. My local “Munro” was Schiehallion (the 59^th highest Munro – 1083 m, 3553 ft) about 15 miles from home. Most of the path was OK for running, but there was (and still is) about 2km of boulder field to negotiate at the top. Unfortunately, I discovered I had forgotten my running shoes. On Friday morning, I drove to Pitlochry where, at the time, the Co-op shop sold “trainers”. I bought a pair and headed for Schiehallion. But by the time I was at the top, the “trainers” were wet through, and falling apart. As far as I could see, they seemed to be made mostly of what looked like cardboard! I took the laces out and wrapped them around the whole shoe to keep the uppers and the soles from separating completely. On the way home, I detoured to Pitlochry and showed the shoes to the salesgirl. She was horrified at their state and gave me another pair. On Saturday, I took some extra pieces of string with me – just in case. It was a repeat performance, but at least I had extra string to cobble things together. Once more, back to the Co-op, and I got a third pair. On Sunday, it was the same. On the Monday morning, en route for Aberdeen, I took the third pair back to the shop, and they gave me my money back! So, a cheap weekend of running up/down Schiehallion, 3 times in 3 days.”

Young Bobby Shields running in the Ben Nevis race

EXTRACTS FROM A PROFILE OF BOBBY SHIELDS by Brian McAusland

“Although Bobby Shields of Clydesdale Harriers ran on the track and the roads as well as over the country he really loved the hills and raced on them all over the country from the Kilpatricks in Clydebank to England, Wales and Ireland.   The Ben Nevis race is one of the most gruelling in the United Kingdom but if Bobby was a specialist in hill running, he was a specialist’s specialist in the Ben Race!    He was placed in the top ten eleven times.  He was 1^st 1967, 2^nd in 66, 3^rd in 65, 73  and 74, 4^th in 65, 5^th in 70, 6^th in 68, 7^th in 81, 8^th in 69 and 71 and eleventh in 64!   Furthermore, his eleventh in 1964 gave him twelve first eleven places in twelve years! Evidence enough of his ability and durability on the hills.

His best time for the event is an astonishing 1:31:58!   He did of course run in almost every hill every hill event in Scotland and we can’t cover them all over a 25-year period but some of the highlights can be listed.

*   Mel Edwards of Aberdeen was a good friend and rival who recalls the results between the two of them in the Cairngorm Hill Race in which Bobby won three times (1972, 1974 and 1979 when he set a record of 1:12:15), was second once (1981) and third twice (1974 and 1980).   The 1979 race was particularly memorable with Bobby winning in 1:12:15 from Ronnie Campbell in 1:12:19 and Mel in 1:12:22 – three runners covered by seven seconds after such a long and hard race.   He also set records almost everywhere he ran – the Maidens of Mamore is another example of that.

*   On 21^st August 1976 the one-off Maidens of Mamore race was held over Na Gruagaichean and Binnean Mor.   Bobby won in 1:43:40 with Ronnie Campbell second in 1:45:51 and twin brother Jim Shields third in 1:52:24.   Clydesdale Harrier and good friend of Bobby’s Ian Donald was eighth in 2:03:44.

He was well known all over the British Isles for his prowess on the hills having raced in England and    Wales and completed many feats of hill running endurance with the best runners of all time on the fells of England and mountains of Ireland.   He also ran for several different clubs on the hills and fells – eight of his Ben races were in the colours of Lochaber AC, for instance, and he represented Kendal AC in England and Lagan Valley in Ireland

When the British Fell Runner of the Year competition was started in 1972 Bobby led the competition right up to the very last race when Dave Cannon from Cumbria snatched it from him.  The competition involves selecting a prescribed number of races from three different categories which include short, medium and long races and adding the points so gained.   On another occasion Bobby shared first place. Dave particularly remembered finishing third in the Ben Nevis in 1973 beaten by Bobby and Harry Walker, another noted English Fell Runner and winner of the race.

 Not only a runner, Bobby Shields has also been responsible for two races that are among the most serious tests of strength in any hill runner’s calendar.  The race over the 95 mile West Highland Way is now established in the athletics calendar but few realise that it came about as the result of a personal challenge between Bobby and his friend Duncan Watson in 1987 – two of Scotland’s best ever long distance hill runners.   It is now in 2007 an almost over-subscribed event.

He also created the Arrochar Alps Hill Race with fellow Clydesdale Harrier Andy Dytch in 1987.   This one covered 21 kilometres, took in four Munros – Ben Vorlich, Ben Vane, Ben Ime and Ben Narnain – with a total ascent of 2400 metres and was used as a British Championship race in 1988.”

EXTRACTS FROM A PROFILE OF JIM SHIELDS (BOBBY’S TWIN) by Brian McAusland

Jim Shields, 352

Jim Shields joined Clydesdale Harriers as a 15 year old from secondary school and was a member of a very good group of half a dozen runners, including his twin Bobby, which won many awards at county, district and national level.  He emigrate to Canada for a short  spell but came home ran for Clydesdale Harriers on track and roads but mainly over the country and on the hills.   He ran in five Edinburgh to Glasgow Relays, took part in the Glasgow to Fort William Relay and even ran in the straight through Glasgow to Fort William race before it was a regular event.   As a good club man he turned out in County, District and National championships and open races.   

In the 80’s and 90’s he headed up a superb group of hill runners including Scottish Internationalists and record holders Brian Potts, Ian Murphy and Christine Menhennet.  He ran in all the top hill races in the country and took part in the Ben Nevis race no fewer than 17 times.  However, his knees and ankles did not take too kindly to all the hill running and he thought his career was over.   When subsequently he was diagnosed to have M.E. it really seemed that his athletics days were behind him.   The shortest walk was a problem and the illness kept him off his work as a painter with BAe Systems in Scotstoun.   But he never gave up and because of the problems with his knees he took up cycling and swimming as soon as he was able to do so.

Jim improved his diet and built up his fitness gradually. He took up triathlons and became so fit that he was selected for the M55 British team in the 2001 World Triathlon Championships in Edmonton. His finishing position was a very good 5^th.

In the last week of August 2001, Jim ran in the World Hill Running Trials in the Glentress Forest at Peebles and won his M55 age group race (over 8000 metres climbing to 1900 feet) by almost a minute and gained selection for the world event in Poland.   Came the race – the World Veterans Mountain Running Trophy Race – a month later and he finished second after a sprint for the line with a local man.   Jim’s feat of winning a medal in a major championship was unmatched in the club’s 116 years up to that point.   He followed the medal winning performance with a win in a local race the next day!   The trophy was much admired on his return but not as much as the actual race performance.

Jim went on running triathlons at home and abroad and winning Scottish championships but the performances in 2001 were to be the start of a series of excellent running in international events.    The four international triathlons that he competed in between 2001 and 2007 were as follows: 

• 22 July, 2001: Edmonton, Canada.   5th finisher out of 40 starters and 1st British finisher out of 11 taking part.
• 9th November, 2002: Cancun, Mexico.   24th out of 61  and 4th out of 18.
• 20th August, 2005: Lausanne, Switzerland.   1st overall out of 17 and 1st British out of 4.
• 2nd Sept, 2007: Hamburg, Germany.   11th out of 79 and 4th out of 19 GB.

There was also an international Duathlon in Edinburgh where he was 9th finisher in a field of 19.   The Picture below is of Jim on the podium in Lausanne in 2005.

He also ran in other hill running events – note the trophy below from the World Mountain Running Association Veterans event in Poland in 2001, and there was also the Australian Hill race at Pomona with the trophy below the Swiss one. The Polish one is interesting because he was beaten by a Czechoslovakian runner called Goetz Biemann whom he would normally have beaten.   They ran together the next day and Biemann told him that he would normally have beaten him but “yesterday was my day.”   

Jim Shields’s Trophy from the WMRA Veterans Championship in 2001 

Excerpts from ‘Stud marks on the summits’ by Bill Smith. Published 1985.

 “Brian Finlayson was born 3/6/47 at Falkirk but now lives in Edinburgh. He is employed as a bank official. Brian ran for Forth Valley Harriers before transferring to Lochaber AC in 1972.

He gained a ‘Blue’ for cross country at Strathclyde University after representing Scottish Universities. Brian won the 1977 North of Scotland cross country championship.

His interest in hill racing was a natural extension of this interest in hill-walking, rock climbing and snow and ice climbing – and later ski-ing. He climbed all the Munros by the age of 23 and before that had been a cyclist.

In the Ben Nevis Race, Brian Finlayson was a close second to Dave Cannon on three occasions: 1971, 1972 and 1974. These he considers his finest performances, since Cannon was a superb hill racer, who won the 1973 British Fell Running Championship and became a prominent GB International Marathon runner. However, Brian says: “My biggest regret, looking back particularly at the Ben Races, was not spending more time sharpening my speed on the road – and this cost me a number or wins.”

Between 1970 and 1976, Brian Finlayson won at least 25 hill races, including: Ben Lomond five times; Eildon; Bens of Jura; Cairngorm three times; Half Nevis three times; Goatfell; Glenurquhart; Creag Dubh; Melantee twice; and Lomonds of Fife twice.

He finished 7^th in the 1972 fells championship; 14^th in 1973; 4^th in 1974; 3^rd in 1975; and 14^th in 1976, but did not take the championship very seriously, since he did not believe in organising his lifestyle to conform with competing in certain races where points were available. For Brian Finlayson, winning the Ben Nevis Race would have been more satisfying that becoming Fell Runner of the Year.

“At my peak, going back to 1974, I trained hard in the winter months, up to 110-120 miles per week, and then raced frequently but selectively in the summer period. I recall a steady build-up in mileage and quality, with the finishing touches taking the form of fast, hard repeat sessions on a half mile 1:3 hill.”

He has not run a hill race since 1977, but has climbed in the Pyrenees, Swiss Alps and Yugoslavia, and in 1980 climbed Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya: “the latter by the technically quite difficult South Face route.”

Brian and his wife intend to continue their mountaineering pursuits and he has no plans to resume hill running: “I thoroughly enjoyed racing, but do not feel inclined to race again at a time when I am not ‘racing fit’. Rather it was a phase in my life about which I have wonderful memories – and I plan to keep it that way.” 

Hill runners are very gregarious people – they all know that just to run and finish most hill races takes a lot of training, a lot of determination and a life style that most can’t contemplate.  The Shields twins are no different and Bobby is seen above starting an epic run with Mel Edwards.   Mel was one of the kindest and most gentle men you could hope to find but you can’t do the running he did, turn in the times he did or collect the scalps of other runners by being gentle with yourself.   He was an amazing person and a superbly talented runner while always being considerate of others.   There is the story of him going for the train home after winning the 1967 Harlow Marathon and sharing the carriage with a really depressed man.   He asked what the problem was and he said he had run the Marathon and run badly and finished last.   Mel thought for a minute and asked what the man’s position was, he was told and he then said that the man had beaten several other runners who had dropped out. “At least you had the guts to finish!” Mel said. And he added they had all trained for the race, so the guy’s run wasn’t that bad.  By the time the train reached the next stop, the chap was feeling much better.   The next page here is about Mel as a hill runner. 

..

Roger Boswell (Lochaber AC) wrote: “It was Eddie’s idea to do the Lochaber Marathon, Lochaber Half Marathon, Glasgow to Fort William Relay, Fort William to Inverness Relay, Four Tops Race, Aonach Mor Race, Peat Track Clockwise, Peat Track Anti-Clockwise, Lairig Ghru Race – all these while I have been around Fort William. I wouldn’t mind betting that Eddie had a hand in the Melantee, Half Nevis and Spean Bridge Road Race (the forerunner of the Glen Ten). I’ll not forget Eddie. Thanks, Eddie.

Colin Youngson (Aberdeen AAC) remembered: “Aged 21, I raced against Eddie in 1969, during my first marathon (Inverness to Forres) and then at my one and only Ben Nevis Race. Thereafter, I stuck to marathons, since there were no scary downhills! In the late 1980s and early 1990s I got to know this unforgettable, charismatic man a lot better, especially when I raced the Lochaber Marathon, when he was the most enthusiastic, supportive organiser imaginable. It was a privilege to be one of his many admirers.”

(A challenging event was ‘The Three British Tops‘ (Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis) in which fell runners were driven in a car between runs. In 1956, two cars left Fort William for the inaugural record attempt. Three times Ben Nevis race winner, from Lochaber AC “bricklayer Brian Kearney” was to do the running. The start was from Caernarvon Quay at 23.30 on July 7th and the finish at Pier Head, Fort William 15 hours and 23 minutes later. Snowdon was run in darkness and mist, Scafell Pike in rain  and Ben Nevis in rain. Subsequently, the record was reduced by four Englishmen: from north to south Mike Turner of Liverpool in 1963; from north to south, George Rhodes of North Staffs in 1964; Peter Hall of Barrow (from north to south later in 1964) and in 1971 by Jos Naylor (from Fort William to Caernarvon in 11 hours 54 minutes). In 1973, Eddie Campbell created a new Veteran’s Record of 13 hours 22 minutes for this same north to south route, having been chauffeured by the Ben Nevis Race Association chairman, George McPherson.)

Leen Volwerk, who edited  “Eddie Campbell: An Appreciation”, published in 1997, which contains many tributes to the late hero, wrote the following:

“Eddie will not be running the Ben Race this year; nor did he run it last year. It will take many of us a long time to get used to the idea of a Ben Race without Eddie. His death is a watershed in the history of the race: we have now entered the post-Eddie era.

No one comes close to matching his distinguished record in the Ben Race: first three times; in the top ten ten times; started and finished forty-four times; a continuous presence in the race from 1951 and 1995. He was as much a part of the race as the mountain itself.

Eddie, always a striking figure in his later years, as befitted one who was different from the ordinary man, was a legend for his Ben Nevis exploits but there was a lot more to the man. He was inspirational to a host of runners both in Lochaber and in the wider world. Some top-class runners relied on Eddie’s guidance when they attempted record-breaking runs on the Ben or other Lochaber mountains. His drive and resourcefulness led to a lot of new races entering the race calendar as a memorial to his energy and enthusiasm. We owe a lot to Eddie.

Essentially a modest man, he was still quietly confident of the work of his own achievements. This was what gave him the serenity and dignity which characterised him. All of us who knew him felt privileged to do so. He had presence. In a sense, he still has. As a former Ben Race winner, Allan MacRae of Assynt, wrote: “Eddie may be gone, but the challenge of the race remains. Other runners come and go, but Eddie has left an indelible mark on the history of the race.”

Runners, remember Eddie at the summit cairn today; he was once as tired and inspired as you.”

*

There were lots more tributes to this remarkable man, one of the best was this one which appeared in the Fell Runner of February, 1997

*

We didn’t see Eddie running in the central belt too often but there was one year when he ran in the Edinburgh to North Berwick 22.6 miles race and was asked at the end by Jack McLean of Bellahouston why he wore such long shorts – “They add minutes to your time, Eddie!”   Eddie looked at him and said with a straight face, “If you lived where I lived, you’d wear shorts this length as well!”   He had a sense of humour.   One of the big challenges in the North of Scotland is the Ramsay Round which comes next.

..

Hugh passes Paul Ross  on the third stage of the Edinburgh – Glasgow Relay on which he caught 8 other clubs.

Hugh Forgie trained with our squad at Coatbridge from about 1983 to 1986 or ’87.   He was already a successful athlete, having been coached by Alex Perrie to many good performances.   A member of many excellent Law & District teams from the time when he was in the Youth Team that won both the Midlands & National Cross- Country titles in 1973.  On the Track he was a Scottish Internationalist and won the Silver medal in that event in the Scottish Championships in 1979.  He also gained the Silver Medal in the British Indoor 1500m final behind Seb Coe.   He had that medal and its ribbon above the mantelpiece in his Carluke home for some time.   In 1980 and 1981 Hugh was a member of the Law Senior Men’s Team that won the West District Cross- Country Championships.   A very good athlete indeed.

He was also a great character and an asset to any team or squad that he ran with.   For a proper review of his career, read the appropriate obituary on his club website: you’ll find it at   http://www.lawaac.co.uk/news/latest-news/1084-remembering-club-athlete-hugh-forgie

Paul Ross, the runner just behind him in the photograph above described him as one of the best guys he ever trained with.   And he was well liked by all in the group.   Look at the runners in the photograph below – as well as Hugh (or Shug as he was always called) you’ll see Sam Wallace , Alex Gilmour, Graham Getty, Jim Orr, Susan Crawford and other very good athletes as well as some who were not quite as good.   But Shug (8th from the left) treated them all the same and was respected by them all.

At that time he drove a Ford Cosworth car – very fast car which he drove fast!   There are lots of good stories about him – and I’ll tell just a few.    The squad  grew and Hugh clearly liked it – helped it grow, always asked before he invited anyone along – Kevin Snowball, David Marshall, Alex Gilmour, Billy Nelson were all recruited in the first instance by Hugh.   What was he like?

*

One year in the mid eighties before running the third stage of the Edinburgh to Glasgow  he came to me and said what was it like.

Undulating,  I said. At the end, after a very good race indeed in the course of which he picked up 8 places,  he came to me and said, “Undulating? Undulating? Ah couldnae fin the doonhill bits!” 

(The Wikipedia entry for Fell Running, states: The Ramsay Round, also known as the Charlie Ramsay Round, is a long distance hill running challenge near Fort William, Scotland. The route is a circuit of 58 miles, taking in 24 summits with a total climb of around 28,500 feet. Ben Nevis, Great Britain‘s highest peak, is included in the route along with 22 other Munros. Originally, all 24 summits on the Ramsay Round were Munros, but Sgorr an Iubhair was declassified as a Munro in 1997. The route was devised by Charlie Ramsay as an extension to an existing 24-hour walking route, and first completed by Ramsay on 9 July 1978.

Charlie’s completion created Scotland’s Classic Mountain Marathon. The aim is for participants to complete the route, on foot, within 24 hours. Runners must start and finish at the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel, and may run the route in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction.)

These challenges were/are serious and the men to tackle them are all good, strong and clever men.   You can’t navigate the Ramsay Round, for example, without being able to read a map.   I once sat in on Bobby Shields and his brother Jim talking about a run over many miles of the Scottish Highlands and they were reading the maps as you or I would read a book.   No hesitation, contour lines taken as read, assumptions about the nature, steepness and an automatic, at times unspoken, spotting of the best line to take.    

One man who could run equally well on Road, and Hill was the great Donald Ritchie.    There is another very good article on the Ramsay Round at this link .

…

One of the lesser known tracks in Glasgow was called Stanalane.   There are many buildings, churches and houses known as ‘standalane’ because of their lonely position and it is possible that Stanalane Road in Thornliebank was named after one of those.   Thornliebank is part of  Greater Glasgow, 6 miles (10 km) south of Glasgow city centre, and just outside the city’s administrative boundaries and is now part of the East Renfrewshire local authority.   It was set in woods; quite scenic but it is now gone to make way for a new road into a new housing estate.   The track was home to the venerable West of Scotland Harriers – at one point contesting the position of Scotland’s number one club with a host of champions and championships to its name and many of its athletes represented Scotland internationally.   It was like other small tracks and sports venues where many an athlete started in the sport, learned his trade and is fondly remembered by all who used it.   Norrie Dallas of West of Scotland Harriers looks back nostalgically with this beautiful piece.

Stanalane – memories of one harrier’s spiritual home

My first thought. I don’t know much about Stanalane. And then.

I joined the West of Scotland Harriers’ Club in September 1962, prior to that I probably didn’t know Stanalane existed.The small park about 6-7 acres on two levels just south of Spiers Bridge at the start of the Stewarton Road, was looked after by Rouken Glen Park. The lower part was grassland with a wide winding cinder track leading up from the entrance to the back of the pavilion. The black cinder track, at the upper southerly end of the park, was about four lanes wide, although much wider on the long home straight and was D shaped with the pavilion being half way along the vertical leg of the D with two tight bends coming into and out of the home straight, two short straights and a long bend. I understand the track measured 441 yds. (but there are other versions of the weird distance). I was also told that it was laid out for pony trotting, but I doubt if that would be so because of the shape, which I think would be due to the configuration of the site. There was also a long jump pit and board at the far end and a shot circle, (no stop board), at the start of the home straight both outwith the track. In the centre was a cricket wicket that appeared well maintained during the season and was used for home matches by Thornliebank CC and occasionally by Weirs Recreation Second II.

Concrete steps led up from the lower end of the park to the track level. The pavilion, about 7.2 x 3m, was of brick construction to the concrete and granolithic floor level and above that timber framing clad in weatherboarding painted green and topped by a corrugated pitched roof. Timber steps the full width of the pavilion took us to decking and the two changing rooms. We always used the left-hand room which had a kitchenette with a sink, gas ring and a large gas geyser whose pilot light occasionally went out and when relit went on with a loud pop that shook the whole contraption. There was no heating or lighting of any kind. Along the gable wall was a hinged bench, closed in to the front, which gave storage space for cricket items. Behind the door and under the window there was a slatted massage table which I was told had come from a Clyde rowing club via Govanhill Baths and had been carried to Stanalane. In the back corner the glorious single shower welcomed muddy tired elated harriers who crammed in. All that was the Left Hand room, the Right Hand being similar but without the kitchenette or massage table. On my very first run with the club we also used the Right Hand room. At basement level there was a 3rd changing room with shower and was used by the Stanalane Stompers (see below) during the summer when there was a cricket match.

After winter runs which often ended in the gloaming, we were welcomed by Johnny Todd with a cup of tea and two tea biscuits which never tasted better. We paid about 4d or 6d. Johnny Todd (always Mr) and Bob Smith (always Captain re his BB connections), were both still running in the early 60s. Only once did Mr Todd refuse to let us run and that was due to very thick fog. 

The pavilion was normally opened for us by Donald Fletcher (always Donald). He was the only park keeper at Rouken Glen, and was always uniformed. Other employees would be mainly gardeners I presume. Donald lived in a stone-built cottage on Rouken Glen Rd next to a park entrance ‘til retirement and Woodfarm thereafter. Sometimes he would leave us to lock up, which allowed him to get round the Glen’s gates before it was pitch black. We left the keys under the large roller that was chained and padlocked to the balusters at the LH end of the step

The Stanalane Stompers were a fluid pack of runners from a number of clubs that met on a Saturday afternoon and ran over the roads south of Stanalane by the Barrhead waterworks, Neilston and beyond covering generally about 8 1/2 to 18 miles. Gordon Porteous, Emmet Farrell (both Maryhill Harriers) and Gavin Bell (Bellahouston Harriers) were the ringleaders but Andy Forbes of Victoria Park was also a semi regular face. We would all set off together leaving the park at the far end and break into two packs after about 1/2 a mile. The last 2 1/8 miles were a welcome downhill. The sun always shone at least for the summer runs (funny how you block out grotty weather) and it was weary runners that crowded into the single shower. When cricket matches were on it was nice to relax sitting on the steps in front of the pavilion to the sound of leather on willow. Inevitably after a few balls the players would come in for a tea prepared by the ladies. Civilized game this cricket.

One Saturday afternoon Danny Cowan of Maryhill Harriers and I took a number of the boys over a hillside field on the left of the Stewarton Road just beyond Deaconsbank golf course. We had never run there before, all our country trails being on the other side of the road. We were bowling along near the edge of the field when a Land Rover stopped on the other side of the fence and a well-dressed lady alighted and asked us very politely if we wouldn’t run over the field as she was concerned about damage to the fences due to their condition. We chatted and readily acceded, the field being pretty boring anyway. On cue, Danny rested his foot on the fence rail and it snapped. 

The following is a Stompers tale. Rab and George were two quite elderly runners; possibly Vicky Park. They sometimes came to Stanalane on a summer Saturday afternoon, and, always going out together after the pack had left, enjoyed a short slow-ish run together, usually being changed by the time we returned. One day I entered the park first, just in time to see George disappearing down the steps. The rest of the boys returned shortly and we realized that there was a set of extra clothes on a peg. “Must be Rab’s.” I said. I volunteered to see if I could find him and jogged up the Stewarton Road where I found him opposite the rugby club, making his way very slowly. “Hi Rab, you ok?” “Two left feet today,” he replied. “Aye, we all have runs like that sometimes.” “No, no,” he went on, “I really do have two left feet. I have two pairs of running shoes the same and in my haste to get out I grabbed two lefts, but just decided to have my run anyway.” We made our way back, one hobbling, the other mulling over the sanity of runners.

The last run from Stanalane was on Saturday 15th of January 1977, (no bugles no drums). The next week was the Western District CC at Loudon Castle, Galston and then it was Eastwood Baths. The lower park to the north is now a wooded bank at the roundabout to the east end of the Rouken Glen Road which is now re-aligned to take account of new houses and a new road layout. The flat southern end that was the site of the pavilion and track housed a new Deaconsbank Golf course club house with a driving range and is now the location of a David Lloyd sports centre.

Stanalane was everything it should be for a cross country runner or a road-runner; rural, picturesque and with basic facilities that just mirrored the sport. What more could you ask? If you stand there on a still and peaceful autumn evening you might just hear a distant pop. The geyser’s gone out again!

Norrie Dallas

Still in two relationships – one to my lovely wife and the other, the West of Scotland Harriers.

***

Hamish Telfer, a friend of Norrie’s has his own memories of the track and describes the venue as he remembers it.

There had been marathons held in and around Edinburgh before the 1980’s with some having been run in connection with the Edinburgh Highland Games, the SAAA Marathon Championship had been held from Meadowbank,  and before that from Falkirk to Edinburgh, but the races held during the years of the ‘marathon boom’ in the 1980’s were different and not just because of the size of the fields.   Colin Youngson has compiled this list of the races held at that time.

1982   

5/09/1982 EDINBURGH Marathon  ENG 7 SCO 23 NED 25 1 Dave Ellis (ENG/Birchfield) 2:21:09, Bill Cain (ENG/Saltwell) 2.21.20, 3 Lindsay Robertson 2:21:43, 8 Sandy Keith 2:30:39, 12 Craig Ross 2:34:00. This included an International Match, with Lindsay Robertson, Sandy Keith and Craig Ross representing Scotland.

[As well as (like Craig Ross) running International Marathons for Scotland, Sandy Keith and Lindsay Robertson ran several for Great Britain.] 

1983

                                                                                                                                  1983 results

In 1983 there were three very good marathons for Lindsay Robertson of Edinburgh AC: in Barcelona, London and Edinburgh where he won in 2:21:36.

Lindsay Robertson, a Scottish and GB International Marathoner, wrote: “In 1982 I ran my first marathon in June in the AAA at Gateshead. Edinburgh, in September was my second marathon. I had already sent in an application form for the race when I was selected for a three-man Scottish Team for it, consisting of Sandy Keith, Craig Ross and myself.

One funny thing I recall was that there was a Dutch team in 1982. A day or two before the race we were driven over the course. The Dutch were in the car behind and signalled to us to stop. This was on Lauriston Farm Road, I think, which is a big hill. They emerged from their car looking unhappy and one said they would have big problems. They had been told that the Edinburgh Marathon was on a flat course!

I was 3rd in 1982 and first in 1983 and 1984. I didn’t run it in ‘85 because of the European Cup Marathon (running for a GB team) and not in 1986 because of the Commonwealth Games Marathon (selected for Scotland but sadly, due to injury, could not start). I think 1986 was the last time the Edinburgh Marathon was run before being ‘resurrected’ in its current format.

Someone told me that in 1985, as the leading pack went past somewhere, someone shouted ‘Come on Lindsay, you’ll win!’ Someone else called out ‘It’ll be a bloody miracle if he does. He isn’t running this year!’’

                                                                 Left to right: Ian Elliot, Alec Robertson, Lindsay Robertson, with Dave Ellis hidden behind

1984 was a good year for Lindsay Robertson, the hard-training, clean-living runner from Edinburgh Athletic Club. He started the year by finishing an excellent 6th in the hilly and very competitive International Barcelona Marathon. His time was 2.16.15. A winning performance in the Edinburgh Waverley Market Marathon reduced his personal best to 2.15.55, with Evan Cameron, a 1983 Scottish International cross-country runner, in second place breaking the 2.20 barrier in 2.19.34.

“September 2nd.   EDINBURGH MARATHON.   Lindsay Robertson, Edinburgh Athletic Club, the defending champion and home favourite set a course record and a personal best in winning this year’s Edinburgh Marathon in a time of 2:15:55 (his winning time last year was 2:21:35.   A field of 3,597 runners lined up outside Meadowbank Stadium at 8:30 am on Sunday morning, with light rain making the conditions perfect for the runners.   As the race got underway, a group of four runners were immediately to the fore.   The group contained Lindsay Robertson (EAC), Evan Cameron (Edinburgh SH), Alec Robertson (ESH) and the winner of the first Edinburgh Marathon in 1982, Dave Ellis of Birchfield Harriers.   By the time they had run two miles, this group was 100 yards clear of the next runner with the rest of the field starting to settle into their pace.   As the runners reached Princes Street they were being caught by Brian Emmerson of Teviotdale Harriers.   However, soon after catching the group he was again dropped and they continued to push on.   Lindsay Robertson at this point was doing most of the front running and it was good to see the Scotland squad in a 1,2 and 3 position with Dave Ellis still with the group but not looking very comfortable.   By halfway, Lindsay Robertson and Evan Cameron had broken away from Alec Robertson and Ellis.   It looked certain that one of these two would be the winner as they sped through 16 miles with most of the field quite far behind.   Robertson, still doing most of the front running, started to pull away from Cameron as they ran along Cramond sea front and by 19 miles he had opened a gap on Cameron.   Looking stronger all the time, Robertson pulled further away from Cameron and entered Meadowbank Stadium to a huge roar from the crowd as he sprinted down the finishing straight like a 1500m runner and clocked 2:15:55.   There was a wait of over three and a half minutes for Cameron whose time (2:19:34) was still inside the course record.   Bill Venus of Exeter Harriers pulled through strongly to take third place.   Lindsay Robertson, on winning, is now faced with a dilemma: whether to take advantage of his first place prize, a full expenses paid trip to the New York Marathon, when he is earmarked to compete for Britain in an international event in Czechoslovakia around the same date.” 

                              1984: Lindsay Robertson leads from his Scotland team-mates Evan Cameron and Alec Robertson. Dave Ellis of England follows.

Alec Robertson remembers: “I ran the Edinburgh Marathon in 1983, 1984 and 1985. It was a well-organised event. In 1983 I finished fourth in 2.28.45; 1984 16^th in 2.31, having suffered a stitch; and in 1985 11^th in 2.28.10.

In 1984 I was part of the Scottish team (with Lindsay and Evan) and we received complete International kit: vest, shorts, tracksuit and even shoes!” Unfortunately, England did not send a complete team, so Scotland won unopposed.”

1985 1/09/1985 EDINBURGH Marathon  SCO 3  WAL 8  IRL 11 ENG 14  1 Mike Carroll (SCO) 2:18:47 2 Scott McDonald 2:22:01, 10 Murray McNaught 2:27:54. Once more, this included an International Match, with Mike Carroll, Scott McDonald and Murray McNaught running for Scotland. Third finisher was Mick McGeoch (Wales) 2.22.58; fourth Tommy Hughes (Ireland) 2.24.24; fifth Steve Brown (Wales) 2.25.10; sixth Ian Bloomfield (England) 2.25.16.

The ‘Glasgow Herald’ of 2nd September, 1985 had this report in the ‘Results in Brief’ section: “Only 2000 runners finished the Edinburgh Waverley Market Marathon out of a total of 3300 entries.   The winner was Mike Carroll, a 27-year-old production engineer from Annan and District AC, in 2:18:41.   In 61st place overall was the man who the Commonwealth Games gold over the same classic distance in Edinburgh in 1970, Ron Hill, who recorded 2:48:15.   The first woman home was Heather McDuff of Edinburgh AC.”   

                                                                   Left to right: Evan Cameron of Edinburgh Southern Harriers and Mike Carroll 

                                                                                                                          Victory for Mike Carroll

                                                     Left to right: Tommy Hughes (Ireland), Murray McNaught (Scotland), Steve Brown (Wales), Mick McGeoch (Wales, number 16), Scott McDonald (Scotland, number 10). Scott McDonald went on to finish second and ensure a Scottish team victory in the International contest. In 2020 Tommy Hughes from Northern Ireland became M60 Marathon World Record holder, adding to his previous M55 World Record. Thanks to Graham MacIndoe for the race photos.

1986 The 1986 SAAA Marathon was part of the Edinburgh Marathon which followed a tortuous route from outside Meadowbank, up to the Royal Mile, down Lothian Road, right along Princes Street and back to the start. Then it continued to Seafield, Cramond and back to Seafield before climbing up to the start/finish.

This race was to be the battle of the veterans – Donald Macgregor, the favourite, and Brian Carty of Shettleston Harriers. The latter, a steadily improving, strong-looking man, had finished second in the Scottish Veterans Cross-country Championships, although he much preferred road racing. Brian remembered that he was wary of going too fast, too soon, on a hilly course, so he stayed with the second pack some distance behind the group of six leaders. As far as he could see, Don Macgregor was playing ‘cat and mouse’ with them. Eventually Donald went off into a clear lead, until Brian came through and caught him at Cramond (17 miles).

Carty’s coach, Hugh Mitchell, had advised him, ‘When you catch someone up, talk to them – it shows that you’re fresh.’ So Brian asked how Donald was feeling, and shortly afterwards began to draw away. He finished very strongly indeed, while Donald faded. Although he felt good all the way, he was a lone figure, especially through Seafield, because of the lack of spectators. Only at the finish was there applause, as Brian Carty won the Edinburgh Marathon and the Scottish Marathon Championship in 2.23.42, a personal best, with Donald second in 2.27.30 and Robert Marshall, who much, much later became a British Masters M65 Cross-Country Champion, third in 2.27.59.

                                         Brian Carty becomes 1986 Scottish Marathon Champion. He later represented Scotland in an International Marathon

Brian’s training was not unlike Hugh Mitchell’s twenty years previously. Overcoming initial reluctance, he gradually built up to a very strenuous regime indeed. On weekdays he might run thrice: twelve or fourteen miles to work at British Leyland; four miles fartlek at lunchtime; and another ten to twelve miles home. He remembered many hard sessions in the Bathgate hills. In total he might run 120 or even 150 miles per week. So his 1986 triumph was hard-earned indeed.

Donald Macgregor had less happy memories of the event! He wrote that he was quite fit, having done 2.22.05 in London, followed by six weeks of moderate mileage. Since he had done ‘the diet’ for London, it didn’t work properly for this race because the gap between the two events was too brief. Donald lamented that the Edinburgh Marathon was “the least convincing city marathon because the Edinburghers didn’t really give a damn, whereas in Dundee, Glasgow and to some extent Aberdeen you got a lot of interested spectators. Edinburgh is always associated in my mind with a picture of a woman wheeling a pram past us – in the opposite direction, I hasten to add – and seeking to ignore our unpleasant existence.”

“However, the organisers offered to put up our family in the George Hotel. That was great, but for some reason I sweated a lot and couldn’t sleep. At last the fulfilment (not for the first time) of Jim Alder’s nightmare: ‘Due for a bad un.’ The course started through the centre of Edinburgh for once before heading out west – I recall passing through the dreaded Granton area again – and finished climactically in a side-street next to Meadowbank, to make sure not too many of the genteel folk would see us. The ‘bad un’ started after 11 very boring miles of cruising along in the lead wondering how long it was going to be before someone came up to my shoulder. Then I began to feel weak at the knees. Brian Carty appeared, and ran away from me for a popular and well-deserved win, but one he told me he had not expected. I crawled in (2.27.30), and unfortunately my father and stepmother had come in person to see me run for the one and only time. I looked like an escapee from some 15th Century Durer woodcut (one of the victims of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse) as I was led away to the shelter of the stadium shower room. I am unlikely to be doing another SAAA Marathon unless paid heavily to take part.”

The two Donalds: Macgregor (1965-1986) and Ritchie (1967-1988), hold the record for years between first and last medal in the event – 21 years, no less.

Fraser Clyne, the top-class British International marathon runner and sports journalist and historian, wrote: “The Black Isle Marathon (the first one in the Highlands) took place in November 1980, starting at Culbokie and finishing at Fortrose Academy. It was organised by Stashu Geurtsen, a visiting sports psychologist from Sonoma University, California. David Blanchard (Black Isle AC) was also involved from the start. Eleven runners, including one woman, Linda Lamb, competed. The event grew in popularity with a peak of 142 taking part in 1985.

Half marathon and 10K races were added in 1986 and it became the Black Isle Festival of Running. David Watt of the Ross-shire Journal took over the organisational reins, then Black Isle AC did a magnificent job of managing it, with Ray Cameron in charge.

The 10K was popular because it was mainly downhill, propelling most runners to personal best times – and may have been short as well.

I ran the Black Isle Marathon just once, in 1991 when I used it as a training run prior to competing in the California International marathon three weeks later. I finished in 2.27.18, 10 minutes ahead of Mike McHale.

List of winners attached.”

MARATHON                                                                                                                        How many ran

[Lynda Bain (nee Stott), Trudi Thomson, Don Ritchie, Sam Graves, Rod Bell, Charlie McIntyre, John Duffy, Fraser Clyne and Andy Stirling all ran international marathons or ultra-marathons for Scotland. Ginny Pollard represented GB at Triathlon.]

 HALF MARATHON

10 KM

                                                                              On the far right, Linda Lamb looks over at the other (all male) competitors.

Linda Lamb recalls: “I used to run hill races like Fyrish, Ben Lomond and Ben Nevis – really enjoyed the downhills! Then I ran in the North Cross-Country League for Inverness Harriers. There was no Senior Women’s race, so we competed against the 16-year-old girls. Stashu and his friends encouraged some of us who jogged on Saturdays to train for longer races – and that was why I took part in the first Black Isle Marathon in 1980.

The long uphill after Cromarty (at about 17 miles) seemed very hard but, despite feeling tired, I enjoyed heading down towards the finish at Fortrose. There I was, trying to jog, when Stashu actually walked past me and finished less than a minute in front! During the next few years, I finished the Caithness Marathon from Thurso three times – and won a prize for finishing first Woman there on one occasion.”

 Anne Mitchell (Innis’s wife) remembers helping at the first Black Isle Marathon in 1980. Providing water was still a bit novel and they quickly ran out of plastic cups so retrieved discarded ones for reuse – which was noticed by at least one of the competitors!

Donald Ritchie, the truly legendary, World Record-breaking ultra-marathon runner, took part in the Black Isle Marathon several times. Here are some excerpts from his excellent autobiography ‘The Stubborn Scotsman’.

“In the Black Isle Marathon on 24th of October 1981, I finished 2nd in 2-33-38, which was pleasing as I had a head cold. Dave Geddes won in 2-29-58, with Innis Mitchell 3rd in 2-43-18. My right hamstring problem recurred the following week, which restricted me to 38 miles.”

Lynda Bain recalled: “Long time ago! It was my second marathon, just after the Aberdeen one and my first year of running. I hadn’t intended to do it but had enjoyed Aberdeen so much that I thought I would squeeze one more in before winter. It was small and friendly. Howard Lovell kindly gave me a lift up to it and we drove round the course when we arrived the night before. I seem to remember one large hill at the far end of the course!”

Innis Mitchell recalled: “Anne tried the 1981 marathon that I was in and kept going to about 20 miles. Just a bit further than Ian Spence who was my PE teacher at Aberdeen Academy. You may remember him Prop forward for Gordonians and picked for “Possibles” (the second team in the trial game they used to have to choose the Scottish National Rugby team). Despite being a big man, he had completed a marathon earlier that year – Aberdeen?

My own run was disappointing. Ran with Donald for first 12 miles or so. Developed a strained calf muscle from running on the camber of the narrow roads and limped the second half which is the hard part. I should have dropped out – was injured for weeks after. I remember promising myself that as soon as I was passed and lost my 3rd place I would stop – but no one caught me!

The Black Isle was organized/inspired by a small group of American runners who visited the area annually for a time. They were very nice people but of that era – rather evangelical about running. My sister Linda (Lamb) knew them better than me.” (Innis Mitchell, an Aberdonian, was Scottish Schoolboys over-17 Cross-Country Champion in 1966 and gained full blues at both Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities.)

Don Ritchie: “In the Black Isle marathon, on the 23rd of October 1982, in good weather, I set the pace from early in the race and had Craig Ross for company. I led until Cromarty, but on the long hill out of Cromarty I let Craig lead for about four miles while I gathered myself for an effort to win. At about 21 miles I increased my pace and got away from Craig. I felt quite tired over the last one and a half miles. My time of 2-24-28 was a new course record by exactly 5 minutes, and 30 seconds and I had run 7-10 faster than last year. During the race I had only one glucose drink at 10 miles. Craig Ross finished in 2-25-18 ahead of Ian Graves, 2-27-44. Alastair Wood was 5th in 2-36-07.”

                                Mick Francis (wearing spectacles) in the centre. Alastair Wood (white vest, red stripes) extreme left.

Mick Francis wrote: “Start of the 1982 Black Isle Marathon. I was just 24 years old. I ran a PB that day: 2 hours 40 minutes 34 seconds. Must have been the short shorts that helped. My friend, mentor and training partner Don Ritchie smashed it that day with 2.24. Then from memory we partied all night, drinking Don’s home brew. Happy days!”

Don Ritchie: “In the 4th edition of the Black Isle marathon on the 22nd of October 1983, only Ian (or Sam) Graves came with me and we passed 5 miles in 26-54, 10 miles in 53-46 and halfway in 1-10-16. At about a mile before Cromarty I established a lead of 50 metres, but on the steep hill out of Cromarty I slowed and Ian closed on me. I let him pass and ran behind him, up the long hill to the top of the ridge, to recover. We passed 20 miles in 1-52-09 and I got away from Ian after that and I was pleased to win in 2-26-07. Ian finished in 2-27-19, with Frank Harper next in 2-32-30.”

Don Ritchie: “On Saturday the 1st of November 1986, although I had a head cold, I decided to run in the Black Isle Marathon. I picked up Jim McDowell in Elgin and drove to Fortrose where, after registering and changing, we boarded the buses to take us to the start in Culbokie. There were 116 starters on this cold morning with a north wind blowing. We were sent on our way by a phone call from a lady in Wick, via Moray Firth Radio transmission.

The initial pace was comfortable and quite adequate as two runners from Cumbernauld AC set the pace, which tended to fluctuate quite a lot. One of the Cumbernauld runners, John Duffy, increased the pace a little and pulled away and Charlie Noble chased after him, but both slowed and dropped back. I started to set the pace at about 4 miles, kept it steady and had John Duffy for company. He asked me if I had run in the Glasgow marathon, and on hearing that I had, he informed me that he had also run there and finished with 2-29-00. He seemed quite strong and at about 9 miles I began to feel a little tired and my chest was hurting a little. I thought that he would probably win this race, but I was going to hang on for as long as I could. We passed half way in 1-12-48, which was quite satisfactory and I appeared to be running more comfortably by then. My confidence increased and as we approached Cromarty, John made a short stop to tie a loose shoelace. He caught up soon afterwards and we ran through Cromarty together and also up the long hill after Cromarty. With about 7 miles remaining I increased the pace and gradually pulled away from him as the course levelled off and then the gradual downhill began. I checked my mile time between six miles and five miles to go and was pleased to see 5-24. I maintained this pace most of the way to the finish. I was very pleased to win this marathon again and my time of 2-28-38 was satisfactory in view of my cold. John Duffy was 2nd with 2-32-58 and Mick Francis 3rd in 2-33-41.”

Brian Grassom of Sri Chinmoy A C was running and it was good to see him again, but unfortunately he was unable to finish. Being a member of the Scottish Marathon Club, he had brought with him the ‘J. F. Walker Memorial Trophy’, which had been awarded to me this year, for my lengthy contribution to the sport of marathon and ultra-running in Scotland. This was presented at the beginning of the awards ceremony. The whole day went very well and was a credit to Ray Cameron and his team of helpers.”

BLACK ISLE 1986. Article by David Carter in the December edition of Scotland’s Runner.

“Three sets of runners at three different points on the Black Isle peninsula waited chittering as a keen wind nipped in from the sea. It was the morning after Hallowe’en Close by, Moray Firth Radio’s usual Saturday request programme blazed away, volume full up, The runners chafed. and chafed doubly as the disc jockey chuntered on Then came sudden concentration and the forward lean, as runners tensed for the start. A simultaneous countdown came from three sets of speakers, a starting gun fired in the studio in Inverness and the 1986 Scot JCB Black Isle People’s Marathon, Half Marathon and 10k Road Race – even the title makes you breathless – was underway.

Just 30.04 minutes later, Ross Arbuckle of Keith and District AC was crossing the finishing line at Fortrose to win the 10k event, having eased himself away in the final stages from a hard competitive group of runners. Only 22 seconds separated Arbuckle at the finish from Graham Milne of Peterhead, who finished fifth.

Meanwhile the leading half marathoners had turned at Cromarty, pulled up the steep climb out of the village, and were on the highest point of the course. Willie Miller of Caithness AC and Danny Bow of Nairn and District leading the way.

There were two leaders also in the marathon – veteran Don Ritchie of Forres Harriers and 22-year-old John Duffy of Cumbernauld – who now faced a long stretch as they skirted the southern side of the Cromarty Firth before turning for home, at Cromarty itself, 17 miles completed.

Miller was to pull away from Bow and finish over two minutes ahead in I.11.18 but the marathon Itself was providing the real duel of the day Only at about 20 miles did Ritchie finally get away from Duffy to come home, in his distinctive cantering style, in 2.28.38, with Duffy following, four minutes behind.

 Words do not spill from the lips of Don Ritchie as copiously as they do from those of his fellow world record holder Sebastian Coe But he dld have a comment to make on young Duffy. Two words: “Tough guy”, he said. as he trotted away after the finish It was praise indeed and Duffy, 33rd In the Glasgow Marathon in 2 29, should be pleased.

The organiser. Ray Cameron of· Black Isle AAC, was also pleased when I phoned him on the Monday after the race He was pleased with the performance of his team’s youngsters. whom he had accompanied to Aberdeen for the Hydrasun meet on Sunday.

That’s typical of the Black Isle Club. With 200 members, 120 of them youngsters, they were awarded £1000 by Minolta, no strings attached. The money is going into coaching the kids with a weekend’s training in Ireland the highlight.

Ray a 32 -year-old worker with the Forestry Commission, won’t be organising the Black Isle Three-in-One next year. Having organised five events this year he is stepping down, but fully expects the event to be double in size in 1987 And with 150 doing the 10k, another 150 doing the half, and 100 doing the full marathon this year, that’ll be some achievement.

Ray hopes instead to concentrate on his own running, as well as coaching. With a marathon personal best of 2.33. he’s hoping to go under 2.30 in London 1987.

Runners don’t have much time to enjoy scenery or wildlife – like the swans on the Cromarty Firth that day – or the history and architecture of London. Runners don’t even think much during a race as they concentrate everything on their performance. But Ray must allow himself the satisfaction, at the London Marathon, of thinking “You’ve organised a good race here, Brasher man. but I remember one day in November I organised three … on the same day … and at the same time.” 

[Ray Cameron was a real live wire and a very good coach.   He was one of the men behind the sponsorship of Black Isle AAC by Northern Office Territories as well as by Minolta – the club name became NOT Minolta Black Isle AAC.] 

Don Ritchie: “Two easy weeks (after completing an Italian ultramarathon 254 km in length!) I decided to run in the Black Isle Marathon on the 31st of October 1987. Although I got excited in the normal way for this race, as soon as we got underway I was conscious of feeling it difficult to run even at the modest pace of the leaders. Charlie Noble increased the speed and a Shettleston runner and then Mick Francis followed him. This left a group of 6 of us and one of the group commented that I must have had a ‘long one’ last week, to which I replied ‘two weeks ago’ but did not elaborate.

I was determined to do my best and tried to run a bit faster. On any uphill gradient I found the group surging past me and had to make more effort to keep in touch as the group pulled back Mick and John Duffy of Shettleston. On a long straight I managed to increase my tempo and reduced the group to Charlie McIntyre, John Duffy and me, with Charlie Noble about 40 yards ahead. Approaching 9 miles, Duffy made a move and said later that he got fed up waiting for someone to pick up the pace. I was soon struggling and passed 10 miles with Charlie McIntyre in 57 minutes and tried to shelter behind Charlie as the course turned into the wind, but he slowed to a walk and beckoned me to lead. I thought that I might as well try to keep the pace respectable as Charlie Noble and Duffy were pulling away.

Approaching Jemimaville, two runners caught us and McIntyre fell behind as I tried to go with them. They pulled away easily and I observed that one was from Dundee Hawkhill Harriers (DHH) but did not recognize the other vest. As we neared Cromarty, I could still see Duffy, the DHH man and his companion and Charlie Noble about 40 metres ahead of me. On the hill out of Cromarty I gradually pulled Charlie back and then had a rest behind him, before pushing on again with 7 miles remaining.

I had pain in my left quads, but it was not too bad – my problem was lack of strength. Obviously, I had not recovered from the race in Sardinia, as I had struggled with training in the two weeks since then. The remaining miles passed quite quickly and the one-mile to go marker was soon reached before I finished 4th and 1st Vet in 2-42-31, which was my slowest marathon for many years, but I was pleased just to have finished. Rod Bell (DHH) won in 2-35-18, from John Duffy (Shettleston) 2-36-07, with David Murray (Falkirk) 3rd in 2-36-28.” Shettleston Harriers won the team prize.

The Aberdeen Press and Journal reported: “First Woman and leading Veteran was Margaret Robertson of Dundee Road Runners, in a course record time of 3.08.48 while, for the host club Minolta Black Isle AC, Elizabeth Wilby took 35 minutes off her best with to finish second in 3.26.55.

The organisers were disappointed at the total entry for the three races and fun run, which was less than 500 – well below their 700 target. “I am particularly disappointed at the poor turnout of local runners,” said the club secretary Ray Cameron, “This was a well-sponsored, well-organised event and I had expected that far more people from the local area would have come out and run.”

Willie Miller of Caithness AAC comfortably retained his half-marathon title in 1.11.26, well clear of Callum Martin of Inverness Harriers (1.13.45). Liz McLardy won the women’s race for Black Isle in a course record of 1.28.43, from Linda Glasgow of Giffnock (1.30.50) and Kath Butler of Aberdeen (1.31.45).

Edward Gillespie of Carnethy was top male veteran (1.18.43), while Chris Pamphilon of Dingwall was top female veteran (1.41.55). Inverness Harriers won the men’s team award while Moray Road Runners won the women’s.

In the 10K, Chris Hall of Aberdeen took the honours in a course record of 29.20 from Bruce Chinnick of Forres Harriers (29.37) and Colin Youngson, Aberdeen, who also took the veteran’s prize in 30.02. Aberdeen AAC, with three runners in the top four, were clear winners of the team contest.

Inverness Harrier Julie Wilson won he women’s race in 35.50 (course record), well clear of Mandy Boyd of Forres Harriers (37.14) and Commonwealth Games hurdler Moira McBeath from Thurso (40.10). Kath Willox of Inverness was first veteran and Forres Harriers took the team award.”

(To illustrate Fraser Clyne’s introductory comment about the Black Isle 10km race being popular since it was downhill – and possibly short distance as well, in third place but well behind Chris Hall (one of Aberdeen AAC’s two Welsh International fliers – the other being Simon Axon) was Colin Youngson, four days after his 40^th Birthday. He finished in 30.02 – which was confirmed later to be the fastest 10 km time of 1987 by any British Veteran runner. Youngson protests that, despite all that downhill, this was actually a decent run, since he was battling a headwind that day!)

Don Ritchie: “Two weeks later on the 29th of October 1988 in the Black Isle Marathon. I was very keyed up and started quickly, but not as fast as Charlie Noble, who shot off into a good lead. After some time, I was joined by someone I did not recognize. He was running strongly and ominously chatty.

Izzy, George, Claire and Anna were driving round the course supporting me. After Izzy gave me a drink, I threw the empty bottle for Claire to catch! This worked well and I consumed planned drinks of 200ml of ‘Dioralite’ at 7, 10, 13, 16, 19 and 22 miles.

We caught Charlie at about 8 miles and then ran as a group of three until about 11 miles, when he faded. The two of us passed the halfway point in 1-13-26 but, going into Cromarty, I began to feel the strain of the pace and by the waterfront I was struggling, but positioned myself behind him as we left Cromarty and headed up the initially steep climb. My strength had gone and I lumbered up the hill as my companion pulled away. I steadily lost ground to him and by the top of the hill I was down to third place, having been caught and passed by a small chap from Fife AC, who I later found out was Tom McCredie. I tried to increase my stride length when I reached the level ground, but seemed to be making no impression on the two ahead. Yet gradually I began to close, and then caught McCredie soon after Rosemarkie and the leader was not far ahead by then. However, there was not enough distance left in which to catch him so I had to settle for second place. My knee had not bothered me, thankfully, but a lack of training background showed in my weakness on the hills. The Forres Harriers team won the team race with 2nd, 5th and 16th. I learned that the winner was Mike Ryan of Dundee Hawkhill Harriers (DHH), who finished in 2-34-30, ahead of me in 2-34-56 and Tom McCredie (Fife AC) 2-45-10. I had no ill effect from my knee, except increased discomfort and an ache for a few hours after the race.”

From Scotland’s Runner, January 1990

“The tenth Black Isle Marathon was won by Charlie McIntyre of Fraserburgh Running club in the time of 2.34.13, thirty seconds ahead of John MacKay of Hunter’s Bog Trotters, writes Ray Cameron. Third was Andy Stirling of Falkirk Victoria Harriers in 2.36.27.

The Marathon, the flagship of the Black Isle Festival of Running on November 4^th 1989, attracted over 90 runners from throughout Scotland and two runners from London, with Harry Martin of Blackheath Harriers making the long journey north to complete his 130^th marathon.

The race for the top women’s prize was also very close with Gillian Hanlon of Dundee Road Runners, second in last year’s race, going one better this time to record a time of 3.18.09 to beat her clubmate Toni Respinger (3.18.56) narrowly.

The men’s team prize went to Shettleston Harriers with Dundee Road Runners taking the women’s team trophy.”

Don Ritchie: “On Saturday the 3rd of November 1990, early in the morning, Izzy and I drove to Grandma Tait’s in Inverness, where we had a cup of tea and watched ‘Trans World Sports’ for the feature on me, which pleased both Izzy and myself. Following this we drove to Fortrose on the Black Isle for the Festival of Running. Izzy was to run in the 10Km, her first race for some years. She was using this run to raise funds for Leukaemia research.

I ran in the marathon, making a cautious start, as my legs were still painful (from running for Great Britain in the IAU 100Km World Cup, Duluth, USA on 27 October 1990). Mick Francis was to give me my drinks along the route and I had prepared drinks for: 7, 12, 17 and 21 miles. The initial pace was fine, but John Duffy of Shettleston Harriers began to pick up the pace and opened up a 50 metres gap. Mitchell McCredie then began to pull away, while I hesitated. At about 5 miles I began to chase McCredie and I caught him after some time. This effort, however, weakened me and soon I began to struggle and lose contact with him. I then maintained a comfortable steady pace and at around 15 miles I could just see McCredie in the distance. By 20 miles I was closing in on him and approaching 23 miles he was slowing dramatically and actually stopped to spend a penny. He was reduced to a walk soon after this and he retired once I passed him. He was having trouble with his calf muscle again. I finished a distant second, but I was pleased to feel so much better than the previous Saturday. Izzy completed the 10Km without difficulty and was keen to participate in more and longer races.  John Duffy won in 2-31-16 and I finished in 2-37-55.”

Don Ritchie: “On Saturday the 2nd of November, 1991 (a week after winning the British 24-hour Track Championship) Izzy and I travelled to Fortrose for the Black Isle ‘Festival of Running’ half marathon and marathon respectively. Izzy completed the half marathon in 2-28-53, which was probably a superior performance to her Lochaber run, because of the more demanding course at the Black Isle.

Not surprisingly, I felt tired in the marathon, and the chasing group, trailing Fraser Clyne, dropped me after about three miles. Then I regained contact and gradually this group broke up, but on the hill out of Cromarty I could not keep up and began drifting further behind. Mick Francis caught me and I was able to get some help running into the wind as he pushed on. I took over near the top of the climb and was surprised to see John Duffy in trouble, so we caught and passed him. I then set off in pursuit of the two runners ahead and gradually caught one, but the other was safe. My legs were rather tired and I was pleased to reach the finish. I was quite satisfied with my 4th place in 2-45-45. Forres Harriers were 2nd team.

Fraser Clyne won in 2-27-18, which meant that my course record of 2-24-28 in 1982, survived. Mick McHale was 2nd in 2-37-21, with R Milton 3rd in 2-45-07.”

Don Ritchie: “On Saturday the 31st of October 1992, 2 weeks after the ‘Spanish adventure’ Barcelona to Madrid stage race, rather optimistically, I decided to run in the Black Isle marathon. The initial pace was modest so I decided to tag onto the leaders, Andy Stirling and two Carnegie lads. By 5 miles Andy and I were clear, but then he increased his effort and moved away, and my left leg problem at the top of the quads began to play up, so I eased back and let him go. After Cromarty on the long hill there was an increasingly strong headwind blowing. I managed to cope with this and with about 4 miles remaining I was able to increase my pace again. I was pleased with this run. Andy Stirling (Bo’ness) won in 2-36-15 and I finished 2nd in 2-42-08, with Jim Douglas (Carnegie) 3rd in 2-45-58.”

                                                                                                              1993: The Last Black Isle Marathon

The Loch Rannoch Marathon was run round one of the most beautiful lochs in the country and the trail could not have been more simple – a lap of the loch.   But as for the trail, there are some who said afterwards that they couldn’t find the downhill bits.   It was nevertheless one of the more popular races on the marathon calendar – as testified by the fact that it a was a long-running long run!   It’s not far from Pitlochry and the triangular shape of Schiehallion dominates the skyline: it was used in the nineteenth century to estimate the weight of the world.  End to end with Loch Tummel, it is prime tourist territory.   The story of the races was tracked down by Colin Youngson and it is the latest in his series on the Scottish marathons. 

The first Race Director of the Loch Rannoch Marathon was Andrew ‘Bill’ Hillier.

In ‘Bill’s Bio’ he wrote: “In 1977, I headed up to Scotland, and spent nine happy years teaching at Rannoch School, in the picturesque Highlands. Had neglected my fitness but, in the early 80s, became caught up in the running craze. Completed 8 marathons, including London, and became the first race director of the Loch Rannoch Marathon. In 1986 I migrated to Western Australia and have retired there.”

 One Loch Rannoch Marathon runner commented: “If you like your marathons to be scenic, then this is the one for you. With a loop at either end, you basically just run round the loch. If you want your marathon to be flat, then this is not the one for you. I heard the route called ‘undulating’ but that is a fairly mild description, I would suggest. In fact, there is an elevation gain of 631 feet!”

Loch Rannoch Marathon 26/6/1982

Sam Graves (Fife AC) 2.28.07

Davie Wyper (Bellahouston H) 2.30.02

Martin Craven (ESH – first Veteran) third

Leslie Watson (London Olympiades AC), the Glasgow-born physiotherapist, finished first Woman in the fast time of 2.51.04.

Loch Rannoch Marathon 16/6/1983

George Reynolds (Aberdeen AAC) won in 2.24.09

Lynda Bain (Aberdeen AAC) was First Woman in a course record of 2.48.04. Leslie Watson finished second in 3.01.00.

(Lynda ran an International marathon for Great Britain and broke the Scottish Women’s record with 2.33.38 in the 1985 London Marathon.)

Don Ritchie wrote: “In the Loch Rannoch marathon, on the 16th of June, I was quite pleased to finish 5th of the 435 runners who completed the course. The antibiotics course that I had begun on Monday, prescribed to clear my bronchitis, did not seem to have any adverse effect. I went with the leaders and I felt quite comfortable as we ran out into a headwind. Our group of eight reduced to four on a steep hill at the top of the loch. Soon after this I began to struggle when George Reynolds increased the pace. I dropped back and Ian Graves caught me. I felt very weak but continued as best as I could. Later, Dave Wyper caught me, but I managed to recover and pull away again. George Reynolds ran very well to win his ‘Local’ marathon in 2-24-09 ahead of Rod Stone, 2-25-23, Don Macgregor, 2-26-51 and Ian Graves, 2-27-18. My finishing time was 2-28-something.”

(George Reynolds, originally from Kinloch Rannoch, where the Loch Rannoch Marathon started and finished, was for some time based at RAF Kinloss, near Forres in Moray.   His career highlights included being part of the record-breaking Aberdeen AAC team in the 1982 John o’Groats to Land’s End ten-man relay and winning the 1984 Scottish Marathon Championship when running for Scotland in the Home Countries International match.) 

Loch Rannoch Marathon 23/6/1984

Davie Wyper (Bellahouston H) 2.26.52, such a consistent marathon man, won the most picturesque Scottish marathon in almost perfect conditions.

S Harper (Clackmannan RR) 2.27.24

Sam Graves (Fife AC) 2.28.13

613 ran

Loch Rannoch Marathon 22/6/1985

Former Olympic Marathon runner, Donald Macgregor (Fife AC) finished first a new course record of 2.25.00, winning a week’s time-share holiday. Elgin schoolteacher Ian Moncur (Forres Harriers) recorded 2.28.52, and former winner Sam Graves (Fife AC) 2.30.52.

Ann Bates (Central Region AC), first woman in last year’s Edinburgh Marathon, won in 3.3.15, just 15 seconds in front of Carolyn Morrat (Fife AC).  

Loch Rannoch Marathon 1986 29/6

Terry Mitchell (Fife) 2.30.35

Martin Coyne (Falkirk) 2.32.13

Shel Cowles (Oxford AC) 2.33.28

Veteran: Davie Wyper (Bellahouston) 2.38.11

First Woman: M. Greave (Angus) 3.24.05

(Terry Mitchell was a prominent Scottish International athlete on cross-country and road; he also ran for GB in foreign marathons. In 1988, Shel Cowles showed excellence by winning M40 British Veteran Championship titles on track (10,000 metres) and road (Half Marathon).

Terry Mitchell leading Shel Cowles (and Martin Coyne) in the 1986 Loch Rannoch Marathon

Loch Rannoch Marathon 28/6/1987

Martin Coyne (FVH) 2.29.13

Mike McHale (Pitreavie) 2.35.08

Mike Ryan (Dundee HH) 2.35.23

First Woman: Margaret Oliver (Aberdeen AAC) 3.10.53

Martin Coyne wins 1985 Edinburgh to North Berwick Road Race; Photo by Graham McIndoe.

Loch Rannoch Marathon 12/6/1988

Rod Stone (H.E.L.P.) 2.34.10

Rod Bell (DHH) 2.35.54

Mike McHale (Pitreavie) 2.40.19

First Woman: F Gray (Belgrave) 3.02.23

(Rod Stone, based in Scotland, was a Northern Ireland Marathon International Athlete. Rod Bell ran International Marathons for Scotland.)

Loch Rannoch Marathon 25/6/1989

S McCallum (Central Region) 2.37.04

Mike McHale (Pitreavie) 2.39.57

Ray Hubbard (Glasgow) 2.43.02)

First Woman: Sue Rodgers (Dundee RR)

Loch Rannoch Marathon 10/6/90

Ray Hubbard (SHC) 2.30.21

J Baird (H.E.L.P.) 2.34.21

A Cunningham (H.E.L.P.) 2.37.46

First Woman: Morag Taggart (Pitreavie) 3.14.17

Loch Rannoch Marathon 23/6/91

Allan Adams (Dumbarton: M45 Veteran) 2.31.37

Ray Hubbard (Ayr) 2.34.31

B Halliday 2.35.29

First Woman: H Stewart (Lisburn NI) 3.23.37

Allan Adams remembered: “I won the Kirkudbright Half Marathon in 68 minutes or so about two weeks before Loch Rannoch, knew I was fit and promptly entered the marathon. Ray Hubbard hung on to me for most of the race – in fact I did not get away from him until I ‘dug in’ at 21 miles. The closing stages are very undulating (a real rollercoaster) and energy-sapping but I was pleased to record a good time on a testing course.”

                                                                                                                       Just after the start in 1991

                                                                                                                                 Allan and Ray

                                                                                                            Allan heads towards the finish

                                                                                               Allan Adams and friend relax afterwards

Loch Rannoch Marathon 21/6/92

Peter Fox (DHH) 2.31.55

G Lightwood (EAC) 2.32.54

M Greally (Pitreavie) 2.37.50

(Peter Fox was a Scottish cross-country International athlete.)

First Woman: Trudi Thomson (Pitreavie) 3.15.10

H Stewart (Lisburn NI) 3. 22.23

E Walls (St Albans – Veteran) 3.31.22

(Trudi Thomson was a legendary Scottish and British ultra-marathon International runner.)

Loch Rannoch Marathon 20/6/93

Jim Douglas (Carnegie) 2.37.09

Brian Howie (ESH – Veteran) 2.40.28

A Duncan (S Liv) 2.41.29

First Woman: Trudi Thomson (Pitreavie) 3.05.44

Linda Trahan (Garioch) 3.20.05

Carol Cadger (Perth – W35) 3.20.58

(Carol Cadger was a Scottish ultra-marathon International runner.)

Loch Rannoch hosted the 1994 Scottish Marathon Championship on the 19^th of June. With the familiar shape of Schiehallion providing a dramatic backdrop to a course which involved two loops around the loch, the scenery was impressive. A warm June day with a strong westerly wind made sure life would be tough for the 154 finishers. Fraser Clyne (Metro Aberdeen RC) turned up hoping to emulate Joe McGhee by winning the title three years in a row but the presence in the field of Terry Mitchell (Fife AC), also seeking a third championship win, ensured this would not be easily achieved.

Mitchell set the early pace along with Peterhead AAC’s Alan Reid while Clyne was happy to tag alongside. The refreshment stations caused the leaders some concern as the cups were filled with suspiciously discoloured water. Speculation centred upon whether this was the natural peaty colour of the local tap water or, of more concern, had the cups been filled directly from the nearby loch?
Whatever, Reid dropped out shortly before the ten-mile mark – but not because of anything he had consumed. A calf injury flared up, leaving the North District man no option but to pull out. Mitchell and Clyne continued onwards through the halfway point together. Suddenly, however, Clyne opened a 100m lead on an uphill stretch at the head of the loch. Any thoughts the Aberdeen man might have entertained that the race was won were quickly dispelled, as Mitchell came storming back a mile or so later. The rejuvenated Fifer brushed quickly past the defending champion and began to pull away. By 19 miles Terry enjoyed a lead of over 200m and Fraser looked beaten. The race, however, still had another dramatic turn to take. Clyne rallied once again as the course twisted through the grounds of Rannoch School. ‘I sensed that Terry was no longer going away from me and that I might still have a chance,’ Clyne said afterwards.

Between 20 and 23 miles, Clyne hunted down his rival and with two miles remaining the two men were again locked together in an exciting dogfight. ‘As soon as I caught Terry, I got a terrible attack of stomach cramp and thought I’d blown it,’ Clyne recalled. ‘I gained some comfort, however, by looking at Terry and realising he was suffering more than me.’ Fraser Clyne summoned up one final effort (finishing time 2.23.08) which gained him an eventual hard-earned winning margin of 38 seconds. It was a course record and the result meant that he had emulated Joe McGhee’s record of three wins in a row. Terry Mitchell recorded 2.23.46. Spectators had to wait over 14 minutes until the bronze medallist came into view when Jim Douglas of FMC Carnegie Harriers edged home in 2.38.16, 11 seconds clear of 48 year-old Pitreavie man Archie Duncan.

Janis Gjelseth of Shettleston Ladies took the 1994 Scottish Women’s Marathon title in 2.58.37 with Jan Thomson of FMC Carnegie Harriers second in 3.07.34 and Diane Harvey of Tipton third in 3.18.29.

Loch Rannoch Marathon 18/6/1995

Simon Lund (Wigan Phoenix) 2.30.First Woman: Eleanor Robinson 2.55.

(Eleanor Robinson was a legendary English ultra-distance runner, twice winner of the I.A.U. 100km title. During a very long career, she held nearly 40 world records in a range of events from 30 miles to the 6 Day Race and won six world titles.)

Simon Lund, a fine young English ultra-distance runner who won the 36-miles Two Bridges Race in 1994 and 1996, wrote: “I had finished first in a 100km race four weeks before and continued training more than 100 miles per week, targeting the classic Enschede Marathon in Holland. Then I lost my passport as well as the cost of flights and hotel. Changing the race target, I phoned Trudi Thomson and asked if asked if, for the night before the Loch Rannoch Marathon, I could have a spare bed in her Dunfermline home. Eleanor and her husband Nigel drove me from there to Kinloch Rannoch.

I struggled to hang on to the lead group throughout the race (halfway in 1.16) but used ‘ultra-tenacity’ to catch the leaders finally in the 23^rd mile. A short patch through the grounds of the school there provided a good opportunity to surge and get away, hiding the damage round a few tight bends. Customary collapse at the finish. Sorry that I cannot recall who was second or third, although I do remember being warned before the start that the favourite was a new M40 who had recently run 4.09 for 1500m.

Drinks afterwards with Pitreavie AC sparring partners from the Two Bridges, including Ken/Archie Duncan and Peter Baxter. Then the race presentation by two teachers at the school, who had been housemates five years previously down in Cheshire! Then Eleanor’s homemade food on the journey back to Dunfermline, followed by more beers with Iain, Trudi’s husband, and my first viewing of ‘Pulp Fiction’. Incredible serendipity, coincidences and circumstances that just make you believe in fate!? Definitely one of many outstanding memories of running. Every dog has his day!”

This was the last Loch Rannoch Marathon until a new version started in 2015.