Manor Water Hill Race 14/10/06
The miracle of photoshopThis was a really nice day out for lots of reasons.
The race is billed as 10 miles and 2300feet. It was a tiny bit short due to a field through which the race normally goes being full of crops. It takes place as a part of a sheep dog trials at Woodhouse farm.
Our friends, Emma Barclay and Ian Parlin were planning to run this race too, dependent on whether Ian's flight got in in time as they are based in Portland, Maine in the U.S. Emma and I did our nursing training together and she really got me into racing, encouraging me to enter various different races between 2000 and 2002. Emma and Ian then moved out to the states and both got injured and got into trail running in a big way as an aid to recuperation.
Ian and Emma - Trail MonstersIan's flight did, amazingly, arrive on time, so, something like 29 hours after setting off he was present and ready to race; both of them racing as “trail monsters” a new offshoot of the Maine Athletics Club.
It was a beautiful sunny October day and nearly windless, at least in the shelter of the hills.
There was a good turn out from Porty and also Alison, Ben's wife came along and entered the race. It was rare and very cheery to have so many familiar faces at a hill race.I hadn't done this one before and hadn't given much thought to what I should expect. Peter said it was runable and that the terrain wasn't too difficult - and so it proved to be. Actually, if it had have been a mite less runable I might have had more time to catch my breath. As it was I was wheezing all the way up. Take note Alan Aitchison - here is a new excuse - I have been swimming every week lately as we've entered the new year's day triathlon - and I think I've been breathing in a bit of water - my lungs do feel very watery. I just couldn't seem to get my breathing calmed down. So I ran with uncalm, wheezy breath, for which I must apologise to the people around me, as I'm sure it's a bit off-putting.
Anyway, it was a long run out through fields and then heathery paths. Occasionally I lifted my head and saw that we were in a quite lovely location, and the sun was shining on the hillside. Mostly I just wheezed and ran. On the final steep climb I welcomed the sight of the front runners returning. Even better - in second place - charging alarmingly down the hillside, arms windmilling, it was Portobello's own Ben Kemp. The other Portobellos followed soon after... Peter, with Keith and Willie not far behind and shortly after that came Graham who told me I should be running all the rest of the way to the top. The last steep bit was flattening out and so I did as I was told and started to run again.
Now coming back towards me was Emma, and shortly after that Ian, who high-fived me in passing. Suddenly it was the turn around point and the long run downhill.
Running downhill is not my forte and I've had to train myself to be more reckless than I feel.I did a few one-footed skids and radical bends to my ankles as I hit unexpected ground but nothing gave way thankfully. There were the odd short uphills on the way back which I actually welcomed as they offered a chance to get myself back together again. Slowly I got nearer to the start - recognising landmarks I'd noticed on the way up. I had a tussle with a man from Westerlands - we exchanged places a few times - but I managed to get away from him on the small uphills. I passed my friend Ian at about 7 miles, the jetlag finally catching up with him. I passed someone else very close to home in a red and purple shirt. Then one last charge down the close cropped field and it was all over.
A bunch of friendly people milled around over the finish line. Ben had held his place to the end, about which we were, and he was, delighted. Emma was third lady in. I think I was about 5th. The results will be out soon and I'll be able to see better.
Loads of prizes were given out for the raffle, shortly after the end of the race. The fourth prize being a ewe lamb. I don't think any Porty's walked away with any of these.
At the race prize giving, however, Ben got an armful of beer and wine. Peter, bizarrely, got a couple of bottles of beer for being about 10th vet*, while my friend Emma got wine and beer for being third lady. Sadly there was no prize for being 5th lady (if indeed I was), nor for being senior who is most nearly a vet (three weeks!), so Emma gave me a bottle of beer to ease the pain.
It was a really good day and excellent cross country training - so Graham tells me. Hope the female cross-country team also had a good day.
Report Mary Hunter
Photos Ben, Alison, Graham, Mary, Peter2 Benjamin Kemp Portobello 71m 55s
10 Peter Buchanan Portobello 76m 27s
19 Willie Jarvie Portobello 79m 55s
34 Keith Mayfield Portobello 83m 35s
35 Graham Henry Portobello 84m 16s
54 Emma Barclay Trail Monster 89m 48s
59 Mary Hunter Portobello 93m 53s
63 Ian Parlin Trail Monster 95m 22s
87 Tony Stapley Portobello 106m 27s
93 Alison Wilkie u/a 121m 39sFull results here
*Now the results are in - I was 7th vet (tenth overall) and yes, lucky to win something for that. Mary was 4th open woman and 5th woman overall, and perhaps unlucky not to be recognised. However as only 13 women finished the course compared to 80 men, the organisers saw fit to award the prizes in proportion to this. I promise to let Mary drink my winning beers! On the other hand if there had been a team prize (as mentioned there may be at a later date) PRC would have won by exactly 2 minutes or 1 place if you count it up that way. Maybe we should do more of this sort of thing.
pbGraham's report...
Great day out. Took Willie, Keith and my friend Gio down to south of Peebles on a cracking day for a 10 mile out and back hill race. You should all do this one at least once as it is a great distance; 10 miles. Car got stuck in the mud on arrival but my 3 passengers did the business. We had out performers on the day. Ben attacked from the front and a really brave run to finish 2nd out of 93, with Brian Marshall (HELP) the farmer breaking the course record (course a bit shorter this year). Mary Hunter had a stormer and I got the shock of my life coming back down the Scrape to see her so far up the field. To round it off Ben, Peter and Willie were 1st Team. Normally the race only attracts around 40 due to the Skyline the next day but if they had known the numbers there would have been a team prize. Great to see such a big turn-out from the club. I was 4 mins down on 2 years ago but I will be going for sub 80 in next years on that course. Shame Keith Mayfield announced his last hill race after 2 because he is really strong going up but hates the downhill and blisters. It is not everybody’s cup of tea, hill running, as it is tough but we got some cracking autumn views to the west coming off the Scrape down to Dead Wives Grave. Thanks to Carnethy and local farmer Graham Pyatt for organising the event and hope Graham’s son-in-law Chris Godfree the Man or Mouse winner 2 years ago gets back soon. Chris has been out for 18 months with a virus.
report Graham Henry.
A rare sighting of strictly off-road Tony
Thanks to Willie Gibson and perhaps a Nimmo or 2 there are a load of top quality excellent action photos on the Carnethy Website HERE taken at the top of the Scrape (the halfway turn-around point.) Well worth the effort of going through each one; but if you are in a hurry here are our team and friends...
http://www.carnethy.com/photos/manoro6top/pages/2006_03_jpg.htm
http://www.carnethy.com/photos/manoro6top/pages/2006_04_jpg.htm
http://www.carnethy.com/photos/manoro6top/pages/2006_05_jpg.htm
http://www.carnethy.com/photos/manoro6top/pages/2006_14_jpg.htm
http://www.carnethy.com/photos/manoro6top/pages/2006_17_jpg.htm
http://www.carnethy.com/photos/manoro6top/pages/2006_19_jpg.htm
http://www.carnethy.com/photos/manoro6top/pages/2006_20_jpg.htm
http://www.carnethy.com/photos/manoro6top/pages/2006_38_jpg.htm
http://www.carnethy.com/photos/manoro6top/pages/2006_55_jpg.htm
http://www.carnethy.com/photos/manoro6top/pages/2006_57_jpg.htm
http://www.carnethy.com/photos/manoro6top/pages/2006_58_jpg.htm
http://www.carnethy.com/photos/manoro6top/pages/2006_60_jpg.htm
http://www.carnethy.com/photos/manoro6top/pages/2006_78_jpg.htm
http://www.carnethy.com/photos/manoro6top/pages/2006_79_jpg.htm
http://www.carnethy.com/photos/manoro6top/pages/2006_85_jpg.htm
http://www.carnethy.com/photos/manoro6top/pages/2006_90_jpg.htmThere is also a report and some photos (check out the third) on the SHR site HERE
