With a number of regular club members absent and Hugh Campbell competing in the Scottish Cross Country Championships in Falkirk (where he finished a very respectable 42^nd in a field of 450 of the country’s best runners), there was a low field of only 12 runners for this year’s Glenbrittle Trail Race. Ongoing timber harvesting operations meant a change of course with the runners starting near the top forest entrance, running over into Glen Eynort to complete a loop of the lower and upper Eynort tracks before rejoining the outward route to the finish. The general comments from the runners were that the course was even harder than normal with one enquiring afterwards how it was possible for a run starting and finishing in the same place to be 90% uphill!

 

John MacLean made light work of the course though coming home a clear first in 1:09:39. He was followed home just under ten minutes later by Mairi Crawford in 1:19:08. Neil Roberts was second man home in 1:25:45 just in front of Robert MacAskill (1:26:10). Fiona MacDonald and Janette Tasker called a truce in their battle for the Women’s Championship coming across the finishing line together as joint second ladies home.

 

Alex Turner, leader of the Men’s Championship going into the event, finished in second last place having missed a turn which added a few more miles to his race. Last home on the day was Andy O’Grady but, all credit to him for completing a tough course and to all his fellow competitors who waited out in the wind and rain to cheer him across the line.

 

With a little help from Alex Turner’s navigational error, John MacLean’s win moves him into the lead of the Mens’ Winter Race Series Championship. He is now on 20 points, Neil Roberts is second on 16 and Alex Turner drops to third with 14. Last year’s Champion, Scott Kennedy is fourth on 10 points. Things stay the same in the Women’s Championship as Fiona MacDonald and Janette Tasker shared the 18 points available on the day for first and second club members home. Fiona now has 27 points to Janette’s 23. Wilma MacRuary is third with 10 points but, it looks like this year’s title race is between Fiona and Janette.

 

The next race in the series is the Sconser 10k on 12^th March. The Braes event has been rescheduled for 26^th March.

 

Full results are given below: