Tom is king of the hill

It may have been a glorious day for the Goatfell hill race last Saturday but the temperatures, in the mid-20°Cs, were too hot for the runners.

That did not deter 175 hardy souls to take on the 874m Goatfell challenge - now organised by the Shettleston Harriers - with only six people unable to finish the gruelling 15.5 km race. But there was to be no record breaking runs this year.

Arran was well represented by around 16 runners, including a number of first-time participants.

They included Danny Head, who chose to celebrate his 27th birthday by running the race, and Juliette Walsh, who joined her husband Andrew for the first time. Several also sported bright yellow Arran Fell Runners t-shirts.

After a mass start at Ormidale Park the runners headed out the castle drive and up the tourist path to the top of Goatfell and back which this year, given the fine day, was busy with walkers making another obstacle for the runners to have to avoid.

In first place, with a remarkable time of 1:17:19, was Shettleston Harriers runner Tom Owens, followed, by some distance, by John Yells of Lochaber Athletic Club with a time of 1:22:37, while Lochaber fellow Richard Macleod took third spot with a time of 1:27:43. First female over the line was Ruth Crewe of Westerlands Cross Country Club, who finished with a time of 1:40:44.

Trophies are also awarded in a local category for the first male and female to cross the line. Taking the honours were Malcolm Wilkinson, who came in first place with a time of 1:44:47, while the first female was Corinna Goeckeritz with a time of 1:55:26.

Race organiser Peter Mackie of the Shettleston Harriers said: ‘A great day out was had by all, with special thanks to our helpers from the club, the Arran Mountain Rescue Team, Arran Pipe Band, Brodick Improvements Committee and our friends at Salomon for generously donating some cracking prizes.’

The course record, which had stood for 23 years, was broken by not one but two runners last year, with Murray Strain of Hunters Bog Trotters now holding the record of 1:12:11.

01_B21race08 Andrew Walsh at the front of a long line of runners on the hill.

01_B21race27 First local male runner, Malcolm Wilkinson, receives his medal and traditional beers from race organiser Peter Mackie.

01_B21race05 Leading the pack from the start of the race are eventual first and second place winners, Tom Owens and John Yells.

01_B21race18 Andy McNamara heads for the finish.

01_B21race28 George Doubleday takes the descent in his stride.

01_B21race26 Organiser Peter Mackie of the Shettleston Harriers presents the winners trophy to Tom Owens.

01_B21race24 Ken Hogge keeps his eyes firmly on the path.

01_B21race07 A swarm of runners snake their way up the hill.

01_B21race14 Jon Smith powers down the descent.

01_B21ra Eventual winner Tom Owens reaches the shoulder of Goatfell well ahead of the rest of the field.

01_B21race03 A contingent of Arran runners looking fresh and well prepared prior to the race.

01_B21race23 First time runner, Abbie Mckelvie, rosses the line with two supportng cers alongside.

01_B21race01 First local female Corinna Goeckeritz receives her medal and the traditional prize of beer.

01_B21race02 First-time runner Danny Head and last year’s first local male, Jon Smith, prior to the race.

01_B21race22 Karen Lindsay-Smith makes her way over the finish line.