Finlay wins Aonach Mor New Year race
MORE than 100 hardy souls pulled on their running shoes for the annual Aonach Mor Uphill Race on New Year’s Day in cold but dry conditions.
Finlay Wild of organisers Lochaber Athletic Club (LAC) took first place, finishing the four kilometre Nevis Range route in 21 minutes and 53 seconds. Fellow LAC member Ewan Thorburn was second in 23 minutes and 22 seconds, followed by James Espie of Deeside Runners in 24 minutes and 10 seconds.
It was a double whammy for Deeside as the club’s Stephanie Provan was first lady home in 27 minutes and 52 seconds but Lochaber ladies weren’t far behind as LAC’s Diane Baum finished second in 31 minutes and 48 seconds, followed by Suzy Devey, also of LAC, in 32 minutes and four seconds.
Registration The next club race will be the River Park Splodge at Glen Nevis on Sunday January 10. Registration will be held at the Lower Falls car park from 10am with the field setting off at 11am.
Top 20 finishers (LAC unless otherwise stated): 1 Finlay Wild 21:53; 2 Ewan Thorburn 23:22; 3 James Espie (Deeside Runners) 24:10; 4 Andrew Barrington 24:29; 5 Peter Henry (Deeside Runners) 24:56; 6 Jon Gay 25:43; 7 Stuart Crutchfield 25:53; 8 Callum Fraser 26:27; 9 Steven Burns 26:32; 10 Manuel Gorman ( Westerlands Cross Country Club) 26:35; 11 John Urquhart (Spey Runners) 27:00; 12 Alan Smith (Deeside Runners) 27:19; 13 Andy Bryce (Hillingdon AC) 27:25; 14 Stephanie Provan (Deeside Runners) 27:52; 15 Stuart Malcolm (Highland Hill Runners) 28:11; 16 Steven Fallon (Carnethy Hill RC) 28:35; 17 Stewart Wilson (Inverness Harriers) 28:41; 18 Gavin MacMillan 28:56; 19 Felix Maddison (unattached) 29:00; 20 Geoff Simpson (Hunters Bog Trotters) 29:04.