Wild makes it nine in a row
Wilkinson breaks women’s record
Records tumbled again at this year’s Ben Nevis Race on Saturday as hundreds of athletes raced to the top and back of the UK’s highest mountain.
After 34 years, the women’s record was finally broken as Victoria Wilkinson, 39, of Bingley Harriers finished in an incredible time of 1:43:25, beating Pauline Haworth’s previous record by 24 seconds.
This follows after Wilkinson broke the record for the Three Peaks Challenge last year.
Lochaber GP Finlay Wild, 32, reclaimed the MacFarlane Cup for the ninth consecutive year, recording a personal best time of 01:27:35 - almost five minutes faster than second-placed Sam Tosh.
Wild’s victory extends his record-breaking run of consecutive race wins to nine, however, Kenny Stuart’s record time of 1:25:34, set in 1984, remains in tact.
There were 600 entries for this year’s race, although only 488 competitors were able to complete the 8.7 mile long, 4,411ft high course.
As usual there was a strong local presence on the start line with more than 90 Lochaber Athletics Club (LAC) representatives setting off from Claggan Park.
Esmond Tresidder was the second fastest local across the line in an impressive time of 1:39:35, while LAC runners Andrew Barrington, Richard Macleod, Ruari Watt and Stuart Crutchfield all making it in the top 50.
Amanda Blackhall was the fastest local female down the mountain in a time of 2:14:46 and regained the Turnbull Quaich she won last year.
LAC’s Callum Fraser won the Victor Manley Memorial Trophy as the fastest under 23 in a time of 1:49:02. Iain MacKellaig, LAC, won the Eddie Campbell Memorial Trophy for being the fastest veteran 50+ with a time of 2:04:18, while Allan Ross won the George MacPherson Memorial Trophy for the fastest veteran 40+ in 1:52:59.
It was a special day for the Stewart family from Fort William with mum Carole, dad John and two sons, Daniel and Stephen, all completing the race. Ben Race veteran John, taking part in his 21st Ben Nevis Race, finished fastest of the Stewart family. Lochaber runners Nicola Forster and John Hepburn were also taking part in their 21st Ben Nevis Race and were presented with the Connochie Plaque.
Full results and times can be found on bennevisrace.co.uk.
The Marine Harvest shinty/hurling intenational between Scotland and Ireland will take place at Bught Park, Inverness, on October 20 to celebrate 125 years of the Camanachd Association.
This year’s event brings the senior male and female teams to one venue for a festival of shinty with their Irish counterparts.
The senior men’s management team is Garry Reid, manager; Robert Geddes, assistant coach; and Kenny Ross, assistant coach.
The senior ladies’ management team is Stuart Reid and Ross Brown.
The Under 21 management team playing in Ireland on Saturday November 3 is Alan MacRae, manager; Callum MacLeod, assistant coach and Iain McDonald, assistant coach.
Keith Loades, president of the Camanachd Association, said: ‘We are delighted to announce this year’s management teams for the international fixtures and equally excited about having the men’s and ladies’ fixtures taking place at the Bught on October 20. Good luck to all the managers in the coming weeks as they select their squads.’
Garry Reid is a UKCC Level 2 coach who has been involved in school and club coaching for more than 20 years.
He also has huge experience of the compromise rules game coaching and leading the Scotland Under 17 Development Squad for 10 years before taking over the Scotland Under 21 management in 2014 with that team becoming the first Scotland Under 21 team to win in Ireland.
He was assistant manager to Ronald Ross in last year’s Senior International victory over Ireland in Inverness.
Garry will be supported by a team of people with a lot of knowledge and respect within the game Robert Geddes, Strathglass, and Kenny Ross, Newtonmore, as well as support from Ronald who will take on a more advisory/mentoring role this year to support the transition.