Lochaber athletes race bonnie bens

It was the bonny banks and bens of Loch Lomond for Lochaber hill runners recently when they tackled the Luss Lollipop race.

Named after the shape of the race route, the event involved two steep climbs starting from Luss village car park.

The event doubled as the West District Hill Running championships with Sarah MacDonald of Lochaber Athletic Club finishing third in one hour, 31 minutes and 23 seconds (1:31:23), about four minutes behind the senior womens’ winner Caroline

Marwick of Highland Hill runners. Sarah was supported by teammate Amy Disher, now regularly hill running at the highest level, who was 59th in 1:55:17, closely followed by Kathleen Cameron in 60th in 1:56:12.

In the mens’ event, Simon Drysdale of Lochaber ran an outstanding race to take fourth place in 1:19:59.

Matt MacDonald is making consistent improvements and recorded 1:24:46 to take 12th place. The other Lochaber team runners were Angus Cameron in 20th (1:27: 54) and Steve

MacDonald finished in 23rd place with a time of 1:30:07.

With limited events available this year, Lochaber runners continue to make the most of racing opportunities. More runners are needed in all age groups for the one-off Scottish Athletics Scottish Hill Running Championships in Dingwall at Cioch Mhor on October 9 and the popular Meall a’ Bhuachaille North District Championship race near Glenmore on October 23.

There is still time to sharpen up and enter on the site SI Entries.