For the record, Dr Finlay’s done it again
Only two weeks after breaking his own course record to win the Scottish Hill Running Championship, Fort William endurance runner Finlay Wild is back on the winning trail.
The Lochaber GP backed up his victory at Dingwall with a win in the North District Hill Race Championships at Meall a’ Bhuachaille above Loch Morlich on Saturday October 23. This is a 14km long race with more than 2,000 feet of climb.
High winds made conditions difficult on top of the hills and long ridges. Finlay was with the pack in the forest stage but was first off the summit of Meall A’ Bhuachaille with a 50 metre lead.
This was a much closer encounter than two weeks previously, with English fell running champion Billy Cartwright, Matlock, and Eoin Lennon of Carnethy close behind. However, the Lochaber Athletics Club member built up a lead to finish two minutes ahead of Cartwright, beating his own course record by seven seconds in 59 minutes and 53 seconds.
The record was also broken in the women’s race by Nichola Jackson, Keswick Athletic Club, who finished in 73 minutes 54 seconds, pushed all the way by some outstanding runners.
Other leading Lochaber runners were Alan Ross in 12th place in 1:11:31; Stuart Crutchfield, 16th, in 1:11:56; Callum Fraser, 18th, in 1:12:49; Simon Drysdale, 25th, in 1:14:40; Angus Cameron, 34th, in 1:18:50; Alfie Bentley, 37th, in 1:20:34; Iain Foggo, 56th, in 1:26:15; Donald Lamont, 58th, 1:26:45; Pete Conway, 62nd, 1:27:40, and Kenny McIntyre, 77th, 1:33:50.
First Lochaber woman was Amy Disher in 97th place in 1:42:21. Second Lochaber woman was Kathleen Cameron in 1:49:25.
Other Lochaber runners were Jim Treasurer 1:54:20, Claire Treasurer 1:57:27 and Shelley MacGillivray 1:59:13.
Next up is the winter league starting on Sunday November 7 with the Cow Hill race starting at the Braveheart car park followed by cross country action in the North cross country league, November 13, and Evanton and District cross country championship events, December 4, at Gordonstoun.