Tom and Helena’s top perfor
Arran runners Tom Jessop of Shiskine and Helena Sherwood of Brodick were the first local runners to complete the Goatfell Race last Saturday (May 20).
The hill race is organised by Peter Mackie of Shettleston Harriers and this year was a Scottish Hill Runners event and a Scottish Athletics 2023 championship counter.
Andrew Douglas of Inverclyde Athletic Club was the overall winner in a time of one hour, 14 minutes and 43 seconds, while Holly Page of Carnethy Hill Running Club was the first female home in one hour, 31 minutes and five seconds. Tom, of Arran Pace Makers, took the local title with a time of one hour, 34 minutes and 28 seconds and Helena Sherwood in one hour, 58 minutes and 27 seconds.
The event attracted 237 runners with only four retiring from the race which covers 13 kilometres but which makes an 880-metre ascent to the top of Arran’s highest peak. The Goatfell Race was first run in 1953, making this year its 70th anniversary, although there have been a few years when it did not take place. At its inception, the race was controversially only open to men, with women banned from taking part owing to the gruelling nature of the race.
“Barefoot Betty” smashed that misconception in the mid 1950s when she finished the race barefoot before returning to work, then attending an evening dance.
“Barefoot Betty”, better known as Betty Corbett, made newspaper headlines when she was banned from taking part, but decided to join the runners as an unofficial entrant. Half-way up the hill, Betty took off her shoes and ran up and down the hill to complete the race in two hours and 16 minutes.
The current male record for the Goatfell Race is one hour, 12 minutes and 11 seconds, set by Murray Strain in 2017, and the female record is one hour, 26 minutes and 21 seconds, set in 2001 by Angela Mudge.
Above: First three over the line, left to right, Alasdair Campbell, third, Andrew Douglas, first, and Alistair Masson, second.