The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Lights on for Simpson as he takes on Illuminator
● Bronze-medallist favourite to win 15-mile event at Aboyne
Robbie Simpson will start as clear favourite to win the Illuminator 15-mile headtorch run at Aboyne on Saturday evening.
The Great Britain mountain-running international and 2018 Commonwealth Games marathon bronze-medallist has made a late decision to tackle the race through the Glen Tanar estate after missing the chance to make his ultra-distance competitive debut in France last weekend.
The Banchory-based athlete travelled to Millau in the south of the country for the 77km Grand Trail des Templiers race but a severe storm accompanied by ferocious thunder and lightning forced organisers to cancel the event because of safety concerns.
He said: “It was really disappointing after making the journey but it was the right decision to cancel the event. The weather was incredibly bad. We were confined to the hotel for seven hours, it was impossible to get out. I saw a house get hit by lightning and it caught fire, so it was definitely good not to be out racing in those conditions.”
Despite the frustrations of last weekend, Simpson has taken some solace in now being able to tackle a local race he has had his eye on for some time.
He said: “I’ve wanted to do the Illuminator for years but I’ve either been injured or preparing for something else at this time of year. So, with the French race being cancelled, it gave me the opportunity to do it and get last week’s disappointment out of my system.
“There’s not many races of this length in the area, other than this one and the Balmoral trail race, so it’s good to be able to do it. I’m familiar with Glen Tanar as I’ve done a lot of running there, although never at night, so it will be a different experience.
“The only other headtorch races I’ve done were a few years ago at Birnam and I’m looking forward to this one.”
Metro Aberdeen’s Sam Milton, who won in 2016 then set the current course record of 1:36:02 when retaining his title in 2017, is an absentee.
His clubmate, Matthew Milne, who won in 2018, is also missing as he has been injured.
Simpson’s girlfriend Ginie Barrand (Metro Aberdeen) is to tackle the women’s race and could well test the course record of 1:58:29, set by Scotland hill-running international Steph Provan (Deeside Runners) last year.
Provan is not competing this weekend but her clubmate Sara Henry, who won in 2017 and was second in 2016, is in the line-up.
The Illuminator is now in its fifth year and for the first time this weekend will also feature 8km and 15km races. Just over 1,100 people have signed up to take part.