Stuc a Chroin

The Stuc a Chroin Hill Race was the British Championship as well as the Scottish Championship as well as an open hill race this year. Held in brilliant sunshine for most of the day with only two short showers there was a massive turn out. The race starts with a long fairly serious climb up out of Strathyre on a flinty forest road before dropping down over the grassy ridge at the top into Glen Ample. It then climbs up onto Beinn Each and along a rocky ridge which involves some scrambling to the top of Stuc before coming back again to Strathyre. As usual I went down to Strathyre to park my car but the place was bung fu' of cars and vans - they filled every car park, covered every grass verge and cluttered up the roadsides. So I went to the Glen Ample layby but it too was filled to overflowing so it was go to a wee forestry layby and take a track up to join the race trail after about 1.5 miles. I went about three quarters up the road to Glen Ample and waited for the runners and well up in the first third of the field was John Kennedy looking quite comfortable and then a bit further back was Michael Diver who always enjoys this race with a big smile on his face. Two hours later I was making my way back down when John passed - he said his legs were done in but he looked OK otherwise. Michael hadn't passed by the time I came to my wee track but I had no doubts about his welfare. They both did well and the club can be proud of them.

Scott and Isobel Givan and Betty and I used to go to some of the hill races on a random basis to see the runners competing and also to get in a reasonable walk in the hills on trails not usually accessible. Stuc was a favourite as was the Merrick in Dumfries. I can recommend it - it's a better day out than football spectating or shopping in Glasgow! Shelagh King always ran it as well - has anyone seen her since her move?