   
More photos here from Bob and Leslie Marshall
The long hard winter and good
recent rainfall had prompted the East Lothian vegetation to
launch a mad growth spurt in the few
days before the race. Course preparation the day before needed
sickle and branch loppers to hack a way through the denser parts
of the
undergrowth. There was so much to clear that we had to leave
some of the low hanging
stuff as a scenic feature of the course. The hideous industrial
orange plastic hazard fence along the edge of the quarry was
not of our making;
it seems to be the latest initiative of our hyper-vigilant council
protecting us from ever having to make a decision for ourselves
when we find something we might trip over in the great outdoors.
Their
warning signs on the Law must put the fear of God into visitors.
It’s
a pity they don’t use their creativity to give us more protection
from crazy motorists with killing machines who use the local lanes
as though they’re in the Monte Carlo Rally. Despite these
frustrations, all seemed to enjoy this quirky race with its
early bath and unique
section of via ferrata (vium ferratum?).
Don Naylor had to work hard for his 14 second victory over Brian
Marshall, who made repeated threats just as Don kept thinking
he could relax.
The Boggies squad provided strong back up for Don, securing
the team victory for HBT with the support of Al Hart and Jamie
Thin.
Megan
Wright further consolidated Boggies’ supremacy with a
fine win from Georgie Nesbitt (Gala) and Gillian Carr (Corstorphine).
Olly
Stephenson must have been distracted by the summit view because
he put a foot wrong coming off the summit and sustained a painful
ankle
twist that put paid to his promising start; the only other injuries
were nettle stings and pride.
A field of 73 sustained the popularity of this low key event, with
many remarks on value for money compared with the Edinburgh marathon.
Thanks for the invaluable support from our usual marshals, who always
fill the vacuum created by the shortage of young apprentices in this
important and neglected service industry for hill runners.
Results
Keith Burns
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