SHINTY, SCONES AND SUMMERSAULTS AT BEN NEVIS
by Pete Moss
Some of the country’s hardiest and weather worn mountain runners travelled recently to Fort William in the highlands of Scotland to take part in the annual Ben Nevis race and some Newcastle runners took part as well. This race, some would argue, is without comparison, the toughest mountain race in the calendar and climbs from sea level to nearly four and a half thousand feet in around four miles as the first and eventually the last mile are ‘relatively’ flat. The race has a diverse mix of terrain with tarmac, track, loose scree, bare rock, steep grass, boulder fields and mud, a mixture not to everyone’s liking.
The Newcastle contingent was made up of runners who had completed over a dozen ‘Bens’ to three who were there for the first time. And so it was that even before they departed from the George Best airport preparations for the challenge began in earnest. PJ Mc Crickard fresh from a relaxing holiday in Spain continued his pursuit of the good life by downing a fry with a Danish pastry chaser. On arrival in bonnie Scotland it was straight to the café in Fort Augustus for haddock and chips with Jerome this time leading the way with soup and scones as well as a fish supper. The drive down the great glen behind it was straight to the supermarket where a trolley was swiftly filled to overflowing with a vast array of fine food stuffs under the watchful eye of the guest food critic Mr David Steele. Unsure if they would get through all the food, and still have time to compete in the race, Jerome Mc Crickard tried to negotiate a return of unused items agreement with a bewildered sales assistant. It was only when she was about to send for the manager that negotiations were hastily broken off and the groaning trolley was pushed away.
Race preparations continued with a snack in the house before a substantial evening meal in the aptly named ‘Ben Nevis Inn’ where an interesting choice of pre race nutrition was observed. Sometime into the meal an astute member of the group who had not opted for the beetroot pasta voiced grave doubts about this choice also pointing out that the three pasta men had receding hairlines and indeed this might be related to their consumption of the said beetroot pasta.
Highland dancing and Shinty
The day of the race dawned and after a hearty fry followed by bowls of porridge and a gallon of tea the team proceeded to race registration in the shadow of the great mountain. The Ben Nevis race is possibly the oldest race in the country having been run since 1937 and attracts a huge interest from runners and locals who take a great pride in their race. Entertainment such as highland dancing, pipe bands and a Shinty tournament are provided for those not competing, all this as well as the spectacle of the race itself. On the subject of a spectacle it was by good fortune that the U12 Lochaber Shinty coach, Jock Mc Tavish, couldn’t find a skirt to fit Jerome or he would have got a game having impressed Mc Tavish with his hurling skills.
At 1PM with the skirl of the the great highland bagpipes ringing in their ears and their bum bags full of jelly babies the athletes set off for the Ben with reports of gale force winds and temperatures below freezing on the summit
David Steele had a great climb as did Roy Donaldson and Davy Hanna of Mourne Runners. Jerome Mc Crickard and Brendan Quail also climbed very strongly with both reaching the summit at the same time although the Leitrim man claims to have been there first by virtue of his longer arms. A special mention for young Quail who climbed the mountain this year in boxer’s boots and wearing a tea cosy which may have slowed him down enough to allow Jerome to hand his summit tag in first.
Ascending a big mountain is challenge enough on its own but strong wind and rain add to this challenge. When you are high on the mountain even something as simple as putting on a coat can become a difficult task unless of course you are Paul Fegan. Not to be beaten by the gale force wind Paul enlisted the help of some passers by to help him and it took three volunteers to complete this task as the ungrateful Fegan berated them for taking so long.
Ariel gymnastics
With everyone safely over the top it was time for the descent by which time the legs begin to function less effectively and it is not uncommon to see people running like Marty Mc Veigh. The first to have his legs desert him was David Steele who miraculously survived a summersault on the scree with nothing more than a cut lip and a bruised wrist. David was followed to the ground by Mike Barton, Brian Mc Burney and many others as evidenced by the scene at the finish line which resembled the aftermath of a battle with the First Aid tent doing a steady trade.
Eugene Mc Cann said afterwards that he wouldn’t be in any hurry back despite passing PJ Mc Crickard on the road, PJ finally succumbing to two week’s of riotous living in Spain. David Steele ran an excellent race at his first attempt and despite his aerial gymnastics finished 41st overall in 1.56.02 while Brendan Quail finished 54th with Jerome McCrickard 81st and in so doing helped Newcastle AC to finish tenth in the team event, a very creditable achievement amongst a high quality field and interestingly the three very men who had consumed the much maligned beetroot pasta on the previous evening!
The race over, legs massaged fruit cake and tea consumed it was time for showers and an evening of tall tales from a high mountain and the customary early night! It is a great achievement to complete ‘The Ben’ and to be still in one piece at the end , it is an even greater achievement to run a fast time and survive so congratulations to all who finished especially the first timers and the three sub 2 hour runners. Plans are already afoot for next year so if you fancy a big challenge and very sore legs speak to some of ‘The Ben Men’.
Results
1:56:02 STEELE DAVID NEWCASTLE ATHLETIC CLUB (41st)
1:58:05 QUAIL BRENDAN NEWCASTLE ATHLETIC CLUB (54th)
1:59:12 DONALDSON ROY MOURNE RUNNERS (67th)
2:01:33 MCCRICKARD JEROME NEWCASTLE ATHLETIC CLUB (81st)
2:04:41 NEWELL DAVID MOURNE RUNNERS (101st)
2:07:57 MARKS WILLIAM MOURNE RUNNERS (114th)
2:10:29 MCCANN EUGENE NEWCASTLE ATHLETIC CLUB (130th)
2:10:50 MCCRICKARD P.J NEWCASTLE ATHLETIC CLUB (132nd)
2:14:25 HANNA RICHARD MOURNE RUNNERS (163rd)
2:18:22 MCBURNEY BRIAN NEWCASTLE ATHLETIC CLUB (193rd)
2:18:58 BARTON MICHAEL MOURNE RUNNERS (197th)
2:19:32 MCGIMPSEY GARTH LAGAN VALLEY (202nd)
2:19:42 BELL DAVID MOURNE RUNNERS (206th)
2:41:20 COWAN RICKY MOURNE RUNNERS (346th)
2:45:07 FEGAN PAUL NEWCASTLE ATHLETIC CLUB (368th)
2:51:04 BRIDGE ANDY B.A.R.F (393rd )
2:51:48 EVANS DAVID B.A.R.F (394th)
Photos (by Ricky Cowan) / Full Results