A Crystal Clear Sky And Kind Conditions At Ben Nevis 2015

Photos by Sean Rice
ben-nevisStanding at 1,344 metres (4,409 ft) above sea level, Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles and its name, although having a variety of translations, is sometimes known as ‘The Mountain with its head in the clouds’. What a spectacle then on Saturday 5th September when the only clouds visible where those above Eugene Mc Cann. A crystal clear blue sky, hardly a breath of wind and temperatures in the mid teens were the conditions that awaited the group from Newcastle Ac who travelled to Scotland to compete in the annual Ben Nevis race. This race, which dates back to 1895, is arguably the most famous and perhaps challenging race in the mountain racing calendar. It offers a wide variety of terrain which includes a football field, a tarmac road, gravel tracks, steep grass and bare loose rock and boulders not to mention that it steepens so much that you need your hands to help you reach the top. Despite this terrain and the 10 miles and 4409 feet of a climb that the race demands runners arrive annually from all over the country and further afield to compete in this classic race.

Newcastle AC runnersNewcastle AC has been travelling to Fort William on the first Saturday in September since the eighties with many well known local names, now long since passed their best, having completed the race. This year saw a blend of seasoned Ben racers together with some new comers all eager to; get the race over and to be still in one piece to enjoy the more important parts of the weekend. And so after a sophisticated and carefully planned and thought out breakfast of cereals, toast and tea the team headed for registration in Claggan Park  to enjoy the Shinty and visit the shops. Other Northern Ireland runners where spotted and asked about their wellbeing while if the truth was told each individual was probably more interested in their own preparations for the race.

Barry Wells, who was only going on two and a half cylinders, was prescribing and administering various quantities of, what I resume were, legal drugs to himself and to anyone else who was listening to him and needless to say those were thin on the ground. On the other hand Debbie Kendall was packing her rucksack in case she had to spend a week on the mountain while Bugsy was mentally rehearsing his warm up. And so as the start time of 1pm approached the red and yellow army marched to the field!

Good luck and have a good one, mutual back slapping and a last toilet stop for some and it was in behind the Lochaber Schools Pipe Band for the parade to the start line. Shortly after, the starter’s gun went, ably fired by Kathleen Connochie who was the first lady finisher in the race in 1955, and the field of 486 runners poured out of the park and onto the road which leads to the start of the mountain track.

A tirade of abuse

Onwards and upwards as the chat and the mouths dried up the ever steepening slopes and onto the summit plateau where on the day visibility extended for almost one hundred miles. Past the snow filled Gardyloo gulley and then when everyone thought it can’t get any worse, Hilltown man Kevin Quinn appeared amongst the rocks offering unwanted words of wisdom . The first Newcastle runner to the summit was another Hilltown man, Pete Grant followed shortly by the Brians Mc Burney and Wilson and the Barry, Wells. First Newcastle lady to the summit was the ever improving Paulette Thomson followed by Rita and Debbie. Ben race first timer Martin ‘Bugsy’ Brogan was almost overcome by the sight at the top as where the onlookers as he stopped to answer the call of nature. As for the descent, well it goes on and on and on and when you think it can’t go on any further it does and more besides. It includes the infamous grass bank being possibly the most treacherous part of the descent, as the only way down is on your backside. Brian Wilson, at this stage close to raving his eyes glazed and his moral failing him fast, could be heard giving himself a good talking to whilst wishing he had got his fell shoes remoulded before the race. Things didn’t improve as  Mourne’s Mike Barton caught and passed Brian only to be subject to a tirade of unnecessary  abuse from the Dromara man. More unnecessary abuse followed as Eugene Mc Cann passed Barry Wells and then as a final insult, Anne Sandford elbowed, the by now lighter but slightly unsteady, ‘Bugsy’  into the briers within sight of the finish. Interestingly ‘Bugsy’ remained in an unsteady state well into the following day!

Most people take a little while to consider whether or not they will ever return to this great race but as Stevie Rice completed the last lap of the pitch, his  face grinning broadly, all the onlookers remarked ‘he is hooked’. It was only later that we found out that the grin was in fact due to the tickling effect of the large quantity of grass he had brought down in his shorts.

Local runnersSome go to compete while other go to complete and it remains a major achievement not just to finish ‘The Ben Nevis Race’ but to finish in one piece with all limbs intact and your full quota of blood still onboard. It is always a great relief to see the last runners coming in and to receive as loud a cheer as the winner and on the subject of winners huge congratulations go to Diane Wilson of Lagan Valley Ac who finished first in the ladies’ race and in so doing became the first lady from Ireland North or South to ever do this. Finally congratulations to all from Newcastle AC who completed the race and survived the rest of the weekend and thanks to Sean Rice for the jelly babies and photos. Roll on 2016.

Pete Moss

The results for Newcastle AC runners are listed below:-

Pete Grant                   2.10.15

Barry Wells                 2.17.37

Brian Mc Burney        2.23.35

Brian Wilson               2.24.06

Stephen Rice               2.39.41

Paulette Thomson       2.40.46

Martin Brogan             2.53.48

Rita Devlin                  3.09.14

Debbie Kendall           3.18.14