North Hill Champs and Scottish trio in Italy

Wednesday 27th October 2021

Men’s medallists at the North District Champs – champion Finlay Wild (centre) joined by Robin Howie and James Espie (photo by Angela Mudge)

Results online (see link via the fixture on October 23)

The North District Hill Running Championships were held at Meall a’ Bhuachaille last Saturday.

Conditions were fairy innocuous at race HQ but it was pretty wild on the summit ridge, where high winds made running in a straight line almost impossible.

Many runners found themselves running on the spot as they attempted to race into the high winds. Finlay Wild (Lochaber AC) didn’t appear to be slowed down by the wind and had yet another storming performance to break his course record (set in 2019) and the hour to win gold in 59:53.

In the women’s event, Kirsty Rogan (Highland Hill Runners) also set a PB to come home in first place in 79:53.

In the team events, Highland Hill Runners were victorious in both the male and female categories.

There were 107 runners in the open race and category winners are as follows.

F40 Iona Robertson (Highland Hill Runners)

M40 Richard Bannister ( Deeside Runners)

F50 Veronique Oldham (Cosmic Hill Bashers)

M50 Stewart Wilson (HHR)

F60 Jane Oliver (Deeside Runners)

M60 Graeme Ambrose (Inverness Harriers)

Thanks to Russell McKechnie and Highland Hill Runners for all their efforts to organise a great event.

Finlay Wild celebrates North District gold in hill running (photo by Angela Mudge)

Highland Hill Runners won Women’s team golds thanks to the efforts of Kirstie Rogan, Caroline Marwick (and also Monica Padilla)

SAL Pos
	1	1	0:59:53	Finlay	Wild	M	Lochaber Athletic Club
	2	4	1:03:22	James	Espie	M	Deeside Runners
	3	8	1:05:53	Robin	Howie	M	Highland Hill Runners
	1	35	1:19:53	Kirstie	Rogan	F	Highland Hill Runners
	2	45	1:23:15	Caroline	Marwick	F	Highland Hill Runners
	3	63	1:27:40	Veronique	Oldham	FV50	Cosmic Hillbashers
M40	1	24	1:14:40	Richard	Bannister	MV40	Deeside Runners
	2	29	1:17:45	Donnie	Macdonald	MV40	Inverness Harriers
	3	32	1:17:52	Gavin	Whiteside	MV40	Highland Hill Runners
F40	1	73	1:32:57	Iona	Robertson	FV40	Highland Hill Runners
	2	115	1:52:42	Morgane	Artacho	FV40	Highland Hill Runners
	3	130	2:14:46	Kaisa	Oikkonen	FV40	Forres Harriers
F50	1	63	1:27:40	Veronique	Oldham	FV50	Cosmic Hillbashers
M50	1	48	1:24:01	Stewart	Wilson	MV50	Highland Hill Runners
F60	1	125	1:59:19	Jane	Oliver	FV60	Deeside Runners
M60	1	94	1:41:31	Graeme	Ambrose	MV60	Inverness Harriers
Teams F		35	1:19:53	Kirstie	Rogan	F	Highland Hill Runners
HHR		45	1:23:15	Caroline	Marwick	F	Highland Hill Runners
		64	1:27:49	Monica	Padilla	F	Highland Hill Runners
Teams M		8	1:05:53	Robin	Howie	M	Highland Hill Runners
HHR		11	1:10:32	Alexander	Beaven	M	Highland Hill Runners
		32	1:17:52	Gavin	Whiteside	MV40	Highland Hill Runners

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A strong 10th place overall for team @scotathletics at the 64th edition of Trofeo Vanoni mountain relay race. Fantastic running from debutants James Dunn and Rory Abernethy. #trofeovanoni #teamscotland pic.twitter.com/CJ3SNosfff

— Ross Gollan (@GollanRoss) October 24, 2021

Meanwhile in Italy . . .

On Sunday Scottish hill runners were also competing in Trofeo Vanoni, a three man relay in Morbegno.

The French team took the win in a time of 1.30.02. The Scottish trio of James Dunn (Corstorphine AAC), Rory Abernethy (Ochil HR) and Ross Gollan (Shettleston Harriers) finished in 10^th place overall.

The team were consistent in their splits running 32.17; 32.30 and 32.16 respectively.

This event provides invaluable experience to hill runners who are trying to make it to the next level and gave James and Rory their first opportunity to compete in Europe and experience the fanfare and enthusiasm which is associated with mountain running in Italy.

With thanks to Angela Mudge

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Tags: hill running, James Dunn, Rory Abernethy, Ross Gollan