Hundreds set for Highland Fling Race – with Scottish medals up for grabs

Thursday 25th April 2024

Sophie Mullins in ACP action in Perth in 2019

By Adrian Stott

This Saturday sees the 16th edition of the Highland Fling Race, with just over 700 runners on the entry list.

Runners compete along the first 53 miles of Scotland’s iconic West Highland Way Trail from Milngavie to Tyndrum.

The race has established itself as one of the leading 50-mile trail races in the UK, attracting runners of all standards from throughout the country and it once again incorporates the Scottish Athletics Ultra Trail Championships.

A clear favourite in the Women’s race will be GB trail international Elsey Davis from Cornwall.

Davis is using the race as a build-up to her first 100-mile event when she takes on the classic Western States 100 in California in June. Although looking for a solid runnable 50-mile effort above anything else, a sub-8-hour clocking, only achieved by Beth Pascall in her record run in 2016, is certainly possible.

Leading Scottish Championship contenders are the Fife AC duo of Sophie Mullins and Ally McGill.

Mullins, currently living in Spain, is a former UK and Scottish 100k Champion when she won at Perth in 2019. She has been running well in shorter trail races in Spain and looking forward to returning to renew her acquaintance with the West Highland Way.

McGill is a fellow Scottish 100k international. She recently finished second at the Sri Chinmoy 50km race at Perth, which incorporated the 2024 UK and SAL championships and is using the Fling as a springboard to defending her full West Highland Way title that she won in 2023.

Hungarian marathon International Fanni Gyurko, Ochil Hill Runners, will be another contender. She will be running her first 50-mile race after a few successful shorter 50km trail ultras in recent years.

Rowan Boswood, (Carnethy HR) champion in 2022, the last time the race was staged, is on the start list and will be in the mix for championship medals. Robbie Dunlop (Dundee Road Runners), third behind Boswood in the 2002 Fling will also figure, as will Kyle Wilson from Greenock Glenpark.

Wilson had a good 2023, with a win at the Dee 33 ultra and second places at the 42-mile Devil of the Highlands and 50-mile Moray Coastal Trail.

Polish native Jacob Snowchoski, now living on Speyside, who narrowly beat Wilson in the Moray Coastal 50, will renew that rivalry too.

Shettleston’s international Mountain and Trail runner, Tom Owens, is also on the entry list.

Former GB 100k international Marcus Scotney could also be in contention. A former winner of the Dragons Back Ultra along the spine of Wales and the Cape Wrath Ultra, he has recently moved to Perthshire and linked up with Strathearn Harriers.

There are also Team and Masters medals up for grabs as well. The race starts at 6am on Saturday morning. Full race details and entries  HERE

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