Welcome back! Highland Fling returns as ultra runners take on 53 miles

Monday 25th April 2022

Men’s podium from the Highland Fling ultra – Rowan Boswood, Josh Bakker-Dyos and Robbie Dunlop

Report by Adrian Stott

The Highland Fling 53 mile ultra trail race mad a welcome return for the first time since 2019.

Advance planning from last autumn had capped the field at 500 compared with the usual 1000 entry and led to some 400 runners toeing the start line at Milngavie.

Rowan Boswood, Carnethy, set a good pace with James Turner, Brighton, on the relatively fast 12 mile section to Drymen. Jo Meek and Chrissie Wellington were evenly matched in the ladies race on that stage.

Turner and Boswood remained in contact with each other for the next 20 miles along Loch Lomond side to Inversnaid.

The more technical top section of the loch side trail saw Boswood open a lead and at the Beinglass Checkpoint he was 12 minutes ahead of Josh Bakker-Dyos, who had moved into second with Robbie Dunlop of Dundee Road Runners in third.

The positions were to remain unchanged to the finish with Boswood, the winner of the full West Highland Way race in 2019, taking the win and with it the Scottish Ultra trail title.

He reached Tyndrum in 7:15:52 with Scottish athletes Bakker-Dyos in 7:28:48 and Dunlop third in 7:42:58 to complete the podium.

In the women’s race, GB ultra international Meek, with her extensive ultra distance experience, proved the stronger on the loch side section to open up a good lead on former international Ironman champion Wellington. Meek finished in an excellent 8:24:32 with Wellington in 8:40:10

Jacqueline MacIntyre 8:47:33 finished in third place to claim the Scottish title. Aoife Ni Mhaoileoin of Cairngorm Runners and Jan Dawson of Penicuik took the Scottish silver and bronze medals.