Owens takes Screel, 2-1 for the Bannermans at Cioch Mhor
Tom Owens strides out
Clare Whitehead continued her winning ways at Screel this weekend with a 2-minute win – with Tom Owens having a superb up-and-down to takes the men’s race – and in the stunning Scottish Highlands the Cioch Mhor race-record fell to local man Alec Keith…
Runners had to cope with the contrast between bright sun on the open hill and the cool dark woods on a dramatic day’s racing at Screel, the second round of the SHR championship. Tom Owens confesses to preferring the longer stuff, but his winter speedwork is now clearly paying dividends as he secured a clear victory, his winning margin being over a minute.
A trademark fast descent saw Brian Marshall overhaul the young pretender Robbie Simpson to take the second spot, with Robbie just holding off Oleg Chepelin for third and first U23. Anesti Davenhill, in a welcome return to racing, finished 1st Vet ahead of Stuart Whitlie.
In the women’s race, Claire Whitehead made it two out of two after her win last week at Clachnaben, with Fiona Maxwell in 2nd taking the female V40 prize. Jacqui Higginbottom was 3rd, a mere 3 seconds ahead of Catriona Buchanan, who was 1st U23. As if this wasnt drama enough, back out on the course an injured Jon Ascroft eventually had to be airlifted to hospital with a broken (?) arm. Best wishes to him for a speedy recovery and many thanks to those runners who delayed or gave up their own race to help him.
Men’s result
1 Tom Owens (Shettleston) 28:31
2 Brian Marshall (HELP) 29:37
3 Robbie Simpson (Deeside) MU23 29:53
4 Oleg Chepelin (Shettleston) MU23 30:05
5 Andrew Wright (Carnegie Harriers) 30:33
6 Andy Symonds (Carnegie Harriers) 31:11
Women’s result
1 (19) Claire Whitehead (Cosmics) 34:04
2 (29) Fiona Maxwell (Shettleston) 36:11
3 (52) Jacqui Higginbottom (Carnethy) 38:53
4 (53) Catriona Buchanan (Central AC ) 38:56
5 (58) Emma Birnie (Bellahouston) 39:27
6 (60) Alayne Finlay (Ochil) 40:01
141 starters
Bright sun greeted the field on the ascent
Two-one for the Bannermans at Cioch Mhor
Alec Keith (Inverness H) took thirty seconds off the course record in winning Cioch Mhor by a couple of minutes from Ross Bannerman (Highland HR). Fran Williams (also Highland HR) was a further couple of minutes behind and Craig Mitchell (Lochaber AC) was fourth.
Roxy Bannerman (Highland HR) improved the women’s record by one-and-a-half minutes, finishing comfortably ahead of Marsella McLeod (Highland HR). Anne MacKay (Tain R) was third.
The junior race was won by David Gardner (Inverness H) from Alistair Cooper (East Sutherland), Ruaridh Gollan (East Sutherland) and Tom Pumphrey (Highland HR).
Alec Keith
