Stornoway Running and Athletics Club

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TIORGA MHOR HILL RACE 2004
(5 miles with 2200 feet of ascent)

Race Report

North Harris Trust’s first year anniversary of the acquisition of Fifty-five thousand acres of land was celebrated with the Inaugural Tiorga Mhor Hill Race and Glen Cravadale Walk. The race organisers had feared low temperatures and low cloud that would hamper race preparations and lessen the magnificent hilltop experience of those taking part. As it happened the morning of the race was clear and temperatures enjoyable to the extent that runners were taking to the hill in vests rather than the layers that may have been expected a couple of days previous.

The race started at the dam in Glen Chliostair and followed the footpath towards the magnificent Sron Ulladale for about two kilometres before the serious element of the event started at the far end of Loch Ashavat.

A cheerie directional instruction was shouted out by one of the race marshals and the race entered its demand time for leg burning effort! The climb to the top of Tioga Mhor began as competitors were first directed to the top of Tiorga Beag and then along the ridge to the Tiorga Mhor itself, standing at 2,200 feet.

The race pace was set pretty much from start to finish by SRAC runner Ross Munro but as the climb got close to the top both local “boy” Murdo “Mindy” MacLeod, a long time member of the Glasgow based Westerlands Club and SRAC runner Roderick Gillies were making good ground and closing the gap between the leader.

Roderick Gillies

Mindy Macleod

Colin was a lost sole!

Neil MacRury

The only female runner this first year was SRAC junior and North District U17 cross-country champion Chirsty MacLeod making a debut in the hill scene. Her time was a very credible 69 minutes. Chirsty may have found yet another possibility to fulfil her very obvious talent as a developing athlete – hard work does pay off!

Ross Munro - overall winner

Chirsty Macleod - ladies winner

North Harris Trust Chairman Calum MacKay presented several trophies and expressed the Trust’s satisfaction of a successful event and this was very much reciprocated by those taking part. Some were even all ready enquiring what date the event would take place next year! It seems that the entry will grow and the race will become as much a part of the hill running calendar as the Harris Half Marathon is known to road running throughout the UK. NHT well done for a great event. Special thanks to the ladies who provided the after race food and the coastguards who marshalled the course for us.

Results

All photographs provided by Rod Huckbody.