Naomi Lang (centre) in cross country action a couple of years ago (photo by Bobby Gavin)
The Stuc a’ Chroin hill race is hosting the British Championship Long Hill Race at the weekend.
A record entry of over 450 runners will be racing from Strathyre to the summit of the Munro via Glen Ample and back.
The race offers an assortment of terrain, with fast forest fire roads on the lower slopes, an exceptionally steep climb on Beinn Each and the rough (and usually boggy) ridge to the summit.
The race covers 22km 1500m and the current men’s and women’s record are 2:06:20 and 2:40:43 respectively. If there is dry weather these are likely to go.
Naomi Lang (Carnethy) will face tough competition from Ambleside’s Eve Pannone and Naomi will be hoping to defend her individual title from 2024.
In the Masters competitions Jill Stephen (W40), Veronique Oldham (W55), Stef Provan (W40) should all race well. The race is open but to count in the championship runners must be a member of their governing body.
The men’s race promises to be very competitive with Sasha Chepelin, Andy Douglas and Joe Wright (fourth in 2024) entered.
Joe Symonds (Shettleston) and Tom Owens (Lochaber) will be among the favourites for the M40 category, having both competed for GB and NI in their younger days. Other Masters hoping to finish on the podium are Stewart Whitlie (M60), Allan Smith (M60), Paul Falkner (M50) and Andy Fallas (M45).
There’s a strong individual and team representation from English clubs Ambleside, Keswick, Helm Hill, Dark Peak etc who will doubtless provide tough competition to the Scottish runners.
Carnethy men will be hoping to retain their team title from 2024 (where results are combined with the short championship) and Carnethy, Shettleston, Lochaber, and the Ochils have all entered good teams. In the women’s team competition Westerlands, Deeside, Carnethy and Shettleston all have strong teams.
The race starts at 1pm on Saturday afternoon and promises to be very competitive at the front of the field. Entries close on 1 May, the race is open but to count in the championship runners must be a member of their governing body.
The community of Strathyre organise the race and provide amazing support on the hill. scottishathletics would like to thank the team in advance for all their hard work.
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