Vertical Mile and Grand Prix Decided

We were blessed with a return to fine, sunny conditions for the traditional final race of the Grand Prix; The Vertical Mile. This would be the Grand Prix decider in the men's event and could also settle final places in the ladies' event. However, things got off to a shaky start when, having laid down the law as regards who should be in what pack for the gentle 3 mile run down to the start, Sandy Hayden returned somewhat embarrassed a few minutes after being sent out with the hand picked first pack to say that nobody in the first pack knew how to get to the start. Fortunately Richard Lawton was waiting silently in the wings to gratefully provide his services as a navigator! The fast back had its share of misfortune too when Ian Hughes took a nasty trip when running through the glen but we did eventually all get to the start.

A smaller than usual field of 16 lined up for the tortuous 1 mile ascent of Auchentibber hill although there was a bigger than usual non-running support and timing crew on hand. This included newcomer Alister Ferguson on only his second night at the club and already showing tremendous enthusiasm and potential. Unfortunately defending champion Andy Buchanan could not participate due to injury, so the race was open for a possible new winner or indeed a return to the winner's rostrum for multiple winner Ian Hughes, injured arm allowing. After a longer than usual wait for a gap in the sporadic traffic, the race was off and almost catching the lead car, which was heavily laden with support crew. Thereafter the race remains a mystery until the runners rounded the final bend with 150m to go. At this point Ian had a clear lead and first timer Chris' lack of knowledge of the course perhaps meant he left his burst too late. Ian crossed the line first in an excellent 7 minutes dead with Chris some 16 seconds behind in a near photo finish with Stephen Phimister and Jim Holmes in that order. Jim Holmes was in the Grand Prix title race and every point would count for him and he subsequently conceded that he had started off a little too easily and left too much to do in the final 200m.

Julie Beveridge was next across the line and first lady in a fine 7:41 but was being rapidly closed down by a fast finishing Joanne McEvoy (7:49). David Herbertson was next in, maintaining a comfortable 10 second gap on Billy Buchanan. Then followed the battle of the Fergusons with Geo Ferguson just holding off newcomer Alister Ferguson in a race to the line with Richard Lawton not far behind. Sandy Hayden was making her first appearance at the Vertical Mile and, knowing that she dislikes hills, was keen to say that she did run all the way to finish in a good debut time of 9:03. Grand Prix leader (GPL) Hugh Simpson was not sure if he had done enough to win the Grand Prix, finishing in 9:26. Not finally for a change, the serially injured Russell Couper became the only Harrier to complete all 16 GP races and not only that run his fastest time for many years, finishing in 9:49, trailed some seconds later and finally by an below par Colin Banks (9:52).

Well done to all on fine efforts over the shortest race distance we do all year.

And so Hugh Simpson did do enough to win the GP, with Jim Holmes in second place and Russell Couper third. In the ladies' GP, Frances Maxwell, Julie Beveridge and Joanne McEvoy occupied the first three spots. In the scratch championship, Andy Buchanan becomes the men's champion whilst the finishing order in the ladies club championship was the same as in the GP. Final positions and category awards will be announced at a later date when the committee has reviewed the results.
Alan