Islay Half Marathon

Photos from Frances now added to Kenny's blog post. The full set are here. I feel a caption competition coming on!

Our  long awaited annual  visit to Islay had arrived, as usual we were a collection of the injured, recovering, and, unfit, but  all hopeful of a good race.

The hill at the start climbs all the way to the moon!

Unfortunately the normally fast guys were unable to be with us (except Eddie who came to Islay but couldn't run) however Alan met us for lunch in Inveraray in his classic car, a 1966 e type jag in pristine condition, there were some among us (Billy) who would have sold his soul for the opportunity to have that beast under his command.

Soon it was over the sea to Islay and as the boat docked the cloud loomed ominously low over Jura and the infamous Paps.

It was up early on Saturday morning after an ominously quiet night without the usual urban noise and the background hum of traffic. As the race neared, the warm up took place in hot sun, necessitating a run on sun tan lotion in the Bowmore coop.

We had a great Harriers representation with 15 of the 161 runners wearing the black and yellow. All too soon we were off with Sandy leading us up the first hill until the race thinned out as we left the houses and climbed through farms and crofts with a slight wind on our backs. Andy Buchanan was well up the field and looking strong chased by Stephen Phimister and Joanne McEvoy. As the race took a sharp turn to the right down the hill after 6 miles towards the airport, the wind picked up and stayed with us for the rest of the race.

The prize haul

Eddie  Reid and Hannah McLellan and various Phimisters appeared at strategic points and gave much needed vocal support and encouragement, thanks, it was good to know we had your encouragement just as it was getting tough. It was particularly good to get your support at 10 miles before the second set of hills.
All too soon it was over (liar) and we were putting in that final sprint down the hill to impress the crowd at the finishing line.

Stuart Gibson, the victor and his spoils!

The first runner home was Stuart Gibson who finished in an impressive 1.13.40.

Stephen Phimister and family

First harrier home  was Stephen Phimister in 1.33.52 and led the men's  team to a second place in the team prize, followed closely by Joanne McEvoy in an impressive 1.34.12. Joanne was 3rd woman, 3rd vet and 1st in the team prize. Well deserved after such an impressive run. Joanne is running out of space to keep her prizes from Islay, testimony to her consistency over recent years.

Joanne wins 3rd lady and 3rd veteran

Kenny Leinster finished a minute behind in 1.35.14 and got 3rd supervet and second team prize. Andy Buchanan tied up after 10 miles but held on to finish in 1.39.33 to win 2nd team prize.

Kenny collects the supervet prize

The course record holder, Allan McLellan, who won in an impressive 1.09 28 years ago celebrated his 60 birthday with a return to Islay and finished in 1.40.02. A fantastic achievement which he put down to the medicinal qualities of Turmeric which eased his aching joints in the days up go the race, Allan taking the 2nd supervet prize.

Great to see Allan McLellan back in the prizes in his first Islay for decades!

Jim Holmes, fresh from his all inclusive holiday on a cruise ship managed to finish in 1.42.09.and completed the mens 2nd team prize.

The ladies' team prize, closely guarded by Allan and Ann's daughter Hannah

The battle of the Maxwell Fergusons was won by Frances who is  coming back from injury but still took the supervet 2nd prize and 1st team prize in an impressive 1.42.23  followed by her  consistently strong husband Geo  in 1.45.07.

Billy Buchanan has had his name on the over  60's trophy so often that there is a permanent ring mark on his mantelpiece. However he is coming back from injury and Kate (the race organiser) was disappointed at not getting her usual kiss from Billy however he proved he is on his way back with a time of 1.48.44.

Gordon McNally who has been injury prone over the summer managed a time of 1.51.50 with John McBride coming in at 2.01.36. Well done to John who has been injuired since the winter but has been making a comeback over the summer, Anne McLellan has displayed the benefit of  strong marathon training over the winter and finished in 2.05.14 to finish in the winning women's team.

Russell Couper is another harrier who has had an  up and down season following a good run in the London Marathon but has recently struggled with injury and came in with a time of 2.12.08. Sandy Hayden has been growing fins after all her swimming training and put it all to good use finishing in 2.14.32  and making up the 4th member of the winning women's team. Lorraine Buchanan struggled with an injury early in the race but held on to finish in 2.39.15.

Harriers dominating the ceilidh

Strangely enough, all the aches and pains seemed to disappear as if by magic during the ceilidh and despite an attempted kidnapping by a gang in a Land Rover and Eddie locking 2 of the senior members out of the cottage, we all surfaced on Sunday morning more or less fit and well.
A visit to the nearby pool gave some of us the opportunity to rehydrate and gave Eddie the opportunity to show how even handed he is at competitive sports during a game of water polo.Ha Ha!

The multi-talented Billy Buchanan flying a kite

However Eddie had the opportunity to redeem himself as he directed a highly skilled chef team in creating a barbecue banquet on Sunday night. Stephen Phimister took on the role of games master for the night and orchestrated Islay football, tennis, and  skittles before being chased inside by the midges where he continued to ensure as many of us as possible ended up covered in shaving foam and rolling about on the carpet.

Monday morning saw us at  Port Ellen being educated in the finer arts of crab and lobster fishing by a crusty old sea dog before getting on the ferry and tucking in to a fried breakfast.

A quick stop in Inveraray for tea and  scones  was a good end to another great Islay weekend.
Kenny

A ferry exhausting weekend of fun!