Ben Rinnes 5 Tops Hill Race

Another Scottish championship race, my third of the year. Run  from the Dufftown Highland Games, a long one at 14 miles and 4900' for the out and back route over Little Conval, Meikle Conval, Ben Rinnes. A scorcher of a day and 150 of us set off round the games field. The first mile is on undulating farm tracks then we cross Dufftown Golf Course and onto Little Conval. Decided to run conservatively in the heat and see how it went. Reached the top of LC in 35 minutes, took the descent steady rather than the usual all out, still managed to overtake a few then lost a few places going up Meikle Conval,  this see saw of places would repeat all the way until the last descent. Reached the road crossing in 61 minutes, the same as last year. The marshalls had barrels of water here and drank a pint before the climb up Ben Rinnes. The climb is in four parts, Round Hill, Roy's Hill, Black Banks and Scurrah of Lochterlandoch. Felt good and power walked the zig zag track up Round Hill, ran between each of the climbs and kept a steady trudge up the steep bits. Through the summit Tor, grab some sweets then off down the rocky path, plenty of encouragement with the other runners. Reached the road crossing in 2 hours 6, stopped for another pint before a gasping climb to start Meikle Conval, the slope soon eases and back into jog walk up the narrow paths through the heather, over the top and running down the rough track to the start of the last climb up Little Conval. Head down, working hard now, a runner comes past and I dig in trying desparately to hang on, I focus on their heels as we grind out the last few hundred feet of climbing. A glance at the watch shows 2 hours 50 at the top with just over two miles to go. Brakes off and I run as fast as I can on the rough heathery paths, over the Golf Course, the undulating farm tracks tough on my legs and feet. A lap round the games field to finish in just under 3 hours 8. Some photos here.

Luss Highland Games

Summer arrives for today's games, had a go at four races, the local 90 m, last, and in trying to sprint realised how stiff I am, 20 minutes later the local 200 m led until about 20 metres from the end, victory snatched from my grasp, 5th I think. The local Hill race about half an hour later takes you half way up the small hill behind the games field then back, 4th out of 6 in 19:53, the Open Hill Race a couple of hours later goes to the top of the same hill and back, 7th out of 9 in 33:56. For both hill races you enjoy a lap of the games field at the start and the finish, and a good reception from the crowd. Other highlights of the day, two cake stalls and the beer tent. Missed the kilted dash as I had no tartan although one guy ran in a teddy bear rug?

Ben Rinnes Sat 31st July

Went up to Lossie a day early so that I could run the Ben Rinnes 5 Tops Hill Race again, 14 miles and 5000' of ascent, an out and back to Ben Rinnes taking in the tops of Little Conval and Meikle Conval, some more race info here.

The race starts and finishes with a lap round the field typical of Highland games hill races. 60 or so runners took part. The first mile or two is on farm tracks and over a golf course before the gradient increases onto the hillside. No real drive in my legs and just kept it steady over the first two hills reaching the road crossing in 61 mins. Stopped for a drink and some jelly babies before a reasonable run up Ben Rinnes, slowed towards the top where we were greeted by a squally shower.

Climbed through the summit Tor and set off back towards the road, a bit of a struggle rather than the usual downhill wheeee. Another drink and some sweets before the steep climb up Meile Conval, had to stop every 10 yards or so, made it to the flag but being passed by several others and stopped to try and refuel. Painful plod but gradually imporved and over the top of MC managed to claw a couple of places back.

The climb up Little Conval thankfully short and managed a reasonable pace for the 2 or 3 mile run down to finish in 3 hours 22 not quite a PW but felt like it. Had a lie down at the side of the games field to contemplate and recover before the traditional cold shower. Only the fast runners get a hot shower. Race winner, Joe Symmonds, finished in 1 hr 54 breaking his brothers record from last year by a couple of minutes. They come from hill racing stock, read the book.

Tom Na Bat

The race was part of Tomintoul Highland games, about 100 took part, a few more than the usual 15 or 20 as it was the 4th SHR Championship race. A short one at three and a half miles with 1100' of ascent.

The race starts and finishes with a lap round an undulating games field. In between it turned out to be mostly runnable as we wound our way round the small hill.

The first climb took us up to the top of Tom Na Bat all the way back down then a second climb three quarters of the way back up. Quite a bit if heather bashing required with only the odd wee sheep track to smooth the way.

Felt I could have pushed the second climb a bit harder if I had known where it finished and did manage to pick up the pace near the top when I could see the runners in front turning. Results still to come but pleased to finish in just under 40 mins.

Luss Highland Games

Bright and breezy day, went along to the Luss games for the two hill races up Cruach Dhubh, one open to locals, half way up & back down 500' of ascent and 2 miles, and later on the open race which goes to the top and back down, 1100' and 3 miles.

While waiting for the hill races there were some track races which are open to locals, missed the 90m but took part in the 200m, came second courtesy of a good handicap, pipped at the post by some young speed merchant. Half an hour later 9 of us set off for the local hill race, the first four moved ahead, got into 5th place on the path before the climb up through the fields and stayed there until the end.

A couple of hours later after refueling with a cappuccino, 2 cakes and a double exprersso set off with 19 others on the longer open hill race. Started a bit slower then gradually worked my way past a few others on the climb up through the tussocks. Chose a new route on the way down ended up zig zagging through shoulder high ferns and probably lost a wee bit of time.

A nice way to spend an summer afternoon, 2nd prize in a track race and although no prizes for the hill races came away with 2 PB's.

Luss Highland Games, Sun 26th July

After yesterday perfect weather woke up to low cloud and rain not the best for the two hill races at Luss Highland Games. The local race goes about half way up and down Cruach Dhubh, the open race all the way up and down.

First the Local race, five runners appeared, one from the club, one real runner, me and two others. Set off in third or fourth place reaching the turning point in third. Soon caught the guy in front who then tried a short cut through head high ferns, wrong decision. Couldn't see him so kept the gas on as I ran round the same ferns, managed to gain a hundred or so yards advantage by the time I caught sight of him again.

Steady run through the maze of paths back towards the games field to finish, just over 20 minutes, a comfortable second and £15.

The Open race a couple of hours later usually attracts a much bigger field of 15 plus runners, this year only seven runners and Tommy the Greenock fundraising clown. The weather probably to blame although the sun was making an effort to break through by race time.

Set off near the back the first five pulling away round the games field. Onto the hill and nothing for it but head down and push, ran where I could. No paths on the upper half of the hill through deep tussocks and more ferns, just under 25 minutes to the top.

Turned with a big gap in front and behind, cut the gap in front to about 30 yards as we came off the hill but then lost about 50 in the flat run in to finish sixth in just over 35 mins.

Luss Highland Games Sun 27th July

Scorcher of a day for the annual Highland Gathering in Luss, big schedule of Heavy, Athletic and Cycling events. Two Hill races, one for locals and one for anyone. Entered both as they are relatively short at about 2 & 3 miles, the local race goes half way up & back to the games field the open race goes to the top & back.

6 of us in the local race, a 7th joined in as we started but he was an imposter from the Stirling area. Reached the turning point in 6th place but the imposter got lost on the way down so finished 5th in a new pb of 19:31.

14 of us in the open race, went from 12th to 13th on the climb heat taking its toll. Picked off one on the descent but couldn't see anyone else in front eventually finishing in a slow 35:32 but had gained another 3 or so places to finish about 9th as a few more got lost.

Altough a small event some v good runners taking part in both races, the open event was won by the current Scottish Champion. Watched some of the other events for a while but had to leave as the bar began to look too inviting.

Rosneath Highland Games, Sun 20th July

Having missed the Mull Monsterette yesterday drove to Roseneath after a late night in bar51 for the Parreman Hill Race, a return to the race where I first won money as a runner. About 15 or so started, 7 runners and the rest kids, hopefully the kids would be slower than last year.

Set off with 1 1/2 laps round the track, an extra half lap! Left the games field on the first climb, soon passing the kids. Went from 5th to 2nd as those in front took a slight detour even though the course was marked. Route goes through a delightful cows field taking in the most gloopy bits in true Milburn fashion. From the field its onto a forrest track which winds its way up to the top, back in 5th by the top and then had to re-direct the first 2 onto the correct route.

The run back starts off in what is basically a ditch for the first few hundred yards and your rate of progress depends if you choose the right side, i.e. whether you walk or run, how many times you fall, how much skin exfoliates on the dry stane dyke. As this was my third time you would think I would have learnt!

Out the ditch and back onto the forrest track, not steep enough to catch the guy in front before the gloopy field, then didn't pick the best line through field and only started to catch him on the last steep descent, too short to make up the distance and finished about 50 yards behind in 29:21 for 5th place & £8. Not too bad as only 7 seconds slower than last year but with 1/2 a lap extra.

Lovely sunny, breezy day spent watching hammers, stones, haybales and the like being thrown about, Highland games seem much better when you participate.

Ben Rinnes Sat 28th July

60 runners took part in this years Ben Rinnes 5 Tops Hill Race, 14 miles long with 4900' of ascent. My third attempt at this race run from the Dufftown Highland games. The route goes over Little Conval and Meikle Conval before Ben Rinnes, returning to the games field via the same 2 Convals as on the way out.


Cold wet and windy so chose a long sleeved thermal and light shower jacket to keep the wind off. Target was to get as close as possible to 3 hours which was too optimistic with current fitness and in the wet conditions which had turned the Convals a bit mushy.


Kept it steady to start with hopefully conserving energy for the Convals on the way back. Hit the road after the Convals on the way out in 1 hour and then a 47 minute ascent of Ben Rinnes, descent back to the road in 22 mins, finished in 3:13:49, just over a minute down on previous best.


Good race with plenty of runnable terrain but the cold wind/rain combined with the soft ground made it a bit harder this year. The new path up and down Ben Rinnes probably a bit slower as you have to keep to the zig zags to minimise erosion instead of the usual straight down charge.

Luss Highland Games Sun 22nd July

Luss, 2nd of 3 highland games in a row, this one with 2 hill races, both start & finish with a lap of the track. First the Local event, 2 miles and 500' of ascent going 1/2 way up Cruach Dhubh and back to the games field and then a couple of hours later the Open event, 3 miles and 1000' of ascent all the way up and back.

Last of 4 in the local event but still won a fiver, 17th of 19 in the Open event. Improved my times for both races from last year, not surprising in the Local as took a detour last year! (got lost). Some good runners in this years open event including the current Scottish champion.

Roseneath Highland Games Sun 15th July

Back for this short hill race for the first time since 2003. Hot and sunny and probably shouldn't have run due to rotten cold all week but it's only a short race. Probably about 8 runners and 20 or 30 others with an extra half lap of the games field to start.

Tough little climb once out the games field through cow fields and onto a forrest road for a runnable steady climb to the top of the hill then a fun tussock filled ditch where every time you try to find a firm piece of ground to run on away from the dry stane dyke you fall flat on your face, so you run with your feet as close to the dyke as possible and lean away, oh and the odd tree stump to jump as well.

Out of tussock ditch to rejoin the forrest track then back into muck n stuff through the fields. Back in the games field its half a lap to the finish. Lucky its a short race. Finished 5th or 6th about 30 secs faster than 03.

Luss Highland Games Sun 23rd July

Having missed the Roseneath & Clynder games by arriving late set off to Luss on time and decided to do both Hill races. The races are run up the 1000 foot high Cruach Dhubh at the entrance to Glen Luss. First the Local race is 1/2 way up & down and later on the Open race all the way up & down. Filled in the entry form and received £2 back for entering the races!

There was about 1/2 an hour to go before the Local race when the announcer asked for entrants for the Local 200m handicap race, gave it a go along with some of the Dumbarton AAC guys and came 2nd, another £6 back. Good value these highland games.

The Local Hill race kicked off with the usual frantic lap round the track leaving the games field along the road and onto a path which went under the main road then out onto the hill via a couple of fields. The gradient increased to the half way flag via sheep tracks and paths with the last couple of hundred yards across rough moor.

The turning point marker flag was set in a hollow behind 6 foot high bracken so there was a slight climb back up before the descent. Managed to pick the wrong way about 1/2 way down leading to more head high bracken, bogs and ditches, eventually picking up the path near the bottom rather muddy and weary from the extra effort. The race finishes with another lap round the games field, the applause helping to maintain effort levels.

The Open race about an hour & a half later follows the same route but then carries on to the top across steeper, pathless and bracken covered hillside. A steady slog to the top then brakes off for the descent back to the games field. Thankfully managed to keep to the route on the way back down and another lap of the track to finish.

Sat around in the sun watching a variety of races and field events and finished (me) off with the open 400 m handicap race. Led from the start due to the "best" handicap but quickly overtaken by most of the field and any pretence of a sprint to glory evaporated.