An unorthodox race in an unorthodox season requires an unorthodox approach to race reporting…our very own Ranting Roving Ryan (Stewart) talks us through his experience of this year’s Scottish Athletics Hill Running Championships which took place on the 20th September on an uphill only course at Comrie Croft in Perthshire. 122 athletes started at different times. 9 shetts negotiated the 12k (830m ascent) course in excellent conditions.

Ryan Stewart reports while out training on the hills

*A sub-titled version of this report will be available soon!

With few race or overseas travel options currently available this race was one of the highest quality hill races held in Scotland for a long time. It was won by Deeside’s Robbie Simpson in a time of 50.55, beating fellow GB athlete Andrew Douglas of Inverclyde AC by over half a minute. Peter Hodkinson of HBT was third in 53.21.

In the ladies race Scout Adkin of Moorfoot Runners was a clear winner from Holly Page of Edinburgh Uni in 1.01.57 and 1.03.57 respectively. Kirsty Dickinson of Carnethy took third spot in 1.05.10.

The Shetts hill runners mantra of ‘quality not quantity’ was put to the test again in the team category…but, as Ryan explains, the blue and gold did not disappoint! There were some notable absentees from the team sheet this year (!!) but pleasingly some fresher coupons were on display most notably in the women’s race with Ruth Joss and Jessica Brydon taking on the Perthshire hills with style. Unfortunately the club were one lady short for a team placing.              

First home for the Shetts was Ross Gollan (54.29) in an impressive 7th place just getting the better of Ali McLeod (56.01) in 8th. In a very tight contest for the mens team prize Ryan Stewart’s (57.39) 16th place secured gold for the club on countback ahead of Carnethy HRC.

Daniel Bradford made a rare appearance for the club in the hills but showed his class finishing under the hour mark in 23rd place in a time of 59.03. Next home for the Shetts was Lucas Cheskin (1.02.30) in 36th followed by Matty Low (1.09.16) in 59th. Ruth ran strongly to finish 10th lady (70th overall, 1.10.46) ahead of club mate and training partner Jessica (23rd lady, 94th overall, 1.21.54). Rodrigo Reis (picture at the top of page) continued his upward trajectory, bisecting the 2 Shett ladies,  finishing in 81st in a time of 1.15.28.

Thanks to Scottish Athletics & Angela Mudge for making this excellently organised race possible despite the challenges Full results here

and if you want to see more videos from Ryan you can follow him on Instagram here

No team photo this year (for obvious reasons) but here are a few from the day thanks to Malcolm Paterson and Ryan.

Ross Golan with Peter Hodgkinson (HBT) and Eoin Lennon (Carnethy) maintaining exactly 2m social distancing
Ali McLeod
Lucas Cheskin collapses at the top of the hill. Unlike in Europe no chairlifts down so he had to get back on his feet and run/stagger down.

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