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Lat run in 1990 - Ben Vorlich, Ben Vane, Beinn Ime and Beinn Narnain - 14 miles, 7500ft
Does anyone know how efforts to ressurect this race are going? I know Chris Upson was working hard on this - would appreciate any updates, even if its a non-starter
Huw
Hi there, the Arrochar Alps Race is being actively organised as we speak by a stubborn group of Westies. It is in the SHR calendar which is due out soon. Should be Saturday June 30th at 11 a.m. and hopefully on line entry to be organised soon (prob £7 t.b.c.). There will be a cut off of 200 entries. I will post something on here before the entries open don't worry. It is a big serious race, as you know if you've run round there, as tough as any around if the record is anything to go by, I think 3:07 by Mr. B. Bland at his best. :eek:
Hope to see you there
Jason
There are some provisional details for Arrochar Alps linked from this page:
http://scottishhillracing.co.uk/Fixtures.aspx
The details are wrong at the moment, but I'll correct them tonight, and add a route map and some more description.
The planned start time and date are: 11am start on 30th June.
Fantastic! Well done for getting this one back.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisU
Inspiring! Already committed to BGR support that weekend so let's hope it's on again in 2008. I knew Jura would be good training for something.
Well done and thanks, organisers.
That's OK - although I haven't actually done anything!
It was Luke Arnott's idea to get the race back,
now ably assisted by a bunch of Westerlands runners.
It's the WHW Race the weekend before, which is a pity, so I can't see me being able to get going again so soon after, however next year I'd be tempted.
I am tempted, very tempted.
Now, how to wangle a weekend in Scotland......
Here are more details on the race:
http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/...RaceID=RA-0202
Excellent - I've been waiting for the return of this one! Can't wait for June now...:D
Just out of curiousity (since I'm not going to run it!) - is this the most ascent per mile of any race in the calendar?
I think Pedol Peris is 2400 isn't it?
Which is 7800 ft if it is?
Looking at the record though its 14 miles in only 3 hrs, where as the Peris record is 17-18 miles in 3 hrs.
Oops ascent/mile, sorry.
No, I think there will always be short races that can beat it on that measure (Chapelgill?) but it must be the most ascent in any 14 mile race!Quote:
Originally Posted by gej
Which just shows what a toughie this is! That record of 3:07 was by Billy Bland too - which underlines that this is one of that elite group of long tough races which can be counted on the fingers of one hand. If it took Billy over three hours it's definitely hard! Billy apparently moaned that there wasn't enough running in it :eek: (almost unheard of for Billy!)Quote:
Originally Posted by IainR
Is that so, I'll have to check this one out! ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Trundler
Bill
Here are the results from the inaugural race in 1987:
http://www.shr.uk.com/results.php?ye...rrochar%20Alps
Sorry this link doesn't exist anymore.
Wow, that takes me back!
What a good run by Colin Valentine, and me old mate Graham Eccles in there too!
What's the latest on this? I can't seem to get the race details page to open on the Sottish Hill Racing site.
I'm off up there for a recce on the 28th of this month. Can't wait.:D
Where does it start from?
Anyone fancy a reccie trip?
Grisedale horseshoe must figure there somewhere too.Quote:
Originally Posted by IainR
Details are here:Quote:
Originally Posted by Trundler
http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/...RaceID=RA-0202
11am start on June 30th.
A half marathon with nearly 8,000ft of ascent.
START on track south of Stronafyne Farm (298051)
Cp1: BEN VORLICH (295124) n.b. summit not trig point
Cp2: SLOY DAM (289112)
Cp3: BEN VANE (278098)
Cp4: Col at head of Gleann Uainne (263096)
Cp5: BEINN IME (255085)
Cp6: BEINN NARNAIN (272067)
Descend off Beinn Narnain until about 100m above the road.
Then follow a wide Forestry track to (299059) and follow flags to end.
FINISH AS FOR START south of Stronafyne Farm (298051)
Approx. route map here:
http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/...-0202-main.jpg
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisU
Wow, that descent of beinn vorlich looks steep! What is the terrain like?
Pretty rough and gnarly I'd imagine.Quote:
Originally Posted by alwaysinjured
I've not actually reccied the route yet, so I'm not sure what the best approach is for climbing Ben Vorlich - ie. whether you should go all the way to the dam.
So whens the official forum recce of the route lads?
Find a bunkhouse somewhere for the night maybe?
Does anyone fancy doing a climb like tower ridge the following day?
Thinking about an AA recce for May 13th, starting at 10am.
Please feel free to join us.
I seem to remember there's a good path climbing up to Vorlich from the reservoir road, roughly where the blue line goes on the map. I used it for descent in 2002. The rest of the course is a mystery to me - hence the need for a recce.:oQuote:
Originally Posted by ChrisU
No need for a bunkhouse when you've got a campervan...:DQuote:
Originally Posted by alwaysinjured
Due to a pesky calf injury it looks like my recce is now going to be on the 26th May. Can't make the 13th Chris, otherwise I would have joined you.
AW
There are some great pictures of the route on this site:
http://www.munromagic.com/Index.cfm
If you search by the names of the mountains then click 'view gallery' on the main page for each peak there are lots of photos of the views from summit to summit.
It looks great. Steep, complex and gnarly. A proper mountain race!:D
It is a tough, rough race, mostly without obvious tracks, so route finding at a premium.
The start and finish are different from the origional though, the first mile or two being much better under foot than origionally due to path improvements, and the end being slightly different from the origional.
BTW for the end it isnt quite right on Chris' map, you have to further along the forestry track and then come into the village from the north end of it. It will be flagged from where the forestry track hits the village.
Entries should be on line in a week or two, when I can get sorted (EntryCentral I hope), giving people two months, so they should know if they are fit etc. I will post on the SHR site and here at the time.
However I agree this is like Jura, Wasdale, rough and long, I wouldn't want to do it in bad weather. The previous incarnation was run in August I think, and had bad weather a couple of times. The first two descents can be hairy!
There are cut off times, frankly to put slower runners off and save the marshals an 8hour plus day on the tops. I think its going to be 2:30 hrs off Vorlich at Sloy Dam, and I can't remember if it then allows 1:30 or 2 hrs to get over Vane. Thats most of the climbing done then.
Anyway more details to follow soon, but reccie if you can.
Jason
Thanks Jason.
My recce is planned for May 26th (now the calf is healing:o ). I'm really looking forward to this one. I just hope the weather gives me a fair chance....:D
Here are the official checkpoints. The cut off points aren't as tight as I feared, I jogged them last weekend and got under fine and I'm slow! The first two big descents are fun.
Entrys should be online next week at latest and I will let you all know here.
The start is on the track which goes north up glen loin, opposite the eastern car park at the top of the loch. Finish goes along the forrestry track down from narnain and comes in the north end of the village before cutting east to cross the river and end on the same point as the start. hope that makes sense.
Route. Runners must pass all checkpoints. There are two, timed cut off points.
START on track south of Stronafyne Farm (298051)
Cp1: BEN VORLICH 3088FT (295124) n.b. summit not trig point
Cp2: SLOY DAM (289112) CUT OFF TIME 1330 hrs
Cp3: BEN VANE 3004 FT (278098)
Cp4: Col at head of Gleann Uainne (263096) CUT OFF TIME 1600 hrs
Cp5: BEINN IME 3318 FT (255085)
Cp6: BEINN NARNAIN 3040 FT (272067)
Descending off Beinn Narnain 300ft above the road follow a wide Forestry track to (299059), entering the village from the north and follow flags to end.
FINISH AS FOR START south of Stronafyne Farm (298051)
Jason
Thanks for the map of the original race Chris.
However just to avoid confusion, for several reasons this race is slightly different from the original, and anyone planning to race or recce should note that this years race is as given in the check points above.
Jason
Arrochar Alps Hill Race Entries are now open and this big new(?) race needs your interest.
Organised by Westerlands Cross Country Club
approx.13 MILES (21k) & 7900 FEET (2400m) ASCENT (AL)
SATURDAY 30TH JUNE 2007, START 11.00 A.M.
ENTRY £7 (includes post race refreshments supplied by The Pit Stop Diner) via www.entrycentral.com. Closing date 27/06/2007, entry limit 200.
This is a tough mountain race and should not be taken lightly.
Competitors must be 18 years old or older on the day of the race, and have previous experience of at least two category AL races in the last four years, should be used to traveling over trackless mountain terrain and be able to navigate and support themselves safely in all weathers. Some of the descents have drops that may be hidden from above. The organisers cannot accept responsibility for accidents or injuries incurred and competitors take part at their own risk.
Route:
Runners must pass all checkpoints. There are two, timed cut off points.
START on track south of Stronafyne Farm (298051)
Cp1: BEN VORLICH 3088FT (295124) n.b. summit cairn not trig point
Cp2: SLOY DAM (289112) CUT OFF TIME 1330 hrs
Cp3: BEN VANE 3004 FT (278098)
Cp4: Col at head of Gleann Uainne (263096) CUT OFF TIME 1600 hrs
Cp5: BEINN IME 3318 FT (255085)
Cp6: BEINN NARNAIN 3040 FT (272067)
Descending off Beinn Narnain 300ft above the road follow a wide Forestry track to (299059), entering the village from the north and follow flags to end.
FINISH AS FOR START south of Stronafyne Farm (298051)
Prize giving will back at Registration (Community Hall) at around 15:30hrs
Course records (on a slightly different route):
Men Billy Bland 03:07:39 (1987)
Women Christine Menhennet 04:09:26 (1987)
I hope to see some of you there
Jason
My entry is in (first English runner - doubt if that will be the result of the actual race :o )
Now I just have to hope my body holds together until race day....:D
Welcome to the band of fools!
For anyone still wavering I thought I'd mention my run on Sunday. This isn't to be taken as route advice, just the thoughts of someone organising a race, but only having been hill running for 2 years and local to the Arrochars for 3, so no depth, just noise.
Having a pb on BenLomond on Saturday (1:39) and then poor recovery, doing diy and sleeping on the floor in the living room (dont ask, but apparently running doesnt count as housework in this relationship) so I wanted an easy day so only did half the race. I ran over Vorlich a couple of weeks ago and got to the cut off in 2 hours, so well inside the time allowed. I went up the walkers path around 3 pylons out before the dam, but others have talked about climbing straight up from the dam, which is brutally steep, though neither is easy.
Either way the descent to Sloy is straight down from above the dam and you will need good studs. There are a few hidden drops so be wary in bad weather. I wouldnt like to do it in the wet.
Anyhow on Sunday I jogged to Sloy dam and then went over Vane. This is easier than Vorlich but rougher and wetter. The route finding is ok, sort of obvious in that you seem to climb straight up from the dam, and then slowly work south, but i have never gone through the craglets the same way twice. I guess there are options here, but I have always ended up on the summit ridge at the walkers path just before the last muddy scramble.
Any way a slow plod got me to the top in 1hour and the running down to the next cut off in another 30 minutes so an hour under the time allowed. Maybe more generous than I realised as anyone who knows me will tell you I am no climber (oh you should have seen me descend on BenLomond though! Doesnt running feel so much better than it looks when you ever see yourself?).
Then Ben Ime is very straightforward on good grass, and if it wasnt going to be the third munro of the race and my third of the weekend it would be very runnable.
Narnain which I wimped out of this weekend, is also obvious but not as nice. Rocky on top and then a rough descent pretty much straight east down to the forestry track 100m up and follow this to the flagged route in through the north of the village.
It is rough, steep and wet in the first half, then gets easier. There is water around but I went through 2 liters on Sunday. Also bring food.
I would recommend a recce if anyone can and even if you only get the first two hills they are defo worth it on the day.
Good luck Trundler. See you on the day.
Jason
Thanks Jason :D
Off to recce the route next Saturday (26th). One place I'm interested in is the descent from Vorlich. I've come down the way the race seems to go up in the past and it's a good path. It must land you back on the road not far from the dam and I wonder if it may be quicker than the rough directissima?
I'll weigh it up next week. Fingers crossed for reasonable weather. :rolleyes:
Yes that is an interesting question. I think in bad, wet weather the direct route would be scary and going down the walkers' route might be better, though it isn't much of a path from 1/3- 1/2 way down, but still a better angle. I would certainly climb this way, but stronger climbers may go direct.
In good weather I think I would opt for the directissima descent, and with Mud Claws on rather than the Wave Harriers I jogged it in I think I would be a lot braver.
I should have a look at the long descent myself really, maybe this Sunday if I don't stay on Arran after Goatfell, or weekend of 9/10th June I guess.
Let us know how you find it. Are you doing the whole thing? The climb up Vane is interesting route finding. I have always ended up in the gully on the top ridge, I think on the Long.28 line on Chris' SHRacing site. After this it is pretty straighforward, but head NE a bit before descending Vane to avoid having to climb back up to the col check point.
Jason