OMM 2016

Bog Bashing in Galloway on OMM 2016

Press Release / 04.11.2016

Last weekend the 49th Original Mountain Marathon in the Galloway Mountains took on the toughest terrain in the UK. Saturday morning 1600 headed in to a minefield of shoe swallowing bogs and ankle turning tussocks, Enjoyable suffering for the hardened Mountain Marathoner and a shock to the system for the uninitiated. 

Saturday was all about navigation and knowing where you are. Those of an orienteering background welcomed the 20ft visibility and minimal features whilst others prayed for a break in the mist or ideally a grid ref of their location. Competitors had to be focused from the start, any loss of location meant they joined the crowds on Bennan walking in circles in search of their checkpoint and coming to terms with relocating with little reference points to work with. Saturday's course took the competitors North up on to the picturesque fells around Merrick although competitors will have to take my word for that.

A high profile Elite field included 2011 Winners Shane Ohly & Duncan Archer representing Team GB Orienteering, 2012 winners Bjorn Rydvall & Sebastian Ljungdahl representing Swedish Team SILVA as well as the welcome return of 7 time Elite winner Steve Birkenshaw. In the Ladies race the team to beat was Jessica Tullie & Kerstin Leslie represented Team Scotland Orienteering. Teams of Nikki Spinks & Jean Brown and Kerstin Rosenqvist & Pernilla Berg were out to chase them down. At the end of Day 1 Shane & Duncan took a 17minute lead over Jim Mann & Nicholas Barber with Bjorn Rydvall & Sebastian Ljungdahl in third ten minutes behind them. In the ladies race Jessica & Kerstin completed the 21miles and 8500ft of ascent in 7:28:38hrs giving them a comfortable lead heading into day 2.

The terrain was brutal, everyone knew it was going to be tough but the relentlessness of the bogs, tussocks and clear cut forest tested everyone. Competitors’ mental strength was definitely put to the test and highlighted why the OMM is so tough. The OMM sets out to test the teams’ capabilities in the mountain. Each element of the OMM course on it’s own is manageable, distance, navigation, terrain, overnight camp, weather, route selection but combine all these elements together and you have a beast of a race.

In the other classes the leaders of the B + D Class managed to finish nearly a hour ahead of the rest of their field whilst the C Class saw Phil Carpenter & Toby Miles come in with fourteen minutes in the bank heading into Sunday.  On the score courses things were tight with the top teams separated by 10 points.

At the overnight camp everyone tucked into the various dehydrated concoctions. It was good to see competitor’s different approaches to kit selection. Some happy to carry the extra weight for a comfortable night whilst the leaders opted to carry less than most would take on a summer walk. Elite winners Shane & Duncan reported to carry 3.8kg & 4kg packs respectively. Upon kit inspection they each produced 60g of bubble wrap as a mat and an 8g stove although they did have a frivolous pair of thin socks as a luxury item.

The bagpipes of Elite Competitor Jonathan Whilock ushered Sunday in before everyone headed South into the Minnigaff Hills. The start line teams’ infectious enthusiasm got the day with a high five from an OMM marshal riding a polar bear. The dreich cleared through Sunday leaving the tops clear and an opportunity for the runners to make up lost time from Saturday.

The chasing starts saw the leaders from each course set off in order and with the time they needed to make up. As leaders kept an eye over their shoulder for their rivals coming up behind them Shane & Duncan managed to increase their lead on day 2 by two minutes over Jim & Nicholas. They completed the 36miles and 15,158ft of ascent in 10:51:08hrs to give them their second OMM Elite Class win. Jessica & Kerstin extended their lead further finishing in 13:47:54 to take the Ladies title with Nikki & Jean coming in second.

In the main field every team had their own goal they were working towards. Team 768 - Colin Harding/Ian Hudson celebrated completing their 30th OMM event together.  Some well earned Cake and Champagne waited for them on the finish line and cemented their place in the OMM 30 year club. Teams 329+330 comprised of three generations of one family, Alan Hart ran with his son whilst Alan’s Grandson ran with his teammate on the D Course. It’s very encouraging to see nearly 250 under 21’s competing in this year’s event and that generations are passing their skills on to the next.

Watching the finish line on day 2 you could see the effort and sense of accomplishment that each team had put in to reaching the finish line. There are so many great achievements from the teams it’s difficult to mention them all. Those completing their first of hopefully many OMM events, to the OMM Year Club members heading for their next milestone. It’s an inspiring sight standing on the finish line watching people push themselves that hard and succeed.

The 100 volunteers involved in the OMM event take great pride in the event and would like to thank the competitors for making the weekend so special, well done everyone. Bring on the 50th Anniversary next October!