Highlander Mountain Marathon
Fiona Russell (Photos Jon Brooke/Rightplacerighttime.co.uk) / 27.04.2009
It is also improbable that they were able to orchestrate several magnificent displays of Highland wildlife during the weekend of April 18 and 19.
So it is only fair to suggest that luck had a huge part to play in a weekend of cracking sunshine and the sightings of a herd of magnificent red deer, a bird of prey and a rainbow-coloured array of wild flowers.
But aside from these natural wonders, participants of the 2009 Highlander, newly sponsored by Dare 2b, were left in no doubt that only meticulous planning, careful strategising and lots of hard work could have created such an immensely rewarding event.
Now in its third year, The Highlander, has become renowned for its arduous challenges, testing navigation, ever-changing weather and true wilderness settings.
It is also famed – and consequently much-loved – for the ceilidh dance that uniquely takes place at the overnight camp spot and the all-inclusive and welcoming atmosphere.
And the 2009 event did not disappoint.
This time set in spectacular Glen Strathfarrar, a remote and mountainous area to the west of the Highlands capital of Inverness, The Highlander offered some 170 participants a truly wild experience.
Indeed, thanks to the generosity of several estate owners, including the Culligran and Braulen, it was the first time that such an event has been held in on this wilderness plateau.
With dozens of checkpoints to navigate to and many, many miles of rugged, unforgiving and untrodden terrain to cover, the two-day event proved a test of physical endurance and mental dexterity.
Split into five classes – from the toughest “A� to the less-challenging “D� and including a “Score� class – competitors ranged from the ultra-fit and experienced to have-a-go adventurers and first-time mountain marathoners.
As with all mountain marathon events, every pair was also required to carry enough food, drink, camping equipment and emergency supplies for a roughing-it weekend in the Scottish outback.
Perhaps the most awesome performance in this year’s Highlander was from the winning team, Gary Tompsett (of Details Events) and Gavin Miles, who crossed the finish line in the “A� class some 36 minutes ahead of the next pair. The total wining time was 9.23.58
In the “B� class the difference between the first placed pair, Iain Walker and Tim Allen and the second pair Neil Speight and Ewan Gillespie was just two minutes.
The runners-up could, however, take some consolation knowing they were the winning vets team and that they also ran the quickest time on the second day of all class competitors.
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