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| Bedraggled Saltire from Venchen Hill |
A rare chance for international competition not to be spurned by Vaughan Hemy and myself . Yetholm is an exceptional show with an exceptional race organised by Norham RC . Norham also competes with Yetholm for the prize of being closest town to the Anglo Scottish Border ( as well as competing on historical violence).
The course has been the location for the Scottish Fell Championships (short distance) and has a course record of around 28 m 54 s from Finlay Wild from the west coast of Scotland.
The race is quite unique on quite a few grounds . It is probably the world's only spectator friendly fell race (leaving aside those rare days when there is cloud on the summits) . Runners can be spotted from the show field as they plot their way north up and on to Venchen Hill (269m asl) before falling back down to the show field to then cross the Bowmont River ( around 0.3 metre depth - and too wide to jump) and onto Staerough Hill (331m asl ) to return to the field via the river. 6.5 km in total.
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| Bowmont crossing . Vaughan was too quick to be caught on camera ! |
It has real flags to mark the course . Flagging for the 3 greatest counties of England : Northumberland , Yorkshire and Scotland. Plus a whole series of Scandinavian crosses on lower slopes from Viking islands Orkney , Barra and South Uist plus what looked like a Norwegian flag but may have been a Poly one or washed out Orcadian .
It is the world's only musical run with continuous streaming over the whole course (without broadband or headphones ) . And not from some narcissistic pop or rock band with 'issues' (main issue being an inability to play music) but from the glorious Duns Pipe band. Somewhat inappropriately blasting out the Dashing White Sergeant while I was on all 4s seeking to haul my body from bits of heather on to Staerough.
Then there is the double river crossing . Vaughan permanently carries a set of waders in the car - which I had assumed were for fishing ..... Luckily no fish were jumping as it may have proven to be to big a distraction an definite time loser .
Well we both finished on the first page of the results (which at least is my objective these days ). Vaughan in about 47 mins - I trolled in around 7 minutes later. The sharp end had some sharp runners. In fact virtually all the clubs were Scottish. The winner was Richard Hughes from Carnethy (based in Edinburgh and we assume here that Edinburgh is a Scottish city which is debated ) , 2nd Dunbar Running and 3rd Moorfoot (out by Peebles way) . Hilary Shaw of Saltwell won the ladies event . Norham put out quite a few ( mainly Scots ) and Saltwell who beat us by 3 to 2 on runners . ( Nationality unknown but south of the river so uncertain. Possibly Australians).
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| Flagging by this stage and a good view over on to craggy Staerough. |
One objective down - others to hit .
Firstly meeting up with a Scottish champion . Here for stick making not running (though Norham have a proud tradition in GB fell relays) . Making shepherd's crooks is one of many specialisations like curling , shinty and Formula 1 champions that Scotland excels at . So being a Scottish champion here generally means world champion. Yetholm hosted the Scottish championship with a huge selection of sticks some with horn handles , others wood and others carved . The sticks are a combination of practicality and use , skill and artistry - made by the kind of Scots who if they'd been left to get on with the Cistine Chapel would have made sure the roof didn't leak before decorating it. I may need to pick one up for future races on to Staerough.
The industrial tent has the biggest section of home baking events from any local show. Let down by including a section for the devil's work - the cheese scone . One curiosity was the pistachio , lemon and coriander seed cake so a mix of lemon drizzle ( also in as a separate category ) and seed cake . We'd need some more research on that one . Pity they don't have a Yetholm bun . Huge selection of industrial machinery, tractors and motors. Farmers throw nothing away. Plenty of dogs and a working sheepdog trial (for those dogs not in receipt of benefits). Then an appearance from the College Valley Hunt with a squadron of beagles up for a run but made it too late for the race start time . Norham need to look at that for next year.
The protein recharge with bacon rolls is a necessity after a tough race . Here on offer with thick slabs of bacon plus chips. The beagles sniffed out Vaughan's plate in quick time despite the thick layer of tomato sauce he had slathered across them . A few beagles were keen to tuck in . Maybe they use chips as the scent for the trail hunt ? A Tynemouth beagle hunt could do a lot to clear up the fast food frenzy at the coast and maybe solve the obesity crisis It was only time to go when Vaughan realised that a Talbot Horizon that I'd spotted was not a wet fly or spinner to inspect but a 90s motor . By this time , he'd heard enough about engine types and removal of water pumps.
A feast of a day even if we didn't trouble the prizes in the race - this time .
With thanks to landowners (whose livestock was getting shifted back into the fields within minutes of the race finishing ) , the show and Norham Running Club for all their work - and also Norham RC for photos. Hope to get back next year .
