The Glen Clova half is held on a course that takes the term undulating to a new dimension. As we drove along part of the course on our way to the start at the Clova Hotel, many car passengers were exchanging increasingly concerned comments on the degree of undulated-ness.  We were blessed with a dry sunny day, but the breeze from the north had a cutting edge as it came over snow dusted hilltops. The breeze favoured the runners on the first half, which turned to be less undulous than everyone feared, but the turn into the wind at the half-way point hit everyone hard. Hypothermic! But most of those who took part set a new personal best, or returned a time which was inside their expectations.

I am reliable informed that the bottles of bubbly refreshment were opened rather early in the girls dorm (Marians’s description was a bit more vivid..) and everyone was well refreshed by the time we sat down to dinner. I seem to recall lots of folk running around with sparklers at one stage.

It’s the first time I’ve been in a celidh in a hotel bar. It’s the first time I’ve seen a scrum over a rubber chicken in a hotel bar. (I think Pitreavie retained their honour, which was briefly kidnapped by Forfar).

All in all an excellent outing, and many thanks to Iain from everyone for the organisation that went into this before and during the week-end!

PS            There is a very flat forty metre stretch beside the course at Clova which didn’t undulate.

14             Andrew Neilson                    1:25:14

51             Ian Morrice                            1:32:19    1^st Male Super Vet

124           Tom White                             1:42:40

140           Caroline Dunn                       1:44:41

171           David Gillespie                      1:48:26

193           Alex Gordon                           1:51:20

194           Peter McGavigan                  1:51:23

198           Janice Carruthers                  1:51:40

201           Carol Blamire                          1:51:56

233           Lindsey Boyle                       1:57:58

248           Anne Douglas                       2:01:38

254           Janis Graham                          2:03:10 (00)

270           Norma Bone                           2:09:54 (36)

271           Catherine Barr                        2:09:54

272           Steph Tayler                          2:09:54

273           Jill Mariot                               2:09:54   

289           Alex Somerville                      2:22:31

293           Pauline White                        2:26:15

Carl Dennis – retired inj after 8 miles                

(Numbers in brackets are where my timings are significntly different from the official ones)

293 finishers.

Full results at http://www.forfarroadrunners.com/clova_results.htm