3 Islands Marathon
The second ever 3 Islands Marathon took place on Sunday 31st July with 6 solo runners and 15 teams making up a total of with 54 entries.
The race starts close to the Lady of the Isles Statue in South Uist, follows the main road on the East side through Benbecula finishing in front of the Lochmaddy Hotel and covering the full 26.2 mile Marathon distance.
Tom Porter, running solo, got off to a fast start, quickly creating a large lead over Nea MacInnes by the half way point at Grimsay, followed by the racing pack headed by Eric Jackson of the Viz Whizzers. By the time the race had reached mile 20 at Langass, Tom was forced to pull out due to illness, leaving Fazel and Team Viz Whizzers leading with Nea in second place.
By the time Lochmaddy Hotel and the finish came in to view, Nea finished in 3:15:42, closely followed by Fazel in 3:24:40, then by Paco’s Run for Fun team (3:31:22). The Viz Whizzers were the first Community Team (3:24:40).
Beinn Lee Hill race in North Uist
The Uist Asco Beinn Lì Race on Saturday 6th August saw 34 runners and walker competing in the hill race being run for the 28th year. Beinn Lì race is unique as it is the only Hill Race in Scotland where you are transported to the starting line by boat.
This years race was won by local runner and Scottish Internationalist Iain MacCorquodale in a time of 53.13. There was a close race for second and third between Eric Jackson and Iain MacDonald in 60.03 and 60.11 respectively. Kirsty Haxby, who has returned to Uist, won the ladies race in 77.13. It has been 10 years since Kirsty last ran and won the Beinn Lì Race. In second place was Dechen Coleman in 81.40 , while the third spot was taken by Madeline Osling in 81.44.
Ben Kenneth Race
Congratulations to the 48 brave and hardy souls who set off from Lochboisdale Pier for the famous Ben Kenneth Race, on Sunday 7th August.
This year’s triumphant top three were all local men – John Joseph ‘Josie’ Campbell (South Lochboisdale) reached the summit in an impressive 22.5 minutes, and was first over the finish line in 37.10. Not long behind him was Ailean MacDonald (Geirinis), who made it back in 37.30, with third place taken by Donald MacPherson (Lionacleit), who crossed the line in 38.13. The first woman home was Amy MacDonald.
The race starts at the pier in Lochboisdale and runs to the cairn at the summit of Ben Kenneth and back, a distance of 5.6km. Runners choose their own route, with many braving the water to shorten the route by up to a mile. Winner Josie Campbell is the first non-swimmer to have won the race in many years.
2 Islands Half Marathon
Perfect conditions greeted the 35 runners and walkers who took part in the 11th 2 Islands Half Marathon on 27th August. Fortunately there was a breeze to keep the midges at bay! As usual the race started in Berneray and finished in Lochmaddy, and this year’s route – which is now officially measured by Scottish Athletics – finished at Lochmaddy Hotel, which is the event’s new sponsor and prepared an excellent feast for participants and helpers at the end.
The winner was Donald MacAskill of Tolsta, Lewis in an superb time of 1:24:08. First lady home was Martha Hamilton of Ranish, Lewis in 1:44:27. The organisers offer their thanks to the members of Stornoway Running Club who support this race so strongly. A special accolade went to the oldest ever competitor, Andrew Reid of Tobermory, aged 80, who completed the course and somehow managed to look fresher at the end than he did at the beginning! The full results can be found on the news page of the Berneray community website: www.isleofberneray.com.
