Vango Scottish Ultra

Islay’s Niall Colthart writes; 

“I have not taken my camera on the hill as there was not a dry part of my kit to put it in.

 “Conditions on the hill have been as bad as I have ever seen them at this time of year. This has led the race route to be constantly amended as we have had to put twice the resources in, in terms of feet on the ground into each section, so where we might have had two hill sections we are doing one with a road section. Sunday’s section passed over the bealach between the Paps in visibility of around 20 metres with winds gusting to around 50kts. One group of five were temperarily disorientated and ended up back at the check point that they had left an hour earlier.

“One problem that we encountered yesterday quite early on was deteriorating river crossings, with all the major crossings having to be assessed at regular intervals and in some cases manned. By the time Karen Sidall, Phil Briggs and I had swept the runners off the hill last night, we were wading over our waists.

 “Today’s section has been amended to a road run from Loch Tarbert to the Corrievreckan and back. With an eye on the weather, we have amended tomorrow’s section to go out Loch Tarbert to Glenbattrick, then up Evan’s Walk to camp at Corran Sands. The race will be completed with a short run in to the finish on Friday at Jura Distillery. 

“There are currently nineteen runners still going. Retirals have been due mainly to hypothermia, and one broken foot. Cam Carter from Australia in particular found the environmental conditions hard to adjust to, on top of lack of sleep from jet lag.”

Readers can watch video clips of sections of the race on the Ileach’s website at www.ileach.co.uk

Celebration at Finlaggan

The Finlaggan Trust Committee is giving an open invitation to everyone on Islay and Jura to celebrate the official opening of their extended Information Centre and the new access bridge to Eilean Mor on Saturday, 16 May. 

In the afternoon the Committee has arranged a feast of music, dancing and  information, and in the evening a grand ceilidh will be held, with some of Gaeldom’s finest young singers and musicians joining Islay’s own talented performers.

The new Centre, with its new displays and artefacts, is the star of the afternoon. The viewing area, with stunning views of Eilean Mor, will be a magnificent backdrop for Jennifer Port’s clarsach music. Jennifer holds a National Mod Gold for clarsach playing, and achieved international fame when she played at Madonna’s wedding to Guy Ritchie.

It’s a unique opportunity to visit Eilean Mor, and to hear from Dr David Caldwell of the National Museums of Scotland what the archaeological finds tell about the lifestyle of the Lords of the Isles. You can discuss with Dr Fiona Watson the key role of the Lordship in the making of Scotland. Both David and Fiona took part in the BBC Scotland programme ‘Scotland’s History’. And as many people are curious about where the Vikings fit into Islay history, Dr Alan MacNiven will interpret what the place names they left here tell us.

All that, and James Carmichael’s pipe music in the most atmospheric setting, and the precision and grace of Ella Edgar’s Highland dancers.  All the afternoon’s entertainment is free, thanks to a grant from Awards for All; you only pay for the tea and the burgers.

The Lords of the Isles were renowned for bringing people from all over their Highlands and Islands territory to Islay, and for the celidh programme the Finlaggan Trust Committee has brought singers and musicians from many parts to join our local artistes. James Graham from Lochinver, Mod Gold medallist and first Gaelic singer to win the Traditional Young Musician of the Year award, Kirsteen Macdonald, from Inverness, Mod Gold Medallist and BBC Alba weather presenter, Jennifer Port from Golspie,  and Lynsey Macritchie and Judy Morrison from Lewis; both, like Jennifer, holders of the National Mod Gold Medal for clarsach.

The Awards for All grant has kept the price of the evening ceilidh ticket to just £5, and Ardbeg Distillery, makers of Lords of the Isles whisky, and also the Vintage Malt Company, producers of Finlaggan malt, have sponsored the welcoming drink. For music lovers and lovers of all things Islay it’s unmissable - buy your tickets now, see advert in this issue for details.

 

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