Royal Deeside, 2nd-5th June 2012
Scotland – lots of events in a few days
We decided to go to Scotland for the Jubilee Weekend – Scottish Championships and World Championships Selection Races and all that – sounded good my son told me
We also decided to camp – after all it will be June – and what can go wrong!
Tuesday we left home for Reading – renovated Simon’s weed patch – planted him a few tomatoes – and supervised him cutting lawn
Wednesday travelled to Mum-in-law – weather not so good – something that is wet (very wet)
Thursday travelled to Perth – horrible (very very wet) until we got into Scotland and then much better
Friday arrived at Highland Games Field at Breamar and pitched tent. A nice old gentleman from a nearby house tottered in and told us that it was the Queen’s Field and she would not want us camping there. Could not explain to him that he was about to have over 100 tents arrive
Went to training event up the road at Inver – had a nice jog round in brilliant sunshine – on return met Sarah and Dave Rollins (with Tommy) also about to have a go
Back at camp site met the resident Oyster Catcher family with nest of 3 eggs under bench. Freezing during the night – kept waking up and putting on more clothes. Oyster catchers (lots of them) shrieking in and out from early hours of morning as well
Saturday travelled to Individual Scottish Championships event at Glen Feardar – dry but rather windy and cool. Fantastic area for contours but last part was really tough physically but pleased with results as we do few events with lots of contours
Sunday was Scottish Championships relays at Creag Choinnich (hill beside Breamar). We ran as a family. Juniors all start at 11am. Everyone else at 11.10am – so makes for a good mass start of about 100 teams. Courses are Open, A, B, C and D and you run the one appropriate to your age group. So Simon ran A, I ran B and Lynn ran C. Really enjoyed it – people all over the place weaving in and out and all courses were gaffled – it was brilliant
Sunday night I went to the loo at 4am and everything was white (frost – heavy) and put more clothes on
Monday was sprint day at teatime in Banchory. Simon had to be in quarantine as he was running open (which was also elite). Lovely sunny afternoon watching all the elite get it wrong – our races were good as well – got sent for fish and chips as said son had to stay in quarantine until last elite finished – so watched females running past fish and chip shop – then went back to assembly and ate them in front of everyone while watching them all finish. Good racing. Was very pleased with my 2nd place – only 3 seconds behind winner
That night walked up the hill behind camp site at 10pm and watched the scouts light the beacon on Creag Choinnich (was too tired to go up that hill)
Tuesday was middle distance at Inchmarnoch – crossed Cambus-O-May foot bridge to get over River Dee. Brilliant area and all contours from ice age terminal moraines. I just could not react quickly enough to interpreting the contours and consistently lost about 15-20 seconds a control – does not sound much but over the race that was 7 positions and 6 minutes. Unfortunately we just do not have the type of contour racing that is normal in Scotland and many other countries.
Started raining not long after we left and got rather wet the closer we got to Carlisle
Wednesday thick wet clag and fog lights over Lake District (very very very wet – awful for driving) until we got to Manchester and then just torrential downpours at regular intervals (oh dear – we must be back in England!!) Left Simon at Reading (let him treat us to a meal first) and then home to Dorset (it actually stopped raining by the time we got home and was about 8 degrees warmer)
As a result of all this Helen Bridle was selected for the World Championships!
Chris Branford
View more of Chris Branford's photos on Flickr
Link to Simon Branford's map of Middle Distance race at Inchmarnoch