"Just a brief note to congratulate you and your team for a well organised and most enjoyable event on Saturday. My lot were happy not just because they won which helps but because of the novelty and fun element and the great camaraderie within and between teams. Well done to all of you."
"In the meantime best wishes, holiday permitting, I would like to have another go next year when I will most definitely not be attempting North 2! There are after all five other legs from which to choose."
"With best wishes from all your friends at Central AC"
Hi Mike
"Hope you were pleased with how the Arran relay went today, seemed to go very smoothly."
"Can I ask if you would mind having the silver plate engraved with our club name for last year whilst you are having this years winners engraved? It required hand engraving and as the trophy was only taken to the engravers last week there was not sufficient time to do this amnd as the men didn't win it back again this year........"
Thanks, see you next year
Emma
"Just a wee message to say thanks to everyone at Irvine for organising the Saltcoats race and Round Arran Relays."
"I'm sure I speak for everyone who took part in either or both, by saying that the events were superbly organised and as such went smoothly, so well done - it's very appreciated. Also on the quickness of the results from the races being put on the site. " [Yeah a posted results up within 4 hours on site! :-) ]
Cheers,
Scott Martin ( Killie Harriers )
"Yes, Well done to Irvine for Arran Relays,"
"I think a good day was had by all. The day was made even more enjoyable by the Irvine banter and the suggestion that I was the "Paris Hilton" of Ayrshire clubs. The only answer I could come up with is "If I could swim I would join Ayrodynamics too"
"
"For next weekend I'll need Joseph's Coat Vest of many colours to get me through it. Do you think Girvan will let me bowl for them.
"
CD (Ayr Seaforth)
PS: I would prefer Paris Hilton's method of keeping fit to running. I wouldn't want her high protein diet though.
A Non Running View on the Around Arran Relay 21 July 2007
The worst case scenario for the Organisers was that those plucky volunteers who agreed to catch the 0700 ferry from Ardrossan would oversleep and miss the boat,the Pavilion would not be open on time, the food would not turn up, the 0945 sailing would be delayed by gale force winds in the Clyde, the buses would be late , runners would be left waiting hours on the roadside in pouring rain , there would be major IT problems not enabling the results to be worked out and everybody would be stuck on Arran and have to take overnight shelter in the local Pub. Against these criteria I think that the outcome could be judged a reasonable success; there were one or two hiccoughs, of which more later.
I think most people had a good day and I hope our only casualty ( from Westerlands) is on the road to recovery. If you read this Drew, I hope you will not be offended by me saying that for a hard man of the high hills to take a fall on the roads, is a bit incongruous.
All those involved in the support of the race, did as we say where I come from, "a reet grand job";the Timekeepers, Sweeper Car Drivers, Caterers , Results Coordinators, Litter Pickers and indeed anyone else that may have been missed. I think it would be appropriate to reiterate the role that Betty and Jim Young have performed in supporting this Race, not only in previous years, but also this year, for the advice and suggestions offered and I hope that with the pressure off , they were able to enjoy the day a wee bit more than usual.
Congratulations to the Central AC Men's and Bellahouston Ladies' Teams for winning the respective Team Races and to the individual Leg Winners, with perhaps a special mention for all those who ran North Two Leg. The Gordon MacVicker Memorial Trophy for the Men's Team will be engraved with the last two years Winners and is looking distinctly healthy for a good polish( please note Bellahouston RR). It was first presented in 1988 and is engraved "Corrie Capers" . I understand Gordon was a resident of Corrie and a Merchant Seaman ; if anybody knows anything about him and whether his family are still around locally, perhaps it would be nice next year on the 20th Anniversary to invite them along.
A couple of mentions for particular athletes who added to the ambiance of the day:
- One Team was one short due to a Runner being delayed for 24 hours at Palma Airport;I got the message from her father, not the best of excuses!
- The Arran Runners Runner who after finishing the South 3 Leg, went off to Lamlash Golf to play in the Ladies Open; I hope that she had a good round and did not have to go to a four hole play off, like Mr Harrington.
- A Winning Lady who suggested that she would have preferred beer to cosmetics; I sounded out other Winning Ladies on this subject and I am afraid to report that you were comprehensively outvoted.
- The Emsley Clan from Arran, featuring Mother , Father and Daughter, not in the same Team however , which probably saved a few domestic disputes.
What about the things that did not go quite right?. The major cock up and it was entirely my fault was the confusion in the Individual Ladies Legs Winners; which to add to my humiliation was replicated in the results in Monday's Herald. Quite simply I gave the wrong answer to the right question asked by the Timekeepers! Still it made for an interesting presentation , rather similar to the scene I thought in Spartacus when in response to the question " Which one of you is Spartacus?", all the slaves responded " I am Spartacus". So in response to the question "Who won North 4?" , all the Ladies would have shouted " I am the Winner"!!.
There were a few other problems, including an initial problem with the showers which effected the early returning runners, but after the pump was switched on, this was sorted out satisfactorily
Hopefully the other glitches can be ironed out , but if anybody has any thoughts or suggestions, please drop me an E Mail
michael@flinn3477fsnet.co.uk Thanks
