Entries now open for Bennachie Hill Race
Entries are now open for one of Aberdeenshire’s most iconic hill races – the Bennachie Hill Race,
With well-marked and well-marshalled routes, the October event is an ideal introduction to hill running for those more used to the tarmac.
Club secretary Tamsin Morris told runABC Scotland: “Seasoned hill runners will always make up a good part of our start list, but each year we’re seeing more and more road runners trying their hand at the hills.
“Completing the BHR is an achievable target for runners of all standards and no previous experience of hill running is required to take part.”
The Senior Hill Race is 12.8 kilometres long with around 550 metres of ascent. The course takes in some of the iconic ‘tops’ of the Bennachie range – Watch Craig, Oxen Craig, Craigshannoch and the imposing peak of Mither Tap itself – before returning to the start via the Maiden’s Causeway.
The Junior Hill Race, for runners aged 13–17, is five kilometres long with 150 metres of ascent.
Both races will have app-based timing and live results for the first time.
The Inverurie-based Garioch Roadrunners organise the Bennachie Hill Race, which, along with Morven and Cairn William, make up the Aberdeenshire Hill Race series.
Club chair Nicola Redgwell told runABC Scotland: “The Bennachie Hill Race is one of the highlights of the hill running calendar in the North-East, and we’re really proud to have been organising the event for nearly thirty years.
“On 7 October, we’d really like to see more entries in our Junior Hill Race. We wholeheartedly encourage any teens interested in hill running to come along on the day to see what it’s all about. A number of current and past Scottish international hill runners hail from the North-East and all have taken part in junior races like ours before eventually graduating to representing their country as seniors.”
Last year’s race was won by an on-form Robbie Simpson, with only bad conditions keeping him away from the course record. Other previous winners include GB trail running international Kyle Greig, who has won the event twice.
Entries to this year’s senior event are limited by race licence to 220 and are only available online with ResultsBase before the event. Junior entries will be available on the day.
For more information see the Garioch Roadrunners website.
