WEST HIGHLAND WAY REPORT 2023
The 37th running of the Iconic West Highland Way Race took place last weekend, starting at 1 am Saturday, 17th June 2023.
The 96-mile /153km race is one of the longest-established ultra races in the UK. Run over Scotland’s most popular hiking trail, from Milngavie just north of Glasgow to Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain. Runners also climb app 4,400 metres/14,400 feet of ascent.
Full results can be found HERE
220 runners set off from Milngavie. As runners settled into their running, Martin Heggie, Stuart Johnston, Euan Binmore and Kyle Greig were already prominent at the first road crossing at 6.5 miles at the Beechtree Inn. Saki Nakamura led the women with Alison McGill, Nikki Arthur and Jaqui Wilson not far off the pace.
By the time the first checkpoint was reached at Balmaha(19 Miles), Heggie, Johnston, and Binmore were close together, with Grieg only a minute or so behind.
Johnston and Heggie were together at the next checkpoint at Rowardennan,(26 Miles) reached at 3:54:16.
Halfway up Loch Lomond at Inversnaid, Heggie held a small lead over Johnston. However, on the rough section of the lochside heading up to Beinglass Farm, Johnston seemed to pull away, reaching the 42-mile checkpoint in 6 hours 30 minutes and 40 seconds, 12 minutes ahead of Kyle Greig, who had moved into second. Edinburgh’s Dave Ward from HBT had moved up to third and was closing fast on Greig.
From here, Johnston was never headed, reaching Bridge of Orchy at 60 miles in 9:39:41. He was holding a lead of 14 minutes over Ward, who in turn was now 15 minutes behind.
At Glencoe ski centre(71 Miles) Johnston had increased his lead over Ward to 20 minutes, which he maintained to Kinlochleven at 81 miles. Greig was still holding 3rd but going through a bad patch and being caught by Banchory’s Stuart Ross, Lochaber’s Pavel Cymbalista and Portobello’s Matt Bird.
Stuart Johnston.
On the long remote stretch over the Lharig Mhor to the last checkpoint at Lundavra((90 Miles) and across to Glen Nevis, Johnston maintained his lead and finished strongly to record 16 hours 35 minutes and 31 seconds. Ward hung on well to take second in 17:03:40 with Ross, pacing his race well to finish strongly in third with 17:49;19. Cymbalista, who had set a solo FKT on the Cape Wrath Trail in April, closed well for fourth. Matt Bird took 5th in 18:19:37 and Ochil Hill Runners Robin Wilkins closed out the top 6 in 18:41:14.
In the women’s race, Fife AC’s Alison Mcgill had taken the lead in the forest stretch approaching Conic Hill above Balmaha, which she reached in 2:54:24, 4 minutes ahead of Nakamura. Nikki Arthur, of Manx Fell runners in the Isle of Man, was 3rd a further 5 minutes back and Jaqui Wilson in turn 6 minutes behind,
On the long stretch up Loch Lomond, Mcgill seemed full of running and reached Beinglass Farm in 7:06:23, having opened up a gap of 40 minutes on Nakamura. Wilson and Arthur came into the checkpoint within seconds of each other at 7:53:20.
At 60 miles and Bridge of Orchy, McGill had extended her lead over Nakamurs to almost 50 minutes, 10:52;13 to 11:40:36. Wilson in 11:42:00 was now firmly third, only 2 minutes behind her, with Arthur at 11:59:38 in 4th.
Over Ranch Moor to Glencoe, Mcgill extended her lead further over Nakamura to 45 minutes. Behind them, Arthur recorded the fastest split over the Moor to close within seconds on Wilson.
Nakamura went through a bad patch and faded to fourth by Kinlochleven. McGill reached here at 15:47:08 50 minutes ahead of Arthur, 16:41:26, who had moved up to second, ahead of Wilson at 16:55:59.
At 90 miles and the Lundavra checkpoint, McGill’s lead over Arthur had grown to an hour, 17:32:51 to 18:31:54. Wilson was third in 18:58:40, and Nakamura was hanging in there in 4th with 19:48:18
A delighted McGill increased her lead on the last leg to the finish to record 19:02:41 and finish in 8th place overall. It improved her time from 2023 when she finished 4th by almost an hour. Arthur came home in second with 20;15:44. Wilson recorded the fastest women’s split from Lundavra and repeated her 3rd place from 2022 with 20:27:36
In all,171 runners completed the event. Everyone of them no doubt with their own story to tell and more memories to add to their own personal store as they battled the course, and in many cases themselves, to reach Fort William. Runners support crews, as always, were instrumental in the progress of each runner. The last finisher was Lynda Bennett from Newton Stewart in Dumfries & Galloway, who finished in 34 hours 22 minutes and 17 seconds, just under 37 minutes inside the 35-hour cut-off for the race.
Continuing a long-standing race tradition, linking the first with the last, race winner Stuart Johnston presented Lynda with her goblet.
Andy Cole from Chester finished the race for the 11th time. In doing so, he became the oldest-ever finisher of the race. Andy is 74 years young and turns 75 in early August.
Graeme Hall from West Linton in the `borders finishing in 29th place in 22:03:29, recorded what the organisers believe to be the fastest time by a 60-year-old. He had set himself the goal of running the West Highland Way to celebrate his 60th year.
Both of these runners prove the fact that age is just a number.
In other records, Strathaven Striders Craig Hamilton recorded his 10th finish. Surpassed by Fiona Rennie of Carnegie Harriers in Fife and Neil MacRitchie who both completed the race for a record 17th time.
Over 100 volunteers ensured once again the smooth running of the event.
Race sponsors Ron Hill, Altra, Active Root and Glencairn Crystal also offered invaluable support.
Josh Hewitson from Monument Media made a short 5 minute video collage of the event.
You can view it HERE.
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