PICTURES: Speyside Way ultra race - once organised by running legend Don Ritchie - returns with new 100km challenge
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RUNNERS from across the UK – and even an US winner – took part in Saturday’s Speyside Way ultra race.
Around 100 took part in the 35-mile run starting in Ballindalloch, with 32 on the start line for the new 100km challenge from Aviemore, both finishing at the Speyside Way landmark in Buckie.
Race director Kyle Greig said: “It went really well, everyone had a fantastic time.
“The weather was great, a little bit hot in some parts of the race but it was just a great day.
“There were some runners from England and throughout Scotland from the Borders right the way up to Orkney and Shetland.”
Greig said Moray's incredible ultra distance athlete, the late Don Ritchie, once held the position of race director for this event.
"The Speyside Way event has had fantastic organisers in the past and being part of it now is a great privilege," he said.
"Don Ritchie was one of the first organisers, he is a world record holder and an ultra running legend in the local area.
"Sarah Louise Grigor took the race on for ten years and passed the baton on to me so I've got big shoes to fill, that’s for sure.
Among the leading athletes taking part was American athlete Katherine Scheibner, who was the first female home in the 35-mile event.
Englishman Andy Bryce claimed victory in the shorter race, breaking the four-hour barrier by just four seconds.
He finished under four minutes ahead of Moray runner Grant Jeans in second place.
Ellon’s Jamie Pallister, who won the inaugural Moray Coastal Trail 50-mile race in June, repeated his success in the first 100km test.
He came home in just under nine hours and 37 minutes to beat Jonathan Gamble by a six minute margin. Fife runner Jacqueline MacIntyre won the ladies’ event over the long distance.
"This is the first time we’ve had the 100km event as well in addition to the usual classic route of 35 miles," Greig added.
"Because it's a longer way there is going to be less of an uptake because of the sheer challenge of it.
"But we had 45 people entered for it and 32 started the race and we had just under 20 finishers. There were a few drop outs but it is 100km of running so it’s a real challenge."
Greig paid tribute to the efforts of his support network in making the race so successful.
"The volunteers were absolutely amazing. The organisation is mainly down to them and we are always in our debt to them because without them the race simply wouldn’t take place.
"But there’s always take home messages about how we can make the event even better and more efficient, things we can improve for the next races.
"It’s going to be run the week before next year as Thunder in the Glens is at the end of August and we don’t want the motorbikes to be having a stand-off with the runners!
"I think we will continue with the same format and hopefully we will have even more taking part."
The Speyside Way ultra is part of the Moray Way ultras series, with two races yet to come this year including the most gruelling of all.
"The next race on the calendar is the 2nd of October which is the 100-mile event, and there’s very few of them in Scotland," he said.
"It involves the whole of the Moray Way, it starts in Forres and goes along the Moray coastal trail then goes the opposite way of the Speyside Way from Fochabers to Grantown, then back up the Dava Way to Forres."
That final stretch forms the 50km route of the Dava Way ultra, which is the final race of the series on November 13.
"It’s going to be a busy couple of months but I wouldn’t change it for the world.
"Not only do the trails in Moray give you glorious views but the majority of the runs are accessible to many runners from the experienced ones right through to someone who is maybe wanting to try an ultra.
"Unfortunately I can’t run but my wife is assistant race director and maybe in a couple of years I’ll be able to persuade her to step up to the race director role and I’ll get an opportunity, because I would love to run the event.
