Beginners’ Disclaimer

Please take note of the following conditions before joining any Beginners’ runs.

  1. Each runner will be provided with a JogScotland Membership Form. This is free to join and will provide a stepping stone to the Dunoon Hill Runners, but it does have a Par-Q attachment which MUST be completed and returned to Kirsty Mundell. This highlights any medical conditions that any of the leaders need to be aware of. If you are unsure if this affects you, then please contact Kirsty. This information is confidential and will not be disclosed to any other member unless they are leading a run. When/if you decide to join the Dunoon Hill Runners, this information will be destroyed and you will then fall under the Membership Rules of Dunoon Hill Runners. Leaders are not permitted to accommodate anyone who has recently given blood, had a transfusion, given birth within the previous six months, attended the dentist and had a tooth removed within the last 7 days, or had any recent surgery. There are varying other reasons, so please ask Kirsty if you feel you fall into one of the categories either mentioned above or you have a condition you feel may put yourself or other runners at risk.
  2. If these forms are not completed and returned, you will not be allowed to join in any run.

Dunoon Hill Runners 2nd Annual Charity Quiz Night

The Braes hosted Dunoon Hill Runners 2nd Annual Charity Quiz Night on the evening of Saturday 14 November 2015, which again was a completely sold out event! The club, now boasting nearly 70 members, enjoyed a fun-packed evening involving 20 teams all aiming to be crowned champions and, with last year’s winners present, it was going to be a close run affair.

After 2 hours and 9 rounds of hilarity – sorry, questions, plus the need for a tie-break question to split the top two teams, surprisingly it was the smallest team on the night that emerged the winners! Iain Cairns of Argyll Financial Services proudly stepped up along with his wife and in-laws to collect their prizes. Some would say his team had a distinct advantage as they had a retired geography teacher on board, given that Kenny Taylor who set the questions is also a geography teacher. Last year’s winners placed 3rd and, interestingly, they also had a geography teacher in their midst!

Teams also enjoyed a curry and their generosity was plentiful as they delved deep into their pockets to buy up large amounts of raffle tickets with over 20 prizes on offer, the greatest majority of which were kindly donated by local businesses who were nothing short of generous and supportive to the club.

The two charities chosen this year lie close to the club’s heart as both affect some of our members on a daily basis. The first charity chosen is Samuel’s Smile; it aims to help children diagnosed with rare forms of life limiting diseases. Founded by Samuel Bell’s parents, Samuel himself was born with an extremely rare disease called Total Interstitial Hirchsprungs disease and now at 17 years old is the oldest surviving person in the world with this condition. More information can be found here. The second charity to benefit is the local Multiple Sclerosis Society. Dunoon Hill Runners recognises that sometimes local charities can get lost amongst their bigger counterparts and, being mindful of this, we remain determined that monies raised would also benefit those locally affected. A grand total of £876 profit was raised on the night allowing the club to donate £438 to each of the two nominated charities.

Dunoon Hill Runners would like to extend their thanks to everyone who paid a ticket and attended the night; it is only through your continued support and generosity that makes events like this possible. We also wish to acknowledge all of the local businesses that kindly donated the raffle prize gifts, Argyll First, Bookpoint, Cothouse Garage, David Shields Joinery, Elite Clothing, Juno, Kennedy Chemist, Lorraine Community Fitness, Pink Fizz, Timothy Sharp Jewellers, Walkers Garden Centre and West Coast Motors. Thanks also to Jennifer and her staff at the Braes for their patience and great hospitality.

Charity Quiz and Curry Night – 14 November 2015

Dunoon Hill Runners is holding a Quiz and Curry Night at The Braes, 1 School Brae, Dunoon on Saturday 14 November 2015 at 7 pm.  Members and non-members are cordially invited to form a team or find a table. Ticket costs £8 per person. Half the ticket proceeds will be allocated to local charities, and the other half buys your curry. There will be lots of opportunities to win some of the excellent prizes lined up for the event!

If interested, please contact a Committee member.

Sponsorship Opportunities

We are actively looking for new sponsors as we start to think about season 2016. Without sponsors we would not be able to keep membership fees low or subsidise costs for members which we really want to do. Sponsorship money has this year helped:

a. Reduce costs of new vests for members
b. Provide trophies and medals
c. Pay for race entry for members competing in prestigious events 
d. Subsidise the purchase of branded race flags

We currently offer 3 sponsorship packages outlined below. If you, your organisation or any of your contacts are interested please contact a member of the committee who would be delighted to discuss options.

Option 1 – Member Discount Scheme (No cost)

A number of local businesses currently offer discounts to our members. Details of your business will be posted on our website and in the annual newsletter which goes to all club members. This encourages members to support these local businesses. Typical discount is 10%

Option 2 – Sponsor a Trophy for a Year (£60)

Last year we were able to buy two trophies and prizes for the first prize giving. If you sponsor a trophy your name will be attached to that award at Prize Giving that year and you will be mentioned in local press and on the club website

Option 3 – Club Sponsorship (£100 for a year)

These sponsors would have a club run race named after them that year. E.g. the Mundell Volcano Run. They would feature in local press and on the club website. We currently organise 4 club races. Kilbride, Spooky Salomon, Club Handicap and Volcano Run

Option 4 – Kit Sponsorship (price on enquiry)

Sponsors can have their logo featured on club kit – e.g. Hoodies, Training Tops, Shorts etc.

Once again many thanks to our current sponsors for this year. Details are here.

Ben Nevis, Kyles 10 Miles, Glencoe Skyline, Cowal Highland Gathering Races

David, Ricky and Ian

David, Ricky and Ian

Ben Nevis 2015 RaceIt’s hard to keep up with all the races in which the Dunoon Hill Runners club has been represented! Most recently, on 4 September 2015, 3 members took on one of the oldest and most prestigious hill races in the UK calendar – the Ben Nevis Race. This race requires pre-qualification and there are strict cut-off times for the half-way point, the summit and completion of the route. David Walsh, Ricky Reid and Ian Marshall all succeeded in completing in highly respectable times, despite the warm temperatures, and can be very proud of their achievement. Results can be found here.

Kyles 10 Miles 2015

Kyles 10 Miles 2015

On the same day, 12 Dunoon Hill Runners took part in the beautiful Kyles 10 Miles Race, up from 3 participants last year. This is a truly scenic route and it’s safe to say that everyone thoroughly enjoyed running in the sunshine and success was achieved all round. Results can be found here.

The weekend prior saw DHR competitors successfully completing both Cowal Highland Gathering races – the 5K road race on the Thursday and the Camel’s Hump hill race on the Saturday. Hill race results can be found here.

Last but not least, David Walsh and Ian Marshall also competed in the Ochil 2000s Hill Race on 22 August. Results here, whilst Iain and Ronnie Cairns ran the Bute 10K (Ronnie’s blog post here).

A special mention must go to Anne Lloyd Evans who came in as 7th female in the inaugural Glencoe Skyline Race. This races is described as “fusing mountain running and alpinism in a pure test of speed, endurance and skill on an uncompromising, world-class course”. It is not for the faint-hearted, taking in many of the Glencoe peaks and ridges, including the renowned Curved Ridge and Aonach Eagach. Well done, Anne! (Results here).

The season is not yet over, of course, with more races lined up such as the Great Scottish Run, the Glencoe Marathon and Mamores Half Marathon and the Glen Ogle Ultra, among others!

Volcano Run 2015 – Race Report

volcanorun_2015Dunoon Hill Runners held its 2nd Annual Volcano Run hosted and sponsored by J Mundell and Sons, Toward Farm. Thanks also to Run 4 it and The Osborne Hotel for their sponsorship and provision of prizes. It is through this support that the club was able to put on another highly successful race.

Approximately 5 miles long, beginning from Toward Farm, the race took the runners up on to an extinct volcano, Buaicheileann, whereupon after reaching the peak at 400 metres, the runners faced a quick descent back to the farm. It was to be an exciting and hotly contested race given that last year’s winner was not there to defend his title (off running a 16 mile fell race over the mountains to Glencoe).

32 runners set off in near perfect conditions, a host of club colours and visiting runners disappearing into the hills. The race did not disappoint as for most of the course Iain Cairns and Grant Mackellar pushed ahead, each at some point taking the lead, with Ricky Reid (just coming off the back of a 43 mile ultra) hot on their heels. It literally came to a sprint finish to split these 2 runners with Iain pipping Grant for first place and smashing last year’s record by 3 minutes. In fact both Grant and Ricky got well within the previous years winning time.

The whole race was a huge success and a lot of personal best times were gained, some by as much as 20 minutes! This is a testimony to all the hard work and training the club runners have been putting in over the past year.

Overall Results

Male Senior

1st: Iain Cairns
2nd: Grant Mackellar
3rd: Ricky Reid

Female Senior

1st: Lindsay Moss
2nd: Emerson Laing
3rd: Sabrina Brolly

Male Vet

1st: Roger Stewart
2nd: Scot Hill
3rd: Charlie Collins

Female Vet

1st: Lisa Marshall
2nd: Kirsty Mundell
3rd: Linda Good

Juniors

1st: Allan Mollins
2nd: (1st Local) Fraser Witherow
3rd: (2nd Local) Nathan Shields
4th: (3rd Local) Mitchell Nairn

1st: (Local Female) Carla Colquhoun
2nd: Millie Alleyne
3rd: (2nd Local Female) Darcy Cameron
4th: (3rd Local Female) Jessica Marshall

Full results can be found here

 

No rest for busy Dunoon Hill Runners

Dunoon Hill Runners club has, in the first half of the year, been incredibly busy both off road and on road. The club has been competing in races as far afield as Malta and America as well as venturing south of the border and all over Scotland.

Runners have been racing Scottish championship fell races, ultra distance marathons (30 miles +) and road races, from 5K up to 55 miles.

Most recently, the club had a total of 28 runners competing over the past 3 weeks in the Kentmere Horseshoe English Championship fell race, the Fort William marathon, Toward for a Tenner half marathon and the Devil O’ the Highlands 43 mile ultra. Each runner achieved significant goals with personal best times, first time competing and high placings in races.

The success of the club is incredible; it has grown tremendously and now boasts more than 60 members. Its popularity is based firmly on the belief that running is achievable to the majority of people and that they have some of the best running trails around on their doorstep. The club’s philosophy is that enjoyment in running is the most important aspect of the sport and is inclusive to all abilities.

Dunoon Half Marathon - Toward for a Tenner race 2015