70 Wild Miles
8th. June 2002
The fourteenth
running of the event went off with the usual flair and panache, (sounds
good, but the get-out word is usual).
I have to confess that due to
making a complete ****-up of transport arrangements I wasn't even there.
(The most annoying bit about it is that no-one seems to have noticed!)
So here is a report from The Organisers.
70 Wild Miles 2002
Now
that the dust has almost settled on this year’s event, we hope everyone
has recovered and that you all had an enjoyable day (and night). This
year we had a higher number of competitors taking part than ever before.
78 solo competitors and 22 relay teams giving us a total of 100 competitors,
all on the move at any one time.
A full list of the results for the day are listed at
the links below for anyone who is interested. The reasonable conditions
we had this year allowed some very impressive performances from everyone.
The solo male event being won for the first time by
regular competitor Carl Strange, with Kenny Short and Hamish
Irvine coming in a close second and third respectively. Both Hamish
and Kenny have taken part in 70 Wild Miles more times than we can remember
and both have been the bridesmaids many times but never the bride! Better
luck next time lads, we’re sure you will both be back next year! The female
solo event was won by Vicky Strange (Nick’s sister we believe?)
Well done Vicky, good to see another regular competitor notching up her
first win. Second to Vicky came Christine Rougvie with Nonie
Horseman a close third.
(editors
note : There was originally some mix-up as to names and Nick Strange was
at first credited with the win but he was unable to take part due to an
injured knee, and Vicky is Nick's Wife!).
Still with the solo event, commiserations to Simon Patton, three time’s
previous winner, who suffered what we believe, was a minor injury during
the event. In the female event, 4 times previous winner Maggie Creber
was unlucky enough to suffer a severe elbow injury which prevented her
from even starting the canoe section, hard lines Maggie, we’re sure both
you and Simon will both be back to try again.
The relay team event was won by Ali Bryan-Jones/Kirsty
Patton/Gareth Bryan-Jones in fine style, well done to them and well
done to Duncan McPhail/Paul Deacon/Derek Gordon who came second.
Some of the children wanted to get in on the act this year, so many thanks
to Matthew Brown who arranged the first Junior Wild Miles. Six kids took
part and cycled 13 miles down Glen Etive, paddled for 30 mins or so in
the shallows of Loch Etive and finished with an 8 mile run in the glen.
Ross Creber showed great determination to finish a clear winner,
well done Ross! Meanwhile the other five children taking part, Lewis
Allan, Daniel Brown, James Smith, Iain Elphinestone and Sarah McVicar
all managed to finish with all sorts of nonsense being had on the way.Well
done to all the children involved, you all showed great spirit!
As has always been the case with 70 Wild Miles, we
enjoy and need, a level of support from helpers, (which in terms of numbers,
far exceeds the number of competitors who take part each year.)This year
was no exception and the extremely hard work of all the helpers did we
hope, make everyone’s day more enjoyable. As the organisers of this event,
we would like to offer all our helpers our sincere thanks for all your
efforts. This event and all the money it generates would most certainly
not be possible without you!
For those of you who made it along to the Glencoe Hotel
for the post event party, we hope you had a good night and enjoyed the
entertainment there. This was the first year we’ve had the pleasure of
introducing The Jack Daniel’s Experience in the main hall. A special thankyou
to them and their support band for the evening “Amnezia”. Many thanks
also to Tommy Magee and his folk band for their performance in the lounge
bar and to all who joined in.
We hope everyone involved this year with 70 Wild Miles
will be back to do it all again next year, please keep an eye on the web
site to find out how much money was actually raised this time.
We would very much like to be able to provide a photographic
record of this years event on the website and compile a short video of
the highlights if possible. To do this can we ask if you do have any digital
video of the event that you contact Gordon Gooch by e-mail at gogig@aol.com
and we will see what can be done from all the material taken on the day.
If you have any stories of your experiences of the day, please feel free
to recount them in the forum section of our website (just click the Forums
button on the left), they may help others thinking of taking part understand
what it is really like! Some of you may have received some photos showing
the part you played in the day, these have been kindly supplied free of
charge by photographer Colin Read, a very big thank you to Colin,
We’re sure you’ll agree, these prints are of a fine quality.
( I can now tell you that the 2002 event reached the magnificent total of £44,000! And this was without the usual fantastic contribution from Jimmy Smith, who has led the list of fund-raisers for so many years. (This year Jimmy was in China when the event took place, I'm sure he probably thought of swimming back for it - but even for Jimmy that would be a bit much!). Taking Jimmy's usual place at the top of this years list was Jackie Bird of BBC Scotland who brought in a wonderful total of £2546. Please check this link to learn more about our Heroes. - Ed.)
Now that the help with all aspects of 8th. June has
been enjoyed by all who took part: Competitors, please read on!
As everyone will agree, this is probably the hardest
part of 70 Wild Miles, gathering in all your sponsorship money! It is
however a job that must be done and done as quickly as possible please.
We’re sure you will all understand the level of effort that goes into
setting up 70 Wild Miles deserves to enjoy an equal level of determination
in sponsorship.
Cancer Research UK now wait with baited breath to see
if we will continue to top the previous years total. Given the estimates
you have made at the point of entry into the event, we very much hope
we will be looking at yet another best ever total. Please do your very
best to chase up your sponsors and forward all cheques to the contact
below. Cancer Research UK are making significant in roads into solving
the heartache that is Cancer. The need for funds has never been greater.
Our very best regards and thanks
Brian, Ray, Gordon and John (event organisers)
Please forward your sponsorship cheques to:
John I.Allan
40 Newmains Road
Kirkliston
Edinburgh EH29 9AW
Cheques payable to: “70 Wild Miles”
