The Timekeepers Trophies.
After
the 1999 Event the Timekeeping squad met together and, after a few beers,
decided that the hardworking volunteers who kept the event running deserved
some recognition. It was agreed that a trophy should be presented for
“conspicuous” performance. The squad were of the opinion
that this choice of wording kept their options open, in that they would
be free to recognise any individual or group who turned in an outstanding
achievement, (or for that matter anyone who managed to mess-up in a
truly wonderful way!)
As
this was to be the first time this trophy would be presented, it was
decided that a special trophy for a very special person would best fit
the bill. Therefore, a miracle happened and they all agreed to part
with real money and sent the head Timekeeper out to select a
suitable prize - a really nice clock with a fitting inscription. As
to the special person to receive the award, that was very easy - Cathy
Allan was the unanimous choice.
For
those of you who don't know Cathy, I should explain that she is married
to Ian, one of the main organisers of the event and has therefore been
forced into involvement with its arrangements since the earliest days.
As well as taking care of the house and children, she has had to put
up with Ian not only helping organising the event but also in his younger
days training to take part in it (and London and New York Marathons
as well). Most women would think that this was quite enough to be going
on with but Cathy has also become an integral part of the running of
each years event. It seems that wherever someone is needed to register
competitors, or see to transport, or check on the availability of food
and drink, or just to run those small errands that are required to keep
things running smoothly - that's where you'll find Cathy!
2001
Following
the feedback? received after the first Timekeepers trophy it was decided
that the precedent set by giving an award to an unsung hero should be
kept going. The only problem was to decide which unsung heroes should
be recognised? Modesty kept the timekeepers from selecting the most deserving
candidates of all and after some discussion it was agreed that the 2001
Timekeepers Trophy should go to the Venture Scouts
team who do a tremendous job helping with the marshalling and particularly
manning the feeding stations. Accordingly Alex. Heenan received the trophy
on behalf of all the squad - unfortunately the trophy this year was an
engraved tankard which made it difficult for all of them to get the most
benefit from it! (There had been a suggestion that a packet of drinking
straws should be included in the award, but with the planning that so
characterises the timekeeping team no-one actually arranged them.)
This
choice of winner was especially appropriate as this was the tenth anniversary
of the Venture Scouts helping out with the event. That we have never had
any serious incident during the running of the event is in no small measure
due to the excellent marshalling of the Venture Scouts, but their ability
to cope with anything that could occur was shown by by something that
happened on the day after the event, when about midday on the Sunday a
head-on collision happened on the main road through the glen. A car with
three of the Scouts, Lynne Kelly, David Craig and Craig Brackenridge and
a minibus with Ray Brown, his sons Matthew and Daniel, and Pete Louden
were close to the scene of the accident and they were soon in attendance
with first-aid kits and the necessary training. Whilst the traffic was
directed clear of the scene and the road kept open to await the arrival
of the emergency services, the other members of the team were able to
give suitable treatment and comfort to the injured motorists until they
could be cut free and taken to hospital. Both drivers escaped with relatively
minor seatbelt injuries and shock but the woman passenger who did not
have the benefit of an air-bag suffered a fractured breast-bone and five
broken ribs. All the team were commended for their actions by the Ambulance
and Police officials who attended the scene.
The
70 Wild miles event does, of course, enjoy the invaluable support of the
Lochaber Red Cross, but it's reassuring to know that they are so ably
backed up by these young people who certainly live up to the Scout motto!
All in all, worthy winners of the Timekeepers Trophy.
2002
Keeping
up the now established tradition of awarding this trophy to the "unsung"
heroes of the event, this year the "awards" committee ( e. g.
those timekeepers sober enough to form a semi-coherent opinion), decided
to mark their appreciation to some of those people who do so much to make
the apres event almost as memorable as the event itself. (I say
almost as memorable because there are those who are unlikely to remember
very much the next morning - or whenever they wake up!).
The
2002 Timekeepers Trophy was therefore awarded to the owners and staff
of the Glencoe Hotel in grateful thanks for
the hard work and trouble they go to every year.
The Other Timekeepers Trophy.
As
stated above, the timekeeping squad felt that any truly memorable performance
deserved to be recognised in an appropriate manner. For that purpose another,
more suitable trophy was acquired, (pictured left). If you need a reason
spelled out why the this particular trophy was chosen, then you won't
find it in this family website!
Even
although none of the participants knew anything about this award, competition
was fierce, but eventually the short list came down to three exceptional
entries.
The
first of the finalists was the organiser who had the police searching
for a stolen canoe trailer only to get a phone call asking when he was
going to pick up the vehicle in question from the place he had left it
after last years event and forgotten all about it. This entry was placed
third as it didn't take place on the actual day of the event and anyway
it was felt to be only too typical of the person in question!
The
second place went to the chivalrous canoe handler at the head of the loch
who saw that the young lady who had positioned herself on a convenient
rock to help identify the numbers of the finishers coming in, had not
realised that the incoming tide had cut her off from dry land. This kind
gentleman waded out through the chilly waters and assisted the young lady
back to safety. Unfortunately it seemed that he had not bothered to inform
her why he was doing this and received a rather unfriendly response -
so he picked her up, waded back in and deposited her back where she had
originally been stranded.
The
winner of the trophy however was unanimously agreed to be Ray Brown! (You
may notice that the other names have not been mentioned, but informed
opinion feels that it would be impossible to give Ray a red face with
a blow torch). It was felt that Ray's virtuoso performance as a parking(?)
attendant at the event finish with full verbal and gestured instructions
almost deserved the trophy by itself. But the cherry on top of the cake
was his masterly command of the vernacular when he climbed on board one
of the minibuses and “asked” the more warmly dressed passengers
to give up their places in favour of the shivering competitors who wanted
transport to reunite themselves with their more suitable outfits which
were back at the event start. While reports of his actual words used were
varied, it was generally agreed that the fact that he had recently been
re-reading the book “Trainspotting” had perhaps resulted in
his arguments becoming more emphatic than diplomatic, and as such perhaps
not entirely suitable for detailed inclusion in a family website such
as this!
2001
After being spoilt for choice the previous year it was expected that there would be no difficulty finding suitable candidates for this award for 2001, but everyone seemed to be on their best behaviour and with no suitable nominations the trophy was witheld - but we'll be watching next year! Incidently the only name mentioned at all was last years winner of the main Timekeeers award, Cathy Allan, who managed to fall over and cut her knee badly and bruise her hands, (she says she was stone cold sober!), but none of the timekeepers were brave enough to offer to try and stand up at the prizegiving and present this award to her!