Screel Hill Race - Scottish Champs Race 1

Trip down to Screel near Dalbeattie for the first Short Scottish Champs Hill race. A nice route with start and finish on gravel road then some rougher and steeper sections. After a steady start feel on good form on the climb and made good progress through the field. Good fast descent - again passing a good few on the steep bits. Just 41 mins of running but exhilarating as at max effort most of the way.  

 Had a quick visit to Threave for tea and cake and short walk around before the drive home.

Next day did the SOL at Limeriggs which was pretty horrendous terrain, very poor navigation and tired legs. Not a great experience.

Glentress and Imelda May

It is nice to get to Glentress a couple of times a year as it is always fabulous to ride there. Started in Peebles with the hard ride up Janet's Brae. Then down to the main centre then steep climb via circuitous route to Dunslair Heights. Still a lot going on at Glentress with a new cafe at the top car park and around 50 new chalets built in the woods. Riding form was pretty good and enjoyed the Blue route climb sections although a fair bit of the upper half seemed to be closed.

In the evening I has a solo trip to the Queens Hall to see Imelda May. Not entirely sure what to expect as I have zero of her music and was expecting something quite noisy. It turned out to be an intimate set with two musicians and very good with lots of chatter, name dropping and really impressive performance. Very much enjoyed it from a seat at the back of the balcony with a good view. Best seats I think at Queens Hall.

 

Orienteering and Quiz

A busy weekend with a trip to Tweedbank on Saturday for two urban sprint orienteering races around the small town of Tweedbank. Short, fast with easy navigation and good fun.

Sunday was orienteering at Calderwood coupled with helping at the start with car parking and at the end collecting controls. A pretty good performance considering legs a little tired.

In the evening we went to the Meadows Tap for the quiz night with Max, Kasia and Alastair. We won ! Mainly thanks to Alastair - not sure whether we added or detracted from what he would have scored. £40 bar voucher won.