This race has taken place for 25 years where 24 teams are invited to compete in a race where the 6 man team is split into 3 North stages and 3 South island stages, both North and South stages set off from the same start at Blackwaterfoot and finish in Brodick.
Team Manager and Jog Leader, Jim Dobbie was impressed by the teams fantastic finish: "I have been fascinated by this event for a few years and have tried to gain an invitation for the last 3 years.
"Considering some of the lads 3-4 years ago were overweight and had very little fitness before coming to jogscotland, and the fact they were up against some of the best endurance runners in the West of Scotland, to finish 9th out of 24 on our first attempt showed how far this great initiative has grown at Strathclyde Park."
Following is Team Manager, Jim Dobbie's account of the day:
Saturday 26th July, half the NL jogscotland team travel down from Strathclyde Park in one car while the Airdrie/Coatbridge connection set off from there.
Team Manager, Jim Dobbie has a last minute check of requirements for the day.
1. Team sheet - check
2. Team meeting point and time at Ardrossan - checked
3. Stop watch, pen and note pad (been asked to officiate at race) - check
4. Team vests & t-shirts - check
JD starts to relax as the car swings into Ardrossan Ferry terminal car park on time for the ferry crossing, as he looks around getting out the car he see's holiday makers, cyclists and some of the athletes out flexing their athletic bodies from their travels, kitted out in their team colours when he hears a bit of a commotion at the end of the car park, he turns round and to his horror there coming towards him are the Coatbridge/Airdrie posse in flowery Bermuda shirts and the wackiest Bermuda shorts ! (a standing joke with two of them since our trip to Girona in May).
JD relaxes when he see's that they are there fully kitted out and focused for the huge challenge ahead.
On arriving on Arran we make our way to the race HQ, the banter started once more when JD was noticed having a coffee and sandwich before the race started in the HQ with some of the officials whilst his 'team' were left to get themselves warmed up outside !
This was the first time that JD had managed to get an invitation to this event thanks to Michael Flinn from Irvine AC who was the race organiser, who incidentally did a great job with his team on their first year in charge of the event.
This race had fascinated him for some time due to the different way it was run.
The race consists of 24 teams each with 6 runners (3 north stages, 3 south stages).
Because of the time constraints in covering the 57.5 miles, the teams are taken by 2 buses from Brodick to Blackwaterfoot.
From there the stage one runners are lined up, 24 facing north and 24 facing south after the start the North and South buses travels on to the stage 1 finish/stage 2 start.
The stage 2 start when the first runner from stage 1 finishes, all stage one runners are then collected and travel on to the end of stage 2 to pick up them and so on.
The Island was at it's picturesque best as the race started, the Northern stage runners got it overcast and a little humid, being the mountainous side of the Island but the Southern guys got it very warm and sunny.
As JD made his way back to Race HQ after completing his job on the Northern stage 1 section, he was happy in knowing that 2 of the team had managed 12th and 10th place on their respective legs but didn't want to get carried away with this as the final placings were based on combined times.
At the end the guys expressed how tough this course was but enjoyed the challenge it showed up.
As the teams gathered outside for the prize giving, 1st team Irvine AC, 2nd Bellahouston Road Runners and 3rd Central AC. Some big hitters in the road racing circuit and where did little old NL jogscotland team finish? - 9TH!
JD and the guys were ecstatic, and I would like to say they quietly made their way back to the ferry, slept on the crossing and got home for tea, but unfortunately, I cannot tell a lie, we celebrated in typical NL jogscotland fashion, we found a lovely little hotel overlooking the bay and subjected themselves to the Island Speciality Arran Blondes and Haggis Pakora (in case anybody starts getting worried at JS HQ or NL HQ, Arran blondes were of the liquid variety!)
After a quick sprint to make the last ferry off the Island, we had a little more refreshments on board followed by the fish suppers on reaching the main land. Well, it just wouldn't be the same going to the sea side and not having a fish supper before you went home!
A huge thanks once again to Mike and Irvine AC for allowing us to be a part of this fantastic day
Pictured left to right Pat Mullen,Billy Carswell,George Robertson,Allan Cameron,William Lindsay and Colin McAlpine.