|
21 May 2013
DON BOOTH'S NEW BOOK
Don Booth, re-founder of the race in 1983, has just published a book on the history of the race from 1973 to 1992 - when he handed over
as organiser. It will be on sale at the 2013 race for £10, or by mail order for £11.50.
Click for a larger image.
|
|
|
8 May 2013
JOHN DARE SHIELD
The John Dare Memorial Shield will be awarded for an outstanding achievement in the Scottish Islands Peaks Race and the Isle of Jura
Fell Race back to back. The races are normally a week apart, with the SIPR the weekend before Jura. Both have fell racing sections
over the Paps of Jura, and several runners compete in both. This is the first year of this award, and the shield is retained for one
year. Winners should have the next blank space inscribed with their name(s) and the year.
Click for larger image.
|
|
|
8 April 2013
TAYVALLICH PASSENGER FERRY ROUTE - N.B.
The race organisers have been asked to help with certain issues to do with parking and camping logistics at the village
of Tayvallich over the race weekend, and we are happy to assist.
There was some rufflement of feathers among the local residents in 2012 due to the places in which some users of the ferry to Jura
had chosen to park their cars. There was also displeasure at some overnight camping taking place on the grass verges within the village.
I have visited the village, talked to some very kind, hospitable and helpful local people, and am hoping that all who are heading off to
Jura for the day, weekend, or longer will read this and stick to the recommendations. We appreciate that you might be arriving quite late,
having driven for many hours. Please follow this link for useful photos and information.
|
|
|
11 April 2013
CRAIGHOUSE SHOP UNDER COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP
The general store in Craighouse is now owned by the people on the island, and has been awarded a huge development grant.
The website is still under development, but you can contact them for anything you might like to know about what is in stock,
or which you would like to have ordered in, at orders@juracommunitystore.co.uk.
|
|
|
8 April 2013
MISSING TROPHIES - CAN YOU HELP?
This item applies to runners from JURA and ISLAY. Do you know the whereabouts of the following trophies?
THE IAN KERR MEMORIAL TROPHY for the fastest islander.
THE KILDALTON PERPETUAL CHALLENGE TROPHY for the faster local team.
|
|
|
18 June 2012
PHOTOS PENDING
I have lots and lots of photos which folk have given me or made available for the Jura Race website. These include batches from Andie Howie,
Judith Bewell, Sam Clarke, Gerry McPartlin, Edward Watson and others. Many thanks to all who have donated. So busy at the moment with computer work,
moving house (to the NW Highlands) and other family things that the piccies will probably not appear until late August at the earliest. You can see
Judith's on Flickr from a link which was up on the Jura 2012 forum on the FRA website. Konrad, the resident professional, also took many shots, but has
been too busy with projects this summer - so that is another treat in store.
|
|
|
11 May 2012
RAYNET LIVE BLOG ETC. FOR 2012
A note from RAYNET:
Just a short note to let you know some of the RAYNET work that
is going on in the run up to this year's fell race on Jura.We have set up a blog
that we will use to update LIVE race information throughout the day, it has links
to our twitter and facebook site, all of which will carry live information, photographs,
race status, leaders etc. This will be in addition to the information screen
that will be running in the cooperage.The address for the blog is: raynetjura.blogspot.co.uk
Our Twitter address is: @gcraynet
And our facebook site can be found at: www.facebook.com/gcraynet
Feel free to pass this information on via your website. It will allow interested
parties to keep up to speed with the race whether they are on Jura or elsewhere
in the world. We hope this will be a useful addition to the services we already
provide to the race.
|
|
|
2 March 2012
DIRECT JURA PASSENGER FERRY FUNDED
2012-2013
We are very pleased to see that the fast rib direct from the mainland to Craighouse
has now been funded again, with a service starting from Easter 2012. There are scheduled
to be sailings AM and PM every day except Wednesdays and Sunday mornings.
Go to Jura
Development Trust or the Travel page for links
to this service and lots of other travel options.
|
|
|
2 March 2012
ENTRY FORMS FOR 2012
The website can now be updated again (by FTP) as this news item proves. The entry
form is now available on the ENTRY FORM page. Thank you for the extra effort made
by all who have already entered, or put the form up on their own clubs' websites.
If you missed all this, the web server chose to freeze up to being updated just
moments before I was about to reveal the entry form.
|
|
|
19 February 2012
ENTRIES FOR 2012
Entries open on 1 March. Some families, sadly, are not going to be able to make
it this year with the following week not being school half term. We are hoping that
some people will be able to make it who are normally prevented by other holiday-time
commitments. Roll up, roll up.
I am waiting to hear from the Strathclyde Police MRT on how much their covering
charge will be, but am hoping to keep the entry at £15. See below.
There will be beds and/or other space available at the Feolin Farmhouse,
as last year, just a mile north of the distillery. We have it booked for eight nights
from the Saturday before the race, to the Sunday morning after the race. If anyone
would like to reserve a place for at least part of the week, please let the
organiser know. The maximum cost pp/pn will be £20, depending on take-up.
|
|
|
20 January 2012
MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM FOR 2012
Strathclyde Police MRT have once again confirmed that they will be able to attend
the Jura race in 2012, for which we are very grateful and relieved. There will be
a covering charge, as last year, and when we know what it is likely to be, I shall
be able to work out the entry fee for the race. Last year the fee was £15.
|
|
|
2 December 2011
EASTER EIGG - A UNIQUE WEEKEND OF RACING
Laurie Anderson has had the brilliant idea of organising an Easter weekend of racing
and partying on Eigg in 2012. There will be a race on the Saturday, 7th April, up
the Sgurr, with a ceilidh on the night, then a classic race on Sunday in the north
of the island, with superb views of Rum. (Classic must mean no mountains to climb
- not sure - better ask Laurie).
Laurie, who is the co-organiser of the Jura race, can be contacted at
laurieanderson1@hotmail.co.uk.
Laurie has reserved a boat at approx. £30 per head return, and there will be at
least two sailings, depending on demand. Accommodation in buildings is also being
sorted.
Details will be in the SHR calendar - and I hope we can also get something out in
the FRA calendar.
|
|
|
3 November 2011
ANNUAL DONATION TO ISLANDERS
A donation this year, of £500, has been made to the Gordon Wright Trust. They give
assistance to island students moving on to do further education on the mainland.
|
|
|
16 September 2011
ADVENTURE SHOW DVDs
DVDs of the The Adventure Show featuring this year's Isle of Jura Fell Race, which
was shown on BBC2 Scotland on Tuesday 9th August, may be produced by Triple Echo
and would be available for sale on line, and with luck, at the 2012 race as well.
More details will appear here if and when they are available. I hope those of you
who starred at great length in the programme got a chance to watch it.
|
|
|
16 September 2011
1973 RACE HEIRLOOMS
George Broderick has kindly sent us some photos taken at the 1973 first Bens of
Jura race. See the Photos section.
|
|
|
26 July 2011
ADVENTURE SHOW, BBC2 SCOTLAND, AUG 9
The edition of The Adventure Show featuring this year's Isle of Jura Fell Race will
be shown on BBC2 Scotland on Tuesday 9th August at 19:00. If you cannot receive
BBC2 Scotland directly, it can be seen on Sky channel 990. The programme is usually
on I-Player for 7 days following the broadcast. I hope you feature, and that I do
not!
|
|
|
22 June 2011
T-SHIRTS and CERTIFICATES 2011
I have had a few requests for T-shirts from people who were not able to collect
one on race day, for one reason or another. If there is anyone else who did not
manage to pick one up, please e-mail the organiser now, and when I have rough numbers
I'll get in touch with Willie at the distillery to see if we can get some more put
aside or posted out.
T-shirt provision was completely out of my control in 2011, and is one of the aspects
which we shall be attempting to streamline from 2012.
Likewise, certificates. The blank certificates, for reasons beyond our control,
were not available until late in the afternoon, making it all but impossible to
get them filled in and distributed in time for you to pick them up. I have quite
a lot which were filled in but not collected, and loads of blank ones which could
still be filled in. I know that certificates and T-shirts are important, so do please
get in touch if you would like yours posted out to you. Obviously, considering the
amount of admin involved, it would be easier for me to give them to you or a friend
next year, but don't let that deter you from requesting postage!
In 2012 I intend to pre-print the certificates, or have them sent to me in good
time, before the race, leaving just the times to be filled in while finishers are
crossing the line.
|
|
|
21 June 2011
MISSING MARSHAL?
A very kind lady called Lizzie, who was ex-mountain rescue, came forward after the
marshals' meeting to marshal at CP4, where we were a couple of marshals short. We
also had Jim from Raynet going there, and an unsuspecting Geoff Howard about to
be volunteered. If you are out there, Lizzie, I have your T-shirt.
|
|
|
14 June 2011
WHAT'S NEXT?
Well, LAMM over (and another fantastic/lucky weather window, like the Jura) so time
to a)write up the 2011 Jura, and b)a million and one other jobs, including nailing
down all the 'helper' jobs which need to be done on the day - and when.
Huge thanks to everyone who chipped in when they could see that something needed
to be done, and enabled everything to run reasonably smoothly.
|
|
|
7 June 2011
LOST & FOUND
I have two black woolly hats and a thin blue running top with long dark sleeves.
Two runners reported lost, precious GPS watches which I do not have. During the
event I was handed a quite large grey square-faced watch which I put aside. After
the presentations my attention was diverted by the search for a retired runner who
did not report to the finish, and I have not seen the watch since. Would anyone
with lost/found requests or information please contact the organiser.
".. you mentioned in forum being handed a 'square faced watch' .. was it by
chance a red garmin forerunner 305 ? , it would be missing a strap as i was wearing
it on a 'clip' when i fell over somewhere between CP1 & 2 .. and it became detached
.. it's the wifes ! .. she would be chuffed if it was found ! Thanks Dave Watson
BlackCombe Runners info@guideoutside.co.uk"
|
|
|
18 May 2011
CHILDREN'S RACES
The previous organiser of the very popular CHILDREN'S RACES, which took place after
the main race had started, is not available this year. At least one non-racing mum
(and her daughter) is very keen to help them continue. Please let us know if you
too were looking forward to these races, and would like to help get them going again
this year. The mum in question is Polly Gibb, and she would welcome contact by e-mail
on polly@wireuk.org.
|
|
|
13 May 2011
Final details for runners
A link to the final details for runners is now on the Information/Regulations page.
|
|
|
13 May 2011
Buses from Glasgow
This information about buses has been submitted by Rob Reid (organiser of the Kintyre
Way ultra and relay): As from 23rd May, the bus service from Glasgow (Citylink 926)
is vastly improved, with FIVE buses each way every day (inc.Sundays) - details on
citylink website, where you have to be careful to select summer timetables. And
anyone who has travelled by bus in the past should be aware that the new timetable
is very different to what it was up to now (faster too). Also it is advisable to
book tickets (even if it's just 10 minutes before departure).
|
|
|
13 May 2011
Fast ferry
Nicol will be running charter boats all race weekend. These are the same boat or
boats which ran the scheduled fast ferry service to Craighouse. A boat will run
when full, 24/7, he says. Call Nicol on 07768450000.
|
|
|
8 May 2011
Entries
The entry list has now closed. There are 244 names on the list. So far, about five
competitors have had to withdraw through injury or illness, and there will be others
who succomb to overriding commitments or misfortune. Residents of Jura and Islay
have always been allowed (locally vetted) to enter on the day, though you will already
see some of them on the list. A few people, such as previous winners, would never
be turned away if they suddenly found they could make it after all. So, we can be
confident that our race limit of 250 runners will be adequate. Good luck to all.
|
|
|
6 April 2011
TV programme
There is a likelihood that the Scottish television "Adventure Show" programme will
be covering the race this year. So, have your anecdotes ready, and if any competitors
or others would like to pass on to the organiser any interesting background, happenings
and achievements which they think the producer might like to pop into the programme
- this is an open invitation. E.g. "we met in the mist between CP1 and CP2 going
in opposite directions and have been happily married ever since" or "I've done this
race 21 times already, and now I'm on my second time round".
|
|
|
30 March 2011
Accommodation in the farmhouse by Craighouse
The organiser has rented a house with accommodation for about ten people for eight
nights from the Saturday before the race to the Sunday morning afterwards. So far,
for all or most of the eight nights, I have myself and three other people. I would
welcome anyone else wishing to stay in the house who is able to stay for the whole
week. They would have first preference. From Thursday onwards, I think there are
plenty of helpers and former organisers who would like to stay, but in order to
defray expenses, anyone who can stay the whole course, or would like to stay up
to Wednesday or Thursday, would be welcome - at about £20 per head per night. Contact
the organiser a.s.a.p. please.
|
|
|
23 March 2011
Venture West and Islay Sea Safari operate the boats which were running the fast ferry
from Tayvallich to Craighouse last year, and are offering charter boat services
for the race at £22.50 per head each way. See Travel.
|
|
|
11 March 2011
The Strathclyde Police Mountain Rescue Team have very kindly offerred to attend
the Fell Race again this year. This is in spite of severe cutbacks in finances which
they, like all police forces, are currently being subjected to. It should be noted
that this service must now be regarded as exceptional, and the Chief Inspector -
Support Services - is generously providing 8 officers this year, at no cost for
their time, in consideration of the late notice to the Race organisation. The Race
will pay for the team's transport and meals, and this is what was allowed for when
the entry fee went up from £12.50 to £15 this year. We look forward to welcoming
Grant Little and his merry band.
|
|
|
6 March 2011
The initial 2011 entry list is now on the List of Entrants page.
|
|
|
28 Feb 2011
The 2011 entry form is now available.
|
|
|
28 Feb 2011
The summer CalMac timetable explains that the Islay ferries are all using Port Askaig
due to works at Port Ellen. Handy for us.
|
|
|
28 Jan 2011
Back in November I visited Jura, just to check it was still there. It was strangely
eerie wandering across the empty camping field, and around the hotel. Donald Ewen,
the head marshal, introduced me (and himself) to one or two of the rarer malts over
the course of an interesting evening. I presented him with a cheque for £1000 from
the Race ...
|
|
|
28 Jan 2011
The Isle of Jura Fell Race is one of the main events of the year on the island,
another one being the Music Festival. The islanders put their heart and soul into
organising, sponsoring, helping, marshalling, and generally supporting this race,
and one of the ways we pay them back is by making a donation to a worthy cause on
the island. Last year, 2009, the donation was held over, so this year's donation
was two years' worth. It went to a co-operative one of whose main tasks is maintaining
the existence of the fuel pumps. You will see them by the road between the camp
field and the jetty.
|
|
|
28 Jan 2011
2013 will be the 40th anniversary of the founding of the race in 1973 by George
Broderick, and the 30th anniversary of its resurrection in 1983 by Don Booth. If
you were at the race in 2010, George was a special guest, and handed out the prizes.
He is very keen that a DVD of the 2013 event be produced, so there will be more
news about that in due course.
|
|