11/12 July 2009
Lochcarron
First Highland round of the Scottish Nationals – not the biggest attendance we have ever had but a success nonetheless – I think we probably had the best weather in Scotland over the weekend – the views of Skye, Plockton, and the area around Lochcarron were sublime. Sure helps to base your competition near the highest road in the UK !
By the time Gordon, Tina and I got to Lochcarron, Andy and Ed had already gone up the Bealach for an evening fly down. After a quick retrieve to the pub, we encountered a motley collection of Aberdonian and Welsh golfers having a singing and drinking competition – wee note to self not to drink SheepShagger again – the Saturday morning thick head took a while to subside – Ed claimed the cider doesn’t have this effect but it didn’t look like it at breakfast.
It could of course be his secret to success, as he took first place in his first ever comp and managed to survive the 8k coastal walk (no proper paths and at the wrong end of the cliffs) to get back. Best not mention the path to Applecross about 200 yards in the opposite direction from his landing spot 
We set an ‘open distance in any direction’ task as the wind direction was straight to Applecross 14k away. Ed followed the coast round to the SouthWest while Mark followed the line of hills to the North. Andy, Gordon, Tina and I all came down within a kilometer of each other at the fishfarms across from Plockton.
Great weekend had by all and finally proof that the Highland guys DO get thermals now and again.
So, the scores for the first ever Highland round of the Scottish Nationals :-
Ed Delves 1000
Mark Robson 900
Gordon Smyth 700
George McGhee 600
Tina Wood 600
Andy McGregor 500
Top marks of course to the venue, scenery and entertainment
Which means with two rounds gone, the overall scores in the Nationals are :-
George McGhee 1100
Ed Delves 1000
Mark Robson 900
Gordon Smyth 950
Tina Wood 850
Simon Lucas 600
Andy McGregor 500
Julian Robinson 500
Logan Nisbet 450
Alistair Brown 250
Matt Church 250
Graeme Connolly 250
Sean Figgitt 250
Scott Mather 250
Scott Rigg 250
Adrian Smith 250
Tom Kemp 250
Next round is the Borders on 25/26 July – see you there.
George
