The first Annual Gigha
Half Marathon
18th March
2006
The first Gigha Island
Race was a great success, apologies for it taking so long to get
onto the website - I guess I'm just busy/lazy, delete as appropriate!!
 Too
many tales to tell from the day and the evening - great turnout,
great ceilidh and we rasied a stack of cash for Achamore Gardens.
For such a small community to raise £1000's in one day is
truley stunning. OK, you have me, I dont actually have the
final figures to hand - its posted outside the shop, its late
and its raining so I'll do it tomorrow - or if someone would like
to mail me them ...
Helen, our new Assistant
Head Gardener walked the course and enjoyed that whole day.
But dont take my word for it - read on. All images kindly
donated by all the folk who were there. And thanks to all
those who made it happen - you all know who you are ...
The race day was beautiful, bright sunshine
and a breeze that was actually quite  welcome
after having warmed up nicely half-way through the walk.
The participants were a mixture of islanders past and present
as well as visitors hoping for a quiet weekend! It was a nice
opportunity to have a chat to folk old and new as well as raising
money for a good cause. The views were stunning and the local
animals, from dogs to cows, all seemed to know something was
going on as dozens of people filed past them. The awards presentation
was preceded by Joe Teale's excellent bagpiping, more of
this please Joe, and the winners were presented with bouquets,
appropriately made from flowers from Achamore Gardens, as well
as prizes. Everyone taking part was  given
a goodie bag containing a banana, t-shirt, muscle cream
and lucozade. There was a popular stall outside Susans' selling
preserves, plants and various items of clothing, pony
rides were available outside the shop, and Gigha Bites
were on hand to sell burgers and the best burger van chips
I have ever tasted. All this and still the evenings entertainment
to go! I had heard about, but never been to, a "do" on Gigha, and
I wasn't disappointed. The village hall was packed with dancers
of all ages, and it was great to see even the youngest
children really having a good time, and they knew the dances
rather better than I do. The band were superb and the drink
flowed. The halftime auction was amazing, a signed Rangers top,
an aerial photo of Gigha, a bottle of Gigha whisky, as well
as a bottle of whisky from Jura. The raffle had so many
prizes I lost count, there were far too many to mention,
donated by businesses and individuals alike. The buffet was
great, I've said it before and I'll say it again, there are
some fine cooks on Gigha. Everyone was well catered for and
then it was back to the dancing. I finally left sometime after
2pm, before the disco even started, and if rumours are to be
believed there are still a few hardy souls there now.
Helen
Lear
Martin Rennie, left, shocked quite a few - myself included - by
turning up with no training and just ran the race like it was
a doddle. Some man that. And he floats - look, he's
not touching the ground!
And on the
right, the runners are off. If anyone else out there has anything
alse to add to this great day - especially visitors, we would love
to hear from you.
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