Jura Fells Race

Jura Fells Race is a classic race held annually.

This race exists in its current form is due in large part to the generosity and support of the Jura Distillery and their staff, the estates over which the race passes, and the untiring help and involvement from the people of Jura in their many capacities.

This article has been written by Graham Arthur, who is willing to see further contributions to it, with particular regards to the several personalities, anecdotes and stories that have characterised the race during its existence.

The name
The race was originally called The Bens of Jura Fell Race. Later, when sponsored by the distillery, it was re-titled The Isle of Jura Fell Race. Most runners in the UK would refer to it as The Jura. The term Fells Race is a nomenclature purely local to the island, and it is suspected that it derives from the fact that most people on the island have never been familiar with the term fell race. In Scotland, such races are called hill races, but throughout the rest of Britain only as fell races. The word fell is found only in the north of England, and refers to the open hillside above the valley floors, which, in England and Wales, is mostly used agriculturally for sheep – except for grouse moors. The term moor means much the same thing in most of England, provided it is upland moor. The word fell derives from a Nordic word which is also evident in names found in areas of more Nordic influence in the Outer Hebrides. In fact, there is a Scandinavian word spelled ‘fjell’, which means 'mountain'.

Origin and inspirations
The Bens of Jura Fell Race, or Beinns of Jura Hill Race, or Isle of Jura Fell Race – it has borne various names – was envisaged by George Broderick, and inaugurated in 1973. It ran for three years before its temporary demise through logistical difficulties and lack of support. The race was revived in 1983 by one of the original runners, Donald Booth, who successfully organised it until 1992, overseeing its increase in popularity and acquisition of legendary status amongst fell runners. An excellent account of these years has been given by Donald in his book “They Come… and They Go”, so it will not be repeated here. The book is available in the hotel, and from Donald himself. Profits go to a good cause on the island, and further details can be found on the race website (see External links). Reading between the lines, and occasionally meeting and talking to people on the island, one cannot help feeling that there are and were local people and hill runners who had a lot to do with the race in early and later years, and who, as is our wont, would prefer to hide their lights under a bushel. But this is a wiki, and if anyone has any nuggets of information or interesting facts about the early years, it would be wonderful if they could be posted here before they vanish from memory. It would be particularly nice to know of people who were involved in many different capacities.

From 1993 to 2010
In 1993, Donald Booth handed over the reins to Andy and Ann Curtis. They had both competed in the race every year since 1983, and Andy had regularly been one of the top finishers. Incredibly, they continued to organise the event right up until 2005, after which it was taken over by the well-known Todmorden Harriers duo of Phil Hodgson and Mandy Goth. Phil and Mandy organised the race from 2006 to 2010. Unlike most hill and fell races, the Jura has never been organised by a club, but by one or more individuals who love the Race and have its best interests at heart. The organisers have always lived at some distance, sometimes in Scotland, sometimes in England, so have never had the convenience of being local. There have always been a few local runners, of course, classified as anyone from Islay or Jura or with strong connections, and a rivalry rapidly built up between the Islay and Jura teams. The Kildalton Perpetual Challenge cup is awarded to the first local team, and the Ian Kerr Memorial Trophy goes to the first local runner. As the race was effectively founded by some keen runners from northern England, when word spread, it became one of the few races in Scotland which were well-known and popular with English fell runners. The only other real contender in this sense is the Ben Nevis race. It soon developed an aura, and the body of runners who tried to make it to Jura every year, or who were determined to get to Jura one day, grew and grew. It might appear when only about a quarter to a third of the competitors are from Scottish clubs that the Scots are under-supporting a race in their own country. This is not true - there are about ten times as many English and Welsh fell runners as Scottish hill runners, and much of Scotland is still a long journey from Jura.

From 2011 to 2017
Phil and Mandy organised the race for five years, then handed over to the next volunteer, Graham Arthur. That is me, it is November 2016, and this is the first draft of this Jurapedia article which I hope will be amended and added to by others ,who know much that I do not, as time goes on. I plan to retire after the 2017 race, and pass on the reins once more.


 * The BBC Scotland Adventure Show coverage in 2011
 * Incremental improvements in how RAYNET monitored the race
 * Loss of the services of Strathclyde Police mountain rescue team
 * Gain of mountain rescue support by a combined team from the Arrochar, Oban and Arran teams
 * Advancing to full provision of accommodation for all RAYNET and MRT personnel
 * Celebrating the 40th anniversary of George Broderick founding the race in 1973 and the 30th of Donald Booth’s revival in 1983. All previous and current organisers, and the first three finishers in the very first race, were present, and special invitee Joss Naylor inspired everyone; each runner received an individually painted ceramic medal created by Rosemary Fletcher.
 * The Jura Hotel under the dynamic control of Andy and Cath completed a major building project including showers and toilets, continued to produce an amazing flow of hot meals over race weekend, and two small children.
 * The Jura Passenger Ferry, a fast RIB service from Tayvallich direct to Craighouse, was inaugurated and is proving a great success, popular with runners.
 * The first four race checkpoint cut-off times were extended to avoid unfair forced retirals in the earlier stages of the race.
 * The race entry system moved in stages from entirely postal with local people allowed to enter on the day, to on-line only for everyone. It also moved away from a first come first served system, with the overall effect of becoming much fairer – and safer, because all entries could be checked – for everyone.
 * Various changes to registration, monitoring, recording, computer spreadsheets, data processing, T-shirts and prize giving were introduced each year, learning from previous years.
 * Mark Rigby’s incredible 1994 record of 3:06:59 for the full course was finally beaten by Hector Haines in 2014 in a time of 3:06:30.
 * Angela Mudge’s equally incredible record of 3:40:33 in 2008 was beaten by current phenomenon Jasmin Paris in 2015 in a time of 3:38:43. Only seven ladies have ever completed the course in less than four hours.
 * Joss Naylor’s 1988 record of 3:48:43 for men over 50 was finally beaten by Stewart Whitlie in 2012 (3:42:02), then again by him in 2013 (3:36:03), and yet again by the legendary Ian Holmes, several times a winner, in 2016 (3:34:38).
 * Team prizes reflect real life by being awarded to the club with the best aggregate time for three runners, a team consisting of at least one lady.
 * The traditional engraved whisky glasses awarded to all runners completing the course in under four hours reflect reality, and statistical analysis, by also being awarded to all ladies achieving under four hours forty five minutes.
 * Handling the increase in numbers in 2016, due in part to the race being an SHR Championships counter.

Terrain from runner’s perspective
Many people roam the magnificent hills of the Highlands. Most have heard of and would love to visit the “Paps of Jura”, and the lucky ones even make it. There is always an air of wistfulness when they talk of their experience or plans. When they make it there, they discover a rugged moor and mountain landscape with just a few rough, boggy and intermittent trails to help in their objectives. In the greener places there are far more deer tracks than people tracks. To any walker unused to running away from roads or trails, the angular quartzite, steep screes and heather slopes with scattered crags are challenge enough, and it would seem unfeasible that people would run across them. But they do, and amongst the fraternity and sorority of hill runners at the more “mountaineering” end of the spectrum, it all looks like just the most wonderful terrain for a “proper” hill race. The objective of a hill race is to visit all the required checkpoints en route and reach the finish line in the shortest possible time. Short hill races often have only one checkpoint, usually the summit of a hill; the Jura has seven – all on the tops of hills – and a final one at Three Arch Bridge to check that everyone has made it back to the road. Over the years, runners have worked out the quickest ways between the summits, but there are many variations and in misty conditions it is easy to get lost. The quickest ways are often the most direct routes up and down mountains, but in the case of Jura, with convex summits, and many large cliffs, the quickest routes are often anything but the most direct lines. The best lines take into account facts such as it being quick to descend scree or loose ground, but on the ascent much quicker to choose a line up grass or heather. Big scree, such as around the summit of Beinn Shiantaidh, is slow to run across (and awkward to walk across even in boots), whereas fine scree and short heather are a delight to run down. The three “Paps of Jura” form the core of the run, and form, in the opposite direction, the Jura section of the long and arduous Scottish Islands Peaks Race which is usually held the weekend before Jura. From outside the distillery, runners set off up the access road, pass the telecoms and electricity structures, proceed through the notorious swamp, and find their best ways up and over the three “Pips of Jura” – Dubh Bheinn, Glas Bheinn and Aonach Bheinn. From Glas Bheinn onwards they will have been glancing across to the right at the panorama of the three main summits yet to come. Off Aonach Bheinn there is a dauntingly steep descent deep into Glan Astaille (???) followed by the toughest climb of the day up the unrelenting heather and screes of Beinn a’Chaolais. Once again, as with all the summits except the second, the best safe descent before tackling the next climb is far from obvious. This is one reason why competitors are required to have relevant previous experience before being allocated an entry. By these middle stages of the race, if one is not near the front of the field, and the cloud level is high enough, when coming off one summit it pays to look across at the terrain leading up to the next one where it will be possible to pick out the specks of others on their way up and to work out the best route and what landmarks to look out for. In poor visibility it is a different story altogether: in such conditions it can be very hard to find a good line, and there is a serious risk of disorientation. After negotiating the Pips and the Paps – Beinn a’Chaolais, Beinn an Oir and Beinn Shiantaidh, a final climb on tired legs leads over Corra Bheinn and the swoop down to Three Arch Bridge. In prospect, the final 3.3 miles along the nearly level road to Craighouse might look easy, but they are often found to be one of the most gruelling parts of the race with the distant distillery buildings seeming never to get any closer. Some runners leave a pair of dry, grit-free, cushioned road-running shoes at the bridge for a quick change of footwear, risking sudden cramp when changing, to help speed the final section.

Mountain Rescue Teams (MRT)
For a number of years up to 2014, mountain rescue support was provided by the Strathclyde Police MRT. In early years it was provided free as a community service exercise for the team, but it became increasingly difficult for them to obtain this assignment, and reasonable charges for expenses began to be levied. When the Scottish forces were all merged into Police Scotland, the team no longer had the licence or the funding to continue with this exercise, and the Race had to look elsewhere for MRT support. There are about thirty civilian volunteer MRTs in Scotland, but these also faced a major issue around 2014 when insurance by the Police, who can always call on the civilian teams and coordinate them, was no longer available to the volunteer teams except on an official callout. There are three civilian MRTs on the mainland within reasonable reach of Jura: Arrochar, Oban and Arran. It had been said that a civilian team would be reluctant to station its members on Jura for a weekend since this would render them unavailable for any callout they might receive in their home area. To overcome this problem, and despite the insurance issue, with terrific goodwill and coordination from the teams involved, a solution was found. A combined team drawing on about five members from each of these three teams was designed, and, from 2015 onwards, is being led by Brian Cook, the Arrochar leader. The Race pays for their ferries, accommodation on Jura and any other expenses they might ask for. The team positions itself in one or two strategic positions along the race route, with their equipment, and are ready for quick response.

Radio Control
In addition to the marshals, each checkpoint on the course has a dedicated radio operator in touch with the base controller at Craighouse. The base controller is the hub for communications between the checkpoints and the deployed mountain rescue teams. To further reduce radio traffic, management is by exception, i.e. it is not reported which runners have passed, only those who were expected to pass, but have not. 2016 was the tenth anniversary of this vital service being provided by the expert team from Glasgow RAYNET. Due to their accreditation, they also have access to superior radios not normally available to the mountain rescue teams. This service is invaluable, and the Race is glad to pay for their ferries and accommodation. For a number of years their leader has been Paul Lucas.

Marshals
Each checkpoint has at least two marshals. Traditionally, most have been recruited from local people or other friends of the island. Some have been doing this for many years, and sometimes the tradition of manning a checkpoint has been passed down through a family, father and son, mother and daughter. Marshals from the island community have, for some years, been recruited by Donald Ewen Darroch, the chief marshal, and takes on responsibility for the overall allocation and deployment of all eight marshalling teams. By 2016, a third to a half of marshals were sourced by the race organiser, either in the weeks beforehand, or in some cases by recruitment the day before. Deployment of many of the marshals and MRT personnel involves use of 4WD vehicles round the island and up into the Inver estate, which can provide logistical problems depending on availability. Tragedy struck in 2012 when a well-known and popular man with strong local connections, on sea and on land, John Dare, suffered a heart attack when approaching Beinn a’Chaolais to marshal. He had expert and rapid attention from other members of the team and the MRT were quickly on the scene. He was airlifted to Glasgow, but did not survive. Since 2013 the John Dare Shield has been awarded to the person or persons who completed both the Scottish Island Peaks Race the previous weekend and the Jura Fell Race and who, in the opinion of their peers, are most deserving of the award.

Keeping track of runners
There is a sequence of spreadsheets which morph one into the next:
 * 1) The list of entrants is finalised the day before the race, known withdrawals having been eliminated.
 * 2) Registration checks off all entrants who register on race morning, and that list is transferred to Race Control (RC).
 * 3) RC prints a list of registered competitors which is given to the marshals at the entrance to the holding pen to check off as people enter and hand in their first numbered tag.
 * 4) RC transfers all starters to the race-time monitoring spreadsheet.
 * 5) Any reported retirals and all finish times are entered into this spreadsheet as the race progresses.
 * 6) As more and more runners finish, a results spreadsheet is automatically generated, and pages are periodically printed off for display.
 * 7) At a late stage, a prize list spreadsheet is generated, using as much automation as possible, and this is used in the presentations.

Tags
Runners must deposit one of their nine remaining numbered plastic tags at each checkpoint, as well as displaying their number and being sure it has been recorded. The tags are a backup failsafe mechanism which in rare cases of doubt can confirm whether or not an error has been made in recording the number.

Monitoring progress
Numbers are issued sequentially from 1 upwards. All marshals are advised by radio of numbers which are known to have retired at or before the previous checkpoint, or known to have dropped out and been accounted for since the previous checkpoint, and these numbers are marked accordingly on their list. Marshals check off each number as it passes. Any number left unchecked will in due course cause concern, and becomes the subject of increasing investigation until known to be accounted for and safe.

Trackers
Small GPS trackers, as used in a few large scale events, were tested over the Jura course early in 2014. These devices read their position from GP satellites at regular intervals, and transmit their ID and coordinates via a small SMS message to a base receiver. There were found to be significant areas in and around the race with little or no mobile phone signal, resulting in blanks in recorded routes. It was felt that if someone did go missing, most likely to be in bad weather, then too much faith might be placed on the trackers, and they might have little to offer in addition to last known checkpoint.

Prizes and results
The runner categories are divided into M and F, with an age breakdown of 18-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70+. Prizes are awarded in each category. Apart from the bountiful prizes and trophies awarded by the sponsors, the Isle of Jura distillery, more normal prizes, in fell race terms, are spread out over the whole range, and provided by the race organisation. The results of all races since 1973 are available on the race website, jurafellrace.org.uk. A master database of all results is held by the organiser and can be made available for individual analysis. All finishers are awarded a race T-shirt, usually provided by the distillery sponsors, and men with times under 4 hours, women with under 4 hours 45 minutes, are awarded an engraved tumbler, also provided by the sponsors. As mentioned earlier, the Kildalton Perpetual Challenge cup is awarded to the first local team, the Ian Kerr Memorial Trophy goes to the first local runner, and the John Dare Shield to the most deserving, as judged by their peers, person(s) competing in both the Scottish Islands Peaks Race and the Isle of Jura Fell Race back to back. Other special awards include Last Lady and Furthest Travelled Competitor from overseas. The former is rarely quite back in time for the presentations, which normally happen around 6:00 p.m., and the latter, together with the locals’ prizes, is often the subject of light-hearted feedback from the assembled multitude. Until 2015, a gentleman on the island by the name of Iain Cameron carved two splendid walking sticks every year to be presented to the Last Lady and Furthest Travelled. These were greatly treasured by all who received them. Iain was brought by car to the cooperage in 2015 to hand over his last walking stick, which now hangs proudly on the wall of a lady in N Ireland. Sadly he died later that year.

The future of the race
2017 will be the seventh and last year for the current organiser, and at the time of writing (November 2016) a successor to take over in 2018 has yet to be confirmed. There are so many tasks and procedures, and so much background knowledge required, that it would normally be felt desirable for new organisers to shadow the current organisers over the race weekend the year before, and to be in the loop from an early stage before that. Some preparations for the next year’s race, such as identifying and reserving accommodation, take place even before the current race is over.

Organisers’ tasks include:
 * Reserving accommodation for Race HQ, about 13 RAYNET personnel, and about 15 MRT personnel.
 * Checking all race equipment and renewing/replenishing as necessary.
 * Preparing runners’ numbered tags.
 * Maintaining the race website and other web presences.
 * Setting up the entry system – SI Entries is currently used.
 * Handling all entries, including vetting for experience and many other issues.
 * Booking ferry crossings for organisers, RAYNET and MRT.
 * Writing for permission to cross the estates.
 * Liaising with the chief marshal, MRT, RAYNET, the Hotel, the doctors and any other interested parties (e.g. the Passenger Ferry operator, the community at Tayvallich, the Craighouse community shop).
 * Communication with all entrants.
 * Checking and preparing all notices.
 * Spreadsheet maintenance from pre-entry to final results – absolutely vital!
 * Prizes, speeches, publication of results, reports, thankyou letters.
 * Insurance, contingency plans, risk analysis, ...