Montane Cheviot Goat Ultra
Report by Colm O’Cofaigh
The Montane Cheviot Goat Ultra is a 55 mile race in the Cheviot Hills. The race starts and finishes in the village of Ingram. The route is unmarked and has about 10,000 feet of ascent. It includes a traverse of the ‘border ridge’ and takes in the summit of the Cheviot, the highest peak.
This year, because severe weather was forecast for overnight on Saturday, the organisers reversed the order of the route so that participants would complete the border ridge first and be on lower ground when the forecast high winds and rain arrived (and the weather forecast was correct in that respect!).
The race starts at 6 am in the dark and participants have a maximum of 24 hours to complete the course. This sounds like a lot of time but 95% of the route is off-road, much of the terrain is rough and sections of the route have some very deep bogs.
First back for RR was Alistair Steele in a very impressive time of 13.34 with Colm O’Cofaigh following behind in 19.23. If you like a challenge in wild and beautiful countryside (and don’t mind bogs and dark) then this one is for you.