Caption for photo: Jim Taylor (on the left of the finish Gate), former Kelvinside Accies player, who himself was seriously injured some years ago in a scrum collapse, was on hand to congratulate the runners and walkers who completed the 29 mile route.

The Hawks Has Beens successfully completed the arduous 29 mile route across the Southern Upland Way and in so doing will be raising a significant sum for the Hearts & Heroes which supports seriously injured rugby players and service personnel.

(Team: Kenny Baillie, Kenny Hamilton, Graham Docherty and Stuart Low).

If you wish to donate please do so via their website on: http://www.justgiving.com/hawkshasbeens


They were joined by the Hawks Never Wases:
Andy Dunlop, Ken Shand, Kevin Lilburn, Andy Howie, Jamie Lonsdale.


Setting off from Glasgow at 4.30am a slight sat nav problem meant that the Has Beens arrived at the Mary’s Loch starting position just in time to see the majority of the 600 participants disappearing over the horizon. Following a personal thanks from organiser John Frame who pointed out that we were the only rugby club representatives from outside the Lothian & Borders area, the team set off at 7.30am.

The 2nd of our 3 sat nav malfunctions arose however as our intrepid explorers, charging up the hill in front of them, were hailed across the public address system with a booming “The team of 4 running up the hill are going the wrong way!”

Desperate to complete the course in time to make the Hawks Ball at night the team set off at a fair pace and passed a number of the early walkers. But the terrain was increasingly tough and the hill paths were often, rocky uneven, marshy and very, very steep!

Stu Low was setting the pace and was able to accompany the race winner for the majority of the route. The other 3 were hoodwinked by the Gala street mob who managed to divert a large number of participants up another unnecessary hill. KB managed to add an extra 3.5 or 4 miles to his challenge while the other 2 added a mere mile or 2. Sat nav now thrown overboard the team arrived very tired and delighted to be congratulated by Jim Taylor who recently met his own challenge of throwing a ton of granite across the Braehead ice sheet also raising a significant sum for charity.

Most teams were enjoying their showers, food, massage and settling down for a free party in Melrose while our guys jumped in a taxi to return to the start line, collect their car and drive back to Glasgow in time to put party frocks on and get to the Hawks Ball by 7.00pm.

So in the same week that the UKs favourite pensioner, (no not KH) but Sir Rannulf Fiennes conquered Everest, Stu Low was finally able to say – “This is it boys, our Everest!” with it almost making sense.

Well done both teams.

Please support the charity – each donation of £5 or £10 is really welcome.

http://www.justgiving.com/hawkshasbeens

This article was originally posted on 25-May-2009, 17:35 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 25-May-2009, 17:52.