Thanks to Highland Hill Runners “the hillbillies” for organising the Fyrish 3 tops hill race today which gave our own Caroline Marwick an excellent win.  This year the route had to be altered due to fallen trees and new plantations and so became the 1 top, shortening the overall length to about 7.5-8 miles.  This variant in distance was determined by which interpretation of the route you chose and by how good you could follow the hieroglyphic map.  Recent Inverness star signing Gordon Lennox led the race into the steeper trails 2 miles in with Donnie MacDonald close behind.  The pair, both known for they’re uncanny directional sense, misread a ambiguous piece of tape and left the race route to head up the wrong hill, known locally as “killer”! After ascending more than half the hill they responded to shouts from below and returned to the course now in 3rd and 4th position.  They battled back to the front of race for a short time but fell back from race organiser Dave Wilby on the steep heather walk on the front face to the summit.  Dave won the race with Gordon 2nd and Donnie 3rd.  Inverness comfortably won the men’s team prize with Andy Macrae running in a fine 4th.  He had opted to skip the Inverness extra hill rep but also fancied some extra distance.  On missing the turn to the main climb he took himself and several followers up an unchartered and rugged new accent to the Fyrish monument.  Even the godfather of hill racing and uber experienced Alec Keith was unable to unravel the mystery signage and also took some wrong turns.  Paul Miller added to the mens runners and with Caroline winning the ladies race it was a great day.  All the runners took their mistakes in good spirits and on the whole it made for a good chinwag over the welcome cake and sandwiches.