MARHOFN 84.04 - MAY 2002

RHB Update 2002

A new update sheet for RHB (April 2002) is now available, the first for three years. This summarises recent significant changes to the list of Marilyns. These details are not duplicated in this newsletter, as the update sheet should accompany it. Anyone needing a copy of the update can obtain one from the website or address shown on the back page. All back issues of Marhofn and previous updates are also available online.

Marhof Meeting 2002

This year's Marilyn Hall of Fame get-together will take place over the weekend of 31 May - 2 June, based at Golspie, Sutherland. This is open to all hillwalkers interested in climbing Marilyns, not just those in the Hall of Fame. An evening meal has been arranged for the Saturday evening at the Sutherland Arms Hotel in Golspie, where some of the group will be staying (at a discounted rate of £26 per night), though anyone thinking of coming is free to arrange their own accommodation. The only other arrangements are to meet in the hotel bar on the Friday evening for a drink and chat, and to plan expeditions for the Saturday. For further details please contact Jonathan Woods by email to jonathanwoods@tesco.net or phone 01324 832700.

Sandray the 1545th

On 30 July 2001 Ann Bowker climbed to the top of Cairn Galtar on the island of Sandray in the Western Isles, her 1545th Marilyn. She reckons it's unlikely she'll manage the other seven, although Mullach Buidhe in the Shiant Islands and Conachair on Hirta are feasible.

Ann Bowker (right) enjoys the spacious rocky summit of Sandray, in the company of Rob Woodall, Eddie Harwood, Chris Watson, Dave Butterfield and Lynda Woods.

Some 2001 Landmarks

• Twenty-four new members joined the Hall of Fame in 2001, including the first Irish-born member, the first Irish resident, and the first members to climb two 600ths on the same day. Five more members in the first four months of 2002 takes the current membership total to 84.
• Micky Ross became the first bagger to have a wedding cake modelled on the hill where he got engaged (Bin of Cullen):

• Andrew Dempster reports that his son Ruaraidh (now 3), climbed five Marilyns when he was two years old, although Andrew adds 'to be absolutely honest he climbed them under his own steam but was partly carried back down'. Ruaraidh is therefore challenging Daniel Woods for the honour of youngest Marilyn bagger.
• Alasdair Dibb (19) became the youngest person to climb all the English Marilyns, and the first to write a guidebook to them. He actually wrote four, all published by Mainstream.
• Latest finish to the bagging year was by Chris Upson, who reports: "Failed on Ward's Stone on 31 Dec - turned back at at 10:30pm feeling spaced out and uncoordinated. Had already done Ilkley Moor, a six-mile hill race at Haworth, Boulsworth Hill, Freeholds Top and Hail Storm Hill (by moonlight) the same day. Part of a late flourish of 13 new hills in the last three days of 2001. And I still dropped two places."

MARHOFN 84.04 - MAY 2002