Glen Nevis River Race for Lochaber MRT any memories?

Fun in the river Nevis .

The river race was held in the River Nevis on the 70’s as a fundraiser for the Lochaber Mountain Rescue team. I was a young member and attended it often participating in it once. The kit was simple and the water freezing. It was a busy day with lots watching even divers in the deep pool by the bridge in Glen Nevis. The kit was simple few had wet suits at the beginning and you got battered in the river especially if it had little water. Here are a few comments from pals.

Some Comments: Douglas Crawford “1983…airbed from woolies….lasted five mins…skinned to hell…before I took the queen’s shilling.”

John Cosgrove “Geordie Jewitt had this great idea of making and using shortened lilos, which resulted in worse leg injuries. I have no idea how no one was killed!”

Alan Dickson “Did it with geordie and he borrowed the liferafts out of a nimrod. Chief wasnt happy to get them back in shreds”

A Dickson “I did the ben race the week before then did the first river race. No wet suits just Jean’s and rugger shirts. We won the team prize 6 x bottles of whisky. 4 x squaddys thought they could do it like a channel swim. PT kit and loads of lard. The team took them all to belford hospital with hypothermia”

Debs Wright “Remember John Noakes from Blue Peter did it in the 70’s? My dad did dive cover that year.”

Steve Price “I’m still the reigning veteran champion …. they have’t run it since 😆”

Yvette Kershaw “I’ve all my dad’s certificates from this and the years either side. He kept them all in a folder which auntie Marion gave me. Right back to DofE and gliding etc.”

Mary Cosgrove “It was 1976 when John and Jim did it – unfortunately there was a heatwave and water levels in the River Nevis were really low leading to some nasty bruises.”

River Race photo Andy Craig

Anymore memories please comment. It was all for a good cause.