Katie Morag and the Hill Race Katie Morag

# Katie Morag

# Far away across the ocean

# Katie Morag

# Over the sea to Struay

# Katie Morag

# Far away across the ocean

# Katie Morag

# Over the sea to Struay. #

My name is Katie Morag McColl

and I live on the Island of Struay.

I suppose it's quite wee, but it's ginormous to me!

And everyone looks out for me

when I'm out and about having my adventures.

# Katie Morag. #

The Island of Struay is a tiny wee place,

but we get visitors from all over the world.

'Some of them come for the lovely walks...'

Got any blister cream? My feet are killing me!

'And others enjoy the wildlife.

'But some don't care about walking or wildlife.

'They come for the roughest, toughest hill race

'in the whole of Scotland.'

-What's this?

-Oh, the Five Sisters Run. It's world famous.

There's a shorter race for kids, too, if you're interested.

I might be, except...I don't know the route.

Oh, don't worry! It's well signposted.

There's not much chance of getting lost.

You'd have to be fast

to beat Katie Morag though. She won it last year.

-Really?

-She's a brilliant runner!

She's practically a baby.

No, I'm not!

Anyway, boys at better at sport,

everybody knows that!

And that's when I realised this year's race

might be a special one indeed.

My uncle Matthew is my dad's brother.

He lives way over on the other side of Struay

and no-one sees him very much.

Here!

Go on, read it.

No, no, no, no... The back.

And you can guess which Glasgow runner that is.

I haven't got the slightest idea.

Geordie Smith.

You see, he's retiring.

This is to be his last-ever race.

And what's that got to do with me?

What's that got...?

He's the very reason you gave up!

-Rubbish!

-I was there, remember?

-There's no shame in coming second.

-Ha!

That's what I kept saying to you, but you wouldn't listen.

You were far too embarrassed to be losing in front of the home crowd.

Ah, well...

Water under the bridge now.

Ah, really?

Look, I haven't run a race in...ten years.

Well...you'll have had a nice, long rest then.

I'm not putting them on, Neilly Beag.

Go on, put them on.

I was cross-country champion in my last school.

I could give you a five-minute head start and still win.

She wouldn't need a five-minute start, not even a one-minute.

Fine, then, I'll race you.

-Excellent!

-But when she wins,

you'll have to admit that girls are every bit as good as boys.

If she wins, I'll hop on one leg and sing it.

So...what's the plan?

Plan?!

-Well, you can't win if it's a straight contest.

-Cos he's a boy?

No, cos he's two years older than you. And a cross-country champion.

-So why did you say I could beat him, then?

-Cos he was really annoying me.

-I think we might have a problem.

-We do.

But I might just know how to solve it!

I'm a tiger. Go on, say it!

-I'm a tiger.

-Louder.

-I'm a tiger!

-That's better. Now, pick it up, come on!

Mmmm!

Mmm!

HE SNORES

I'm a tiger!

Right up on your tiptoes,

reach high in the sky, take a deep breath.

Then another one, up high.

Reach the sky on your toes.

Take a deep breath.

And let go.

Hope you won't be too disappointed.

-Why would I be? I'm going to win.

-I'll have a cup of tea

waiting for you at the finish line.

-You'll probably have time to bake a cake.

-Remember -

she who laughs last, laughs longest.

-What are you?

-I'm a tiger.

What kind of tiger?

-A scary tiger?

-Fast tiger.

Fast tiger!

BOTH: Fast tiger! Fast tiger!

-Oh, oh...

-Matthew McColl.

Geordie.

This is...is Alistair, my eldest.

Pleased to meet you.

I wouldn't normally drag him along, but this is my last race.

He wants to see me win it.

-And what if you don't?

-Don't what?

Don't win.

HE CHUCKLES

Who should I be worried about?

How...about...me?

-You mean...?

-Oh, aye.

I'm running.

Och...

That's great, that's really great. Good for you.

Come on, Alistair.

Runners to the starting line, please.

Adults here on the left, juniors on the right.

-Do you reckon she'll win again this year?

-She looks confident.

-She certainly does.

-Of course, it's not the winning that counts.

Och, of course not!

I'd like to remind competitors in both races

to keep to the official routes. Juniors are going down to the left.

Adults, you're going all the way round the mountain.

Let's not be taking any shortcuts. Right, then!

On your marks, get set...

HORN BLOWS

CHEERING

Yes! On you go, come on! You can win.

-She is fast.

-She is daft, that's what she is.

She'll be out of breath in no time. See you at the finish line.

-I'm surprised to see you running again.

-Is that right?

A man of your age should be gardening,

playing with the grandweans.

The little cheat!

Oh, John! You're going in the wrong direction.

-How are the old legs holding up?

-Fine, thanks.

-I'll give you a piggyback, if you like.

-I said I'm fi... Ah!

Ah!

A stitch, eh?

Never mind. If you make it down now,

you can still join the kiddies' race. Ha-ha-ha!

'Come on, man. What are you?'

I'm a loser.

'Wrong answer! Try again.'

I'm a tiger.

'Louder!'

-I'm a tiger.

-'Louder!'

I'm a tiger!

Go on, Katie Morag!

THEY CHEER

-Come on, Katie Morag!

-Katie Morag!

-He's gaining on you!

-Come on!

Come on!

BOTH: Yeah! Yes! Yes!

Well done, Katie Morag!

Never mind, John, you didn't lose by much.

CHEERING

Come on, tiger, come on!

That's it, come on!

Come on, tiger!

Daddy!

My daddy's hurt himself.

Hey! You're running the wrong way, the wrong way!

Come on.

One medal is too heavy to carry.

I reckon it's probably a two-man job.

THEY CHEER

'Everyone was very proud of Uncle Matthew that day,

'especially Neilly Beag.

'He said anyone can win a race, you just need to run fast.

'But what Uncle Matthew did made him a real champion.

'And that's much harder.'

Best go up. They'll be handing out the prizes.

I think I'll leave that to you.

What?

-You tricked me?!

-It's not our fault you went the wrong way!

I thought I was following her!

Guess you're not as smart as you think you are.

But you are the fastest, so it's only fair you get the prize.

I've got a better idea.

Show your appreciation, please, for the joint winners

of the Five Sisters Race - Mr Matthew McColl and Mr Geordie Smith!

And in a break with tradition,

the winner of the children's race has made a special request,

which means that this year, the Junior Award goes

to our youngest runner, Master Liam McColl!

CHEERING

That's us! I mean, you!

'I think seeing what Uncle Matthew did made him realise

'that prizes aren't always the most important thing after all.'

Congratulations, you're a very worthy winner.

Now, there's a real tiger.

ALL: Bye!

-See you guys later.

-Whoa, whoa, wait.

Aren't you forgetting something about the little bet we had?

-But you said...

-She still crossed the finishing line first.

-Fine!

Girls are every bit as good as boys.

You said you'd sing it.

And hop on one leg.

THEY LAUGH

-HE SINGS:

-Girls are every bit as good as boys!

Well done!

Well done!

Bye!

'So I was right - this year's race had been

'a very special one indeed.

'I was glad I hadn't gone up for the medal, cos John was faster than me.

'But that's only cos he's bigger.

'When I grow up and we're both the same size, I'm going

'to race him again and then, I'll beat him, of course.

'Fair and square.'