Sunday 27 November 2011

Moorfoots at Gala BXC 2011

Normal service has been resumed....cold, windy and muddy (plenty of mud..calf deep in places !) just like winter cross country should be.

After the semi tropical conditions at Dunbar the week before, it was back to the sort of weather more associated with late November. A large, quality field assembled at the popular Gala Harriers' course to tough it out on the hilly terrain behind the local academy.

The mud was the key feature of the day - the organisers making a decision to shorten the course on the day which had few complaints from the competitors.

Mike Reid didn't get it all his own way this week, but still pulled off a strong 4th place (23:47), with only a second separating him from Teviotdale's Darrel Hastie.

Tom Hobbs' 15th place (24:46) was slighly further back in the field than he has become used to recently, but again it showed the quality of the field.

Colin Williams was back in BXC action again and had another top run for his 18th place (25:02).

Kenny's 26:18 (34th) was workmanlike if not spectacular. Ian Munro (67th 28:18) and Russell Anderson (71st 28:28) had there now regular mano-a-mano battle, and Clive Adkin made his BXC 2011 debut with a solid 29:20 (82nd).

Brian Hood, making his BXC debut, revelled in the mud, finishing in 32:58 (119th)...and it was Debbie Hardie bringing home the team in 40:19 (147th).

Well done to all....a tough day's racing !

Full results here....

Peebles next week, and more mud guranteee - marshalls and helpers required as ever, so please take a step forward and offer your assistance or provide a 'substitute'....

Friday 25 November 2011

Border XC - Peebles 4-December (Race Details)




Head for Peebles and then towards the west of the town on the A72 (Glasgow Road) towards the car park opposite the Haylodge Park entrance (mid way between the Hospital and the new Kingsland School). See Google Maps location here...

Registration/race start is in the park down towards the Fotheringham Bridge (foot bridge), less than 5 mins from the car park.



Sunday 20 November 2011

Moorfoot Handicap - date change

The Moorfoot handicap we had scheduled for 27-Nov on Cademuir Hill has been cancelled due to the rescheduling of the Gala BXC to this date.

However, fear not, Colin Williams has stepped in and will host a Moorfoot Christmas Handicap on Tuesday 27-December at Innerleithen, on the banks of Leithen Water.
(A wee 5Km loop, or possibly a 10Km double looper...juniors, seniors, visiting friends and guests all welcome...)

A chance to work off the Christmas Day and Boxing Day excesses before putting it all on again with mice mince pies and  mulled wine afterwards....

Tuesday 27-Dec AM - put ther date in your calendar - more details to follow on the blogger....

Peebles BXC - Helpers Required

The Peebles leg of this seasons BXC series is on Sunday 4-December at Haylodge Park, hosted by the Moorfoot Runners.

As ever, we need a number of volunteers, to marshall at various points around the course and help with other duties during the races.
Helpers should assemble at the Fotheringham Bridge  (Haylodge Park) at 1045 on the Sunday - junior races start at 1130; senior races and final tidy up should be completed ~1315

Please let Kenny kg.davidson@btinternet.com if you are available to help on the Sunday for the two and bit hours above.

Thank you...

Moorfoots at Dunbar BXC 2011

Winter cross country - cold, wet, windy; dash out the car, run the race, back into the car, home to the warmth - right ?

Um, no actually.....picture  a still sunny day, waves lapping the shore, next to no breeze, kids paddling at the water edge - welcome to BXC global warming style at White Sands !!

Another good turn out of runners - the weather probably helping -  with over 200 runners between the seniors and juniors.
Beach start (including an intersting rock pool and seaweed section for ~100m) out and back, some dunes and stoney stuff, more beach, then back over the tussocks and footpaths - slightly longer than last year - perhaps an extra Km - nice backdrop of Barns Ness lighthouse if you had a chance to look up....

Mike Reid blasted home in 1st place (27:35), setting the early pace and opening up a substantial lead before hanging on in to win by a few seconds at the end, the field chasing him down right to the end.

Tom Hobbs found the early pace and lack of hills not best to his liking but stuck to his task and grabbed another good top10 place (10th 29:34) and another MV45 podium (3rd).

Kenny liked the fast early pace for a while before struggling on the way back a bit but hung on in for a 20th place (31:08), grabbing back a few late places with a late surge (sounds impressive...)

It was good to see Russell Anderson back in BXC action, recording 32:42 (39th), with Ian Munro (33:27 47th) not far behind.

A special mention too for Debby Hardie, flying the flag for the Moorfoot ladies, coming home in 47:42 (136th).

Gala next week - definitely not a flat one - get some hill efforts in !!!

Results here...

Sunday 13 November 2011

Moorfoots at Tinto 2011


Eddie Balfour navigating the lower muddy slopes... 
Another big field at Tinto this year - 269 starters - who would have thought that running up and down big hills could be so popular !

A mild day for November, but slippery under-foot on the lower slopes, so it was always going to be a big cagey on the 'fast bits' - ie.the mad dash at the beginning - the painful bit inbetween - and then the fast bit at the end again...

Tom Hobbs was the Moorfoot 'top gun' with an excellent 11th place (35:17 - a Tinto PB!) in a strong field - picking up a 3rd MV40 category.

Mike McGovern was going well but unfortunately took a tumble near the end, hurting his knee and had to limp in (DNF).

Kenny (64th, 41:19 Tinto PB!) and Eddie Balfour (83rd, 42:56) ran well, and Julia managed to carve a massive three mins off her previous Tnto best time, finishing in 43:56 (104th)

Definitely a race to try if you fancy a proper hill race without having to travel too far - we can perhaps organise a wee sociable Sunday recce sometime if anyone fancies giving it a go.

Ian Nimmo's race day photos (thanks Ian) at this link...

Full results here...

Wednesday 9 November 2011

All I want for Christmas is....

Time to write that letter to Santa....

...how about a head torch for your Moorfoot Headtorch Night Runs ?

Hot product recommendation from Tom Hobbs - the Alpkit 'Gamma LED Headtorch'

http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16345&category_id=288

..or what about a hi-visibility vest for these Moorfoot mid week interval sessions around the streets of Peebles..?

New Kelso based online sport clothing company 'All Fitness Sports' have a great half price offer on reflective bib vests...

http://www.allfitnesssports.co.uk/51585

Sunday 6 November 2011

Lauder BXC 2011

This years BXC Series is off and running, with a well attended race (186 senior finishers !) hosted by Lauderdale Limpers over the tough Lauder course which takes in part of the Southern Upland Way.

The early frost and mist soon burnt off, revealling a perfect Autumn day - conditions underfoot were muddy and slippery, but with the sunshine and absense of wind, there could be no complaints.

First Moorfoot home was Mike Reid (27:14 3rd), behind 'young guns' Andrew Crichton (1st) and hill racing's newest superstar James Waldie (2nd)

Colin Williams showed some great early season XC form with a 13th place (29:22). Kenny was pleased with his 31:01 (32nd) and Ian Munro had no complaints with his 33:45 (72nd)

Pete Collins, making his Moorfoot BXC debut had a very respectable 40:46, on a tough course for your first BXC race.

And adding another BXC Series to his list, Mike Pearson had his own personal mano-a-mano race with Ian Nimmo - Ian taking bragging rights this time in 50:01 to Mike's 51:21

Full results here...

Tuesday 1 November 2011

Scottish Athletics Award for Scout

Scout Adkin swapped her hill running shoes and running kit for a posh frock and heels on Saturday for the Scottish Athletics Annual Awards dinner in the Glasgow Marriott hotel. Rubbing shoulders with Olympic athletes and in front of an audience of 400, Scout received the Eddie Campbell Memorial Medal for U20 hill running.


The late Eddie Campbell was from Fort William and holds the record for the most Ben Nevis races, competing on 44 consecutive occasions and winning three times. A single medal in his memory is awarded each year by Scottish Athletics to the U20 athlete, male or female, who has best demonstrated consistently high performance and sportsmanship in Scottish hill races and outstanding achievements at International level.