Wednesday 29 August 2012

Return of the Culter Fell Hill Race

Thanks to Eddie Balfour for bringing this to our attention...

Culter Fell race - it is running on Sat 15th Sept 12am - from Crook Inn Tweedsmuir. It is on the SHR website but has not been that well advertised.


It has not been run since the Crook Inn shutdown and the funds from race will go towards the Save Crook Inn campaign

It is a great route heading into the head of Glenholm valley - up Chapelgill race route and then over Culter Fell.

I will be going if anyone else wants a lift.
Cheers

Eddie

Details at Scottish Hill Running website

Monday 27 August 2012

Badingsgill Hill Race

I took part this morning in the first running of a new hill race in the Pentlands - a horseshoe route of the hills around Baddingsgill Reservoir above West Linton. It's a hilly but mostly runnable course if you don't mind running over rough boggy and heathery ground. A couple of dozen runners took part, most from the organiser, Nick Brown's club, Corstorphine. Being the first running and something of a trial, he kept it low key but plans to put it on the SHR calendar next year. There's more info about the race here: http://www.caac.org.uk/Baddinsgill_Round#comment-form


If value for money races interest you, this one tops the lot. Cost: zilch. And for that you got a marshalled race with free banana and bottle of water at the finish, plus beer prizes awarded at the Gordon Arms afterwards.

It was a nice route, wet underfoot (where isn't, this summer) with great views and fast finish down a grassy ridge. Scope for navigational errors (maybe not a race for you, Mike McG!), in fact Fergus Johnson of Gala Harriers was well in the lead until he took the wrong route off the second last hill and blew his lead.

I finished about ninth, in just under two hours, which I was quite happy with since it was my first race since Easter.
Cheers. Russell

Moorfoots at Teviotdale 10K - 2012

Four years since I last did this race - in fact it was my first race in the Moorfoot colours after moving back to Peebles. Recent recovery from sprained ankle and a persistant summer cough had my expectations set to 'just get round the course', so dipping below 40 mins (39:30) was a pleasant surprise....
(must get back to churning out 1Km/1mile reps....)

Good runs too from Scout (39:25 - not enough hills!); Mick's 44mins involved hobbling in from 6Km with a calf injury (but he would have settled for this time before the start!). A surprise appearance by Mike Pearson (1:02) made up the Moorfoot attendance....

Good wee race over the two lap course - number of finishers ~70, no doubt affected slightly by the new 13K race at Melrose...

Regards...

Kenny

Saturday 25 August 2012

Sarah warms-up for World Champs with another track victory

Some useful "speedwork" for Sarah McCormack on Saturday evening in the 5000m at the British Milers' Club Grand Prix Final at Bedford as she prepares for the World Mountain Running Champs in Italy on 2 September. A 30sec PB in 15.49 and some good scalps in the process. Athleticos tweets tell the tale -

- 9:32.7 at 3000 metres is splitting them up. Brown still pacing with Walker on her shoulder. Hieblinger-Schultz second.
- Potter has been gapped, but McCormack goes past the Austrian to take second-place. She is on for a personal best.
- McCormack really going nicely in second, just four or five metres behind Walker. A best of 16:39 as recently as 2011.(GN correction - 16.19 in winning Scottish 5000m June 2012.)
- 12:44.8 at 4000 metres for Brown, who is pacing very well. Walker still there and on for 15:56 at the moment.
McCormack just about onto Brown and Walker now. Hieblinger-Schultz still ahead of Potter.
Great race on now. Walker and McCormack head-to-head with one lap to go. 14:39.13 at the bell.
A second wind from McCormack with 200 metres to go!
15:49.02 for McCormack! Enormous improvement from the Lancaster University student. 50sec improvement over two years.
McCormack provided a tremendous sprint-finish, akin to her effort in the 10,000m at BUCS in May, where she beat Jess Coulson.

VIDEO link now available here  
http://www.athleticos.org/coverage/249685-2012-BMC-Grand-Prix-Final-Bedford/video/654536-5000m-A-women

Friday 24 August 2012

Fancy Helping Coach the Juniors?

At the recent Committee meeting, interest was shown by Tom Hobbs and Mike McGovern in obtaining a coaching qualification with a view to helping coach the juniors. This followed last Tuesday's junior session when there were 23 juniors present but with different competitions coming up I was trying to oversee 5 different running sessions!

Help is mostly needed April to the end of August on the Tuesday "club" night 6.30-7.30pm. Interest need not be restricted to coaching running. The coaching assistant course is the first rung on the coach qualification ladder and it is a generic course. Once we get the new facilities at the High School, Linda intends to resume sprints/jumps coaching and there would certainly be openings for someone to help with these disciplines or to take throws, possibly even progressing to specialise in any of these disciplines.


See the links below for details of SAL coaching assistant courses and also the Borders coach scholarship scheme which should mean a fair bit, possibly all the cost being refunded. As agreed at the meeting, if the course fee was not 100% refunded, the club would pick up the rest so you were not out of pocket.


Options for courses, which unfortunately are over 2 days, are 29/30 Sept at Livingston, 17/18 Nov at Carluke, or 1/2 Dec at Grangemouth.

Give me a buzz if you are interested or want to discuss.

Gregor (Tel: 01721 723370)


Monday 20 August 2012

BBQ and Handicap Race Results

Thanks to all who supported the Moorfoot BBQ...

The weather let us down a bit for the handicap race, but the shortened course 2-person trail relay went down well, with Brian and Clive taking top spot in a closely fought battle; well done to all runners though (and spectators) for braving it through the torrential down pour.

The facilities at Glentress Peel were spot on for a summer BBQ in unpredictable weather - the sitting out area being ideal during the rain on what was still a warm muggy day.

Top marks to the Glentress Peel cafe and their staff for the food and service....and a final thank you to Mike McG for the organisation.

Friday 17 August 2012

Team Adkin at Turnhouse (plus Julia, obvi)

The re-arranged Turnhouse hill race took place at Flotterstone on Wed 15th and there was a tremendous 3rd place finish in 28.21 for Jacob Adkin (16), beating Fergus Johnston (Gala) into 4th by 34s. He was only headed by Murray Strain and Don Naylor. (Sorry to rub it in Sarah, but his time was also 29s faster than your female course record from last year!)

Big sis Scout was first female in 31.17, close to 1 min faster than last time, and Julia was narrowly beaten into 3rd in 35.08.

Moorfoot BBQ - Sunday 19-August



*** Update 17-Aug ***
Meet at Glentress Peel Cafe at 4:30pm for the handicap race - this is planned to be a relay race (teams of three  1 adult, 1 youth, 1 wee person) over a course of less than 1 mile); we'll head up from the cafe towards the eastern side of the lochs away from the bikes, cars and general forest traffic and run the race here, before returning to the cafe for 5:30pm and the BBQ.

The showers at the Glentress Peel are open until  6:00pm, so you can refresh before eating if you want...

Pay at the door - Adults £6, Children £4, Families (2 adults, 2+ children) £20

See you on Sunday....

*** Update - online poll now activated - please click on this link and tell us the individuals who are planning to attend the BBQ, such that we can plan numbers. ***

A date for your diaries - Sunday 19-August-2012 - Moorfoot Runners Barbeque and Handicap Trail Race.

Mike 'Club President' McGovern is organising a club BBQ at the Glentress Peel - rough plan at the moment is:

  • Handicap trail race for juniors (Jacob - your handicap is slashed !!) and seniors (probably around 4:30pm)
  • BBQ and drinks from around 5:30pm
  • The club will be subsidising this event , but we will expect some element of contribution from members - prices and ticketing to be finalised
  • We will need to get some advance commitment for numbers - more details to follow soon from Mike....
Weather forecast for the day is apparently 'BBQ weather'.....

Monday 13 August 2012

Philliphaugh Hill Race 2012

Another win for Gala Harrier's Fergus Johnston in this community hosted event run out of Selkirk Rugby Club. A warm sunny day and enough good weather in the last week to have dried out most of the trail up to and back from the Three Brethren Cairns at the top of the 7 mile course.

Good runs from Andy Cox (50:22, 5th) and Colin Williams (52:21, 6th); Julia's 55:52 just missing out on first Female (and too young to get the FV prize...)

It was my first competative running outing since Easter - good up to the Cairns but a tumble on the descent resulted in a hobble home (57:05 12th) and a swollen ankle which is currently being iced.

Mention too for young Beth Hobbs who completed the 4 mile 'fun' course in 31mins....

Kenny.....

Friday 3 August 2012

Run with Sarah - Thursday 9th


Ahead of the World Mountain Running Champs in Italy on 2 September, Sarah McCormack is looking for partners to run with her, or act as hares, even just part of the way, in a “trial” on Cademuir on the evening of Thursday 9th August.

She will run to try and replicate the start of the uphill only course in Italy – a flat run c.1.25km, a short steep climb of about 400m, then a gradual up/down slope of c.2km before the real climb kicks in, for a total course of 8.8km. The plan is:
6.30pm park at the bottom of the forest road to the Cademuir car park (up Bonnington Road and c. 500m beyond the national speed limit signs). Easy trot along the road, heading away from Peebles, to the Crookston Farm road. Complete warm-up there.
6.45pm “race start” at Crookston Farm road, heading away from Peebles. Stay on the road until 300m beyond the cattle grid. Bear right onto hillside. Steep slope up (half a “hell rep” run hard) then turn right onto the John Buchan Way (ie heading back towards Peebles). Stay on the John Buchan Way for c. 1.5km. About turn at the signpost just before the drop down to the telegraph poles and retrace steps on the JB Way to the “saddle” between the two summits. Bear left up the steep path to the eastern summit and continue heading back to Peebles over the undulating top then down towards Tanta (Sarah will not be running hard downhill). About turn at the gate into Morning Hill field, then run the JB Way all the way to the main (western) summit of Cademuir. Finish on the top. Easy trot back down.

The route provides plenty options for others to dip in and out, turn earlier, or just run either the first half or the second half to/from Morning Hill if you don’t want to (or can’t!) run the full route with Sarah. With a 6.45pm start she reckons she will be at the Morning Hill gate by about 7.10pm. You can call her on 07903 353459 to discuss or confirm your participation and what part.