Thursday 31 December 2015

1600m Win for Kobe at New Year Sprint meet

Kobe Stevens can hit the sales big-time to celebrate his 18th birthday last week after a rewarding win in the 1600m handicap at the New Year Sprint meeting held on the Meadowmill track near Prestonpans on Wednesday.

The switch to the polymeric surface probably suited Kobe rather than the rough soft conditions which would have prevailed at the traditional venue of Musselburgh Racecourse, but brutal conditions had to be overcome as well as the opposition.

Running off a handicap mark of 150m he knew he had a chance of doing well so opted to skip the 800m given there was only one hour between the races. Third at the bell he moved into the lead and gradually opened a gap down the back straight and managed to hold on into the near gale-force wind up the home straight for a winning margin of over 10m from circuit regulars Willie Bates (195m) and Owen Miller (120m). His winning time of 4.18.44 converts to 4.27 for 1500m which is 11 seconds off his personal best, so an excellent effort given the tough conditions and the time of year with limited speedwork in the bank.

Saturday 26 December 2015

Moorfoots at the Mast 2015

A surprise White Christmas through the night quickly turned to a slush-fest, but a hardy band of nine Moorfoots did the annual Boxing Day run to the mast at Dunslair Heights.
Wet feet before we had crossed Whitestone Park, followed by rivers of slush in Soonhope, but some proper snow higher up...then a fast descent down to the Peel cafe for a well earned coffee.

Eddie's legs were so cold they turned purple....

At the foot of the Tower Trail
Phoning ahead for an avalanche report....

Boxing Day Belter from Younger Elder

The old guy with the white beard and belly had given the thumbs up on the Boxing Day handicap course after an early morning recce of the Peebles to Glentress path which he deemed safe to negotiate without the need for reindeer and a sleigh after the overnight snow.

A great turnout of 15 runners (16 if you include one accompanying mum) despite the pretty miserable weather. The incentive of hot chocolate and cake in the Peel cafe afterwards probably helped. Well done all for turning out.

Ethan "New Shoes" Elder, after a big write-up from Knoxy in the Peebs News, lived up to his "much improved" tag to storm home first and collect the "made for sharing" first prize. Euan Hood wasn't too far behind in second and was most disappointed that the runners-up prize from last year of a can of hot dog chipolatas was not on offer this year. (Blame the Nicholsons for all having eyes bigger than their stomachs when preparing their Xmas lunch!).

The Collins duo of Finlay and Madeline, again displaying top form on this their most important race day of the year, battled it out for third on the run to the line with big bro just edging out wee sis.

Kobe Stevens, running from the back, had the fastest scratch time of 11.40 with Mairi Wallace, resplendent in new everything, fastest girl in 13.33.

With Kobe still classed as a junior for the final year, Sophie Collins opting out for being given an insulting "too good" handicap, Bobby Mooney and Iona Minto  nursing injuries, Jane Hobbs having to nurse an ill Holly, and Pete Collins having no excuse at all,there was just the one adult, Brian "New Socks" Hood who collected the senior prize of a bottle of Franco's chilli oil (which might double as a good muscle rub!)

Finally, a big well done to eight year-old Olivia McKean who had her first Moorfoot outing accompanied by mum Ruth and comfortably completed the course with a smile in a very respectable time.

Results:

NAME
TIME
H’CAP
SCRATCH TIME
SCRATCH PLACE
1
Ethan Elder
15.50
3.35
12.15
2
2
Euan Hood
16.08
3.45
12.23
3
3
Finlay Collins
16.16
3.15
13.01
4
4
Madeline Collins
16.17
1.30
14.47
8
5
Angus Carlyle
16.25
1.30
14.55
9
6
Mairi Wallace
16.28
2.55
13.33
5
7
Eilidh Mooney
16.33
1.50
14.43
6
8
Kobe Stevens
16.35
4.55
11.40
1
9
Esme Minto
16.55
1.30
15.25
10
10
Beth Hobbs
17.20
2.35
14.45
7
11
Olivia/Ruth McKean
18.30
0.00
18.30
13
12
Brian Hood
18.49
2.40
16.09
11
13
Innes Minto
20.39
2.35
18.04
12
14=
Megan Hobbs
22.35
1.40
19.55
14=
14=
Kerry Minto
22.35
1.40
19.55
14=


Sunday 20 December 2015

Melrose Christmas Pudding Race Dec 13 - Darin 1st and Scott 3rd

The podium was very well represented at last weekend's Melrose Christmas Pudding Race. Darin Dougal won outright over three minutes ahead of Second place and took a tumble en route to the win.
Scott Macdonald almost clinched second place but missed out by 1 second so a great run there too.
The results are here: http://melroseraces.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Christmas-Pudding-Results-2015.xlsx

Inners Festive Handicap report

The festive handicap was well enjoyed today. It was mild for the time of year but wet at times and very blustery too so big thanks to Fiona Williams for timekeeping, to Andy Cox and Phil MacDonald who marshalled and put out and brought in tape and markers and Eilidh for minding the kids so Fiona could actually keep time!

Mince pies and mulled wine followed with everyone looking and sounding like they had a good time

Details of the course are here

Robbie and David Jackson battled it out over the 3.5km short course with handicap working well and 7 year Robbie holding off 9 year David by 30 secs at the finish.

On the longer course 7 Moorfoots were in action with 3 local friends. Louise Cummings was first home to clinch the handicap by a second, with finishers coming thick and fast. Darin Dougal was first Moorfoot home with the fastest scratch time had a storming run (he came flying passed me-Colin having eaten up my 45sec headstart about only a third of the course and before the main climb). Benjamin Hindley was next home with second scratch time having a strong run managing to keep Darin close once he was caught at the top of the climb. Eddie had a good run too and was caught late on having used his strength on the climb to hold off Alan, Kenny and Magnus.
A tired looking Santa congratulates the first elf home..
Results:



Name
Start Time Finish Time Finish Position Scratch Time Scratch Position
Louise Cummings 5.00 58.19 1 53.19 8
Ewan Sanderson 5.00 58.20 2 53.20 9
Darin Dougal 23.45 59.37 3 35.52 1
Benjamin Hindley 22.30 59.59 4 37.29 2
Eddie Balfour 18.00 60.31 5 42.31 4
Colin Williams 23.00 60.54 6 37.54 3
Magnus Skea 18.30 62.14 7 43.44 6
Kenny Davidson 19.00 62.27 8 43.27 5
Alan Elder 18.00 63.57 9 45.57 7
Emily Cruikshanks 0.00 70.25 10 70.25 10


Saturday 19 December 2015

Boxing Day Runs





The annual Moorfoot Boxing Day Runs (add jokes about dodgy Christmas Day digestive problems here...) are upon us....

Our three course Menu offers....

Run to the Mast
Seven and a bit-ish hill run up to Dunslair Heights at a sociable pace (90mins-ish) - regular stops to regroup - and back to the Glentress Peel Café for coffee/cake/a blether

Meet at Gytes Leisure Centre Peebles 9:45am for a sharp 1000 start.
Dress accordingly for a slowish run with stops - it is often snowing on the tops - December in the hills - you have been warned...
Should be back down at the Peel café for 1130ish...

Handicap Fun Run
While the seniors slog up to the mast on Boxing Day, all juniors (under 9s accompanied), plus Mums and Dads looking to run off some over-indulgence, or anyone too late/not up for the mast run, are all invited to take part in a c.2mile handicap fun run on the foot/cycle/horse path Peebles to Glentress where we will meet up with the seniors in the Peel café for coffee/juice and cake(s) at about 11.30am.
 
Meet at the entrance to the old Hydro stables at the foot of Janet’s Brae ready for an 11am start, setting off at intervals, slowest first, fastest last. The finish is just before the main road opposite Glentress (with a couple of adults there to help with crossing the road.) The route can be found here http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6766898
 
Rule No.1 - Handicapper Gregor has the final say. Rule No.2 - Handicapper Gregor has the final say. Rule No.3 - don’t forget to turn left for the finishing stretch towards Glentress, otherwise you will end up in Cardrona. Rule No.4 - Organise your lift back (or you may be running back on your own). Rule No.5 - Handicapper Gregor has the final say.
 
Much sought after prizes on offer! Spare clothing etc can be left in Gregor’s car to be transported to the finish and he will have 2-3 spare seats for a lift back after he has had several servings of coffee and cake. Can anyone not called Collins win this year!
 
Pure Banter
For those who don't fancy the 'run' bit, just meet up at the Peel café for 1130 and join in the blethering bit...all welcome...

 
 

Thursday 17 December 2015

Moorfoot Festive Handicap, Innerleithen - Sunday 20 Dec, 10am


I am organising a  Festive Handicap which will also be a counter for the winter club champs, but the aim is to be a bit of fun. First start at 10.15am on Sunday 20th Dec, starting near the Cuddy Bridge off Leithen Road here


The start will be just by the Cuddy Bridge. There will be a choice of routes:


A 2 ¼ miles / 3 ½ km suitable for juniors and those who simply fancy a shorter route (or those who had too much at the Christmas party) - the proposed route is shown below.


A longer route will be about 5 miles / 8km with a 300m climb, almost all in the first 2 miles (one of those surely it can't get steeper climb which then does!).


There is route is a mix of trail and forest road but it will be muddy and uneven in places - you will get wet feet!

Please let me know if you are planning to attend so I can try to work out handicaps. Also I could do with a marshal or two if you are not up for a run, but can get by without as long as you don't follow Mike McGovern.

Hope to see you there, but be aware if serious winter conditions occur then we may have to cancel.


Mince pies and refreshments in our conservatory after but it isn't heated so bring a warm coat!

ho, ho, ho

Colin

Burnside, 52 Leithen Road
Innerleithen EH44 6HY

Saturday 12 December 2015

We bring you Gold from the East

Happy Lassies L to R Molly, Charlotte, Beth and Mairi

No donkeys, just four stars shining brightly to deliver gold in the U15 girls race at the East District XC Champs at Livingston today. Mairi Wallace led the team home with an excellent 4th place in 15mins 34secs for the tough undulating 3.9k course. Charlotte Clare put in her best ever XC performance to come 7th in 15.48 with Beth Hobbs solid as ever in 9th in 15.59. That gave the team a total of 20 points, two points ahead of Edinburgh AC whose counters were 1st, 10th and 11th. But hats off too to Molly Falconer who provided strong support for the team with her 15th place in 16.29. Had any of the others had an off day or been ill, that would still have been good enough for team silver. Charlotte, Beth and Molly are all still eligible in the U15 age-group next season too.

Ethan Elder put himself in the race for a medal, and rightly so, in the U13 boys race over 3.2km but he struggled mid race with his breathing and was unable to hold on in the fight for bronze against opposition he has already beaten this season, eventually finishing 5th; still a highly respectable result.
Unfortunately it was just him, with Michael Girdler and Corran Carrick-Anderson both committed to rugby and cycling respectively, otherwise another Moorfoot team medal was surely in the offing.

It was a similar story in the girls equivalent with a depleted duo of Eilidh Mooney and Charlotte Morrison battling to 30th and 38th in a field of 65.

Craig Angus was the sole rep in the U15 Boys race, finishing a solid 32nd, just inside the top half and Fiona Grant was 17th of 29 in the U17 Women's race.

Finally in the U20 men's race over 8km, Kobe Stevens had a fine run for 13th with Lucas Cheskin having a decent run for 17th of the 29 runners.

Monday 7 December 2015

Pentlands 7 Reservoirs Multi Terrain Half Marathon Report

Mike McGovern, Andy Cox and I (Colin) headed to Balerno on Sunday morning for the Pentlands 7 Reservoirs Multi Terrain Half Marathon.  Following a discussion earlier in the week I suggested we did the race with the intention of doing a 'hard' training run. It's a well organised race and you get a goodie bag including Tunnock's wafer, pot of instant porridge, a Pentlands calendar, a packet of pearl barley and lentils to make Scotch Broth and a completion certificate just for turning up at registration!It's a scenic route and does what it says on the tin as you visit 7 reservoirs in the eastern Pentlands.

The weather was a chilly but bright with a cutting wind but a total contrast after the storms of Friday and Saturday. The ground was completely sodden and surface water everywhere.

The start of the race is on hard tracks and tarmac so the pace was pretty quick to begin with and we found ourselves running in a chasing group fairly soon. It wasn't long before the field started to stretch out and the leaders were away. Mike and I were running a similar pace with Mike starting to build a lead. Sections of the route were on paths poorly disguised as rivers and you spent a lot of time concentrating on where your feet were going. The steep descent down to Bonaly at mile 8 allowed me to catch and pass Mike and two other runners and then we regrouped for the last few miles. We  managed to keep to pace ticking along and drop the other two and were running side by side until the last half mile where I managed to up the pace a bit and a gap formed. Thinking I had it in the bag I was cruising in the last 200m until I heard a foot splash in the puddle just behind as Mike had closed right up and sprinted for home.

The course was exactly 13.1 miles but with 380m of climb https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/976676618

I finished 5th in 1.31.57, Mike 5 secs behind in 6th with us 1st & 2nd M40s. Andy was 11th in 1.35.11 which has was content with having just come off a few weeks of non-stop Christmas tree cutting which is good for the guns but does nothing for the running. Full results here




Monday 30 November 2015

Borders XC Leg 3 Peebles


On a morning when most in Peebles had battened down the hatches, thrown another log on the fire and popped the Sunday roast in to the oven, an eager (some would argue, insane) group  of runners milled around the start line for the Peebles leg of the Border XC series in Haylodge Park. It was a toss-up at one point, whether the tree at the start line would uproot first or whether the rugby posts would be bent to resemble conjoined boomerangs.

With the wind chill and the driving hail, the temperature howled around -5 but an undeterred, vest-clad band of juniors charged off through the storm on their two lap slog through the glaur.

First four back were Gala Harriers with Jamie Logan coming in on 8.25. Euan Hood home in 5th just 7 seconds off the front with Ethan Elder, 4 seconds behind Euan. Moorfoot’s Mairi Wallace - the first girl back in 9.03. 

Full results

Toories off to, Elena and Christina McGorum,  Craig Angus, Corran and Emily Carrick-Anderson, Mairi Wallace, James and Charlotte Clare, Ethan Elder, Patrick Cannon, Molly Falconer, Finlay and Madeline Collins, David Cathcart, Eilidh Mooney, Megan Hobbs, Esme Minto, Angus Carlyle and Fiona Grant for not only staying upright at the start line but for making it around without ending up pinned against Peebles Health Centre. Nineteen runners - a great effort from the juniors. Good category finishes from Mairi Wallace first F14-15 - Ailsa Innes second, Ethan Elder first M12-13 and Charlotte Clare first F12-13 - Elena McGorum second.

The adult race was run in the squelchiest of Baltic conditions, marker tape whizzing in the wind-driven hail, whistling from the west, down Haylodge. Colin and Kobe were somewhere up front and I plodded on, mid-pack. Much of it was a trudge through deep mud, shallow mud and mud of a middling variety. And, just to mix things up a little, numerous pools of earthy soup were to be forded and slippery rocks to be misjudged.

courtesy of Danielle Buchanan

Kobe had a great run again and came in 5th (worth noting that there were 3 MJs in the first 5) with Thomas Otton back in 27.01. Rachel Haines (HBT) first lady back in 30.30. Colin remarked, in certain terms, that he didn't have a good run. Not sure how much Niamh enjoyed the conditions but she came in first FJ. On one hand, I was pleased with my own run, having taken five and half minutes off my time from 2013, when the route was very similar - on the other, there is always that post- race post-mortem – it’s easy to feel you could have run faster!

Around the funnel, there was really positive buzz (people do love to charge around partially dressed through glabberous lakes of mud in a freezing hail storm) I noted many smiling faces and Colin reports hearing a lot of positive feedback. A great effort from course puter-uppers to course taker-downers, sweepers, storm-swept marshals, chilled timekeepers, horse box caterers and results posters.


Full results

Sunday 29 November 2015

Xmas night out - SUN 6th DEC

We are planning a club social evening on SUN 6th DEC.
Plan is to meet at the County Inn at 6:30pm followed by a meal at FRANCO's for 7:30pm.

This is open to all adult club members (partners welcome as well!!)

To book a big enough table with Franco's could anyone interested please complete the DOODLE POLL below;


thanks

Monday 23 November 2015

Juniors Go Well for Team Borders at Alloa

Borders U15/U17 Girls - Fiona (far left), Mairi (4th right) and Beth (3rd right)
Lornshill Academy in Alloa was the venue for the second race in the East District Cross-Country League on Saturday and whilst the Hibees enjoyed the relative comfort of the artificial turf at the nearby Recreation Park, the runners had to slog their way through sometimes ankle deep mud on the tough hilly course.

It was a day of solid rather than spectacular team performances with numerous crucial absentees costing the team some potentially high spots. But more than half the counting Borders runners in the team races were Moorfoots.

Proceedings got underway, and were not bettered thereafter, with a storming individual 2nd place for Esme Minto in the U11 Girls race and 2nd team spot.

Relative newcomer Esme was home in 7minutes 21 seconds for the 1.6km course with clubmates Holly Hobbs 9th in 7.44 and Madeline Collins close behind in 12th in 7.48. The Moorfoot trio placed Team Borders  2nd on the day, five points adrift of Central but the girls lead their league going into the third and final race in January by fourteen points ahead of Fife, with Central a further eight points back in third. Chtristina McGorum battled well for 22nd of the 70 runners in 8.10.

The U11 Boys raced the same course and the biggest age-group field of the day saw Patrick Cannon lead the team home in 18th of the seventy nine runners in 7.15.  Angus Carlyle was the third team counter in 27th in 7.33. 

The U13 Girls raced over  2.7km and it was another Moorfoot duo who led the team points, with Eilidh Mooney 21st in 13.30 and Megan Hobbs 30th in 14.07. 

The U13 Boys was probably the team most affected by absentees with any one of three missing Borders runners easily capable of providing enough points to place the team top of the leader board. Ethan Elder had a strong run for 3rd in 11.28.

Seventy one U17 and U15 Girls raced together over 3.7km including as many as nine in the Team Borders vest. Suited by the hilly course, Mairi Wallace had an excellent run to finish 10th overall and 4th U15 in 16.39 and Beth Hobbs completed the team points in 14th (7th U15) in 17.10. That placed the girls 5th on 35 points in a tightly fought combined age-group  but all three team counters are still U15 and they were unofficially runaway winners in the younger age-group. Fiona Grant was 30th in 18.24.

Over the same course Craig Angus just missed out in a three way sprint for the line and finished 28th in the U15 Boys race in 16.08.

Kobe Stevens and Lucas Cheskin endured the 8.2km of the Senior/U20 race with Kobe home in 24th (5th U20) in a massive field of 303 finishers and Lucas 60th in 36.53.


Saturday 21 November 2015

Helpers still required for Peebles XC race on SUN 29th NOV

As host club, we require to provide the starters, time keepers and marshals for the race, so we are looking for some volunteers to spare a couple of hours on the Sunday at Hay Lodge Park.
  • 0900 Advance party marking out the park and checking course marking (set out previously on Sat PM)
  • 1100 Marshals and helpers meet at start area North of Fotheringham Bridge for marshals briefing and allocation of marshalling locations
  • 1130 Junior race starts - should be finished by ~1150; marshals make their way to their locations
  • 1200 Senior race starts - last runner normally in by ~1250; marshals bring in course markings back to finish
  • 1300 Should be finished and you are relieved of your duties
Please let Head Marshal Eddie Balfour know if you are available to help between 1100 and 1300 by emailing e.balfour@jamesjones.co.uk
 
If we get enough helpers in advance, we can pre-allocate duties and marshalling locations which makes things easier for everyone on the day.
 
As ever, if you are planning to run as a Moorfoot club member, please can you provide substitute marshal/helper to assist with the host club duties.

Sunday 15 November 2015

Border XC Leg 2 Dunbar

Dunbar-by-the-sea turned out a reasonably balmy eleven degrees compared to the preceding sleet-provoking dreichness that was Saturday night. 11 degrees still being warm enough for the average Scot to don a vest and shorts, down on Dunbar sands, the juniors gathered and were set off like a horde of whippets. A slight wind in the face didn't dampen the determined juniors and soon they were heading to the lighthouse for the return section. Just under 15 minutes of tiring sand, fording giant puddles and a series of narrow twisting paths, The first male junior (Max Hastings, Lauder, 16-17 category) returned in 14.55. First girl home, (Emma Johnson, EAC) put in a great run and returned just over one and a half minutes after - not bad for 10-11 age group!


Courtesy of Borders XC website


First Moorfoot back was Ethan Elder in 6th place and first in the boys 12-13. Corran Carrick-Anderson racing home for 4th in the 12-13 category. Good run too by Elena McGorum coming in first in her 12-13 girl's category. Emily Carrick-Anderson and Christina McGorum putting in a great effort and coming home in 4th and 7th, respectively, in the girl's 10-11 category.

The start of the adult's race was taken back to the rocks at the southern end of the beach. This made it seem even longer than usual! (in fact - looking at last year's and this, particularly the junior times, these look around one and a half to two minutes slower than last year's times for the event) 

Moorfoots in attendance were . Alan Elder, Niamh Shaw and Kobe Stevens  - Niamh and Kobe running for the first time in the adult category here. Well...who could tell... Kobe - a highly commendable 3rd overall - was first MJ and Niamh was first FJ. Alan managed to retain his 20th in 50+ title - exactly as Lauder two weeks ago! Can he make it 19th in Peebles on 29th?

First runner back was Donald Macaulay, CAAC, in a blistering 25.25 - 55 seconds in front of second placed Michael Reid. First lady was Rachel Haines of HBT in 28.46.

Full junior Jan 15 results
Full junior Nov 15 results
Full senior Nov 15 results

Before the adult's race, a minute's silence was held in respect for the victims of the recent atrocities in Paris.

Tinto 2015

Not far from the summit - tricky descending on wet snow
 
Another year and another slog up Tinto - my strategy of trying to keep running (slowly) for as much of the climb as possible was blown apart when I was passed by a couple from Annan & District AC casually walking and chatting away together. The apocalyptic weather forecast never appeared and conditions were fairly calm on the top - just some wet snow to contend with.  I was the only Moorfoot in the senior race so can claim top (and bottom) spot I guess. Given the conditions I was quite happy with my time of 43;10.

Eilidh Mooney braved the mud and ran in the junior race (Tinto Tiptoe) with a time of 9:50.

Tinto Tiptoe results

Full results senior race

Thursday 12 November 2015

Feel the Burns Hill Race 2016

FYI - Winter Club Championship counter - hope you got your postal entries in on time...if not, please contact Sheila (details below)

Hi Everyone,

Just to let you know entries for “feel the Burns” race 2016 are now CLOSED!
We have to cap entries as close to 200 so that we can provide a hot meal and
keep a high standard!
We do hold a reserve list and if you would like to be added to it, then please email

kind regards
sheila

Tuesday 3 November 2015

Juniors shine in the sunshine at Lasswade XC

Mairi, Beth and Charlotte U15G winners
Esme, Holly, Madeline, Emily and Christina U11G winners 
Frey, Patrick, David, James and Angus U11B winners


Benign conditions on as beautiful an autumnal day as you could possibly hope for saw some sparkling performances from the Moorfoot Runners who headed north across the moor to Gorebridge on Sunday for the annual Lasswade Cross-Country races. It was a day of good team packing, demonstrating good strength in depth, rather than individual glory.

The Under 11 girls raced over 1600m and a very strong run from Emily Carrick-Anderson in 6th in 6m30s led the team home with Madeline Collins and Esme Minto the next two home in 7th and 8th in 6.41 and 6.42 That gave the Moorfoot counting team a total of 21 points, enough to secure the team win 13 points clear of Giffnock North with Edinburgh further back in third. Christina McGorum and Holly Hobbs provided good back up, finishing 12th and 18th.

The Under 11 boys were similarly strong handed with five runners and it was David Cathcart who was first of the team home in 9th in 6.16 with the fast finishing Patrick Collins just behind in 10th in 6.18. With James Clare recorded as 14th in 6.21 it looked like the boys were in the mix for the team prize but a faller just over the line and the consequential  stramash in the finish funnel had caused some confusion with the recording of the finishing order with James seemingly missing out on a few places. After an anxious wait while enquiries took place it was indeed the Moorfoot boys who came out first team with 33 points to top the podium, nine points clear of Cumbernauld. There were good runs too from Angus Carlyle 15th in the same time as James and Frey MacIver 24th in 6.31.

It was twice the distance for the U13 girls whose 3.2km race is one of the longest on the calendar for them. Elena McGorum ran well for 7th in 13.01 with Charlotte Morrison and Eilidh Mooney shoulder to shoulder most of the way for 15th and 16th. That gave the girls 38 points which secured team silver behind clear winners Airdrie Harriers. Megan Hobbs, still in this age-group next year, ran well for 22nd and Molly Willmott from the Selkirk branch kept on well for 31st.

The U13 Boys also took team silver, agonisingly only one point behind Pitreavie. Ethan Elder led the team home in 5th in 12.04 with Michael Girdler a strong finishing 6th in 12.08 and Corran Carrick-Anderson the third counter in 8th in 12.22.

The U15 Girls raced over the same 3.2km course and Mairi Wallace went toe to toe with the host club’s Sarah Tait over the first lap before Sarah opened up a gap. Mairi kept on strongly only to be outsprinted for 2nd in the final 50m finishing in 12.40. Beth Hobbs was just ten seconds behind in 4th, winning the sprint for the line (a first?!!!) and Charlotte Clare had a strong second lap to come home a clear 6th in 13.02. That meant a convincing team win for the Moorfoot girls ahead of the host club and Law&District.


Whilst that was the end of the medal exploits it is worth noting that that had Euan Hood, who finished 4th, opted to run cross-country for Moorfoot instead of his track and field club Lasswade, the U15 Boys also would have won with Craig Angus and Finlay Collins both having excellent runs for 6th and 7th over their 4.8km course.

U13 Silver Girls - Eilidh, Charlotte, Elena and Megan
U13 Silver Boys - Ethan, Corran (Michael got lost!)

Monday 2 November 2015

Lauder XC Sunday 1 Nov

Sunday saw the first of Borders XC series in Lauder on a beautiful and surprisingly warm November's day. There was a big turnout of 223 and a few Moorfoots we in action. It was won by ex-Moorfoot Mike Reid running for Carnethy in 25.35 for the 4.2 mile course.
First Moorfoot home was Kobe Stevens in 28.09 first Junior in 16th position. followed by:
20th Colin Williams (4th M40) 28.57
84th Russell Anderson (13th M50) 33.36.
103rd Alan Elder (20th M50) 34.54
110th Ian Munro (21st M50) 35.28
221st Mike Pearson (2nd M70) 56.04 - narrowly ahead of Moorfoot and 1st M70 Ian Nimmo running for his first claim club Carnethy who finished in 55.59.
Full results here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2_v7jL-bgbqY2YyQ2podk5vejA/view
Good to see Russell in action after a long lay off with injury.
Alan, Russell, Colin and Kobe by the cake stall after the finish