Christmas meal and awards

The Moorfoot Runners Christmas meal was held at the County Inn in Peebles on Tuesday evening, after the regular weekly training session. It was well attended with 20 people attending.

There were presentations for the Senior Club members in various categories:

Improver Award - Magnus Skea breaking his half marathon personal best on three times in succession in 2017 including breaking 1hr30mins for the first time,  recording 1.29.34 at Alloa, 1.28.52 at the Great North Run, and 1.27.25 at the Great Scottish Run.

Perseverance award - Paul Nichol as he's still running loads of marathons (inc London and Stirling) and recording impressive times as an older Vet 50.

The Mike McGovern Tribute Award for getting lost / TV star Award  - Lucy Colquhoun for a 7 mile detour in a race in the northern Pennines, losing her dogs for the night before a race at Cape Wrath (and missing the race) and being the star of the BB2’s Adventure Show on the 35 mile Kintyre Way Ultra Marathon winning the woman's prize and finished second overall!

Worst Preparation before a completely brutal race Award goes to Alan Elder – please read his report on August’s Glencoe Ultra Marathon but in summary it’s not that surprising that if you enter a 45 mile, 7,300 feet of climb race, and your first ever ultra marathon, 36 hours before that you may encounter some challenges, largely involving having a terrible night before being eaten by blood thirsty midgies while trying to wild camp, missing dinner and ending sleeping in the car (or trying to). http://moorfootrunners.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/glencoe-ultra.html

Moorfoot Runners Trophy for Outstanding Performance, had a number of notable mentions -

Kenny Davidson for setting a personal best at London Marathon for 3hr 03mins and going fastest as a 50 year old than he ever had before,

Ruth McKean winning all local trail 10kms  - trail running dominance in the valley!

Andy Cox for hill running prowess – including his 3rd place for King of the Mountains for his combined time for the Snowdon, Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike races.

Andrew Dancer – eats marathons for breakfast, ultras for tea. He recorded some amazing long distance achievements this year: Bamburgh marathon, 2^nd place, sub 3hrs; Loch Ness 2hr 53; 3rd in the Dundee Running Adventure Marathon in 3.02; Glentress Trail Marathon, 3^rdplace; winner of the Dark Skies Kielder Run – 26.5 miles - in new course record 3.07; Tweed Valley Ultra (40miles), 4^th less than a minute off podium; followed up two weeks later (last Saturday) with the 5^th place in a class field at the Cheviot Goat Ultra (55 miles, in snow at times) taking 12 ½ hrs;

But the trophy winner for 2017 went to Scott McDonald who won the 5,000m Scottish Championships for 50 + (in a time of 17 mins 10 seconds), and was also fastest M50 at Great North Run, the biggest half marathon in the world, in a time of 1hr 18 mins 11secs. Fantastic performances.


2017 Award winners and mentionees, with Colin and Alan Mac as Club Secretary and President (Andy C & Ruth absent)