Moorfoot Claims Course Record at Penchrise Hill Race

Andy Cox takes Darin Dougal's course record at Teviotdale's Penchrise Hill Race...

Coxy leading from the start....

Full details and results...

BXC Series 2013/14 - do you have your pre-entry place ?

To restrict numbers in the increasingly popular Borders XC series, such that the series remains manageable for the host clubs, entries are pre-entry and online this year.
Host Clubs, including Moorfoots have been given early warning of this, but the word is now out and...

...the 2013/14 Borders XC series Senior entries are now full.

However, as a host club, we have been given a further opportunity for ten further members who have missed the online entry to get a place.

You must meet the following criteria:

• Be a paid up member of the Moorfoot Runners for season 2013/14

• Have entered the series on Entry Central and be on the waiting list

If you meet the conditions above and still want a place, complete the Doodle Pool at the link below by Thursday 3-October (midnight) and your name will be passed to the event organisers as one of the additional ten entries.

First come, first served....

Entry Central

Moorfoot Doodle Poll

Juniors, still some places left on Entry Central - please action immediately if you want a place in the series.

BXC 2013/24 Dates and Venues

3rd Nov  Lauder

17th Nov  Gala

1st Dec   Moorfoot

12th Jan  Norham at Paxton

26th Jan  Tweed Striders

16th Feb  Dunbar plus prize giving

The Two Breweries 2013

The early morning mist cleared mid morning to give a beautiful sunny Autumn day - and with a light easterly breeze blowing in the direction of the race route, it was looking very promising for the 30th running of The Two Breweries Hill Race.

Three Moorfoots in action this year...and despite the glorious weather, it turned out to be a hard day in the hill office for all....

James shows off his 'peck deck' in the Autumn sunshine - Angela Mudge seems unimpressed...

 James - 3:21 - another consistent TB run

Eddy - 4:xx - tough day at the office - moving quickly on....

Kenny - 4:10 - TB PW and lessons learnt about warm weather hydration, or the effects of lack of it

[Kenny]
Steady enough start and 53mins to Birkscairn and 1 hour to Glensax was pretty much on schedule - then wheels came off on Hundleshope ascent where I realised I was 'cooked' and in the heat of the valley (zero breeze, 20deg C) realised that I was very dehydrated; a few emergency gels kept me moving but by Glensax (water stop) the damage was done and was down 15 mins on plan; more wobbly moments over Whitelaw Hill before finding a steady 'survival pace' up to Trahenna, where it become a painfully slow slog to the finish.
I was a bit of a mess by the finish - severe cramp (hips, quads, hamstrings, calfs) - drank several gallons of orange juice, sat down and couldn't get up without assistance of two helpers.

Top vension BBQ at the Broughton Village Hall, and the usual excellent, soup, Broughton beer and nibbles....

Good runs by ex-Moorfoots Mike Reid, now of Carnethy (sub 3 hours and PB !) and Julia Connor , now of Tinto (3:52) who seemed unaffected by the perfect conditions !!!

Big thanks you again to Pete Baxter and Elsie Scott and their legions of marshalls and helpers for another top event, and which despite my personal painfest, is still my favourite event of the year....

Results available here sometime soon...

Tinto Hill Race 2013 - online entries open 30/9

The Run And Become Tinto Hill Race

Entries for this year's Tinto race open this coming Monday the 30th on sientries. Please note this is pre-entry only, no entries will be accepted on the day or after the closing date. Online Entry

Tuesday Night "Winter" Group Runs from 24/9

Tuesday evening group runs recommence next week 24 September through to the end of March on the “winter loop” up Springhill Road, behind Spar, through Victoria Park and back along Kingsmeadows Road (c.1.2km). There will be runners of all ages and ability, including some mums and dads running as “guards”. We'll start with simple easy conversation pace running for as long as you can manage - between 3 laps for the youngest (aged 9 going on 10) up to 10 laps for the likes of Jacob and Lucas and any seniors. A few weeks in we'll introduce some fartlek and a few further weeks later we'll occasionally use the Frankscroft loop. Meet ready to run at 6.30pm at Kingsmeadows car park. It won't be dark for the first few weeks but you are still encouraged to wear something light/bright. 

Link to WMRA Poland video

Lots of wrecked bodies crossing the line. A few shots of Sarah, although she seems to have been edited out of the latter stages. Thankfully they also edited out her calling for "Hughey" after she finished!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wycp0jcB434

Moorfoots at Ben Nevis 2013

http://www.bennevisrace.co.uk/pdf/Results_List_2013.pdf

A sub 2hour time for Moorfoot Andy 'Coxy' Cox (1:55, 41st place) and 2:16 (167th) for Russell Anderson - top running in what is always a strong field in the 'daddy' of Scottish Hill Races.

Sarah 6th at World Champs

Having missed the European Mountain Running Championships earlier this summer due to a niggling foot injury which curtailed her training, Sarah McCormack (centre) travelled to Poland with the Ireland team for the World championships very much back on form. Fresh from her defence of the Scottish 5000m title on the track last month and a 5000m PB of 15.46 at the BMC meeting in Coventry two weeks ago, and with the race this year run over her favoured up and down course, an improvement on her excellent 15th place at the 2012 World Championship was not unrealistic.

Bingley Harrier Emma Clayton took the race by the scruff of the neck from the gun but Sarah was clearly up for it close behind in 2nd on the first lap ascent. Heading out on lap 2 she was still vying for 2nd with the lead runner from the traditionally strong Turkey team but as the Turk drifted back the challenges to Sarah's medal position started to come from behind, most notably from the Italians. Sarah was still 4th behind Clayton and two Italians heading into the final 1km but her medal hopes faded on the final steep climb and she finished 6th in the end, still a fantastic result and a huge improvement on last year. Consolation, if any was needed, came from finishing ahead of three of her four domestic rivals from the GB team and also leading Ireland to team bronze, their best ever finish at this level.

Irish report here https://www.imra.ie/events/report/id/925/tab/report/?feedback=4

The Bridge Inn First Friday Summer Series - Race6 Results

"Singing Running, in the rain...."

Will no doubt be referred to as "...the wet one..." - steady downpour from mid afternoon meant that only the 'diehards' entered out. (Not unlike our recent 'ice cream run' to Innerleithen....)

The lowest turn out of the series, with only 9 runners, but another classy performance from Colin Welsh of Gala who had already secured the best "1 lap + 2 lap time", to win comfortably over the final 1 lapper in 8:33...

Zoe Kemp of HBT had also secured the ladies best "1 lap + 2 lap time", but came back for a lap of honour (11:23)  in the rain...

Well done also to the two hardy juniors, Ethan Elder (9:57 ) and Eilidh Mooney of Law & District (11:10) for turning out in the poor conditions.

Junior Boys (best 2 x 1 lap ) went to Kobe Stevens and Junior Girls (best 2 x 1 lap) went to Beth Hobbs  - both of who were unable to attend on the night.

Specials thanks again to the Organisers and marshals who set up, organized, marshaled and tidied up again all during a steady downpour - well done chaps !!

Race#6 Results

All Race Results

Some Series Stats for the record...

Biggest Field - Race#1 = 56  runners

Lowest Field - Race#6 = 9 runners

Fastest 2 Lap Senior Male  - Colin Welsh 16:33

Fastest 1 Lap Senior Male  - Colin Welsh 7:53

Fastest 2 Lap Senior Female - Zoe Kemp 22:05

Fastest 1 Lap Senior Female - Zoe Kemp 10:37

Fastest 1 Lap Junior Male - Sam McNeil 8:37

Fastest 1 Lap Junior Female - Beth Hobbs 9:52

Most race attendances - 6 (Zoe Kemp, Jacob Tangey - thanks for your support !!!)

So some reflection now before we decide on plans for next year....keep an eye on the blogger....

Moray Marathon Moorfoots - 2013

Two intrepid Moorfoots (Barry and me) plus one wanabee (Martin) ventured North for the Moray Marathon. 

On arriving in Elgin we played hide the bottle which is game based on making sure that you have enough of the type of hydration and gels that you want throughout the race. This is predicated on the fact that you can find the stuff after you have hidden in and needing to remember locations like 1m NE of the sign in the 7th lay by on the Elgin Rd. Needless to say as a person of age who finds it difficult to navigate at the best of times I did not play that game as I would have wasted money on drinks never to be found. Barry did manage to leave a drink on the course. 

We all travelled in the hop of PB's but came away with none. We blamed the wind – not us but the course – all was relatively ok until mile 25 where we hit the wall of wind which was only compensated for by mile 26 going down hill

I finished in 3.23.41 (24s outside my PB), Barry finished in 3.35.26 and Martin finished in 3.45.30

This is one of the most picturesque road races going through some of the most beautiful countryside in Scotland. I would recommend it ~ but not on a windy day :(

-- J. Paul Nichol