The traditional courses might have been re-routed and the
usual tough climb omitted due to the Borders Railway works, but nothing could
derail the efforts of a very healthy Moorfoot contingent at the Lasswade Cross
Country on Sunday, not even the club gazebo dramatically falling victim to the
gusty winds.
With strong opposition from the likes of Giffnock North,
Pitreavie, Edinburgh and Airdrie, a fantastic return of four team wins and two
thirds was just reward for some tremendous efforts, helped significantly by an
excellent team spirit and support.
The U-11 Girls set the tone in the first race of the day
over 1 mile with Elena McGorum (6th), Eilidh Mooney (9th)
and Megan Hobbs (15th) combining for 3rd place, only 1
point adrift of 2nd placed Airdrie Harriers. There was also a much
improved run from Sally Davis who galloped home strongly for 19th of
the 54 runners.
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| U-11 GIrls Eilidh, Sally, Megan and Elena |
The U-11 Boys then stormed to a clear 10-point victory over
Pitreavie with Corran Carrick-Anderson (2nd) up front all the way
and only just losing out on individual victory in the sprint for the line.
Ethan Elder closed in rapidly inside the final 200m to vie for 3rd
going into the final turn only to take a tumble after a clash, but was
immediately back on his feet and courageously only just failed to get up for a
podium place. Completing the team was first-timer Murray Aiken who, as one of
the youngest in the field, had a hugely encouraging run for 8th of
45.
Double victory followed in the two U-13 races over 2 miles.
The girls matched the U-11 boys’ 10-point winning margin over Ayr Seaforth
courtesy of Beth Hobbs, Mairi Wallace and Molly Falconer in 5th, 6th
and 7th and the U-13 boys secured an even more clear cut victory by
14 points this time over host club Lasswade. Euan Hood led the team home with
an individual podium place in 3rd, backed up by Craig Angus in 6th
and the improving Finlay Collins in 8th.
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| U-13 victors Molly, Mairi and Beth |
Zaynah Aziz (6th), Fiona Grant (7th)
and Ailsa Innes (23rd) also gained a team podium place in the 2-mile
U-15 Girls race before the most exciting finish of the day in the U-17 Boys
race over 3.8 miles. Moorfoot, Edinburgh and Pitreavie all finished on 18
points and after an anxious wait, the countback victory came the Moorfoot way
courtesy of having the highest placed third runner home. (Note:
the results on SAL show us 3rd but this is being changed.)
Kobe Stevens (5th), Sam McNeil (6th) and Jack Stanners (7th)
were the counters but there was also a fine run for 11th from Ben
Hindley having his first outing in the red and blue.
Sophie Collins showed a return to form in the U20/U17
Women’s race over 3 miles with a solid 7th place then the U20 men
rounded off an excellent Moorfoot day with first-year junior men Jacob Adkin (5th),
John McLean (9th) and Lucas Cheskin (18th) mixing it well
with the seniors to finish a close 4th over the 6-mile course, only
3 points shy of host club Lasswade and demonstrating great promise for the
future.
