It was a windy Dunbar that greeted the small band of
Moorfoots who made the trip to the east coast for the sixth round of this
year’s Borders XC.
The courses remained unchanged from last year with 79
juniors galloping Dunbarwards along the soft sand, over rocks and kelp, looping
back along the beach and off along undulating coastal paths before the
lighthouse turn eventually retracing their steps on the charge back to the
finish. The adult route is as described but with an added outward mile over a
second sandy strip with an abundance of beached kelp to add to the challenge.
The return included a good number of leg-testing burns to be louped and some
challenging terrain to be negotiated. 163 adults made it safely out and back –
though one Gala Harrier, a couple of meters in front of me, lost his footing at
the far end of the beach and ended up sprawling over sand and rock. Scuffed and
bloodied but undeterred, he rose, brushed off the sand and jogged on.In the adult race, Dessie Flanagan, won by romping round in 25.41 and Charlotte Morgan was the first lady in 27.36. Moorfootwise, Alan Elder finished in 32.33, Ian Munro came in at 33.43 and Mike Pearson in 53.05.
Junior times were Ethan Elder 14.37, Elena McGorum 15.41,Cameron Munro 17.08 and Eilidh Mooney 17.42. Elena was 2nd girl back and Ethan 7th boy. Good running by all bearing in mind how tiring sand can be on the calves!
With six down, the seventh, and final in the series takes place at ‘Conundrum’ (Berwick-onTweed) on 15th of February.
Photos – courtesy of Bob Marshall
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