Scotland Thumbs Up for Mairi

Scottish Athletics selection announcement here

Coach's sigh of relief heard all the way to Blyth Bridge!

Anxious wait for Mairi for possible Scotland call

Mairi Wallace, Beth Hobbs and Corran Carrick Anderson made the trip to the slopes of Colsnaur in the Ochil Hills above Menstrie on Sunday for the final round of the Scottish Athletics Junior Hill Running League which doubled as the U17 and U20 Scotland trials for the Junior Home International in September.

In what proved to be a select and hotly contested Under 17 trial race, on a hill significantly less steep than the forthcoming International venue, Mairi found herself a bit tapped for toe over the 3.1km/300m uphill only course by recent converts to the hill running scene the McKenna twins from the endurance breeding ground that is the Giffnock North club.

Scottish cross-country runner-up Lynn McKenna (hidden above) was first to cross the line in 16 minutes 54 seconds with twin sister Charlotte (also tucked in at the back above) only six seconds behind. Scottish hill running champion Grace Whelan from Moray was third in 17.15 just getting the better of Mairi who was a close 4^th in 17.21. It was then a 44 second gap back to her nearest challengers, Scottish Schools champion Nuala McCheyne from Inverclyde and Scottish steeplechase bronze medallist Zoe Nicholson from Pitreavie, both of whom Mairi had vied with at the Cademuir Rollercoaster when Zoe prevailed on the downhill finish.

With the McKenna girls securing the two automatic selections for the Scotland U17 team for the Junior Home International, it's an anxious wait for Mairi to see if she is selected for one of the two remaining places in the team of four. Hopefully she will gain her third Scotland vest in the Junior Home International which takes place on 17 September on the slopes of Skiddaw near Keswick in the Lake District.

Gregor says "It's been a bit of a risk to prepare Mairi for Skiddaw's  average 20% gradient rather than specifically for the trial (10% gradient) and fingers crossed clear 4th will be good enough for her to gain selection for what would be her third Scotland vest. Otherwise I might be getting the boot."

Beth and Corran were racing in the Under 15 hill league (non-trial) and both ran very well for second place in their respective races. That was enough to secure the Under 15 Girls league title for Beth to go along with her Scottish Championship win back in May. Corran was having his first race of the summer following a busy and successful season on the bike, demonstrating a good cross-over between mountain biking and hill running. Both were delighted with their prize of a chocolate orange!

Weekend round-up: Barry Buddon Half Marathon, Teviotdale 5k & 10k, Baddinsgill Round Hill Race & Ochils 2000s

Lots of members in action this weekend.
Scott Macdonald and Colin Williams headed to the Barry Buddon Half Marathon (inc East District Champs) by Carnoustie on Sunday. Scott was 19th in 1:20:30 in his fastest time in 15 years with Colin 30secs behind in 1:21:00 for a personal best with his last mile as the fastest one in 5.56 so both very happy. They were 5th and 6th in MV40 category. Full results here

Andy Cox was in action at the Baddinsgill Round Hill Race with another strong run and a very creditable 9th place in an event where the first three broke the course record and Andy's time itself was over 5 minutes faster than last years winning time such was the quality of the field.
Results here

Darin Dougal and Mike McGovern raced at the Teviotdale Harriers 10k in Hawick putting in good performances. Darin was 9th in 37:28 and won the MV45 category with Mike in 39:21 and 3rd MV45. Results here

Ethan Elder was also in action in the 5k finishing 3rd overall in the quick time of 18:00, taking the U16 prize (at the age of 13 - not bad!). Results here

Alan Elder tackled the very challenging Ochils 2000s race by Stirling on Saturday - almost 20 miles and 4,000 feet of climb with Alan completing in the course in a very creditable 4:52 in 46th place and 6th M50. Alan reports he paced it well and managed to move up 9 places through the checkpoints across the run – 4th best gain overall but was  "Shattered with the final climb of Dumyat to go!"
Results here

Junior Awards 15-16

It was the junior awards presentation at the club summer gathering at the Traquair Arms yesterday. Looking back over the last twelve months, a period which has been hugely successful for our junior athletes, there were four categories of awards for girls and boys - Most Promising Newcomer, Best Trainer, Most Improved Performer and Best Performance. The winners were:

Most Promising Newcomers - Esme Minto and James Clare

Best Trainer - Charlotte Clare and Angus Carlyle

Most Improved Performer - Holly Hobbs and Ethan Elder

Best Performance - Mairi Wallace and Michael Girdler.

Each received their much sought-after Moorfoot Runners Award Winner's water bottle.

Mairi Wallace and Lucas Cheskin were also recognised by the club for gaining their first Scotland representative vests, both at the Junior Hill Running Home International last September, and were each presented with an engraved paperweight.

LtoR: Lucas, Holly, Mairi, Esme, Charlotte, James, Ethan, Angus (Michael wisnae there)

Fantastic 800m bronze for Charlotte at Scottish Champs

Top notch performance from Charlotte Clare yesterday at Grangemouth in the Scottish Champs U15 Girls 800m, taking a well deserved bronze medal. She won her heat comfortably, then in the final she sat off the early pace, as planned, and as the pace steadied she moved through the field down the home straight to challenge for the lead at the bell. She was widest of three abreast going round that bend, but down the back she edged marginally ahead 250m out and with a 10m gap back to 4^th I thought blinkin’ heck she could win this. But the other two responded to hold Charlotte out wide and off the final bend they had gained 3 metres on her. It was now a fight for the bronze with two East Kilbride runners closing in ominously. But Charlotte repelled their challenge with a really gutsy run down the home straight to cross the line clear third in 2.23.45. No photo finishes needed this time. She was beaming afterwards - a delight to see.

Ethan Elder ran a great race in the U15 Boys 1500. Well positioned in a steadily run race, he went with the top three who made a fast break  with 500m to go. He committed to chasing a medal but then had nothing left with 150m to go and faded to finish 7th. It was exactly the same sort of race Laura Muir ran. He could have sat in and raced for a safe and fairly distant 4^th, but he really went for it and has another year in that age-group. Craig Angus ran a 3-second PB in his heat, an excellent effort on a breezy day, but it wasn't quite enough to get to the final. Rumour has it he wants to try the steeplechase - but has anyone told him you have to go over the barriers? :-)

Michael Girdler is another who is still in the same age-group next year and he gave a good account of himself in the U15 Boys 300m final coming 5^th (1st U14) in 38.71, just outside his PB on what by then was a pretty windy day. 

Kobe Stevens had been laid low with sickness during the week and was a tad off his usual form which on any other day would have seen him through to the U20 Men's 800m final

Moorfoot Runners Summer Gathering

The 2016 Moorfoot Runners Summer Gathering is this Sunday!  21st August - 6:30 at the Traquair Arms Hotel, Innerleithen

Please note that due to a lack of interested runners for the handicapped races, we have decided to cancel both runs.

This means that food will go ahead as planned at 6.30 with Gregor's presentations taking place around 7.00p.m.

Still time to put your name on the doodle poll for food - 47 signed up so far!

http://doodle.com/poll/c43yxdvctkqbvbkx 

Moorfoot Gathering

The 2016 Moorfoot Runners Summer Gathering is rapidly approaching! 

 

Sunday 21st August - 5:30 at the Traquair Arms Hotel, Innerleithen

 

This is a family event which is open to both members and non-members.

 

As part of the gathering, a 5K handicap event will be held for Moorfoot adults and a 2.5k handicap event will be held for Moorfoot  juniors. For the adults, a shiny club trophy is up for grabs and for the juniors, a crispy £20 prize -Sponsored by Mike McGovern. Please note that the handicap events are for Moorfoot senior and junior members only.

 

Start time for handicap races will be: 5.30

To avoid congestion, adults will head off first, followed by the juniors

 

Food ( lasagnas - both vegetarian and non-vegetarian available, salad, garlic bread) at around 6.30, followed by Gregor's presentation of the annual award to the juniors.

If you are intending to come, could you please sign up on the doodle poll below – this will help us plan the catering!

 

Also - please tick appropriate box, with name if you/your child plan on running.

http://doodle.com/poll/c43yxdvctkqbvbkx

 

Club members and immediate family (even if non-members) - £4 per adult , £2 per child under 12 years old

Non-club members - £9 and £7 (cost price)
 
Payment will be collected on arrival. 

Rollercoaster Report

Rollercoaster Prizes Head West

Saturday’s Cademuir Rollercoaster races over 6k and 3k saw three of the four race titles head west with Kirstin Maxwell from Gala Harriers holding the fort for the Borders as winner of the women’s 6k.

Despite recent drainage work on the worst of the boggy sections of the John Buchan Way, the wet week ahead of the race led to a soft and often slippery surface underfoot. And a with a stiff breeze into the runners’ faces on the outward journey, the four course records which were set in last year’s firm and fast conditions, were never really threatened.

Taking the honours in the 6k race was Iain Stewart from the Westerlands club who breezed home downhill and downwind on the closing stretch, crossing the line in 27minutes 53 seconds, nearly two minutes outside the record time. His reward was a bottle of prosecco and a meal voucher from race sponsor Franco’s. Andy Cox ran strongly for second place in 28.42 despite having to make a late dash to the start line after traffic problems, and a call ahead to make sure he could still register after the scheduled closing time for entries. Gala's Fergus Johnston was a further minute plus behind in third in 29.55 with Ben Hindley, in his Strathclyde Uni vest, 4th in 30.33. Kenny Davidson looked good in finishing 9th in 31.57 and Alan Elder stayed upright for 30th in 37.28, 40 seconds down on last year.

Andy power walks the final climb

Benefitting from a steady start, Gala Harrier Kirstin Maxwell went one better than last year in the women's race and was also rewarded with her Franco’s prosecco and voucher as first woman home (7th overall), in a time of 31.42. Again this was nearly two minutes outside the record, although she was only 18 seconds slower than her time last year. “I let the youngsters go in the early stages as I knew it would be hard into that wind and I was pleased to come home strongly to win” she said. Not far behind her were two Under17 athletes who yo-yoed throughout the race, Moorfoot Mairi Wallace gaining ground on the stiff climbs and Zoe Nicholson from Pitreavie speeding by on the descents. At the line it was Zoe who took second place in 32.10 with Mairi third, but over a minute faster than last year in 32.27. The evergreen Sue Ridley (EAC), who was racing just over the wall from her back garden, was another to improve on last year’s time, finishing just on the tail of the youngsters in 4^th and first veteran in 32.35. Isabel McGorum, only recently back into running after cracked ribs, had an excellent run for 33rd overall (12th woman) in 38.30.

In the 3k race there was a double win for the Wright siblings who made the journey through from the Victoria Park club in Glasgow. Big brother Blayne, racing in the U15 category, was first across the line in 14minutes 13seconds, just over a minute outside the course record held by U14 Scottish Schools 1500m champion Ethan Elder from the host club.

Amazingly, only 16 seconds behind Blayne, first girl home and second finisher overall of the sixteen runners, was his younger sister Valencia who is still only 11 years old. Of all the four race winners, she came closest to the course record, being a mere 14 seconds shy of the mark set last year by Scottish Schools U15 800m champion Nuala McCheyne.

They're off in the 3k

First Moorfoot home was 10 year-old Angus Carlyle whose December birthday means he was only just old enough to compete. In what was his first ever hill race, Angus ran strongly for 5^th overall and 2^nd U13Boy in 15.41, just ahead of club-mates Elena McGorum and the fast finishing Beth Hobbs. Eilidh Mooney improved 25 seconds on her time from last year in finishing 9th. Well done too to other Moorfoot finishers Patrick Cannon (who we think took an Elderesque tumble), Holly and Megan Hobbs and Christina McGorum who all earned their jelly sweets at the end.

Cademuir Rollercoaster Results

6k winner Iain Stewart leads on the final climb

Report to follow. Meantime 6k Results

And 3k results

THE CADEMUIR ROLLERCOASTER 3K Sat 13 Aug 2016 sponsored by Franco's Ristorante, Peebles
Finish	Race	Time	Name	Surname	M/F	Club	Age	Gender	Age Cat
Place	No.						Cat	Position	Position
1	036	14.13	Blayne	Wright	M	Victoria Park COG	U15M	1	1
2	037	14.29	Valencia	Wright	F	Victoria Park COG	U13F	1	1
3	039	14.46	Struan	Bennet	M	Unattached	U13M	2	1
4	042	15.01	Josh	Law	M	Inverclyde AC	U15M	3	2
5	040	15.41	Angus	Carlyle	M	Moorfoot R	U13M	4	2
6	048	15.45	Elena	McGorum	F	Moorfoot R	U15F	2	1
7	045	15.50	Beth	Hobbs	F	Moorfoot R	U15F	3	2
8	034	16.08	Andrew	Winter	M	Inverclyde AC	U15M	5	3
9	046	16.16	Eilidh	Mooney	F	Moorfoot R	U15F	4	3
10	035	16.20	Craig	Winter	M	Inverclyde AC	VetM	6	1
11	033	16.50	Patrick	Cannon	M	Moorfoot R	U13M	7	3
12	041	16.51	Hannah	McGeehan	F	Inverclyde AC	U15F	5	4
13	044	17.09	Holly	Hobbs	F	Moorfoot R	U13F	6	2
14	047	17.45	Christina	McGorum	F	Moorfoot R	U13F	7	3
15	043	17.53	Megan	Hobbs	F	Moorfoot R	U15F	8	5
16	038	17.56	Ailsa	Bennet	F	Unattached	U15F	9	6

Scottish Borders Hill Race Series latest after 6 Rounds (Philiphaugh)

Following the completion of Round 6, Philiphaugh the placing so far are found here.
4 runners have already completed the minimum 5 races however with 4 rounds to go starting with Cademuir Saturday 13 August it is theoretically possible that over 400 could complete a series placing if everyone who has done one round does all the remaining races!

Andrew Cox - sole completer of all initial 6 races

2 mile Race in Dartmouth, Canada by Colin

The week after the Nova Scotia Marathon I learnt that there were annual road races held on Natal Day, an annual holiday in the Province. The race was 110th Edition of the Dartmouth Natal Day Road Races, one of the oldest road races in North America and there was the choice of a 2 mile or 6 mile race. Having completed a marathon only a week before I felt entirely justified doing the 2 mile version, and although it was very popular with 660 taking part it is fair to say that all the quality runners did the longer version. As I lined up I found myself surrounded by young teenagers and juniors! Anyway I completed the 2 miles in 11mins 9secs, 3rd overall and 1st V40 and awarded with a trophy that will be engraved for next year, which I had to give straight back!
 

Philiphaugh Hill Race 2016

Tom Hobbs 'bracken bashing' on the descent from Foulshiels Hill

Some good performances by Moorfoot Runners at this year's Philiphaugh Hill (7 miler) Race, a counter in the Scottish Borders Hill Race Series.
Andy Cox led the Moorfoot charge for an excellent 5th place, Darin tight on his heels...
Another 'Course PB' for Alan Elder, shaving more off his previous best time on this course.

Full results here...
Some good photos too on the Selkirk Fund Runners facebook page...

5 Andrew Cox Moorfoot Runners M 0:49:14 103.0%
7 Darin Dougal Moorfoot Runners M40 0:49:56 104.5%
9 Tom Hobbs Moorfoot Runners M50 0:51:36 108.0%
16 Michael McGovern Moorfoot Runners M40 0:53:53 112.8%
22 Kenny Davidson Moorfoot Runners M40 0:55:16 115.7%
33 Alan Elder Moorfoot Runners M50 1:01:38 129.0%

Further Moorfoot successes in the shorter 4 miler, with the Hobbs girls taking 1st (Beth),3rd (Megan) and 4th (Holly), separated only by Esme Minto in 2nd place, in the FJ category.

More photos shown below

Cademuir Rollercoaster Downloads

Dear visitor

Apologies, but our Moorfoot Runners website is currently unavailable due to refurbishment.

In the meantime, please find below documents related to the event.

Cademuir Rollercoaster Poster

Cademuir Rollercoaster Race Details 

Cademuir Rollercoaster Entry Form


The updated website should be available in the near future.

Have a good race!

Skiddaw further update

After being called back for a third x-ray Scout is now in a cast with a broken hand! :-)

Skiddaw update

Pleased to report that Lucas is alive and well and he did finish the race in 67.24, coming 44th (out of 54 finishers). Not only that, but he managed to overtake the second of the two Scotland U23 runners on the climb to the summit, finishing 34 seconds ahead of him.
Also good(ish) news on Scout's wrist is that there is no break, just a bad sprain.