Beth and Mairi bronzed up East Lomond

A change of venue for this year's Scottish Junior Hill Champs shifting from Ben Lomond to East Lomond near Falkland in Fife with a killer of a climb to the summit, a steep and tricky descent down the other side, and a flattish half mile+ return on a landrover track. A sunny and breezy day provided favourable conditions.
It was one lap for the U15s for 3k/100m with Eilidh Mooney testing herself in her first championship hill race and coming a commendable sixth of the eleven finishers in 19.29. Winner was local Fife runner and Scottish and British XC Champ Anna Hedley who flew home in a new record time of 16.00.
The U17s raced over two laps for 5.8k/200m. Beth Hobbs, was U15 Champ last year and now a first-year in the U17 age-group, and she gave an excellent account of herself in a strong field to take the bronze medal in 35.55 behind Giffnock North's Lynn McKenna. Her twin sis Charlotte came a cropper when prominent on the first tricky descent, unfortunately breaking a collar bone. (Thanks to Dr Tom Hobbs and Nurse Holly who were nearby and first on the scene to comfort her pending the arrival of the first aider.)
The U20s raced an unenviable three laps which proved a stern test over 8.6k/300m. It was a tough day for Mairi Wallace who found a couple of weeks of missed hill training and the lack of a prep race taking its toll. She kept in touch with her two main rivals up the first ascent but was into the red zone too soon and dropped off their pace thereafter. She battled on bravely to finish third in 1.00.32, looking absolutely goosed at the end, and probably suffering dehydration. (Slap on the wrist for the coach not thinking to offer water at the end of each lap.) Winner was Anisha Badial from Aberdeen in 50.53, leaving intact Scout Adkin's course record of 49.13 from 2012.