Boxing Day Handicap Run - Kate steals the show

We were low on quantity at today's handicap run along the bike path to Glentress (illness took its toll on some of our regulars - not self inflicted) but it was high on quality with Kate McKean storming home in first place by a clear margin of 1 minute 39 seconds ahead of last year's winner Ava Mooney. Kate's scratch time was the second fastest of the nine runners and an amazing 2 minutes 8 seconds quicker than last year. Ava herself was 39 seconds quicker than last year. Thomas Hilton was quickest on the day. Well done to everyone who took part.

Place	Name	H'cap	Time	Scratch Time	Scratch Place
1	Kate McKean	1.00	15.27	14.27	2
2	Ava Mooney	2.00	17.06	15.06	4
3=	Sarah Keen	0.30	17.28	16.58	7=
3=	Ali Hilton	0.30	17.28	16.58	7=
5	Thomas Hilton	3.50	17.30	13.40	1
6	Toru Keen	2.30	17.51	15.21	5
7	Kai Keen	3.00	18.00	15.00	3
8	Esme Minto	2.40	18.16	15.36	6
9	Tracey Mooney	0.00	23.32	23.32	9

New Years Eve Club Run, Monday 31 Dec 10am - Leithen Water Valley and Bowbeat WInd Farm

A long club run is planned for the morning of New Years Eve - Monday 31st Dec in case you are not sure - meeting at 10am. The route is about 14 miles /23 km and includes a fair bit of height gain and heads down the valley, up into the wind farm and back out. (in the event of bad weather there are short cut options).
 

The approximate route is shown here:

Trail shoes would be best but you would get by would get by with road shoes. We expect the run to take up to 2.5hrs so plan accordingly. Depending on the spread of runners we can let the group split into two so all paces can be accommodated.

The meeting point is here (or here shown on an OS map) at the junction of the B709 'Granites Road' and the private road the leads to the Leithen Valley, 4 miles north of Innerleithen - about 2 miles north of the golf course. You can park on the verge of the B709 but best to car share if possible.

There is a tarmac road for the first mile until we reach and pass the very attractive Leithen Lodge. 'A remarkable piece of architecture to encounter in this quiet valley. It was remodelled in 1885 in the style of a 17th century laird's house with Arts and Crafts detail and ornate plasterwork by Grandison & Son of Peebles. See here if you are interested in further background and history.'

Similar weather guaranteed!?

Moorfoot Boxing Day Runs

The annual Moorfoot Boxing Day Runs will be on again this year (in the event of dodgy weather, check for updates on Boxing Day morning on the Moorfoot Facebook group)

Our three course Menu offers....

Run to the Mast
Seven and a bit-ish hill run up to Dunslair Heights at a sociable pace (90mins-ish) - regular stops to regroup - and back to the Glentress Peel Café for coffee/cake/a blether

Meet at Gytes Leisure Centre Peebles 9:45am for a sharp 10.00 start.
Dress accordingly for a slowish run with stops - it is often snowing on the tops - December in the hills - all runners being suitably dressed for running in the hills in winter; full body cover (inc hat and gloves) and backup warm fleece/insulated jacket in a bum bag or small back pack - you have been warned...
Should be back down at the Peel café for 11.30ish...

Handicap Fun Run

While the seniors slog up to the mast on Boxing Day, all juniors (under 9s accompanied), plus Mums and Dads looking to run off some over-indulgence, or anyone too late/not up for the mast run, are all invited to take part in a c.2mile handicap fun run on the foot/cycle/horse path Peebles to Glentress where we will meet up with the seniors in the Peel café for coffee/juice and cake(s) at about 11.30am.

 

Meet at the entrance to the old Hydro stables at the foot of Janet’s Brae ready for an 11am start, setting off at intervals, slowest first, fastest last. The finish is just before the main road opposite Glentress (with a couple of adults there to help with crossing the road.) The route can be found here http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6766898

 

Rule No.1 - Handicapper Gregor has the final say. Rule No.2 - Handicapper Gregor has the final say. Rule No.3 - don’t forget to turn left for the finishing stretch towards Glentress, otherwise you will end up in Cardrona. Rule No.4 - Organise your lift back (or you may be running back on your own). Rule No.5 - Handicapper Gregor has the final say.

 

Much sought after prizes on offer! Spare clothing etc can be left in Gregor’s car to be transported to the finish.

 

Pure Banter

For those who don't fancy the 'run' bit, just meet up at the Peel café for 1130 and join in the blethering bit...all welcome...

Moorfoot Festive Handicap, Innerleithen - Sunday 23rd Dec, 10am

I am organising a Festive Handicap in the woods behind my house in Innerleithen for Moorfoots and friends - with the aim is to be a bit of fun. Meet at 10am First start at 10.15am on Sunday 23rd Dec, starting near the Cuddy Bridge off Leithen Road here

Our house is Burnside 52 Leithen Road immediately south of the bridge

The start will be just by the Cuddy Bridge. There will be a choice of routes:

A 2 ¼ miles / 3 ½ km suitable for juniors and those who simply fancy a shorter route (or those who had too much at the Christmas party) - the proposed route is shown below.

A longer route will be about 5 miles / 8km with a 300m climb, almost all in the first 2 miles (one of those surely it can't get steeper climb which then does!).

There is route is a mix of trail and forest road but it will be muddy and uneven in places - you will get wet feet!

Please let me know if you are planning to attend so I can try to work out handicaps. Also I could do with a marshal or two if you are not up for a run, but can get by without as I will mark the route (as long as you don't follow Mike McGovern!)

Hope to see you there, but be aware if serious winter conditions occur then we may have to cancel.

Mince pies and refreshments in our conservatory after but it isn't heated so bring a warm coat!

ho, ho, ho

Colin

email - colin.m.williams@talk21.com

Burnside, 52 Leithen Road

Innerleithen EH44 6HY

Borders XC Series - PEEBLES Leg SUN 2nd DEC

Course information for this Sunday's cross country in Peebles

Christmas drinks and food, Tuesday 4th December, 7.45pm at the County Inn, Peebles

You are all invited for Christmas food and drinks on Tuesday 4 December at 7.45pm at the County Inn, 35 High Street, Peebles.
All are invited so it would be nice to see you. We had a good time last year, and as everyone's diary fills up so much at this time of year we have gone for the first Tuesday in December  - obviously its a week night so it won't be too raucous.


Please have a look at the menu in advance to get familar as need to order by 8pm
https://www.belhavenpubs.co.uk/media/11480/mainstream-aw18-belhaven-pb3.pdf

The plan is that we'll have a slightly shorter Tuesday night training session so no need to miss out on your interval fix! There will be just enough time to pop home and get changed before

Please let me know if you would like to come, but you can turn up that evening if you can't commit beforehand

I look forward to a good evening,

Cheers
Colin
colin.m.Williams@talk21.com

Round up Weekend 17-18.11.2018, Glentress Races, Dunbar XC, Braid Hills XC, Brampton 10 mile

Moorfoor Round up Weekend 17-18.11.2018

Lots of Moorfoots in action this weekend – well done to everyone taking part.

Glentress Trail Races

Half Marathon first up on Saturday. Amy Alcorn had a quality run to finish 8^th woman, 1:56:00. The field was certainly stronger field than last year with a more competitive field. Last years winner was 3^rd. A great run from Simon for 10th (1:35:53 – last year I came 7^th but only clocked 1.39!). Dave Gaffney also had a cracker in his longest race ever and just missed out on the M40 podium with a 4^th place in 1:44:22. New Moorfoot Andy Davidon had a quality run to cover the course in 1:53:45 for 59th in what was a huge field of 443 runners. Results: https://www.resultsbase.net/event/4451/results

Night 10km - Mike McGovern had the highest Moorfoot finish of the weekend in 3^rd overall 43:59. Craig and Katie Walling matched each other with high finishes both taking 7^th places respectively in the male and female fields clocking 45:23 and 52:30. New Tuesday night trainer Vickie Morrison had a good run to finish as 34^th woman. Results: https://www.resultsbase.net/event/4451/results?round=10014

Tweed Valley Ultras https://www.highterrainevents.co.uk/tweed-valley-ultra

On the Sunday there were two distances on offer. New Moorfoot Ross Grieve finished the 65km race in 6:18:26 for a fabulous M50 2^nd place and 14^th overall. Welcome to the club!

In the 50km there was some exciting races with Andrew Dancer and Scott McDonald running in sight of each other for 80% of the course before Andrew pulled away in the final stretch from Innerleithen to take 4^th place overall in 3:55:56 only 23 seconds off the podium! Andrew was also 4^th last year (in the 65km) and only decided in the last week to enter! Scott improved his time from last year by 33 minutes and finished 6^th overall as well as picking up the M50 prize, in a time of 4:14:16. Ex Moorfoot Benjamin Hindley from Innerleithen, now running for Strathclyde University, had a very good run in his first ultra 9^th 4:22:50

Like the half marathon there was a very significant improvement in quality of the field with the top 11 all inside the time of last years 2^nd place!

65km results: https://resultsbase.net/event/4449/results

50km results https://resultsbase.net/event/4449/results?round=10009

Leg 2 Border XC Series was at Dunbar

There were 134 in the junior field with some very strong performances from the 8 strong Moorfoot contingent :

Place	FName	LName	RaceTime	Age Category	Category placing
12	Cameron	Munro	00:14:14	M14-15	3
22	Fionn	Hollingsbee	00:15:13	M10-11	4
29	Shaun	Pyman	00:15:41	M10-11	6
38	Kainui	Keen	00:16:20	M10-11	8
47	Gregor	Wells	00:16:49	M10-11	14
70	Cameron	Carlyle	00:17:44	M10-11	24
81	Elena	Lee	00:18:29	F10-11	6
85	Ashleigh	Drake	00:18:34	F10-11	7

214 ran in the senior race that included two Moorfoots – with Darin Dougal 23^rd, 8^th M40 and Lucy Oldham 8^th Senior F

Junior results http://www.kitst.co.uk/borders-xc-2-dunbar-juniors.html

Senior results http://www.kitst.co.uk/borders-xc-2-dunbar-seniors.html

Braid Hills Cross Country Race http://haries.eusu.ed.ac.uk/racing/braids/

Jacob Adkin made the trip north from his new Lake District home to do the annual Braid Hills Cross Country which is organised by Edinburgh University, where he has recently graduated from.  

It is always a top quality race and 2018 was no exception with the race being won by the reigning National XC Champion and GB track international Kris Jones with Jacob finish on the podium in third place. Results: http://haries.eusu.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/10k-results-pdf-1.pdf  

Pete Hall was back in Cumbria racing the Brampton to Carlisle 10 mile road race, his first race back after injury https://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2018/brampton18.pdf

Glentress 10km Night Run start

Peebles XC Race - Sun 2nd Dec - HELPERS REQUIRED

Dear Club member

The PEEBLES leg of the Borders X Country Series is being held on SUN 2^nd Dec

As host club, we require to mark out the course, provide the starters, time keepers and marshals for the race, so we are looking for some volunteers to spare a couple of hours on the Sunday at Hay Lodge Park.

• 0900 Advance party marking out the park and checking the rest of the course beyond the park (set out previously on Sat PM)
• 1100 Marshals and helpers meet at start area North of Fotheringham Bridge for marshals briefing and allocation of marshalling locations
• 1130 Junior race starts - should be finished by ~1150; senior race marshals make their way to their locations
• 1200 Senior race starts - last runner normally in by ~1250; marshals bring in course markings back to finish
• 1300 Should be finished and you are relieved of your duties (if not finished earlier)

Please let Head Marshal Eddie Balfour know if you are available to help on race day either course marking 0900 to 1100 (under Gregor’s guidance) or to marshal/officiate between 1100 and 1300 by emailing e.balfour@jamesjones.co.uk

If we get enough helpers in advance, we can pre-allocate duties and marshalling locations which makes things easier for everyone on the day.

As ever, if you are planning to run as a Moorfoot club member, please can you provide substitute marshal/helper to assist with the host club duties.

Eddie Balfour

Club Treasurer

Juniors in the Running at Lanark Racecourse

The Scottish National Short Course XC Champs took place at old Lanark Racecourse on Saturday and a few select juniors were in the starting stalls on what proved to be a perfect day for racing - mild, dry, only a slight breeze, and initially bright and sunny. The rain which was forecast for 2pm threatened to come early with some dark clouds gathering and a few spots causing the waterproofs to be looked out, but it came to nothing and at the end of the day the gazebo was thankfully packed away dry.

Pancake flat the course might have been but I have rarely seen so many breakfasts making a post-race re-appearance (thankfully none of our lot), I guess because no undulations meant no respite from the constant high tempo. It was just a relentless blast on a fast flat course which several Garmins showed to be a few hundred metres longer than advertised.

The Under15 Girls kicked things off over 2km withTilly Leathart, who is more accustomed to tetrathlons, the sole Moorfoot saddling up for this one. Given that the Scottish Equestrian Centre is located at the venue she must have felt very much at home thanks to the very horsey aroma which perfumed the air. Sensibly avoiding the cavalry charge from the gun and settling at the back of the 91-strong field, Tilly maintained a good steady pace and gradually improved her position, finishing strongly for 49th in a time of 7.38.

The Under17 Women raced over 3km and Charlotte Clare showed no signs of being bored to death by her coach's chat in the car on the way through and put in a sterling performance for 10th place in 11.50. She looked goosed in 12th with 400m to go but as ever, she still managed to dig deep to lift the pace and pick up another two places. Admirable indeed.

Beth Hobbs was a late call-off which pushed out the odds on the Moorfoot team being able to match last year's team silver, but Charlotte Morrison, 42nd in 13.32 and Eilidh Mooney 47th in 14.15, saw the Moorfoot girls finish fourth overall.

No more Moorfoot vests on show but Euan Hood raced for Lasswade in the combined Senior/U20 4km and had a very solid run to finish just outside the top 100 in a massive field of 470! A first-year U20, Euan's time of 13.28 ranked him 38th of the junior men.

Ahead of him in 71st was Lucas Cheskin in the Shettleston vest who I regret to admit sneaked past your writer unnoticed to finish in an excellent time of 12.54.

Ex-Moorfoot trained Ailsa Innes, who is now training in Glasgow with Laura Muir's coach Andy Young, had been floored with a bad cold in the lead up to the race and as a result hadn't trained for over a week, but she still ran very well to cross the line in 15.17 for 49th of 206, and 14th U20, just fading in the closing 400m as her illness took the edge off her finish.

Well done all.

Winter Handicap 2018 - Results

Results from our Tues night section 2018 Winter Handicap, run around the Glentress Green MTB Trail, under the cover of darkness obviously....

Well done to Katie, blasting round a whole minute faster than last year (the handicapper has taken note!), to take the win by the proverbial 'country mile'

Fastest scratch time was Simon, who would have had a close race with Andy Gibson, if Andy had not taken a wrong turning in the first 100m....the joys of running in the dark !

A big shout out to Vicki - her first night running with the Moorfoots - quite a baptism of fire !

Well done to all who took part...