Andrew Dancer wins at Kielder Dark Skies Runs

Andrew Dancer has been at it again - this time winning at Kielder Dark Skies run (https://www.darkskiesrun.com/dark-skies-kielder.php) where he raced twice in two nights back to back in the dark and recorded the fastest combined time and set a new course record too. The two events are stand alone races both selling out with 400 entries. Saturday Night was 26.5 miles, with Andrew finishing in 3hr 16 (6th) and backed it up on Sunday night with another 14 miles - 1hr 45 (6th) . Andrew wasn't the only one commited (bonkers?) enough to do the double and 40 runners did both but Andrew's combined time of 5hr 02mins for over 40 miles put him half an hour ahead of 2nd. Huge congratulations, and I hope he has a good rest now!
Andrew also holds the course record for the 26.5 mile race (on it's own) which he won last year, when not doubling up.

The Dark Skies Run @ Kielder Double results here: https://www.darkskiesrun.com/dark-skies-kielder-double-results-2018.php
 

Maybe Andrew is in there!

Cairngorm Guide by Dave Gaffney's Dad

A walking guide (nothing to stop you running…) in the Cairngorms area has just recently printed by St Columba’s Hospice for sale in their shops and online here http://www.stcolumbashospice.org.uk/online-shop/
It is written by Dave Gaffney’s Dad, Michael Gaffney who sadly passed away last week. All proceeds going to St Columba’s Hospice, based in Edinburgh which ‘strives to ensure everyone within our community has access to excellent palliative care whoever they are, wherever they are and whenever they need it.’
Dave’s Dad was there for his last few months and the care was “brilliant”.
If you interested in getting a copy it is £5. You can either contact Dave directly davidgaffney78@hotmail.com
or you can order on the hospice website but if you do that that then choose Collection rather than postage option as Dave can pick them up and you’ll avoid paying £4 for postage.

Forward by Dave

Seniors Members Races Round up early March

Ruth McKean was racing at the Gartmorn 6 miler on Sunday 11th March. The race is mostly a trail race round the Gartmorn Dam, next to Alloa and Sauchie in Clackmannanshire.
Ruth was 1st female (and 1st female vet), 7th overall out of a field of almost 200, again another great result from Ruth - she consistently performs at this high standard that we are in danger of being blasé about her winning!!
Full results: http://weecountyharriers.co.uk/?page_id=91

Sam MacNeil was racing on Saturday, 10th March at the Heriot-Watt Round the Grounds 5km. Sam has recently started training again and joined Strava and has been smashing segment Course Records all over Peebles. He enjoyed the race:
“First race back in over a year out! Loved being back 🏃 12th place wasn’t too shabby”
Full results:  https://www.facebook.com/hwuathleticsclub/

Andrew Dancer was racing in Northumberland on Saturday night, 17th March, in the High Fells of Thrunton Night Trail Race (9 miles and 1,600 feet of climb). He described the conditions as:  “Snow and minus 9 wind chill. Bogs, ice and blizzards.” Despite this he won, by loads! Top performance Andrew!
According to the organiser’s report on Facebook “Andrew Dancer clearly smashed it out of the park with a massive 9 minute margin. Hats off!” well there’s no arguing with that.
Full results: http://www.racesplitter.com/races/2D82DADBB

Andy Cox finished in a fantastic second place at Criffel Hill race (11km, 550m climb) on Sunday 18 March. The race was won by Matthew Sullivan of Shettleston Harriers. Full results: http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/RaceResults.aspx?RaceID=RA-0020&RaceYear=2018
Apparently the area south of Moffat was spared the snow. Superb first race of the year for Andy.

Alan Elder was in action at Chapelgill on Saturday, usually a race that attracts a small ‘select’ field (40 ran in 2017) but this year it was the first race in the SHR championship so there was a high quality field with 130 racing despite the bitter cold and bracing wind - lucky it was the before the dump of snow that came later that day or undoubtedly it would have had to have been called off. Alan ran in his first 'post virus run' - he was bedded for 3 days up to the Thursday before the race and it was a case of 'let's just do it' and was glad to manage it given the circumstances.
Full results: http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/RaceResults.aspx?RaceID=RA-0019&Year=2018

Scott, Kenny and Colin had to been due to race at Alloa half marathon although that was cancelled due to bad weather.
Last and not least Magnus turned 40 and although the celebrations meant that he wasn’t going to be racing he did have a brilliant cake with a figure of Magnus in his Moorfoot vest and his ever decreasing PBs in icing!! Happy birthday Magnus (and thanks to Caroline for the cake).

Magnus with wains hanging onto his ankles!

Annual General Meeting + Franco's meal - FRI 23rd MARCH

Moorfoot Runners AGM + Franco’s meal   - 23rd March – 7pm County Inn

The Annual General Meeting of the Moorfoot Runners is being held on Fri 23rd March at the County Inn, Peebles  at 7pm .

By popular request we are also booking a table at Franco’s restaurant afterwards for 8:30pm.

This ensures the formal proceedings wont drag on too long  !!

Membership numbers this year are at record levels (over 100 in total) and we can now claim to have both an active senior and junior section.

We would really encourage everyone to attend , we are looking for some fresh faces to join the committee ( in any capacity) and would welcome input into how the club is run. 

To help track numbers for both the AGM and the Franco’s meal could you sign up on the attached doodle poll link:-  https://doodle.com/poll/3e5ghgy7xmdiby9f

If you could tick the appropriate boxes – eg: if planning to come to both AGM and Meal then click  the 7pm and 8:30pm boxes , if AGM only then just the 7pm box.

thanks

Eddie Balfour

Club Treasurer

Glentress Trail Races Report - 24th & 25th February

Paul Nichol report from Facebook for the Saturday Races (Half Marathon & 10km)
...
Thought I'd put a wee word down about the Glentress Half (12.6 miles?) on Saturday where we had 3 Moorfoots representing, Alexandra Nisbet, Colin Williams and me. We were able to get a photo at the start and then Colin was off like a rat up a drainpipe. I managed to run some of the way with Alex which was nice. I thought I would be smart and try and reccy the course on the previous Wednesday but clearly my map reading skills are still rubbish as most of the route up to the Buzzards nest was a surprise. After that was better although there was a lot of climb and we hit the snow line close to the mast where the descent begun properly. Although there were a few surprise climbs thrown in by the course. Good to hit the downhill from the buzzards nest and hit the finish in 2.05. Looking at the results Alex was 14th F in 2.06 and Colin was 10th and 1st MV40 in 1.40. I was 6th MV 50 which is some kind of PB for me. All in all a good day for the club with Ruth McKean coming in as 1st F in the 10K.

Colin adds:
These races are proving very popular with almost 1,000 racing the three events over the weekend!

Ruth McKean excelled again winning the 10km in 44:58 - 1st woman, 3rd overall according to the results, but awarded 1st prize overall as first to finish the course properly. The two in front did a detour.

Also racing on the Sunday in his first race as a Moorfoot was Simon Hammond racing the two lap marathon, finishing in a very credible 15th place in a time 4:16:07.  The second lap is the killer - I did it in 2016 so can testify. Well done!

Full results:
Half Marathon, (2,500ft, 750m ascent) 478 ran https://www.resultsbase.net/event/4360/results

10km, (1,000 ft, 330m ascent) 285 ran https://www.resultsbase.net/event/4360/results?round=9824

Marathon, (5,000ft, 1,500m ascent - OUCH!) 170 finishers + 13 DNF,  https://www.resultsbase.net/event/4360/results?round=9825

Photos can be found via the race organisers Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/HighTerrainEvents/

Alex, Colin & Paul before the start

Colin & Ruth at the finish

Marathoners at the summit on the Sunday - Could be Simon, who knows?