Moorfoots in action at the Feel the Burns

There was a good turnout of Moorfoots at 2019 edition of the 13mile (2,500 feet of ascent) Feel the Burns Hill Race in Selkirk with 8 running out of a record field of 243 taking part. The conditions this year were pretty much ideal for a hill race in January in Scotland – just above freezing so firm ground allowing for quick times, light wind and clear, apart a short section in low cloud at the highest point on the Southern Upland Way. The race has found a bit of a niche in the annual hill running calendar as it doesn’t clash and the haggis pies that are served after are surely a reason for its growing reputation.

Jonny Crickmore of  Hunter Bog Trotters, took an incredible six minutes off the course record clocking 1.27.52 to win from James Britton from Carnethy who was celebrating his 40th birthday (ex Moorfoot who used to live in Cardrona before moving to Edinburgh – clearly the years in the Tweed Valley set him up for this amazing run!). The standard was so high this year and conditions good that the first four were all inside the previous course record. Scout Adkin’s woman’s record set in 2014 wasn’t threatened - the super quick time of 1:43.30 is 13 minutes quicker than this year’s female winner.

There were some very solid performances – it was a new race for Simon Hammond and he was the first Moorfoot home in 1:47.41, and a special mention goes to Kenny who had a storming second half to catch Dave and close up on Colin and Andy and finished 4^th M50, only 40 seconds off the 3^rd place in a PB time. Alan managed to clock a PB on the course despite taking a decent chunk out of his knee as a result of a fall so we hope he heals quick. Paul also recorded his best time in five years.

Club results:

27^th Simon Hammond 1:47.41

42^nd Andy Cox 1.54.02

43^rd Colin Williams 1:54.08

46^th Kenny Davidson 1:54.34

50^th Dave Gaffney 1:55.48

90^th Alan Elder 2:07.35

118^th Paul Nichol 2:12.17

133^rd Pete Hall 2:17.07

Also running was Peebles resident and occasional Tuesday night trainer Craig Mattocks who stormed round in 15^th place in 1:41.

Full results: http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/RaceResults.aspx?RaceID=RA-0299&Year=2019

Loads of pics on the organisers facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SelkirkFundRunners

Also a good article in the paper: https://www.peeblesshirenews.com/sport/17375047.records-tumble-at-feel-the-burns/

Race round up - first week of January: Kielder, Melrose, Promathon, Indoor 3000m, Inter XC

Andrew Dancer and Colin Williams travelled south across the border to the Kielder Winter 10 Mile Trail Race https://www.highterrainevents.co.uk/copy-of-kielder-10km-night-run

The conditions were more autumnal than winter as it transpired at about 5 degrees and still but it proved to be a very fruitful expedition over the pretty but challenging course (9.6 miles, 1,200 feet ascent). Andrew dominated the race as was a clear winner in a 1:02:12 over three minutes clear of second place, with Colin repeating his 4^th place from last year and also picking up the prize for fastest vet despite being 1:20 slower than last year in a time of 1:07:49.

Results: https://resultsbase.net/event/4621/results

Melrose "Run Off The Christmas Pudding" 8 mile /13.1 km

This friendly, well organised, and scenic race was a mixed trail and road course taking you through foothills of the Eildons and finished in the heart of Melrose at the Abbey. 

The overall winner was our own Scott McDonald who finished in a new course record of 52.36. It was also great to see Alan MacDonald back to racing after a long injury lay off in a very solid 12^th and Lucy Oldham in 24^th overall and very high up in the woman’s field. Also running Dean (5th overall) and Gillian Carr who join us for training sometimes and Gillian won the woman’s race. Many congratulations all! Results: https://www.webscorer.com/race?pid=1&raceid=165651

Scott McDonald had also ran in the Scottish 3000m Indoor Championships in Glasgow on Friday night in a race that Scott described as “my worst race in two years last night but an experience to race indoors” to clock a time of 10:09. Ex Moorfoot Lucas Cheskin ran a very competitive 9:04. Results: https://www.thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=268541

Also after a fine run at the East District champs in Aberdeen in December Jacob Adkin was selected to represent the senior East District team at the Inter-District XC Champs will be held at Stirling this Saturday as part of the Great Stirling XC event. Well done!

Darin Dougal had a very good run on New Years Day at the Portobello Promathon to finish 31^st on the four mile course. Results http://www.salroadrunningandcrosscountrymedalists.co.uk/Archive/Portobello/Results/2010s/Portobello%20Promathon%202019.pdf

Round up of senior Moorfoot socials over the festive period

A belated round up of the activities over the festive period.

Christmas food and drinks, Tues 4th Dec

There was a good turn out for the Christmas drinks and food on the first Tuesday in December.

The opportunity was also taken to award the club cup for the best performer of the year. There were lots of great performances this year which made it a hard choice but the award went to Amy Alcorn for a excellent debut time at Edinburgh Marathon of 3:36:33 and then at the Tunnel Run in October and winning the senior woman’s first prize. 

Innerleithen Festive Handicap  Sunday 23rd Dec

There was handicap held in the woods in Innerleithen for Moorfoots and friends. https://moorfootrunners.blogspot.com/2018/12/moorfoot-festive-handicap-innerleithen.html

There were 10 runners:

Finish Position	Name	Predicted Time (mins)	Start time	Finish Time	Scratch Time	Scratch Position
1	Benjamin Hindley	36	00:23:10	00:58:15	00:35:05	1
2	Colin Tweedie	45	00:14:10	00:58:25	00:44:15	6
3	Alan Elder	44.5	00:14:40	00:59:06	00:44:26	7
4	Simon Hammond	37	00:22:10	00:59:36	00:37:26	2
5	Lucy Colquhoun	42	00:17:10	00:59:44	00:42:34	5
6	Lucy Oldham	50.5	00:08:40	01:00:06	00:51:26	8
7	Colin Williams	38.5	00:20:40	01:00:37	00:39:57	3
8	Dave Gaffney	38.5	00:20:40	01:01:56	00:41:16	4
9	Vickie Morrison	50.5	00:08:40	01:02:20	00:53:40	9
10	Callum McBride	45	00:14:10	01:09:27	00:55:17	10

Benjamin Hindley was both the fastest on scratch and caught the field on the handicap. His time was the course record! Many thanks to Dave Gaffney who helped me course setting, Pete Hall (timing) and Andy Cox (marshalling / photos) and Austen Williams for being a very enthusiastic helper!

Also to Fi Williams for manning the fort for refreshments and treats (mince pies and mulled wine etc) afterwards and it was a good catch up afterwards for runners and family.

Lucy and Lucy

Benjamin scorching

Alan Elder

Dave Gaffney

Annual Boxing Day run to the mast at the top of Glentress

The annual run to the mast was very well attended with 15 runners burning off that turkey and then most headed to the Peel café to meet with the juniors who had been taking part in Gregor’s handicap and ‘refuel’.

New Years Eve run through Bowbeat Windfarm

The weather was kind although very blowy (well it is a wind farm!) and the five runners (plus two dogs) taking part in the 13 mile run with 1,800 ft ofclimb were treated to some great views. You can see the route here: https://www.strava.com/activities/2046293497