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/