Innerleithen St Ronan's Games 2019 inc Lee Pen Hill Race

Saturday saw the culmination of Innerleithen St Ronan's Games Week with the hosting of the oldest organised athletics meeting in Scotland, Instituted in 1827.

Starting with the Lee Pen Hill Race which includes 1,200 brutal feet of climb and then foot burning descent within the ‘modest’ 3 mile course. The race was won by Alasdair McLeod of Shettleston Harriers in the very quick time of 25:23 in hot and muggy conditions with the morning rain burning off to make the steep, off camber descent particularly slippy and challenging. In a smaller field of 16 runners compared to recent years (30 ran in both 2017 & 18) Alasdair McLeod opened a large gap on the climb and was too far ahead to be troubled by expert descender Brian Marshall (1^st Vet) on the return. 3^rd place went to Marty Davidson of the Moorfoot Runners club based in the Tweed valley, with team mate Colin Williams finishing 5^th to collect the prize for 1^st Innerleithen local.

First female home was Sarah Lilleman of Dark Peak Fell Runners with a very impressive 33:16 (7^th overall), not far ahead of the home town’s Caroline Wallace in 8^th overall, 2^nd woman and 1st Vet (35:35) with Carol Fortune of Gala Harriers making up the top 3 and 2^nd Vet. Full results below and on Scottish Hill Racing and SHR soon.

Many thanks to Walkerburn resident Bob Johnson, for sponsoring the Hill Race – there is a substantial prize fund for the various placings with the winner collecting £80 for first prize.

In the games field Gracie Linton had a real battle catching, being overtaken and then coming back to take a hard fought 3^rd place in the youths mile handicap.

Craig Angus stepping up to senior for the first year had good showings in the 800m and 200m.

Many thanks to Alex and Lauren Corbett for an excellent set of photos showing the hill start here - the album then goes on to the middle distance track races with Craig Angus and Gracie Linton : https://www.facebook.com/alex.corbett.7505/media_set?set=a.10219568684825704&type=3

 

Position	Number	Name	Club	Time	Category	Cat Pos	Local
1	2	Alasdair McLeod	Shettleston Harriers	25:23	MS	1
2	5	Brian Marshall	HELP - Haddington East Lothian Pacemakers	28:39	MV	1
3	10	Marty Davidson	Moorfoot Runners	29:19	MS	2
4	6	James Mercer		30:13	MS	3
5	14	Colin Williams	Moorfoot Runners	31:06	MV	2	Y
6	12	Alastair Massey		32:25	MS
7	3	Sarah Lilleman	Dark Peak Fell Runners	33:16	FS	1
8	7	Caroline Wallace		35:35	FV	1	Y
9	11	Richard Ingram	Garioch Road Runners	36:08	MV	3
10	4	Andrew Goodair	Teviotdale Harriers	37:59	MV
11	15	Carol Fortune	Gala Harriers	39:35	FV	2
12	8	Pippa Wallace		42:15	FS	2	Y
13	16	Rachel Lees		44:19	FS	3	Y
14	13	Jenny Routley		44:42	FV	3	Y
15	9	Hugh McPherson	Tinto Hill Runners	46:10	MV		Y
16	1	Ranj		Not recorded	MS