A big thank you to everyone who gave of their time to help get the Rollercoaster on on Saturday, especially when firstly we decided there was to be no senior race, due to the impossibility of complying with the 14-page SAL Covid guidelines on off-track racing, and secondly when the Under-18 races lost not only their intended designation as the Scottish Junior Hill Running Championships, but also their status as Scotland selection races. SAL decided that as we were the very first race back, it was not appropriate to designate it as a championship event; then the two junior international races due to be held later in the year were cancelled in the week leading up to the Rollercoaster.
Thanks to Eddie B and Kenny D for course markings and marshalling, Alan E and Marty D, Gillian C and Dean C for sweeping, Mike P, Alan MacD and Lucy C for timekeeping and recording, and the non-rhymers Ian and Anne Nimmo for place recording and Lauder Limper Anne Weir for first aid cover. Ta too to Pete Hall for first aid supplies which thankfully went unused.
All four races were held over the same 3.5km/175m course which took the runners straight into their ascent from the bottom of the Morning Hill field all the way up to the forest edge and beyond the log bench, still rising through the undulations before dropping steeply and turning to race for home along the John Buchan Way. It was a tough start and a baptism of fire for those youngsters trying their hand at hill racing for the first time, especially given the very warm sunny conditions.
Just the three Moorfoot juniors were involved in what were, as anticipated, high quality fields. In the Under-15 Boys race Shaun Pyman found it tough going in the heat and was below his true form in finishing 17th in 18.42. Then in the Under-15 Girls race Elena Lee ran a stormer for 2nd in 18.57 and Abbie Little also ran well for 6th in 20.54.
Full report and results are available via SAL News
