Juniors Help Team Borders to East XC League Titles

Moorfoot juniors played a significant part in helping Team Borders to three East League titles at a grey and damp Broxburn on Saturday.

The Under-11 Boys, racing over 1.6k and leading by 32 points after the first two rounds, were the first to clinch the season silverware. Corran Carrick-Anderson put in another excellent performance for a close 3^rd place with Ethan Elder the second counter in 10^th. 

The U-13 Girls also led going into the third and final leg but by a less secure margin of 13 points. Solid runs were called for to stave off the expected challenge from Central and the girls duly delivered with Mairi Wallace and Beth Hobbs having a private battle of their own for 4^th and 5^th over the 3k course, Mairi getting up in the final few strides to just pip Beth on the line. Anna McGorum was close behind in 9^th.

Next up it was the turn of the U13 Boys who only held a vulnerable 4-point lead over Corstorphine prior to the gun. Euan Hood outsprinted two rivals in the home straight for 7^th, thus contributing to an extended winning margin for the Borders boys.

Whilst that was an end to the trophy bagging, there were some other notable performances, none more so than the eye-catching 3^rd place by Elena McGorum in the U11 Girls’ race. Support from clubmates Eilidh Mooney in 8^th and Megan Hobbs in 16^th saw the girls finish only 2 points away from a team win on the day and in a creditable 3^rd place overall, a mere 5 points adrift of Edinburgh in 2^nd.

The U17 Boys also ended the season in a podium position, 2^nd on the day over 5.8k to Edinburgh and 2^nd overall behind clear winners Aberdeen. Kobe Stevens was 12th on the day and a significant points contributor over the season. 

Ailsa Innes was the sole runner from the Borders in the combined U15/U17 girls race, so no team points, but a solid run for 23rd.

Also running in the senior races at Broxburn were 17 year-olds Jacob Adkin and Sophie Collins both first-year juniors. Running in a massive field of 255 runners, Jacob produced another strong performance to finish 14^th overall and 2^nd U-20 while Sophie kept on well to finish 4^th U-20 and 48^th overall in a field of 105 women.

Moorfoots at Foxlake Tri-trail

Andy Cox and Mike McGovern went to Foxlake near Dunbar for the first of the winter series of trail races from Tri-Trail, The route was 14km / 8.5 miles over fields and sand.
Garmin upload of the route here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/429582537     
The venue for registration, the start and finish was Foxlake Adventures, Scotland's first wakeboarding park at Hedderwick Hill Stables.

Within a mile or so, ex Scottish Hill champion Prasad Prasad had already opened up a significant lead, which he was never to lose, and he won comfortably in 48:30

However Mike and Andy had very well paced runs and worked through the field which had tried to stay with Prasad and both finished high. Mike was third in 52.39 and Andy fifth in 53.18.

"The master and apprentice"

Mike on the podium

Results are here: http://www.webscorer.com/race?raceid=17242

Details on the series here: https://www.facebook.com/tritrailrun   

Paxton House XC - Borders Series Round 4

Sunday saw the fourth round of the Borders XC series, this time a Paxton House not far from Berwick and as a consequence only 4 Moorfoots racing the long course. The 3.4 mile race was won by Adam Craig from Lauder in 19.42 with the first Moorfoot home being me in 12th place in 22.02. Carol Moss was next continuing her very strong form as 2nd F40 and 4th woman overall in 24.44, and 44 secs behind the first woman home. With the best of 4 races counting for a series placing Carol certainly has an F40 podium place wrapped up. Next home was Ian Munro in 25.12 as 10th M50 and then Sophie Collins as second FJ in 26.05.

Course available to look at here:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/429788996

Results here:
http://www.bordersxc.com/

Innerleithen Festive Handicap Results

The weather was kind and there was a good turn out from the Moorfoots and the Innerleithen Runners & Riders and friends for the festive handicap. Some nice views were to be had if you had a moment to look up! Mince pies and blethering after made for an enjoyable morning.

Thank you to Russel for marshalling.

The route was measured at 5.1miles with 330m ascent - the profile is here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/421124002#

The first home was Mike catching Mandy in the last 100 metres or so - the results are below
Mairi Bell ran the short course unopposed in 29.34. Some photos here:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ml523p3xmtzg7jc/74LALuLoUf

Mike in action on the last wee hill

Long route results:

Name	Start time	Finish Time	Finish Position	Scratch Time	Scratch Position
Mike McGovern	21:00	56:39	1	35:39	2
Mandy Rogers	00:00	56:46	2	56:46	11
Barry Keepence	10:30	57:49	3	47:19	9
Jane Bryant	15:00	57:59	4	42:59	7
Andrew Cox	23:00	58:34	5	35:34	1
Geraint Florida James	21:00	58:40	6	37:40	3
Kenny Davidson	18:30	59:10	7	41:40	5
Jane Sargent	06:00	59:55	8	53:55	10
Fi Williams	16:00	60:30	9	44:30	8
Becky Henderson	00:00	60:57	10	60:57	13
Eddie Balfour	18:30	61:20	11	42:50	6
Gary Forrest	22:00	63:35	12	41:35	4
Kerry McGough	05:00	63:40	13	58:40	12

Boxing Day Mast Run 2013

13 at the summit of Dunslair

Good turn out of Moorfoots and guests on Boxing Day this year, for the various festive runs...before regrouping for a hot drink and a blether back at the Glentress Peel cafe.
Weather has very favourable  - a brief weather window of calm and sunshine, between the gales and rain which will bookmark this years Christmas break...

Further festive handicap race on Sunday 29-Dec at Innerleithen....see you there...

http://moorfootrunners.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/moorfoot-festive-handicap-innerleithen.html

Moorfoot Boxing Day Runs

Three festive offerings this Boxing Day (Thrs 26-Dec)....

Three French Hens - the traditional run to the mast on Dunslair
Meet at the Gytes Sport Centre Peebles at 9:50am for a 10:00am start
Sociable pace up to the Dunslair Radio Mast - there will be stops to regroup, and you are climbing to over 1500' , and it is December....so dress accordingly.

The run will then finish at the Glentress Peel Café around 11:30am - about 90mins ish  and 7 miles ish of hilly running

Two Turtle Burds - a Christmas Handicap run along the cycle path (aka the multi user pathway)
Meet at the Peebles Hydro Stables junction (at the start of the bike path Peebles end) for 10:50am and an 11:00am start
Slowest off first, fastest last - run along bike path to just before the road at the Glentress Hotel - approx. distance 1.5 miles...nice and flat...
Juniors and Seniors welcome....

Meet up at the Glentress Peel Café afterwards, to meet the returning mast runners

Partridge in a Pear Tree - over done it on Christmas Day and just fancy a coffee at the café ?
Meet up at the Glentress Peel Café for 11:30am for a blether with the returning mast and handicap runners

...and if you can't make Boxing Day, there is a further Moorfoot Handicap race on Sun 29-Dec.....

Moorfoot Festive Handicap, Innerleithen - Sunday 29 Dec, 10am

I am organising another Festive Handicap this year. First start at 10am on Sunday 29th Dec, starting near the Cuddy Bridge off Leithen Road here 

The start will be just by the Cuddy Bridge. There will be a choice of routes:

• A 3miles / 5km suitable for juniors and those who simply fancy a shorter route (or those who had too much Christmas dinner!) - the proposed route is shown below.

 

• A longer route will be about 5 miles / 8km with a 300m climb, almost all in the first 2 miles (one of those surely it can't get steeper climb which then does!).

A fair bit of both routes is on trails which are muddy and uneven in places - you will get wet feet! The other half is on forest track.

Please let me know if you are planning to attend so I can try to work out handicaps - Gregor I will need your help with handicapping for the juniors.

Hope to see you there, but be aware if serious winter conditions occur then we may have to cancel.

Mince pies and refreshments in our conservatory after but it isn't heated so bring a warm coat!

ho, ho, ho

Colin

email - colin.m.williams@talk21.com

Burnside, 52 Leithen Road

Innerleithen EH44 6HY