Lucas Cheskin during
the Cademuir Rollercoaster.
BROUGHTON is set to host the first round of races in the inaugural Scottish Borders Hill Race Series.
Clubs from across the region have come together to stage the spring and summer series of 10 races.
And tomorrow (Saturday) an expected 100 or so athletes will tackle the first climb, Chapelgill, just south of Broughton.
Series co-ordinator Colin Williams, club secretary of the Moorfoot Runners, told the Peeblesshire News: "The series will be a real show case for what the region has to offer.
"Events are located in all four of the historic Borders Counties of Peebles, Selkirk, Roxburgh and Berwick.
"Chapelgill by Broughton kicks off the series - it is one of the most relaxed and shortest hill races in Scotland at about 1.5 miles long with 1,300 feet of climbing."
Chapelgill normally has an entry of around 40 athletes each year.
But inclusion in the Scottish Borders Hill Race Series, which is sponsored by James Jones & Sons Ltd, is expected to see numbers swell.
The series consists of 10 short to medium races open to anyone over 18.
Athletes will have to complete a minimum of five races to get a series placing – if more races are completed then the five highest finishes will count.
There is no additional fee or registration required to enter the series.
To take part runners should just enter the participating races as normal.
Prizes will be awarded for the overall male and female winners of the series with extra prizes for the fastest Borders resident or club member and there are also veteran classes.
Colin added: "For faster runners there is a bit of prestige to compete for, but overall the idea is to promote the different races throughout the beautiful Scottish Borders in an increasing busy calendar and hopefully motivate people to get out and enjoy the hills and have a bit of fun.
"The races stretch all across the Borders - from the north with the Baddinsgill Round in the Pentlands Hills by West Linton to the Devil’s Beef Tub race in straddling the Dumfriesshire boundary in the west, Yetholm Hill Race in the Cheviots in the east and the final race Penchrise Pen by Stobs Castle near Hawick in the south."
Following tomorrow's opener near Broughton, the series moves to Peebles on Wednesday, May 18 for the Gypsy Glen hill race.
Yetholm hosts the the third round on Sunday, June 5 ahead of the Three Eildons Race at Melrose on Saturday, June 25, which doubles as the 2016 Scottish Championship Hill Race. Up to 500 athletes are expected to take part in the Eildons race.
Earlston's Black Hill Race on Tuesday, July 5 marks the half way point of the Scottish Borders Hill Race Series.
Selkirk host the sixth leg on Sunday, August 7 with the Philiphaugh Hill Race before athletes return to Peebles for the Cademuir Rollercoaster on Saturday, August 13.
The Baddinsgill race near West Linton takes place on Sunday, August 28 before the series moves to Moffat for the Devil's Beef Tub run on Saturday, September 3.
The 2016 Scottish Borders Hill Race Series concludes near Hawick on Sunday, September 18 with the Penchrise Pen race.
