East XC League, Broxburn

Broxburn in West Lothian had missed the worse of the wintry weather last week, with only a sprinkling of snow on the course for the third and final leg of the East District Cross-Country League and this soon dissipated under the feet of the six hundred plus runners taking part. But whilst the weather was relatively tame, the same could not be said of the course which churned up in places and incorporated a shin-deep pool of flood water as well as the aptly named Lungbuster Hill for all bar the Under 11 age-group.

Efforts from the Moorfoot youngsters helped Team Borders perform well on the day. Ethan Elder led the team scorers in the U13 Boys race with his 13th place finish in 11.10 contributing to a score which was enough to lift the league title courtesy of EAC failing to field a third counting runner. Finlay Collins was just outside the scoring positions in 24th in 11.38.

With previous regular scorer Kobe Stevens opting for the relative warmth and comfort of the Emirates Arena for the National Open (where he won his heat in a significant, if overdue, 1500m PB of 4.28.30) it was down to a Gala trio of runners to secure the league title in the U17 Men's category and they duly obliged.

The U13 Girls finished 3^rd team on the day through Beth Hobbs (6^th in 11.28), Elena McGorum (12^th in 11.46) and Rhiannon Fagan (Gala, 13^th in 11.47) and that was enough to retain clear 2^nd place overall behind league winners Edinburgh. Molly Falconer wasn't far behind in 18th and there was an encouraging first outing for Charlotte Morrison who was 32nd of the 62 runners.

Also 3^rd on the day and overall were the U11 Girls racing over 1.4km. Megan Hobbs had an improved run for 10^th in 6.25 with team-mate Madeline Collins (14^th in 6.33) and Gala’s Harriet Woodland-Broome (12^th in 6.28) the other scorers. Holly Hobbs ran well for 22nd of 42.

The U11 Boys saw encouraging debut runs from Patrick Cannon in 19th in 6.12, and Frey MacIver in 24th in 6.20 with both boys still in this age-group next season.

In the combined senior/U20 races, Scout and Jacob Adkin both had fine runs to record their best placings yet in the East League since graduating from the age-group races. Scout was home in 5^th place in 21.24 in the senior women’s 5.4km race in which Sophie Collins, running for Edinburgh University, sprinted home for 38^th and 7^th U20 in 24.39. Fellow fresher Jacob finished an excellent  10^th in the men’s 8.1km race and was 2^nd U20 home, helping Edinburgh University take the team win on the day.

Battling the Elements at Holyrood

Three Moorfoot U13 girls were selected for the East of Scotland team for the annual Inter-District Championship races held at Holyrood Park on Saturday in conjunction with the Great Edinburgh Cross-Country. That's 20% of the team for the East District stretching from north of Aberdeen through Dundee, Perth, Stirling, Falkirk, the Lothians and the Borders. Up against a very strong West team (who had the first nine finishers!) as well as the elements, the girls all ran well in very demanding conditions. Out on the course it was hard enough for spectators to stand up at times in the bitingly cold strong wind, never mind run 3km through the increasingly muddy conditions. Beth Hobbs was the sixth counter for the East team coming home in 20th place overall in 14.27. Charlotte Clare had a strong second half to finish 23rd in 14.47 and Elena McGorum did well for 34th in 15.22 after snivvling and coughing all week.

Tough as the conditions were for the youngsters it paled into relative insignificance compared to the senior women's 6km race in which Scout Adkin represented Scottish Students. The first lap run in horizontal icy snow must have been bad enough but when this turned to horizontal hail during the second lap it was some of the toughest racing conditions I have encountered. Scout had a good run for 19th overall in 25.17 and was 2nd counter for the Students team.

Carnethy5 Entries Open Wed 7-Jan-2015

Entries for 2015 race now open - read details on Carnethy site below for details of entry process and subsequent ballot.

http://carnethy.com/carnethy-5/

Liverbird Marathon 1st January

I ran the Liverbird Marathon on New Year's Day - a small marathon (90 or so runners), most of whom had also run it the day before (not me I hasten to add!).  Very flat, running alongside the River Mersey with a howling wind coming off the sea which never seemed to be at my back.  Finished in 3 hrs 44 minutes which gave me a respectable 19th place, albeit against many who were on their second marathon in 2 days.

As some of you may know I am planning to run a marathon every month in 2015 in order to raise money for the Peebles branch of the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society.  You can visit my Just Giving page at https://www.justgiving.com/Barry-Hughes7 - I'll keep everyone updated here as to my progress.

John Buchan Way Run 2015

Best turn out for a Moorfoot JBW run in recent years, and a cracker from a weather perspective - nice frozen tracks and plenty of sunshine.

 

Thanks to Eddie for the post run soup and cake and to the drivers for carting everyone to the start at Broughton....

B-team waiting on the A-team
(who were sent up a big hill to slow them down a bit.....)



Picture Perfect Peebles day

Lumpier route profile than you might think....

Boxing Day H'cap

So the prizes stayed in the Collins household. After Finlay's consecutive wins in 2012 and 2013, this year it was the youngest of the clan, Madeline, who took the honours with a blistering run along the cycle path from the Hydro stables to Glentress. Amazingly, despite being severely chopped by the handicapper, big bro Fins chased her home, albeit over half a minute adrift. He seems to reserve his best for these Boxing Day runs. Must be super-charged by the turkey dinner the day before. But no-one was catching Mads ,who really "blossomed" on the day to take the 1st prize of a much sought-after Moorfoot drinks bottle complete with the customary celebratory fizz (sparkling Vimto!). Finlay seemed delighted with his runners-up prize of a can of hot dog sausages. Bobby Mooney took the adults' prize of the hottest chilli oil in the world. Expect some fiery toilet moments in the Mooney household over the next few days. Special mention to young Hoodie who get no sympathy from the handicapper despite this being his first run back since a bad hamstring pull and also to young Holly Hobbs who had to slow down to keep company with an elderly jogger who had clearly over-indulged on the grown-ups' grape juice the day before.

	NAME	TIME	H’CAP	SCRATCH TIME	SCRATCH PLACE
1	Madeline Collins	15.52	0.45	15.07	9th
2	Finlay Collins	16.30	2.55	13.35	4th
3	Eilidh Mooney	17.00	1.55	15.05	8th
4	Beth Hobbs	17.10	3.30	13.40	5th=
5	Kobe Stevens	17.20	5.30	11.50	1st
6	Bobby Mooney	17.30	4.50	12.40	2nd
7	Ethan Elder	17.35	4.15	13.20	3rd
8	Megan Hobbs	17.40	1.00	16.40	10th
9	Sophie Collins	18.00	4.20	13.40	5th=
10	Holly/Jane Hobbs	18.25	0.00	18.25	11th
11	Euan Hood	18.45	4.20	14.25	7th

Moorfoots at the Mast 2014

Boxing Day at the Dunslair mast Run  2014

Well done to this years mast Runners - a bit foggy lower down but cleared as we climbed, leading to some spectacular views back over the Tweed valley. Tea and cake back at the Peel Cafe in Glentress...same time next year !