The final race in the popular Border Cross-Country Series took part in Peebles on Sunday. The runners had the challenge of trudging through heavy mud in places, with the race taking them from Hay Lodge Park, along the river and over the viaduct, with two or three climbs thrown in for good measure.
In the junior race, Dunbar’s Cameron Law was first East Lothian runner home, finishing 12th in a time of 9:54. His brother Hamish finished in 10:08, with HELP’s Innes Ogilvie finishing in 10:20. Other club runners were Cameron Stevens 10:55 (DRC), Katie Watson 11:03 (HELP), Joseph Kowbel 11:06 (DRC), Rachel Watson 11:10 (HELP), Jordan Robbins 11:25, Katie Proudfoot 11:41, Katherine Andrews 11:58, Linda McCandlish 12:01, Cory Smith 12:15, Hannah Chapman 13:25 (all DRC) Anna Balfour 13:38 (HELP) and Rebecca Turner 16:39 (DRC).
The senior race was again won by Keith Hood of Corstorphine AAC with an impressive time of 23:46. Stuart Hay of Dunbar finished 14th in 26:27, with club mate Ian Sills thirty seconds behind in 26:57, then Craig Goldie (DRC) the next East Lothian runner home in 28:31. Also competing were Eddie Balfour 28:59 (HELP), Alex Oliver 29:20 (MADAC), Rhona Anderson 30:07 (DRC), Brian Davidson 30:42 (DRC), Frank McPartland 31:12 (HELP), Andrew Anderson 31:24, Neil Jones 33:30, Anne Hay 34:05, Neil Teather 34:36 (all DRC), Ray Harris 35:47, Ruth Watson 35:55, Saartje Drijver 39:40 (all HELP), Sheila Kerr 42:05, Jane Timms 42:01 and Sheila Morrison 43:36 (all DRC).
At the prize-giving afterwards, Rachel Watson of HELP received 1st prize in the female 11 and under category and Andrew Govan of Dunbar achieving 2nd prize in the male 16-17 category. Dunbar’s Rhona Anderson and Sheila Morrison both received 2nd prize in their respective categories of F45 and F55. HELPS Sandy Wallace and Ray Harris received 2nd and 3rd prizes respectively in the M55 category. All entrants to the series received a t-shirt to celebrate "21years of real x-country".
The previous Sunday, Sheila Morrison had taken part in the Kirkintilloch Olympians 12.5 k Road Race, a difficult, hilly course described as one of the toughest road races in Scotland, which Sheila completed in 74m 33 s.
A number of the runners are looking forward to the Lasswade 10 mile road race next weekend.