Saturday 21st November saw a minibus and a couple of cars full of Teviotdale Harriers head for Alloa for the 2nd East District League cross country race. The event was hosted by Wee County Harriers and it attracted a record entry of 861 runners. Regarded as one of the toughest courses in the country the heavy rain during the week meant some serious mud to be ploughed through.

First off were the u11 girls and THC had only 1 runner. Ava Hughes completed the 1600m course in 8:38 coming home in 45th position.

Next away were the u11 boys with two runners covering the same course as the U11 girls. First home was Callum Renwick in 57th place in a time of 8:26 closely followed by Boyd Hughes in 63rd place in a time of 8:34.

THC had a complete team for the U13 boys made up of Jai Patterson, Harrison Hughes and Thomas MacAskill. The boys were competing over 2700m and first home was Jai in 32nd place (13:08) then Harrison in 55th place (14:58) closely followed by Thomas in 59th place (15:27). Team position 8th.

The senior ladies were up next on their 2 lap route covering 5600m. First finisher for the club was Lauren Corbett in 31:35, 62nd position, then Pauline McAdam in 34:46, position 89th, next Kirsty Hughes in 37:33, position 100th and Anne Aitken in 37:41, position 101st. Team position 17th.

Next to go were the U15 boys and the sole runner for the club was Fraser Clyne who completed the 3700m course in a time of 16:17 in 30th place.
The U15/U17 girls ran in a combined race over the same 3700m course as the boys. First U15 girl was Carly Blaikie who finished in 31st place in a time of 19:56. Macy Cropper finished in 38th place in a time of 21:39. In the U17 girls race Ishbel Inglis finished in 21st place in a time of 20:03.

Last off were the senior men on a now seriously soft, slippery and muddy 3 laps covering 8200m. Rory Anderson was first home for the club in 25th position, time 34:05, then Bruce Hughes 37:13, position 69th, Alan Inglis 41:42, position 180th, Alex Corbett 44:22 position 226th, Kyle Potts 44:46 position 234th, Alan Coltman 48:54 position 279th and Paul Lockie 50:18 position 287th. Team position 21st. Masters Team position 22nd.

See Alex Corbett’s photographs HERE

Photos on Alan Clyne’s album HERE

Saturday 7^th November 2015 Teviotdale Harriers held their annual Jubilee Trophy races.

The Jubilee Trophy races were first held in January 1939 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the formation of the club. The trophy was presented by Mr G L McDonald and the race has now taken part on seventy occasions. There was a break from the first running in 1939 until the second in 1947 due to WWII. The most prolific winner is Bill Knox with five victories. His father William Knox was the second ever winner in 1947, and success went to his brother Jim in 2009.

First to run in pretty atrocious weather conditions were the u11/u13 boys and girls including newcomers Lana Stanger, Hope Stewart and Thomas MacAskill. First to cross the line was Harrison Hughes in 13:13, 2^nd boy Hector Patterson in 13:24 and 3^rd boy Jai Patterson in 13:35. Fastest actual time Jai Patterson. First place for the girls went to Nadine Elder in 13:23, 2^nd Sinead McHugh in 13:29 and 3^rd place Maddi Hewitt in 13:37. Fastest actual time Maddi Hewitt.

The rain had abated slightly for the next category, the u15/u17 boys/girls and also senior ladies with newcomer Carole Allott participating in her first race for the club. First over the line and winner of u15 boys category was Fraser Clyne in 19.40, 2^nd was Jamie Waugh in 20.45. Fastest actual time Fraser Clyne. In the u15/17/senior ladies race Lauren Corbett was first to cross in a time of 19.58, 2^nd Pam Paxton in 20:16 and 3^rd Carly Blaikie in 20.19. Fastest actual time Lauren Corbett.

Finally the senior men lined up for the last race of the day over a course often described as one of the hardest cross country courses in Scotland. There were 15 entrants in this race including newcomers Frank Birch, David Bell and Greg Walker. Winner was Craig Grieve in 34:00, after a fierce sprint for the line 2^nd place went to Bruce Hughes in 34:34 with Greg Walker taking 3^rd spot in 34.37. Fastest actual time Rory Anderson.

All times include handicaps.

See Keith Murray’s photographs HERE

This was the third successive weekend in a row that the club took to the road after having competed at Peebles and Stirling the previous weeks. Cumbernauld was the destination this time and fifteen Harriers headed off to the Scottish Championships. Cumbernauld has now hosted the Scottish Cross Country Relays for the past 15 years. The event has been held at Hawick Moor in 1982 and 1993. The Scottish Cross Country Relays were first held in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow in 1974. In the 1983/84 season the boys had a fantastic result finishing runners up (U13 C. Murphy, U15 D. Rudkin & U17 C. Nichol). In the 1989/90 season the club’s men went one better to be crowned Scottish Champions (K. Logan, R. Hall, A. Walker & D. Cavers). The men travelled to Inverness to compete that year and recorded a time of 51:15 just 7 seconds ahead of Dundee Hawkhill to take the title. Dave Cavers ran the last leg against Peter McColgan, Irish internationalist and ex-husband of former world champion Liz McColgan and managed to hang on for a dramatic finish and glory for the club.  

Young Females

First race of the day was the young females with three legs, U13, U15 & U17 all run over 2500m. Running the first leg were Maddie Hewitt (12:31) and Nadine Elder (12:42). Next away on the second leg was Macy Cropper (13:35).  The metaphorical baton was handed onto Ishbel Inglis who completed her leg in 13:03 bringing the team home in 74^th position, one ahead of last year. Winning team was Edinburgh AC.

Young Males

Second race was the boys over the same 2500m course. Jai Patterson (11:03) was first off for the club. Next off on the second leg was Fraser Clyne (10:01) who then handed over to Jamie Waugh (10:27) who brought the boys team home in 55^th position. 20 places ahead of last year. Wining team was Kilbarchan AAC.

Females

The penultimate race of the day was next and first off was Lauren Corbett taking on the 4,000m course, she completed her leg in (19:17). Pauline McAdam was next off and she finished in (20:43). Bringing the club home was last leg runner Anne Renwick in a time of (22:38). The ladies were in 50^th position and Edinburgh Ac were winners, helped by Olympian Freya Ross.

Males

This was the final race of the day and saw the men competing over the same distance as the ladies.

A Team – 54^th position

1^st Leg Rory Anderson 14:03
2^nd Leg Alan Inglis 16:27

3^rd Leg Alex Corbett 17:58

4^th Leg Paul Lockie 19:20

B Team – Incomplete team

1^st Leg Alan Coltman 19:13

Wining team was Central AC.

See Alex Corbett’s photographs HERE