Category Archives: Race reports

Tullie takes Gold after years of trying!

Teviotdale Harriers held their first race of the New Year on Saturday 5th January 2020, after blowing the cobwebs away on the Harriers New Year’s Day Run, a fine number of participants were back and ready to race after all the fun of the holidays. The U11/U13 juniors were first to compete, 14 in all on the starting line, with 2 trophies to compete for, the Fire Brigade Cup for the girls and the Burnfoot Residents Association Trophy for the boys.  Taking the lead just past The Dunk corner, relatively new member Niamh Dixon powered on to win first place in the girls race and also her first trophy since becoming a harrier in a time of 10:56. Emily MacLeod, who regularly features in the top 3 since joining, took 2nd place in a time of 11:04, and another regular top 3 finisher Chloe Walker, moved swiftly up the pack, sprinting down the riverside to take 3rd spot in 11:34.  In the boys race, Taylor Watson took an early lead and maintained it all the way to cross the line victoriously, his time was 10:25, Irvine Welsh ran a magnificent race, starting at the very back of the pack, he powered his way round the Wilton Lodge Park course to cross the line 2nd in a time of 10:40, 3rd spot went to the ever improving James Wood in 10:43.  All times include handicaps and for both Niamh and Irvine, this was a double celebration,  as both recorded fastest actual times as well.  Very well done!

Next it was the turn of the U15/U17 boys & girls plus senior ladies.  This race is one of two where these categories return to the original distances unlike the other 5 harrier races where all senior categories run the same distance.  There are 3 trophies up for grabs in this race, Lodge 111 Trophy U15/U17 Girls & Senior Ladies, Lodge 111 Trophy U15/U17 Boys and the Langheugh Trophy for Senior Men.  Chasing the Lodge 111 trophies were 11 competitors including Morgan Grieve, making a welcome return to racing as an adult having been a junior member.  Ann Aitken was first away in the handicap and kept her lead to finish 1st in a time of 20:38, Lindsey Knox was next over the line in silver position with a time of 21:30 and completing the trio 3rd place went to Kirsty Hughes in 22:00, all having braved the chilly waters of the fords over the route.  Fastest actual time for the ladies was Caroline Jack.  In the boys race Robbie Welsh kept that winning feeling in the family, equalling his younger brother Irvine’s success in the earlier juniors race.  Robbie crossed the line 1st in the handicap in a time of 21:30 as well as recording fastest actual time.  A regular top 3 finisher, Calum Renwick was 2nd in 23:47 then another double sibling placing with Robert Wood matching brother James in 3rd position with a time of 23:56.  All times include handicaps.

Finally, it was the turn of the senior men for the Langheugh Trophy.  A punishing route of approximately 5/6 miles of true cross country racing including steep climbs, dykes and fences to jump, burns to cross, not to mention the mud!  Regardless, a willing and hardy 18 souls lined up for the challenge.  First to come in to view approaching Wilton Burn were Ron Hastings and Frank Birch with Frank, not Ron! taking a little detour before rejoining Ron on the original route, (a few more metres on Strava Frank!)  Next to appear were Alan Coltman, Paul Lockie and Andrew Gibson, one after the other until Paul took a hefty tumble down the banking, he soon recovered and the race was back on.  Pursuing them were, Alan Inglis, Liam Gibson and John Tullie followed by Gregor Welsh, Kenny Short, Derek Scott and Keith Murray.  Douglas Wood, Scott Watson and Greg Walker then appeared before back marker Rory Anderson then came in to view, followed by Derek Ballantyne and Euan Welsh to complete the 18. Positions changed much during the run down the track with John Tullie coming in to view as leader on the back pitches of Wilton Lodge Park.  John crossed the line in 1:06:21, 2nd place went to Andrew Gibson 1:06:57 and after a surge for the line over the last 2 pitches Greg Walker pushed forward to take 3rd place 1:07:39.  Fastest actual time Rory Anderson. 

Menzies 2019

Last weekend saw Teviotdale Harriers last races for 2019 writes Caroline Jack, with the competitive Menzies Race on the Saturday and the more informal but equally competitive Christmas relays on Sunday.The Menzies Race saw 42 Teviotdale Harriers descend upon Hawick’s Common Haugh in relatively mild and dry conditions for the time of year. First off were the juniors (U11/U13), running around part of Wilton Lodge Park and back to the Haugh, Winning the MGM Trophy for the boys was Ivan Watson, followed home by Lyle Beattie and Alfie Walker. Irvine Welsh recorded the fastest actual time of 8:19. The girls race saw Chloe Walker take the W G Robertson Trophy and also the fastest recorded time of 10:41, followed by Niamh Dickson and Ruby Watson. Next up were all other categories in a sealed handicap start following the route usually only run by the men; through the park, up the 10k hill, towards Martins Bridge, round by the “Joogly Bridge” and back along the A7 to finish at the High School. Conan Harper took the J M Hamilton Trophy in the scratch race for U15/U17 boys in a time of 25:32 followed by Calum Renwick and Robbie Welsh. Sam Allott winning the Shiel Trophy in the sealed handicapped category. Langholm carried on the winning streak with Girls Captain, Iona Jamieson recording a time of 31:09 in the U15/U17/Ladies scratch category winning the W Spence Trophy, followed by Caroline Jack and Ava Hughes. Ladies Captain, Caroline Jack winning the sealed handicapped Curruthers Trophy.The men’s race saw Langholm winning a hat-trick with Ryan Milligan storming in to first place with a time of 24:58 to take the Oliver Trophy, followed by Greg Walker and Alistair ‘Sammy’ Walker. Winning the sealed handicapped Menzies Trophy was Derek Ballantyne.

Welsh & Walkers claim burns Club top prize

Last Saturday (30th November), the brave runners of Teviotdale Harriers were not going to let the overnight frost (which had cancelled most of the towns other sporting action) stop them from their annual Burns Club races and they descended onto the Common Haugh for an afternoon of enthralling handicapped racing writes Euan Welsh.

The first race of the afternoon was the U13/U15/U17 Boys competing for the main event, the Burns Club Trophy, over an enduring 2.4 mile round the outskirts of Wilton Lodge Park. Six runners took off from the Haugh and it was Sam Allott who lead the way after the opening mile setting a fast pace and asking questions of those in pursuit behind him. In the final mile, the back markers of the race, Robbie Welsh, Irvine Welsh and Calum Renwick made good ground, quickening with every stride and in the final few hundred metres it turned into a battle of two brothers as Robbie and Irvine fought for the title. Robbie, who had held Irvine off for the majority of the race finally fell away and it was Irvine who would go onto take the Burns club Trophy in an a time of 19.46, five seconds clear of Robbie (19.51) with the podium being completed by back marker Calum Renwick (20.10) who also claimed fastest time for the race in what was a tremendous effort.

The boys were running over a new route and a further distance which was introduced this season with their race being started in conjunction with the U15/U17 Ladies race who were contesting for the John Elliot Trophy. Twelve ladies, including two debutants head off on the new route, with past Ladies captain Ann Aitken making a statement in the opening stages. On the comeback from injury, Lauren Corbett was running comfortably in her efforts to lead the race, with teen flyers Maisie Ballantyne and Ava Hughes also making their presence felt in the middle to latter stages. Towards the close of the race, experienced Corbett would quicken and fiend off any late surge that newcomer Victoria Campbell gave, taking the victory in a time of 20.05. Campbell took silver (20.10) and 13 year old Ava Hughes finished well (20.12) to take bronze.

The second set of races to get underway was the U11 boys (Ian Watson Memorial Shield) and the U13/U11 girls (Stan Reid Trophy) over 1.4 miles. Ten boys set off at a fast pace with back markers James Wood and Greg Watson knowing they had to go flat out if they were to contend for medals come the final few hundred metres. Alfie Walker did well to get himself into the lead and with his eyes set firmly on the finish line he managed make a dash for the line break the tape comfortably in a time of 9.49 with front runners Calan Pender-Mills (9.58) and McLaren Welsh (10.00) second and third respectively.

In the girls race, nine budding athletes galloped off on their search for the Stan Reid Trophy and as expected with a short course it was the front markers who held their positions. Freya Walker gained confidence with every stride and once she was in front there was no looking back, breezing to victory in a solid time of 9.36. Alyx Armstrong was next over the line (10.17) and Emily McLeod was third (10.21).

In the final race of the day, 18 men set off on the same course that the ladies and boys had covered earlier in the afternoon. Club stalwarts Jim Pittilo and Frances Cannon set the pace in the early stages with Frank Birch and Alan Samuel also running well at the halfway point. It was at this point that some of the younger blood made their efforts to try and catch the front runners. Euan Welsh hit the front with 600 metres to run and despite determined efforts from the talented Rory Anderson and spirited Scott Watson, Welsh would take the title (21.20), his first in the harriers vest, with Frank Birch (22.19) second and Paul Lockie (22.27) third.