Stirling Report by Eilidh Jaffray
On 21st October, record numbers turned up for the first round of the East District League in Stirling. In this there were seven Teviotdale Harriers competing in the grounds of the University including: Fraser Clyne, Maisie Ballantyne, Alister Biggar and Liam, Eilidh, Helene and Raymond Jaffray.
Liam was first up in the u13 boys race and this – like Eilidh and Helene – was his first experience of XC racing. Liam had one medium sized lap cutting out the steep hill at the back of the course. On one of the slippy corners, Liam fell in the mud but managed to pull himself straight back up again to finish the race in a time of 13:01.
Next up was Fraser in the u17 men followed by Helene in the women’s race as both ran the same course of two big loops. It was pouring with rain during Fraser, Liam and Helene’s races so Katie Jaffray, the resident photographer, didn’t manage to capture many photos of them. Fraser finished in an admirable 22:02 claiming 9th place. Helene completed her racing debut in a time of 30:06.
Then, it was Maisie and Eilidh’s turn to head up to the starting line in their team of two for the u15 girls/u17 women’s race. The girls had two of the short laps in the strange smelling mud which covered them up to their elbows by the end. Maisie came in 28th u15 girl (15:59) in her first league race and Eilidh crossed the line, in a time of 14:31 making her 26th overall.
The last race of the day was the u20/senior men’s race which included Teviotdale’s Raymond and Alister. Over 300 men competed on the day and there was so much adrenaline and testosterone going around that you had to give them a wide berth as they lined up for the start.
The men started off like a stampede with a late starter tripping over the tape five minutes after the gun. The men had three, long, very soft under foot laps around the golf course. Raymond finished 204th and Alister 219th place.
Picture credits Katie Jaffray.