Only the second running of this event and already proving very popular with a good turnout from Teviotdale Harriers among the 192 entries raising over £1000 for the Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Unit.

Selkirk Rugby Club providing parking and changing facilities with the challenging route of just over 13 miles starting just above the Corby Lynne car park using a muddy field to spread out the runners before joining a stony track for the first mile. A sharp turn off the track had us scrambling up a grassy hillside towards the first checkpoint on top of Peat Law before a run down over the heather and a more runnable climb up to the Three Brethren. By now most of the field had settled down into a familiar order and Craig Grieve, John Tullie and myself were running as a group as we set off along the Southern Upland Way with John usually making ground leaping the gates while most of us were clambering over the slippery stiles.

Despite the recent rain the course mainly provided good running with just the occasional muddy patch and Craig had forged ahead as we approached the turn at halfway and the descent of the Minchmoor Road. It’s always a great run down here and although narrow at times I managed to sneak by a couple of runners before being caught myself by a small group towards the bottom of the track. The final part of this descent was over a wet field before splashing through a burn where a waiting cameraman ensured there was to be no pussyfooting across it. Right after the burn a short muddy climb came as a shock after 3 miles of descent however the real sting in the tail was still to come. After making our way round the muddiest part of the course behind Broadmeadows we had the climb of Foulshiels Hill to negotiate on tired legs and this went a long way to sorting out the finishing order.

John proved the strongest over the top of the hill and opened up a lead over Craig and myself on the descent and continued to pull away down the stony path to the finish. The course had been marked out slightly shorter than last year’s snowy event leading to faster times than expected and records and pb’s tumbling. There was a great atmosphere back at the rugby club where after a hot shower we were served up with haggis, neeps and tatties and soup, all included in the entry fee.  All told a great event highly recommended, organised by Selkirk Fund Runners (full results and photos on their facebook page), thanks to all involved.

Harriers results:   27 John Tullie 1.51.24:  29 Keith Murray 1.52.08:  32 Craig Grieve 1.5250:  40 Kenny Short 1.55.14:  113 Rob Cranston 2.21.37:  147 Pauline McAdam 2.36.57:  161 Paul Lockie 2.48.35:  162 Mandy Short 2.48.39