Knee deep mud, howling winds and a charcoal grey sky awaited Teviotdale Harriers last Saturday as they headed to Falkirk for the 2017 Scottish Cross Country Championships.
Callendar Park provided the venue as the cream of Scottish running battled for National Honours with young Fraser Clyne Hawick’s standout runner.
The prestigious culmination to the cross country season proved to be a sapping test that demanded concentration as well as effort. Runners wouldn’t want it any other way.
With the Harriers tent adeptly erected to provide some respite from the squally conditions, it was time for the runners to venture forth and tackle the course.
Junior Captain Thomas MacAskill and Harrison Hughes were first under the starters gun and both ran with grit and determination. Competing among the 164 U13 boys on a 3.2km course, Thomas (12:25) finished 40th, with Harrison (14:48) 149th.
A slightly longer 4.2km route was in place for the U15 girls, three Harriers lined up in a field of 118 runners. Lucy Ash (17:50) was first Harrier home in 77th, Carly Blaikie (19:50) followed in 106th with Macy Cropper (21:03) finishing 109th.
Next running the same 4.2km course was 150 U15 boys, including an impressive Fraser Clyne. Following on from his recent sixth place finish at the Broxburn East District League Race, Fraser finished a hard earned 13th in a time of 13:48.
Ishbel Inglis was our sole entry among 48 U17 women and she gave her all around the 5.9km course. Finishing 45th in a time of 35:45.
The Senior Women’s three lap 10km race was next to feature Harriers as 269 women raced around a rapidly deteriorating course. Kirsty Hughes after a steady start, got into her running around the last two laps to finish 234th in a time of 1:00:17. Lauren Corbett did not finish.
The final race saw 647 Senior Men competing around the same 10km route and included Olympic Marathon runner Callum Hawkins and ten from Teviotdale. Hawkins would go on to win in some style in 33:34. Greg Walker (40:47) 106th, Rory Anderson (41:27) 127th and Bruce Hughes (43:53) 227th were first three home for Hawick.
Scott Watson (45:31) 280th, Derek Scott (47:01) 332nd, Andy Goodair (47:41) 358th, Alan Inglis (48:32) 393rd, Alister Biggar (51:54) 498th, Paul Lockie (58:17) 605th and Alan Coltman (59:28) 616th completed our competitors. These results placed Teviotdale 25th among the 42 full teams.
This Saturday 4th March will see the last club race of the season as Harriers compete around Hawick Moor in the Cup Races. Registration is at 12:45 with the first race at 13:30.
Bruce and Kirsty’s photos here.
Lauren Corbett’s photos here