Although numbers were slightly down and despite a pre-race panic new organiser Paul Lockie and his team of helpers managed to put on a successful staging of this year’s Penchrise race on a dry but breezy day at Stobs yesterday. The new junior race saw three young Harriers taking on the 5km route and they aquitted themselves well alongside the seniors on the initial climb up past Barnes Loch until turning back at the first cattle grid and racing back down to the campsite. First back was Jai Patterson in a time of 25:50, with Maddison Hewitt first girl and Ishbel Inglis second.
After a steady start in the senior race a group of three pulled clear on the climb with most of the ascent into a stiff headwind and although the runners quickly worked up a sweat it was noticeable the clothing on the marshall’s increased with altitude until Craig and Hollie were barely recognisable under their layers on the top of Penchrise . As the group reached the summit Teviotdale’s Rory Anderson had established a narrow lead over Craig Freshwater of Westerlands with Moorfoot’s Darin Dougal close on their heels. A fast descent now aided by the wind saw Anderson stretch his lead to win in a time of 35:00, narrowly outside the course record, Freshwater held onto second place with Dougal third. First lady home and fifth overall was Jill Stephen of HBT with Pauline McAdam of Teviotdale second. Amongst a host of Teviotdale veterans claiming the age group prizes the evergreen Jim Pittillo was first V80 dipping under the hour mark once again.
