On Saturday the 2^nd of March harriers from Hawick High School and Langholm Academy headed to Hopetoun House, South Queensferry to compete in the Secondary Schools XC Champs, writes Eilidh Jaffray. The conditions were slightly warmer than they were when it was the Beast from the East last year though it was a bit windy with a few sheep to contend with.

First to the start line was Ava Hughes in the u13 girls’ race. Ava put in a great performance coming across the line in 29^th place in a field of 121 girls. Next up in the same age group was Irvine Welsh who competed with an equally large field of 105 athletes. Irvine ran well around the course which contained a steep and muddy hill at the back of the grounds on each lap and managed to finish in 42^nd place.

The next harrier to race was Iona Jamieson who, along with Conan, was one of the two running for Langholm Academy. Iona finished in a time of 17:01 in a highly respectable 12^th place in a race of 93 girls. The next event featured harriers Robbie Welsh, Calum Renwick and Conan Harper. All three battled it out around the up and downs of the course finishing along the back straight in the view of Hopetoun House which was beautifully framed by the new Queensferry Crossing. The boys placed well with Conan finishing 33^rd, Calum in 45^th and Robbie 65^th.

Following this was Maisie Ballantyne whose race involved 4000m made up of 2 large laps. Maisie, who ran for Hawick High, finished in a commendable 46^th place out 89 athletes. Maisie was pleased to have placed higher than she had in the schools xc last year.

The last age group of the day was the over 17s and just as the last events were about to get underway, the weather changed, and the heavens opened. In the girls’ race was Eilidh Jaffray who also ran 4000m which she completed in a time of 16:17 managing to beat one of her competitors in a sprint finish to the line to finish in 5^th place. Finally, Fraser Clyne battled the elements round 3 large laps of the course finishing the 6000m in an admirable 17^th place in a time of 22:47. All runners made their schools proud at a great event which marked the end of the cross-country season.