A mother daughter double followed by a hugely popular win in the Senior Men’s race equated to an exciting afternoon at a serene Hawick Moor last Saturday.
The two legged variety of racer competed around the towns racecourse in an event that was first staged in 1894. 112 years later and the format is still the same with a four lap, 3 mile race for the Teviotdale Harriers Cup, arguably the most sought after piece of silverware available to any male member of the club.
With a further six trophies up for grabs, including the first chance for Veteran Ladies to win the Mary Hughes Memorial Salver, 46 runners in total were all champing at the bit to get the action started.
The first race of the day featured the Under11/13 Boys and Girls competing around one and a half laps of the course. The boys were racing for the M and M trophy whilst for the girls the John Elliot trophy was the prize. With soft conditions causing footwear problems for many of the runners, there was to be no such issue for winners Callum Renwick and Ava Hughes.
Callum secured Boys gold with a gritty determined run, once he found himself first there was to be no catching him. Harrison Hughes, although finishing with only one shoe, managed to take silver with Robbie Jack racing well for bronze. Joint back marker Conan Harper (7:36) ran the fastest actual time with James Wood competing in a club race for the first time.
In the Girls category a tenacious Ava gave a gutsy display to claim back a trophy she had won two years earlier. Iona Jamieson (8:30) earned both silver and fastest actual time with another impressive run. First timer racer Kelly McKay picked up the bronze, with Tiegan Singleton also a debutant.
Next race on the track and tackling two laps were the Under15/17 Boys Girls and Ladies. In the Boys competition back marker Fraser Clyne was the run away winner. Posting the fastest time on his way to victory, Fraser (8:56) wrestled the Junior Cup away from three time winner Jamie Waugh who had to settle for second. Duncan Little should be pleased with his efforts running well for third.
Winning the Ladies Challenge Trophy and thus securing a family double was the added bonus for a purposeful Kirsty Hughes in the Girls and Ladies race. A mere 20 minutes after daughter Ava claimed gold, Kirsty repeated the feat.
Setting off with intent, Kirsty quickly gained ground on two of the three front markers, before finally catching long time leader Macy Cropper along the back straight of the final lap. Kirsty dug deep to cross the line first, with Macy securing second and Lauren Corbett (11:27) taking third and fastest time. For being first Veteran (excluding race winner) Ann Aitken scooped the Mary Hughes Memorial Salver.
Last but by no means least, the Senior Men lined up to race for the historic Teviotdale Harriers Cup. ‘The inaugural Cup Race was to have been held on 31st March (1894) but this was postponed until 7th April when it was discovered that this would clash with the Gala v Hawick rugby match!’ Describes John L. Coltman in his book First Hundred.
Rolling back the years, ‘Teviotdale Legend’ Alan Samuel emerged victorious. Alan first won a Senior Harriers Men’s race in 1969, with his last in 2004. Alan is also one of only three men who have been Club Champion in five consecutive years (73-77). On Saturday he won his first ever Cup Race and became the seventh different winner in seven handicap races this season.
Running steadily from the gun, Alan was not to be caught and broke the tape 10 seconds ahead of second place Alan Coltman with David bell completing the podium. Alan Coltman’s position secured him the Glencairn Trophy for the men’s first Vet. Back marker Rory Anderson (18:17) completed the four laps in the fastest actual time.
The club would like to offer thanks to Lyle and Scott for their continued support and generous donation of prizes to all race winners, including the much coveted ‘Maroon Jumper’.
This drew another eventful race season to an end with only Fridays Presentation Night left, 7:00pm in the Volunteer Club Rooms.
Alex Corbett’s photos here
Results MOOR CUP 2017