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Winter weather made round four of the Eastern Borders Winter XC Series a cold, slushy, wet and very muddy race on Sunday. Hosts Gala Harriers had to be content with 3rd place in the team event, behind Dunbar RC and local rivals Teviotdale Harriers. Teviotdale took the honours this time thanks to an excellent winning run from Ryan Craik.

Iain Arnott was again the first Gala runner home, finishing 8th in a time of 25.57, with Martin Clarke taking 13th spot in 26.48. The new course through the Gala ‘policies’ and the fields of Hollybush farm was not as hilly as past races but it was still a stiff test for everyone as Jack Knox found out finishing an unaccustomed 21st in a time of 28.08. Jack was followed home by Billy Anderson (27th) in a time of 28.58, with Paul Morris running one of his best races this season to finish 30th in 29.54.

Sally Barr took the ladies honours for Lauderdale, finishing 28th overall in a time of 29.08; she was closely followed by Veronique Oldham from Norham (29th) and Gala’s Leanne Haining who finished 35th overall in 30.43. Jim Langsdale seemed to be wearing most of the course on him at the finish and he must be thinking of buying a pair of cross-country shoes for the next race at St Abbs in four weeks time. Jim finished 39th in a time of 31.56 and was followed over the finish line by Karen Renton 53rd in 36.41 and Rosi Capper 65th in 43.59.

The junior race was a close run thing with young Teviotdale runner Ryan Gibson leading until he ran off the course and did not finish. This left the race open for Dunbar’s Colin Menzies to take first place in a time of 16.17 with Lewis Paulin, (ACEyemouth) and Derek Scott; (Teviotdale) following him in. Sarah Mathers ran another storming race to finish first girl and clinch the f12/13 title in a time of 18.25.

Not too far behind was the talented Alice Haining who finished in 20.44 and was closely followed by Kirstie Thomson (21.27) and Alex Hain (21.52). Final Gala runner to was Lucy Jones who was third in her age category and finished the two and a half-mile course in 24.47. Last runner in was Rebecca Caswell from Lauderdale who deserves a special mention for her gutsy performance, finishing in a time of 37.52.

Gala Harriers would like to thank Mr John Scott, (Hollybush Farm), for letting them use his fields.

Next race for the harriers is the final East District League race at Stirling on Saturday 6th of February.

Posted on Saturday, February 14th, 2004 at 11:07 pm and is filed under Race Reports.
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