Jog Scotland Dryburgh 5K & Eildon 2 Hills
June 28th, 2010The recent spell of weather has provided perfect conditions for outdoor events of all kinds and Gala Harriers have been revelling in the warm days.
On Tuesday 22 June, Fiona Shepherd and Vicky MacDonald entered the Healthy Lives JogScotland 5K at Dryburgh and both finished first in their categories in times of 22 minutes 37 seconds and 26.09 respectively. Young Mark Purves also scampered home in first place in the junior race.
The Eildon 2 Hills Race has traditionally been organised by the Harriers as part of the Melrose Festival’s Saturday sports and 78 runners made the trip for what is surely one of the toughest but most scenic hill races in Southern Scotland. The conditions were sultry and overcast as the runners left Gibson Park at 3pm and as the sun emerged so did the winners in what turned out to be an extraordinary race. Several of the leading runners chose routes which might have been different with hindsight, but it took nothing away from the final race winners who entered the Greenyards just over half an hour later. First home for Moorfoot Runners was Michael McGovern in 33 minutes and 50 seconds, putting in a final sprint to pull away from second placed Keith Murray of Teviotdale Harriers just 2 seconds behind him. Third to enter the ground was young Gala Harrier Georgia Nesbitt, only to be pipped at the post into 4th position by Carnethy Hill runner Paul Faulkner (34.01) but nevertheless finishing in the highest position a female has ever placed in this race in a fantastic 34.01. There were other highly placed Gala runners in the shape of Neil Aitchison in 9th place in 35.19, Fergus Johnston, 11th place in 35.29, Mark Bryson, 13th in 35.50 and Rachel Fagan, 21st in 37.00 and 2nd lady, shaving half a minute off last year’s time. Other Gala runners equipping themselves well on the hills were: Derrick Brydon (38.09) Alan Goodson (38.14) David Nightingale (38.55) Billy McCulloch (39.00) Colin McCall (39.47) Malky Gowans (39.58) Tony Westbury (42.05) Ian Wilson (42.14) Alison Wilson (43.28) Paul Morris (43.58) Fiona Shepherd (44.45) James Purves (46.18) Shelagh King (51.32) Fiona Morris (52.02 and a full 8 minutes faster than last year!) and Dawn Grant (54.26). The third placed female was Eilidh Wardlaw from Hunters Bog Trotters in 37.40.
The presentations took place in Melrose RFC clubrooms, accompanied by delicious refreshments provided by Harriers with the speed of the results process breaking all previous records. The winning male team overall was Teviotdale Harriers, with Gala Harriers hanging on to the ladies’ team prize and Georgia Nesbitt scooping the additional awards of first Gala Harrier and first local runner home. Thanks must go to Paul Morris as Race Organiser and to all marshals, the Carruthers brothers as timekeepers and kitchen helpers who ensured that everything ran very successfully.
Eileen Handyside Says:
I would like to congratulate the Gala Harriers on a very well organised Eildon Hill Race. Everyone from the ladies doing the registration to all the stewards on the hill and throughout the route. Everyone was very supportive and helful and I enjoyed my run very much.Many, many thanks once again for a very enjoyable run.
Best regards,
Eileen