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Berwick, or more specifically Spittal was the backdrop for the second round of the shortened Borders Winter Cross Country series and for once the weather was mild, if a little breezy with conditions underfoot no different from what could be normally expected of a beach followed by a cliff top out- and-back run.

The junior race is almost entirely on wet sand apart from a 200 metre turning stretch and this seemed to bring out the best performances in some of the Gala Harriers youngsters….perhaps evoking memories of summer Spittal trips for the 63 runners. Rowan Marr, with tired legs from a pace-setting race yesterday in Hawick did well to finish 3rd overall and 3rd in his age group in 15 minutes 11 seconds and Fraser Wardhaugh wasn’t far behind in 15.41, running a well-judged and spirited race. Only 2 seconds shy of Fraser was Nathan Cox running equally well in 15.43 and next home for the Harriers was young Andrew Hogg whose speed belies his tender age as he stormed over the line in 16.30 to come 2nd in his category of M8-11 years. Kerry Sandilands was flying in on his coat tails a second later in 16.31, first in her F14-15 category. Her excellent run meant that she just beat Cameron Gowans (16.35) in the closing moments, who in turn finished ahead of Alex Freer (17.13) safely in before a wave of Gala girls engulfed the line with Isla King (17.25 and 2nd in her F16-17 age group), Zoe Pflug (17.37 and first in the F8-11 category), Cara Hogg (17.44 and 2nd in the same category), Jo Arres (17.50), Marshall Smith (19.08 and not a girl!), Morven Cawthorn (20.11), Rhiannon Fagan (20.41) and Billie Pflug (21.17) all running sound races in testing conditions with the wind against them on the homeward leg.

106 seniors had gathered for their day at the seaside, with a dozen Harriers led home by Mark Bryson in a sparkling 5th position with his run in 28.32 giving him first place in the M40-44 category. David Moffat (30.20), Colin McCall (30.45) and Paul Daly, (30.50) toughed it out to finish in rapid succession, with Paul 3rd in the M40-44 age group. Martin Clarke (31.38) Bob Marshall (32.51 and 1st in the M60-64 category) and Dave Nightingale (33.57 and 1st in the M55-59s) showed that the hunger to race competitively doesn’t stop as the years roll by, while Alastair Laurie (33.58) and Malky Gowans (35.20), unarguably the most regular member to turn out for club both performed excellently. A welcome return to full fitness following knee surgery heralded Graham Capper’s first race for over a year and he enjoyed his outing in a solid 36.52, placing him 2nd behind David Nightingale. James Purves (38.32) and Shelagh King (46.46) rounded off the Gala line up, relishing their morning’s work.

Posted on Monday, January 24th, 2011 at 11:03 am and is filed under News, Race Reports, Race Results.
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