THE first Borders Cross Country (BXC) series event of 2012, and fifth in this season’s series, took place at Paxton House last weekend.
The weather was again mild and the rain stayed away – the course, modified from last year, took in a couple of fields and a lovely riverside path and woodland section; largely fast and flat, but with a couple of short, sharp bankings to ascend and enough mud (and cow slurry) to keep the hard core XC’ers satisfied.
With only two more events to go, Moorfoot’s Mike Reid got back on track with a fine win in 20 minutes and two seconds, which makes for an interesting finish to the series at Berwick and Norham.
Numbers of competing athletes have risen steadily over the course of this season and so a full listing of both junior and senior results would take up more column inches than we have.
Of the 100-plus juniors, almost a quarter were Gala Harriers, with excellent performances from many, ensuring high category placings for Nathan Cox, Thomas Otton, Jamie Logan, Andrew Hogg, Becky Couch, Laura Anderson, Jo Arres, Cara Hogg and Emily Jones.
Moorfoot youngsters also did well. Despite a minor misdirection when 10m clear at halfway, Jacob Adkin ran well, only to be just outkicked over the last 200m by John McLean.
Kobe Stevens did exceptionally well to keep going and attain a good placing, despite running three-quarters of the race missing one shoe which came unstuck crossing the burn. He was one of several juniors to finish “a la Brian Whittle” on one shoe.
More than 160 seniors ran, including 22 Gala Harriers, with first-in-category positions for Dave Nightingale, Bob Marshall, Fiona Dalgleish, Andrea Pogson and Isla King, and third places for Martin Clarke, Gillian Duncan, Fiona Shepherd and Shelagh King.
Full results can be found at www.bordersxc.com