Borders XC series 2011/12 |
| Floors Castle Berwick Paxton House Peebles Gala Dunbar Lauder |
| Borders XC homepage |
| 19th February 2012 Floors Castle      The last race of the Borders XC series was held in Kelso in beautiful weather over a dry but completely mad circuit that involved numerous loops, zigzags and, taking advantage of a XC course laid out for horses, numerous jumps and high steps. Just slightly too high to actually jump, having gained a purchase on the top you might find an enthusiastic competitor sweeping away your arm or leg and replacing it with their own. Quite interesting though! The Carnethy turnout was not quite as spectacular as on recent outings, being 6 in all - me, Gordon, Jane, Jim, Charlotte & Bill. Charlotte & Jane stormed in to first places by running fast. I stormed into first place because the other M60s didn't turn up and Bill stormed into first place in a class of his own. Charlotte was outright ladies winner in 17th overall; Jim 25th (10th in cat.) & Gordon 35th placed (4th in cat.). The race was a bit short at 3.5 miles - we may collectively have missed one or two of the twists & turns, it was that confusing. Then it was all back to the Rugby club for soup, rolls, horse brasses for those who had done at least 4 of the races, and prizes. A lot of categories and Gordon was making copious notes in between leaping up to collect prizes for missing runners. Results will appear here shortly. Charlotte Morgan's album 'Carnethy at Kelso' Digby Floors Castle, Kelso was the venue for last of the Borders XC races. Glorious day and an interesting XC course around the horse XC route including the jumps! Low Carnethy turnout but it didn't affect the overall results: Ladies Categories: 1st Helen Bonsor and Charlotte Morgan; 2nd Jane Jackson and Hilary Spenceley Ladies overall: 1st Charlotte Morgan Ladies team: Carnethy Men's Categories: 1st Stewart Whitlie, Ronnie Gallagher (running for Lauderdale) and Bill Gauld; 2nd Ally Robertson (under Lothian) and Adam Ward; 3rd Digby Maass Men's Team: Carnethy Horse Brass winners: Andy Fallas, James Hardie, Gordon Cameron, Jonathan Whitehead, Robin Sloan and Ian Nimmo Gordon |
| 29th January 2012 Berwick       Well done Charlotte Morgan! 1st lady again today, and well done JamesWaldie, 2nd overall. More well dones to Helen Bonsor, Jane Jackson, Hilary Spencely and Bill Gauld, remarkably all1st in their categories. And well done to the other Carnethies who came along, making 13 in all, on a grey, cold but nice and still day to wade through a variety of sand types from deep and loose to firm & wet, a wee slope up to the track/footpath then along and retrace, out and back course. Their website may sometimes lack a little information but you can't fault Borders Cross Country for the quickly putting up results & other stats, which can be found here (provisional), or for the marshalling and the race which was once again very well organised. Digby |
| 8th January 2012 Paxton House Andy Fallas ran well with a 3rd place in the latest Borders Cross-Country at Paxton House from a large field of 160 runners. Stewart Whitlie was not far behind in 5th place. Charlotte Morgan also continued her good form with another easy win in the women's.        What a nice place to be on a still winter's day, with just a hint of springtime about it. The course of 3.45 miles is an intricate variety of crossing loops around the estate with a long leg along the banks of the Tweed. Mostly good underfoot with some mud and the world's biggest cowpat, of unknown depth, guarding the route through a gate into a field. Some went over the fence and some splashed on through, but since it also adorned the fence that was not such a good option after all. Very good lentil soup to be had in the café afterwards. Route on Other Races page. Results Digby )
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| 4th December 2011 Peebles       There was a massive turnout of 17 Carnethy runners (18 if you include Ronnie Gallagher, who was running incognito!) with Club Captain, Andy Fallas leading from the front to be first counter for the club (5th), in front of Stewart Whitlie (7th) and new member Alastair Robertson (12th). Gordon lagged a little in 43rd - 3 places behind Charlotte Morgan who was 3rd lady overall, 1st in her category and leading female Carnethy, with Helen Bonsor & Jane Jackson a whisker apart as 2nd & 3rd Club finishers. Bill Gauld made an appearance & thrashed Ian Nimmo, who also beat himself according to the provisional results, coming both 2nd & 4th in his category. There was proper winter weather this time. The snow on the way from Edinburgh did not last quite as far as the Tweed, though a few flakes were falling half way through the race. Nowhere near as muddy as last week and a really pretty course along the banks of the river, then back up and over the old railway bridge which is part of a walkway, an actual steep hill that wouldn't disgrace a hill race, leading to the woods and back through muddy farmland. Not to be denied a paddle, hardy Carnethies washed off the mud in the cooling waters of the rather full (and cold) Tweed. Bill, after his first run in the series so far, appeared to have pulled, or at least be pulled out (see photo)! Results here - Series stats to follow. Next race 8th Jan at Paxton House. More photos on Carnethy Album and Portobello RC site |
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27th November 2011 Gala       More like winter this time though the sun was shining brilliantly, the gales having largely cleared, though the brisk wind was cold. 13 Carnethies in the field, and in field was mud. The leaders thought they had accidently missed part of the route, which they had, but only because the organisers shortened the race owing to said mud. So we only did 3.59 miles, and Jane J was highly indignant - map here. Given the calf deep stuff we did encounter it must have been something else! Andy Fallas was first male Carnethy in 7th place, Stuart Whitlie 10th & first in his category; and improving her good form from the last race Charlotte Morgan won first lady in 29th overall. Gordon made it into the results this time! Digby Good report with photos from Portobello runners here Wonder what they'd have made of Slioch! Correction! Digby...just read your CHRC report. Race wasny shortened due to 'said mud'. It was due to a gate being wired closed and a marshall thinking t'was not appropriate to open. The goodly marshalls were actually waiting for us on the adjacent field and wondered why the hell no one came! Bill for re-dyking that (unfortunate) mistake over the dyke will be >£200 I imagine. We checked out the damage post race on lap 2. Kate Jenkins |
| 20th November 2011 Winter(?) Series – Dunbar        We couldn't have wished for better weather, except perhaps in the summer gone. The course was a benign mix of beach and turfy path over a distance of 4.5 miles. First Carnethy home in 5th place was Andy Fallas in 28:15, followed in 13th & 14th places some 2 mins later by James Hardie and Andy Spenceley (1st Over 50) a second apart, then moments later Adam Ward in 16th. New member (and Tinto winner) Charlotte Morgan was the first Carnethy lady in 18th place (and 2nd lady overall in her first xc race since she was at school!) in a time of 30:48. Following her were Hilary Holding and Hazel Sutherland placed 5th & 6th in the ladies. 13 Carnethies finished, including 6 women, (though Gordon Cameron seems to be missed out from the results) in a field of 146. Afterwards the sun, sea & sand was too inviting to ignore and we bravely went in for a paddle - some as far as the ankles. Hilary Spenceley went somewhat further - as far as the neck - which was brave! I estimate the water temperature to be baltic. Results Carnethy Album Digby ...it turns out Hilary Holding did not run! This is getting confusing. |
| 6th November 2011 Lauder - James second and Carnethy win team !!    A huge field of 184 for the first round of the Borders XC series at Lauder in perfect conditions. Frosty with bright sunshine and very soft muddy ground - perfect for hill runners - as demonstrated by James Waldie who was just pipped for first place and was closely followed by Stewart Whitlie (7th and 1st Over 45), Ronnie Gallagher (14th and 1st Over 50 - running for the local club as he lives there!), Jimbob (22nd), Andy Spenceley (24th and 2nd Over 50), with many other Carnethies putting in great performances. Welcome return for Hilary Holding. This was real XC with tussocks, river crossings, muddy hill climb, steep descent, dyke jump etc. Not for spikes! Next one is on the beach at Dunbar in 2 weeks time. See you there. Gordon Results of Lauder and details of next race here. Amazingly Carnethy won the event to take an early lead in the team competition; other good runs from Jane Jackson (1st Over 40), Anne Nimmo (1st Over 55) and Ian Nimmo (2nd Over 70). |