GOOD EARLY SEASON FORM
Well done to the 3 MJs, Kobe Stevens, Mitchell Winyard and David Collins, who made up the Kingsland P7 team which won the Primary Schools Cross Country Champs(A-K) on 24 April and to Lewis Gray who was 6th home in the P6 race (L-Z) helping his West Linton team to victory.

Kobe then followed up with victory on Sunday 2 May in the Three Bridges school race with fine runs again from Mitchell, David and Lewis. In the Youths' handicap race Sophie Collins, having been set off by the handicapper on level terms with Dominic O'Hare, ran a fantastically brave race to lead until the return to Tweed Bridge when Dominic stretched away to win. Jacob Adkin finished well to snatch 2nd place from Sophie in the sprint to the line. Calum Gray and Rhuairidh Britton both had strong runs but had little chance given their handicaps, especially Rhu who would have to have been the next Mo Farah to win off his start behind even Jacob. That's what you get for daring to complain to the handicapper last year!


THE SUMMER SEASON IS ALMOST UPON US
See under "Fixtures" for some info on the Lothian and Borders League meetings which are held at Meadowbank starting 11 April. NB entries by 29 March for this first meeting or you have to pay more. This is a good entry-level competition for budding track and field athletes. Check with Gregor if you are unsure about entering.

SUMMER TRAINING STARTS TUESDAY 30 MARCH
.....6.30pm at Peebles High School.

IF IT'S SUMMER TRAINING THAT MEANS JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP SUBS ARE DUE
See the "About the Club" page for the membership application/renewal form.

EAST DISTRICT CROSS-COUNTRY TEAM BRONZE FOR MOORFOOT BOYS

It may be the panto season but the highlight of the day for Moorfoot Juniors at the East of Scotland Cross-Country Championships was a fantastic team bronze for the U13 team of Kobe Stevens (12th), Calum Magowan (19th) and Ruairidh Britton (20th). Oh yes it was. OH YES IT WAS. Only the teams from Edinburgh AC and Central AC beat them home (boo hissssss).

With Kobe and Ruairidh both eligible again in this age-group next year and Calum making his Moorfoots debut (and being more accustomed to cross-country on two wheels), this was a surprising success but just reward for their extra Tuesday night training round the paths and pavements of Peebles (hurray!).

Scout Adkin came closest to individual honours finishing a sprinkling of fairy dust outside the medals in the U17 Women’s race but enough to gain her automatic selection from the Fairy Queen for the East team for the Inter-District challenge on 9 January. Alex Campbell put in what is becoming her customary strong encore at the end for 10th in the U20 Women’s 4 miler.

Jacob Adkin and Sophie Collins were both destined for the chorus having just moved up to their respective U15 age-groups but both performed with credit and can take a bow. Jacob recorded a time only a few seconds slower than his big sister on the same 4.3km course when finishing 19th in the U15 Boys race (watch out Scout, he’s just behind you!) and Sophie battled on bravely against some big ogres for 14th in the U15 Girls equivalent.


Dunfermline 22nd November 2009

Not Noah this time - rather the Creature from the Black Lagoon would not have been out of place at Dunfermline where a small but intrepid group of Moorfoot Juniors ran in the second East District League event.
The downpours of the previous week had turned the course into a treacherous mud fest - that was just for the spectators (eh Mr Stevens!).

Kazya Stevens (9) had one of the best runs of the day in the U-11 group coming 16th.
In the U-11 boys David Collins (10) and Mitchell Win yard (11) finished 18th and 29th respectively after Mud Boarding their way round.
Running up an age group Kobe Stevens (11) turned in a good 13th position in the U-13s against a dominant Edinburgh AC contingent.
The last Moorfoot runner was Sophie Collins (13) also running up an age bracket in the U-15s coming home 28th unable to make any headway in the difficult conditions.
The conditions conspired against any top drawer performances but all should be commended for their gutsy efforts.


NB THERE WILL BE NO TRAINING AT PHS ON SUNDAY 23RD NOVEMBER. Gregor is on a course (and before you say it, no not a golf course, nor a racecourse.) DIY training, maybe a shorter run of about 15 mins - 5 mins easy, then 5 mins steady then 5 mins at a good fast pace.

BORDERS XC AT NORHAM
A good turn-out. See www.norhamrc.co.uk for the results. Scout, Sophie, Jacob and Kobe each won their catogories but everyone seemed to have a good run on what was a cracking day. Unofficially it looks like the MJs lead the team competition which is fantastic given that this is calculated from U17 boys and girls all together.

TUESDAY NIGHT WINTER GROUP RUN
This will start on a trial basis from Tuesday 10 November at 6.30pm. More details on the Training page.

DROOKIT, CLARTY AND COLD BUT SMILES ALL ROUND FOR THE MJs AT LASSWADE

There were no confirmed sightings of Noah but he wouldn’t have been out of place at Gorebridge for Lasswade AC’s annual cross-country races on Sunday 1st November. However the persistent rain and muddy conditions did not deter some hardy Moorfoot Juniors from putting in excellent early season performances.

Kazya Stevens was first away in the Under 11 Girls 1-mile race and smiled her way round to a sub-8 minute finish in 7.40 for 16th place, an excellent time and finish for the recently turned 9-year-old.

Top improver David Collins then battled on bravely for 4th place in the Under 11 Boys equivalent in 6.13, well over a minute faster than his time last year. Strong back up from debut boys Mitchell Wynyard and Euan MacGowan in 9th and 10th places meant DC and the boys taking team gold ahead of Law&District, Edinburgh AC and several other big name clubs, a fantastic achievement. (See photo in the Gallery.)

Stepping up an age-group and in distance, Border Games Youth League winner Kobe Stevens (11) came home 5th in the Under 13 Boys 2-mile race. Team-mate Ruairidh Britton (11) unfortunately took a tumble but battled on to finish not too far behind in 18th , although a certain winner of the Top Clarty prize!

Also up an age-group was Sophie Collins (13) in the Under 15 Girls 2 mile race. Undeterred by some strong opposition she finished a very encouraging 5th in 14.37, almost 2 minutes faster than last year and 50m ahead of regular rival Kerry Sandilands from Gala Harriers.

With the opposition towering over him on the start-line for the Under 15 Boys race Jacob Adkin (13) thought he was in the wrong event! But his first attempt at 3 miles was a brave one, especially given a niggly knee and he finished 16th in a very respectable time of 21.04.

Jacob’s big sis Scout (16) was next to go in the combined Under 17/Under 20 Women’s race, stepping back to 3 miles having completed her first ever 10K on the tough Jedburgh course the previous Sunday. Up against the Scottish 3,000m Champion Kathryn Pennel from Pitreavie and Scottish Hill Running Champion Alice Haining from Gala Harriers this was meant to be no more than a training run-out for Scout, but she led from before half-way and her relentless pace soon had her two rivals struggling in her wake. She broke the tape in 19.59 with Pennel 30m adrift in 2nd and Haining back in 3rd. Alex Campbell finished strongly for 4th in the same race and was first Under 20 athlete home.


QUICK SUMMARY OF SUMMER 09
Sorry there has not been much reported here recently. It's not that there hasn't been any news. We had a number of excellent performances over the summer.

Three athletes represented Scotland - Faye in the U17 long jump in the Schools International in Belfast where she got bronze and in the UK School Games in Cardiff where she got silver (having led going into the final round), and Scout and Alex in the Junior Hill Running Home International in Sedburgh. Scout came 5th in the U16 race and Alex 9th in the U18 race.

Well done to to Kobe Stevens who won the Borders Athletics Youth League with some gutsy consistent running at the summer Games and to the many others who represented the club well.

WINTER TRAINING...........is now in full flow through the mud!

Gregor's cross-country training is on Sundays at 10.30am at Peebles High School. There will be no training when there are Borders cross-country races on (see fixtures). Try to get your own runs in at least twice per week eg the PHS Friday group or round the 3 Bridges route.

Unfortunately due to other commitments (more training for Faye at Tweedbank, her own training and netball) Linda is not taking group training for the New Year Sprint this year so you're on your own if you want to run. NB entries close 1 Nov.