BERWICK Harriers hosted the fourth round of the Borders Winter Cross Country Series at Spittal point on Sunday after a seven week break due to the recent spell of bad weather, which resulted in the cancellation of the Gala event.
There was an excellent turn out of runners with 138 seniors and 67 juniors competing.
Athletes had to brave the cold and wintry conditions on the beach and cliff-top course, with some having to navigate the high tide, and many thanks go to the mar
shals and helpers on the day.
The race route starts on the dunes at Spittal Point then is followed by a run down Spittal beach, then up onto the cliffs and across the fields down to Cocklawburn. The runners then return back to Berwick by the same route with a stamina sapping finish on the beach and dunes at Spittal.
Winner of the senior men's race was Neil Ford of Vegan Runners in a time of 27.42 minutes, who was closely followed home by runner-up Grant Wilkie of Corstorphine in 27.48.
This pair had created a sizeable lead by the midway turning point and it was still neck and neck until the pair reached the beach when Neil Ford pulled away to win.
Another Corstorphine runner, Christopher O'Brien came in third in 28.02.
First lady was Flora Anderson of Dunbar in 34.36, with Isobel Joiner (unattached) second in 34.43 and Victoria Lomax of Edinburgh AC third in 35.18.
The junior race winner was Cameron Balfour of TLJT, with Rowan Marr of Gala Harriers second and Ruaridh Millar of Edinburgh AC in third.
Junior girls winner was Louise Mercer of Teviotdale, followed by Sophie Collins of Moorfoot and Hannah Bagley of Berwick Harriers.
A further 11 Harriers competed and they included:
Seniors - Adam Fletcher 11th in 29.11; Stuart Birkett 58th in 36.36 and Charmaine Love 100th in 39.20.
Juniors - Craig Scott 5th in 15.28; Rose bagley 11th in 16.06; Terry Gilliland 12th in 16.31; Hannah Bagley 19th in 17.52; Jess Bagley 24th in 18.54; Jake Birkett 26th in 19.07; Rhiannon Flatman 55th in 22.00; and Wayne Charlton 66th in 27.00.
Norham Running Club members were out in force with 12 runners taking part. First was Christopher Black in fifth position in 28.24 followed by Keith Lyal seventh in 28.41.
Other Norham runners finishing were: Tim McCall 32nd in 32.08, Mike Jones 50th in 34.20, Douglas Small 61st in 35.14, Rob Stankiewicz 74th in 36.08, Richard Connel 75th in 36.11, Allan Macaulay 88th in 37.38, John Pigg 89th in 37.49, Hannah Humphries 91st in 38.04, Caroline Tyser 102nd in 39.39 and Adrienne Little 114th in 41.34.
* FOR the third year, the junior department of Longridge Towers School hosted a mini cross country competition in the woodland and fields that make up the school grounds.
Around 170 children from seven schools were involved: Holy Trinity First School, Mowden Hall, Rock Hall, St Mary's Berwick, St Mary's Melrose, Scremerston First School and Longridge Towers.
The event was organised by Ms. Shelagh Phillips, head of the junior department with the aim of getting as many children as possible, working on their fitness, having fun and running out in the fresh air.
The afternoon began with a mass warm up taken by Mrs Young; the Longridge sports studies students acted as energetic, fit hares and Form J6 marshalled the event.
The results were as follows:
Boys:
Year 2 - 1 Kit Cawthorn (Holy Trinity), 2 Ben Pettifer (Rock Hall), 3 Max Turner (Holy Trinity).
Year 3 - 1 Jack Ringland (Holy Trinity), 2 Richard Gaisford (Mowden Hall), 3 Jonathan Murray (St Mary's, Melrose).
Year 4 - 1 Harry Remnant (Mowden Hall), 2 Andrew Hogg (Longridge Towers), 3 James Laing (Longridge Towers).
Girls:
Year 2 - 1 Camilla Home (Longridge Towers), 2 Charlotte Alexander (St Mary's, Berwick), 3 Shannon Alexander (St Mary's, Berwick).
Year 3 - 1 Sophie Mason (St Mary's Melrose), 2 Eleanor Peel (Mowden Hall), 3 Charlotte Steele (Holy Trinity).
Year 4 - 1 Cara Hogg (Longridge Towers), 2 Alix Patterson (Holy Trinity, 3 Susannah Godfrey-Fausett (St Mary's, Melrose).
