Sunday 11 January 2015

Battling the Elements at Holyrood

Three Moorfoot U13 girls were selected for the East of Scotland team for the annual Inter-District Championship races held at Holyrood Park on Saturday in conjunction with the Great Edinburgh Cross-Country. That's 20% of the team for the East District stretching from north of Aberdeen through Dundee, Perth, Stirling, Falkirk, the Lothians and the Borders. Up against a very strong West team (who had the first nine finishers!) as well as the elements, the girls all ran well in very demanding conditions. Out on the course it was hard enough for spectators to stand up at times in the bitingly cold strong wind, never mind run 3km through the increasingly muddy conditions. Beth Hobbs was the sixth counter for the East team coming home in 20th place overall in 14.27. Charlotte Clare had a strong second half to finish 23rd in 14.47 and Elena McGorum did well for 34th in 15.22 after snivvling and coughing all week.

Tough as the conditions were for the youngsters it paled into relative insignificance compared to the senior women's 6km race in which Scout Adkin represented Scottish Students. The first lap run in horizontal icy snow must have been bad enough but when this turned to horizontal hail during the second lap it was some of the toughest racing conditions I have encountered. Scout had a good run for 19th overall in 25.17 and was 2nd counter for the Students team.


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