Hawick over-35 Mark Young is first Borderer home as cross-country series kicks off at Dunbar

The latest Borders Cross-Country Series got under way at Dunbar on Sunday and first blood went to Edinburgh’s Ewan Brown.

Brown completed the new four-mile-plus senior course, starting and finishing next to Torness nuclear power station, in 24:40, six seconds ahead of fellow Corstorphine Amateur Athletic Club over-35 Fearghas Thomson and quarter of a minute faster than the winning time of 24:55 clocked by Inverclyde Athletics Club over-35 Andy Douglas for the prior route last time round in December.

Teviotdale Harriers over-35 Mark Young, pictured at the latest Jedburgh Running Festival’s half-marathon a week prior, was first Borderer home and fourth all together in 26:10 at the new Borders Cross-Country Series’ opening round at Dunbar on Sunday (Photo: Neil Renton)

placeholder image — Teviotdale Harriers over-35 Mark Young, pictured at the latest Jedburgh Running Festival’s half-marathon a week prior, was first Borderer home and fourth all together in 26:10 at the new Borders Cross-Country Series’ opening round at Dunbar on Sunday (Photo: Neil Renton)

Unattached entrant Ewan Vriend-McLachlan was third in 24:51 and Teviotdale Harriers over-35 Mark Young was the first Borderer home, and fourth overall, in 26:10, up from 13th in 28:31 11 months ago.

Young was one of two representatives of the region to make the top ten of a field of 262 for the Dunbar Running Club-hosted race, the other being Gala Harriers senior Jack Philip, eighth in 26:35.

Three of Philip’s clubmates also managed top-30 finishes – over-35s Greg Harradine and Daniel Lavin, respectively 13th in 27:10 and 17th in 28:09, and James Dennison, 24th overall and first in his over-50 age bracket in 28:43.

Another six Borderers were among the first 50 finishers – Tweed Leader Jed Track over-35 Greg McGovern, 32nd in 29;34; Moorfoot Runners over-40 John McManus and his over-35 clubmate David Bendall, 33rd in 29:39 and 35th in 29:51; Lauderdale Limpers over-35 Iain Dick, 37th in 30:01; Gala over-40 Paul Williams, 45th in 30:41; and Teviotdale senior Duncan Lockie, 49th in 31:06.

Host club over-35 Rowena Halliday was first female finisher and 25th all told in 28:47.

Other first places in contested classes went to Gala over-65 Ian Maxwell, 51st all together in 31:23; TLJT over-60 Kevin Wood, 67th in 32:36; Lauderdale over-60 Carol Mantle, 94th in 34:23; and over-50 Suzie Milburn, of Kelso’s AG Running School, 116th in 35:31.

Sunday’s two-mile-plus junior race at the East Lothian event was won by Edinburgh over-14 Austin Denny in 16:52, with fellow Harmeny Athletic Club member Aiden Thomson, an over-12, second in 16:55 and Lasswade over-12 Gregor Wright third in 17:03.

Teviotdale over-ten Connor Davidson was fastest Borderer, and fifth all told, in a field of 225 in 17:16 and his over-12 clubmate Alfey Mackenzie was sixth in 17:30.

Gala’s Rowan Johnston was tenth overall and first over-12 girl in 18:02.

Five other Borderers managed top-20 placings – Gala’s Thomas Graham, Ewan McCarthy and Rosa Mabon, respectively 13th and first over-eight in 18:30, 14th in 18:36 and 20th in 19:06; and Moorfoot’s Martin Mullany and Oscar Alcorn, 18th in 18:59 and 19th in 19:02.

Six more rounds follow, all on Sundays, starting at Hay Lodge Park in Peebles on November 29.

The series then moves on to Hawick on December 13, Paxton on January 10, Musselburgh on January 24, Galashiels on February 7 and, wrapping proceedings up with a presentation round, Lauder on February 28.