Veteran athlete Iain in team silver success

He was running in the 8k cross country event last week and won a team silver, representing GB.

Iain and around 30 other Scottish Veterans Harriers Club (SVHC) athletes are ‘down under’ to compete in the 22nd world championships, which continue until November 6.

Iain, formerly of Chirnside, was making his debut in the M40s and took part in the final race of the day, finishing 12th in a time of 31mins 51secs.

This helped to take Scotland’s tally to 10 on the opening day.

Scots runners generally made a successful start to the championships in the cross country at Perry Lakes, although the course was rather different to those which can be found at home.

The four-lap course was very flat, making it almost more suitable for racing than spikes, but the rising temperatures made it hard work for the Scots.

Iain is a highly experienced marathon and cross country runner and his career highlights include a 2hr 55min run at the London Marathon in 2009.

Back in Perth, another Borders athlete, middle distance runner Francis Cannon, of Teviotdale, was unfortunately unsuccessful in his bid to make the 800m final.

He finished seventh in the M65s in 3mins 10.39secs.