Rob's Carnethy 5 photos are in the Gallery for all to see!

Bill chose to celebrate his 75th birthday with some of his fellow Harriers running the Gala xc today and was welcomed towards the finish with a rendition of 'Happy Birthday' from Chris, Gilly and myself - probably made him run faster to get away from our singing!

The race itself was pretty long and muddy but very much a cross country as you were never on the same surface for very long; be it field, wood, stream, path or boardwalk.  Although we all crossed the line groaning at what an awful race it was we seemed to enjoy it, probably because it was now over.

A communal dip in a cold stream saved some of us from going home with mud caked shoes and legs - no bars of soap though  

Unfortunately no team photo today.

Harriers present in order of finishing (I think) Stuart Sanderson, Duncan Ball, John Anderson, Chris Downie, Susie Maxwell, Gilly Marshall, Bill Bennett & Mike Pearson (Moorfoots).  No results or photos available yet.....

Susie

Where were you all?   It was a wonderful race along what looked like a tropical beach at the international Border XC race at Spittal on the other side of the Tweed from Berwick.   We suffered from unbroken blazing sunshine, a helpful strongish wind on the way out (but unfortunately in our face on the way back).   The tide was up, the breakers were gargantuan and they crashed well up the beach especially on the way back.   We hurdled groynes, we jumped from rock to rock, we splashed through the breakers but we all survived.   We got wet and cold and windswept and sun burned.   The brave Harriers were John Anderson, Kevin Anderson, Chris Downie, Bill Bennet and, in a Moorfoots vest, Mike Pearson .

This was almost as muddy as Dunfermline but snowier, icier and colder. However, it wasn't snowing, raining or particularly windy, and almost pleasant compared with the the last 3 weeks. I was prepared for anything anyway having survived a 'run' up Turnhouse and Carnethy last weekend (I actually skied down on Sunday!).

The race was three laps around undulating fields with a couple of freezing splashy bits. As I was the only Harrier running, there was no pressure, but of course I tried my hardest and managed to overhaul Andy Matheson (of cycling fame and his son Ross has been winning the Border XC races) so it was no jog. The standard is pretty high and I finished well down the field. No results available yet.

Dave had been promoted to Referee and was doing his usual professional job herding us around and yelling encouragement.

The only slight downside was that the showers were cold and I ended up giving it a miss in favour of donning trousers over mud-caked legs and clogging up my own shower.

Duncan B.