THE penultimate round of this winter's Borders Cross Country Series took place in Peebles on Sunday.

And the race for the overall titles is heating up with a few new names reaching the podium ahead of the finale in Dunbar.

Tom Martyn from Hunter Bog Trotters produced a great run to break the tape in a time of 24.19 minutes.

Student Alexander Chepelin from Edinburgh University, who already has a couple of victories under his belt, arrived at the finishing line a further 16 seconds later.

Julian Barrable from Corstorphine prevented the younger Chepelin brother, Oleg, taking third with a strong finish.

Rory Anderson from Teviotdale Harriers was first local home in seventh.

Innerleithen veteran Dean Whiteford, who runs for Lauderdale Limpers, held off the challenge from Teviotdale's Greg Walker for 12th place.

Gary Trewartha and Tim Darlow led home the Gala Harriers charge in 19th and 20th, respectively.

The ladies race turned into a duel between Hunter Bog Trotters team-mates Georgia Tindley and Jill Stephen, with Georgia crossing the line with a 16 seconds advantage.

Kirstin Maxwell of Gala Harriers was third woman home.

A total of 193 seniors completed the tough Tweeddale course.

The junior race, which attracted 103 runners, was won by the improving Yousuf Khursheed from Gala Harriers.

The 15-year-old produced a strong finish to cross the Haylodge Park line five seconds ahead of East Lothian's Fraser Kelly.

Fraser Clyne from Teviotdale Harriers was just a second further back in third.

Ethan Elder and Craig Angus, from the host Moorfoot Club, sprinted down the finishing straight to claim fourth and fifth, respectively.

Their training partner in Peebles Beth Hobbs produced one of her best runs of the winter to take the girls title.

The teenager crossed the finishing line 15 seconds ahead of East Lothian's Esme Callander.

Eilidh Forbes from Gala Harriers ran well to take third place, just ahead of Lauderdale Limper Ruth Farnsworth and Moorfoot Eilidh Mooney.

The final races of the 2016/17 series take place at Dunbar on Sunday, February 19.