YOUNG athletes from the Borders ran away with the Forth Valley League at the weekend following a nail-biting finale.

Going into Saturday’s concluding match in the Forth Valley League at Grangemouth on Saturday, Team Borders and Edinburgh AC were tied on 15 league points, each having won one and come second in the preceding matches.

With nearest challengers Pitreavie three league points adrift in third, it was a winner-takes-all showdown for the league title between Borders and Edinburgh.

But athletes from the six other Division 1 teams were in the mix to affect the points in each event.

Team Borders had now fewer than 14 athletes missing for selection.

And there was a further set back when another runner pulled out through injury on the day.

But the rallying call was answered with great enthusiasm and Borders team spirit.

Sprinters throwing, 1500m runners hurdling and sprinting in relays, and some travelling all the way to Grangemouth just to run a relay leg, contributed vital points to the team total which saw Team Borders come out on top in the match.

The margin was a mere 10.5 event points ahead of Edinburgh but the league title was won.

Edinburgh had the consolation of collecting the separate trophy for accumulated points in the Field Events while Team Borders also took the Track Events trophy.

Senior athletes Laura Munro and Josh Abbott proudly collected the league trophies on behalf of the team.

A total of 37 athletes competed for Team Borders on Saturday across the Under 11, Under 13 and Under 15 age-groups.

Amongst the highlights was Ellie O’Hara’s League record time in the U13G 70m hurdles, but in doing so she tweaked a hamstring which forced her to sit out the rest of the day.

Just as important as her win were the two athletes, Charlotte Morrison and Eilidh Mooney, who stepped up to the plate at short notice to replace her in the 200m and 4x100m and ensure no default in these events.

Coach and team manager Gregor Nicholson told us: “Given the small overall winning margin, this ultimately proved crucial.

“Similarly, the 20 other athletes who took part in the first two matches all played their part. That is 57 varieties of athlete contribution from right across the Borders.

“Each of their coaches, parents and supporters, the selectors and team helpers, all merit thanks, as do the league organisers and officials for their excellent organisation.” Team Borders was only formed four years ago.

In 2012 they won the Division 2 title, which led to promotion to Division 1, followed by fourth place in 2013, and the runners-up spot in 2014.