Published: Friday, 5th February, 2010 12:48pm

North Sea makes a splash at Winter Cross Country

Julia Scott (756) from Lauderdale Limpers helps Claire Simpson (821) to safety in the final stages of Sunday's race.

SUNDAY'S fourth round of the Winter Cross Country Series was more about breaking waves than records.

Dozens of tail-end runners in the senior 5-mile race at Spittal Point, near Berwick, were caught out by the tide.

And many, including Moorfoot's Mike Pearson and Penicuik's Bill Bennet, had to endure waist-high waves to reach the finishing line.

It wasn't only the stragglers who were feeling a little washed out as Moorfoot's chances of regaining the senior men's team title took a bit of a battering as well.

A weakened team for the Spittal leg saw them concede ground to several other clubs - with the chances of them retaining the crown they've held for three years looking less likely.

But there were still a few fine performances from the Tweeddale club.

Michael McGovern produced one of his best runs this season to finish sixth out of the 136 starters in a time of 28.35. Tom Hobbs also ran well to cross the line in ninth just 20 seconds further back. Super veteran Russell Anderson turned back the clock to finish 26th.

The winner of the fourth leg of the series was Neil Ford from the London-based Vegan Runners in a time of 27.42 minutes.

Corstorphine duo Grant Wilkie and Chris O'Brien claimed the second and third places with Chris Black from Kelso heading the Borders runners in fifth.

Other Moorfoot positions were Kenny Davidson 37th in 32.36, Walter Barrie 56th in 34.41, Alison Caw 94th in 38.18 and just back from injury Mike Pearson 136th in 57.44.

Kobe Stevens won his Under 11s age-group section by finishing the junior race in an impressive 14th overall.

And Sophie Collins also crossed the line first in her Under 13s girls race - finishing second overall of the girls.

Cameron Balfour from the Tweed, Leader and Jed Track club produced a great run to win the youths' two mile race.

The 14-year-old finished just three seconds ahead of Selkirk's Rowan Marr with Edinburgh's Ruaridh Miller a further two seconds further back in third. David Collins did well for Moorfoot Club to finish in 21st in 18.26.

Other Moorfoot junior position were Ruaridh Britton 31st in 19.58, Kazya Stevens 48th in 21.54 and Eilidh Davidson 56th in 23.02.

The fifth leg at Galashiels will be run this Sunday on the policies. The Junior race starts at the Swimming Pool at 11.30 with the seniors half-an-hour later.