Athletics season kicks off this weekend
Published 29 Apr 2011 09:30
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THE Borders Athletics second season gets underway with the Peebles Three Bridges races this weekend.
Now celebrating its 30th year the Three Bridges Races takes place on Tweed Green this Sunday, May 1, and will as usual be run over the one-and-a-half mile circuit, linking the Priorsford, Cuddy and Fotheringham foot bridges. The first race is due to start at 1.45pm.
The Beltane Fete is scheduled to start at 1.30pm, to provide fun, food and enjoyment for locals and visitors alike. There is a variety of stalls including funfair rides, local organisation and charities as well as the Peebles Silver band providing the musical treats for the afternoon.
There will be six races over the course of the afternoon.
The first race will be a Relay Race for pupils in Primary 4 and Primary 5. Introduced last year, this year the race has been modified and the runners will not have as much a distance to cover. Priorsford Primary School one this for the first time last year and they don't intend to hand over the Beltane Committee sponsored trophy easily.
The next of the races is the one-and-a-half mile team race for girls from primary schools in Tweeddale, Sponsored by the Tatler Café, High Street, Peebles, with a trophy and medals for the winning team. The individual winner of this race will also receive a training shoes voucher kindly donated by Young & Co., Eastgate, Peebles.
Kingsland School will be looking to make it five in a row. Teams from Priorsford, Halyrude, West Linton, Newlands, and Broughton will be there to let Kingsland know it won't be an easy race, ensuring that a highly competitive race is in prospect.
The third race of the afternoon is the Tweed Line Taxis, (Peebles) sponsored, one-and-a-half mile handicap for 10-16 year olds, for the Memorial Trophy. Last year's winner Dominic O'Hare of West Linton is still to register but last year's runner up Jacob Adkin will be hoping to go one better. Ruaridh Britton from Peebles along with Lucas Cheskin also of Peebles are some runners to watch.
Brother and sister Andrew and Cara Hogg from Norham, Rian Dougal from Innerleithen and Fraser Wardhaugh will also be making sure they are in the winning places. This popular event in the youth running calendar is always certain to attract the up and coming runners of tomorrow.
The fourth race is the one-and-a-half mile race for boys from primary schools in Tweeddale, competing for the Challenge Trophy and medals. The race itself is kindly sponsored by the Tatler Café, High Street, Peebles.
Kingsland Primary School won the race last year and will be hoping to retain it. . Priorisford, Newlands, Halyrude and West Linton along with the other Tweeddale School, have other ideas. The individual winner will also receive a shoe voucher kindly donated by Young & Co., Eastgate, Peebles.
The fifth and main event of the afternoon is the three-mile open handicap for the George Pennel Challenge Shield, medal and first prize of £100. The race is kindly sponsored by Davie Duthie Auto Repairs, Dovecot, Peebles.
Last year's winner and 3 Bridges veteran and Moorfoot Runner, Tom McNaughton of Peebles is yes to register to defend his crow. The Moorfoot Runners who every year support the 3 Bridges Races are back with the likes of Mike McGovern and this year we have an increase in female entries which can only be good for the event. Darren Dougal and Dean Whiteford of Innerleithen has also registered.
The sixth and final event of the afternoon is the popular team race, although intended to be a fun run it has proved to be a popular second run for the schools teams of which many register on the day. It is open to all clubs, pubs, organisations and groups from Tweeddale.
The race for teams of four can be made up of any age and sex and is run over one circuit of the track, with the handicapper allocating the starts. Entries to this event can be made on the day, so come on, get four people together and have fun. The prizes are kindly donated by the Beltane Committee and the individual winner receives a gift voucher from Rogersons Footwear, Peebles.
Last year's winners the Reckless Runners consisted of some runners who had already ran previously that day in earlier races, they will be back to defend their crown this year and make it six in a row.
Could a member of the Reckless runners please return the Trophy to the Secretaries tent on race day.
This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 29 Apr 11
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