Colin and Jack bridge winning gap
David Knox • Published 6 May 2011 09:30
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Open race winners Colin Stevenson and Jack Stanners
SUNSHINE and some fierce competition attracted a bumper crowd to Tweed Green on Sunday for the 30th Three Bridges races.
More than 1,000 enjoyed the afternoon's competition as well as the growing Beltane Fete.
Many former cornets and other town officials were game for a laugh at the colourful fundraiser.
But the real stars of the show were the ones with trainers who slogged round the 1.5 miles course in belting heat.
More than 30 top athletes competed in both the senior and youths open races. And many more represented their schools in the highly-competitive Primary team races.
Although 10-year-old Mairi Wallace wasn't amongst the team prizes, her fantastic front running earned her the individual trophy in the Girls Race.
Close to 60 girls completed the testing course, which takes in Priorsford, Cuddy and Fotheringhamd bridges before finishing on Tweed Green.
Kingsland A - Alice McBride, Annabella Ireland, Kazya Stevens and Ysanne Rozee - won the team gold from West Linton A - Fiona Grant, Luiseach Coffer, Ellie Ramsay and Ailsa Innes - with Newlands - Anna Old, Lauren Pincott, Keelin McConnell and Mhairi Sinclair - claiming third.
The Girls race was sponsored by Young & Co and the Tatler Cafe.
Les Shortreed, who organises the schools races, told us: "It was a fantastic race with some very close finishes. The teams were so close we announced Kingsland B were third when in fact it was Newlands after we'd recounted."
Lewis Austen-Marshall walked away with two golds following the Tatler Cafe Boys race. The 11-year-old broke the tape to win the individual prize and was also part of the successful Kingsland A quartet that took the team first. Colin Kalyee, Sean Cooke and Donald Tait were the other three members of the Kingsland A team.
West Linton A - Joshua Pryon, Cameron Handel, Lewis Gray and Jude Feirer - shared the runners-up spot with Halyrude - Tom Aitken, Angus Forman, Joe Grieve and Kieran Landers.
Although Jacob Adkin had failed to catch the front-runners in the open youths race, he made amends in the Fun Run by winning both the individual and team races along with his Moorfoots mates.
And the pupils of Priosford didn't leave empty handed as they won the shorter relay race - sponsored by the Beltane Committee - for Primary 4 & 5 pupils.
Paul Spence from the organising committee said: "We've seen some great performances on what has been a really successful afternoon. The Three Bridges races just keep on growing and we're indebted to all of our helpers and sponsors."
Meanwhile Kelso triathlete Colin Stevenson ditched his bike and swimwear to win the opening event of the Borders Athletics season.
The 26-year-old held on strongly to win the Davie Duthie Auto Repairs Three Bridges Race .
Despite blistering heat and a strong field of over 30 senior athletes, Stevenson hit the front of the three-miles course with half a mile to go and maintained a 30 metre lead to the finishing line to claim the George Pennel Challenge Shield.
Stevenson said: "I really didn't expect to win today but I'm pleased I did.
"It's my first run on the Borders games circuit and I'll certainly be back for more."
Darrin Dougal from the recently formed Leithenburn Athletics Club chased Stevenson home to claim the runner's up prize.
The former Marine from Innerleithen, who celebrates his 40th birthday this weekend, was pleased with his run. He said: "We have just got the new club going so it's good to get a second place for Leithenburn."
Kenny Davidson from the Peebles-based Moorfoots club finished strongly to take third ahead of Selkirk's Ally Laurie.
Dean Whiteford from Innerleithen finished just ahead of Moorfoot Scout Adkin to claim fifth.
The open youths race, sponsored by Tweed Line Taxis, proved just as competitive with Jack Stanners from the Selkirk Track and Field club storming round the 1.5 miles to claim victory.
The 14-year-old pegged back the front-runners half way round to open up a 100-metre lead, which he maintained all the way to the line. Stanners, who was presented with the Maureen Swift Memorial Trophy by Jean Blair, said: "The heat made it really painful but I just pushed on. It's a great way to start the season."
Alison Brown from Berwick held on to claim second place with Kobe Stevens winning the battle of the Moorfoots over David Collins to take third place.
Paul Henry from Gala Harriers finished fifth with Moorfoot Lucas Cheskin just behind in sixth.
This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 06 May 11
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