THE traditional courses might have been re-routed and the usual tough climb omitted due to the Borders Railway works, but nothing could derail the efforts of a very healthy Moorfoot contingent at the Lasswade Cross Country on Sunday.

With strong opposition from the likes of Giffnock North, Pitreavie, Edinburgh and Airdrie, a fantastic return of four team wins and two thirds was just reward for some tremendous efforts, helped significantly by an excellent team spirit and support.

The Under 11 Girls set the tone in the first race of the day over one mile with Elena McGorum (6th), Eilidh Mooney (9th) and Megan Hobbs (15th) combining for third place, only one point adrift of second placed Airdrie Harriers. There was also a much improved run from Sally Davis who galloped home strongly for 19th of the 54 runners.

The Under 11 Boys then stormed to a clear 10-point victory over Pitreavie with Corran Carrick-Anderson (2nd) up front all the way and only just losing out on individual victory in the sprint for the line. Ethan Elder closed in rapidly inside the final 200 metres to vie for third going into the final turn only to take a tumble after a clash, but was immediately back on his feet and courageously only just failed to get up for a podium place. Completing the team was first-timer Murray Aiken who, as one of the youngest in the field, had a hugely encouraging run for eighth of 45.

Double victory followed in the two Under 13 races over two miles. The girls matched the Under 11 boys’ 10-point winning margin over Ayr Seaforth courtesy of Beth Hobbs, Mairi Wallace and Molly Falconer in 5th, 6th and 7th, respectively, and the Under 13 boys secured an even more clear-cut victory by 14 points, this time over host club Lasswade. Euan Hood led the team home with an individual podium place in third, backed up by Craig Angus in sixth and the improving Finlay Collins in eighth.

Zaynah Aziz (6th), Fiona Grant (7th) and Ailsa Innes (23rd) also gained a team podium place in the two-mile Under 15 Girls race before the most exciting finish of the day in the Under 17 Boys race over 3.8 miles. Moorfoot, Edinburgh and Pitreavie all finished on 18 points and after an anxious wait, the countback victory came the Moorfoot way courtesy of having the highest placed third runner home. Kobe Stevens (5th), Sam McNeil (6th) and Jack Stanners (7th) were the counters but there was also a fine run for 11th from Ben Hindley having his first outing in the red and blue.

Sophie Collins showed a return to form in the U20/U17 Women’s race over three miles with a solid 7th place then the U20 men rounded off an excellent Moorfoot day with first-year junior men Jacob Adkin (5th), John McLean (9th) and Lucas Cheskin (18th) mixing it well with the seniors to finish a close fourth over the six-mile course, only three points shy of host club Lasswade and demonstrating great promise for the future.