SUNDAY’S Lilliesleaf 10k Run attracted another bumper entry of 140 competitors.

And a new course record was set in the men’s race by first-time entrant Charles Houston, who crossed the finishing line in 39 minutes eight seconds.

The previous day the 28-year-old Hunters Bog Trotters (HBT) runner had been competing the in the British Fell Relay Championships at Tebay, and was clearly delighted with his Lilliesleaf victory.

He said: “It was a lovely course and I was surprised but very pleased to be first across the finishing line. I will definitely be back to defend my title next year.”

The ladies race was won by Charles’ HBT club colleague Catherine Magill. The 41-year-old from Edinburgh was also making her first Lilliesleaf appearance, and finished in a time of 51m 31s.

All funds raised from this year’s event will be donated to the Harris Trust, a registered charity set up in memory of Lilliesleaf teenager Harris Macdonell, who died in August, 2020.

The official starter for this year’s run was Harris’s mother, Jane Macdonell, who had the idea back in 2015 to launch a 10k run in Lilliesleaf as a fun community event that could double as a fund-raiser for good causes.

“The build-up up to this year’s event has been great, but it’s also been difficult,” said Jane, “because we’re obviously doing this run for the first time since Harris died last year. And of course we’re doing the run this year for the trust.

“We’ve been rather overwhelmed by the response that we’ve had to the run, and very pleased that so many people have come out, a lot of them because they knew Harris.

“There’s a great community spirit here in Lilliesleaf and we’ve had a huge amount of warmth from Selkirk – from the school, from the rugby club and generally from the folk in the area beyond Lilliesleaf.

“We’re indebted to Andrew Grant of Riddell Estate, over whose land most of the run passes, and who has been very supportive. Weather conditions also managed to stay dry, which is always a bonus!”

This year’s run raised a total of £4,500 for the Harris Trust – a magnificent achievement.

Males: 1, Charles Houston 39:08; 2, Marc Wilkinson 42:05; 3, Alex Luetchford 42:23.

Females: 1, Catherine Magill 51:31; 2, Chloe Summerfield 51:43; 3, Rosie Shankey 57:30.

Over-50 males: 1, Graeme Fletcher 48:57; 2, Ian Maxwell 49:56; 3, John Tullie 50:40.

Over-50 females: 1, Eileen Maxwell 59:53; 2, Carol Fortune 1:00; 3, Lindsay Dun 1:01.

Under-16 females: 1, Jessica McLaren 54:43.

Runners with dogs: 1, Chloe Summerfield 51:43; 2, Andrew Goodair 54:35; 3, Gordon Kelly 1:12.