With the Grangemouth track about to be relaid, the third and final match of this season’s JSB Plumbing Forth Valley League was brought forward from its usual mid-August date to 27 June, the first weekend of the school holidays in the Borders. Hit by non-availabilities and with a fair number of gaps in the team, especially in the U-11 age-group, the Borders troops rallied together well on the day to finish the match in joint third along with Pitreavie AAC. Runaway winners both on the day and of Division 1 overall were Edinburgh but the Borders athletes’ efforts were enough to secure clear 2nd place overall, an excellent position in only their third season.
There were three individual ‘A’ string wins from Amy Campbell (U13G 100m), Bryony Patterson (U15G 100m) and Chirnside newcomer Caitlin Black who produced a very rare field event win for the team in the U13G Shot Putt in what was her very first competitive outing. As many as seven A string 2nd places contributed considerably to the team points total and there were also six B string wins including a U13G sprint double by Ellie O’Hara. Usually strong in the relays, this time there was just the one win which came courtesy of some slick changes by the U15G team of Laura Munro, Ailsa Innes, Shannon Taitt and Bryony Patterson.
After such an excellent season, a healthy representation from Team Borders athletes from Chirnside Chasers, GalaHarriers, Moorfoot Runners, Teviotdale Harriers and TLJT is expected in the invitational select teams for the President’s match which will conclude the Forth Valley League season at Meadowbank on Saturday 6 September.
Final Division 1 Table
1 Edinburgh AC 17pts
2 Team Borders 13pts
3= Pitreavie AC 9pts
3= Central AC 9pts
5 Livingston AC 8pts
6 Cumbernald AC 6pts