Borders XC at Paxton House

8th January 2012
I first heard about the Borders XC from Claire Ward at the Braid Hills Race. By then I’d missed the first race in the series. I’d known the race was on but assumed it was a district event. The second race was in Dunbar which seemed a bit far (ha! ha!). The next two clashed with orienteering and so, today, I finally made it to the 5th race. The concept is simple, you register the first time you race, pay for a number and then just turn up to the remaining races. It cost £12 at the first 3 races and £6 from race 4. The age categories are in 5-year bands and there are prizes but you only qualify if you complete at least 4 events. The Junior race started at 11.30 and was pretty busy (103). The Senior race started at 12.00 and was even busier (160). The field had to narrow down pretty quickly and as I concentrated on not falling over anyone I heard the lone cry of “come on Westerlands” among the shouts for HBT and Gala (Harriers). Suddenly, I was glad that Craig had decided to come along with me. He popped up at various points on the course to give me support. It was an interesting route with 2 loops. From the start, behind Paxton House, the first loop heads into a field. Up one side, across a fence that had been dropped (twice), back down the field but dodging trees to a gate cows had obviously used. I’d checked this out before the race and chatted to the 2 marshalls on duty there about the options as there were markers going round the worst of the mud. No you didn’t have to follow the markers. Most of the juniors had jumped the mud but there had been a few lost shoes. You could also jump the fence and avoid the mud.
Now it was decision time – I jumped the mud, didn’t lose any shoes and overtook a few people who were jumping the fence! We then headed along a track, into the woods and down to the River Tweed, along the bank of the river, including one section on stone (so glad I’d opted for Mudclaws over spikes) across a wooden bridge and then uphill back through the woods towards the house. Short section on road across a bridge then back round the first field. I jumped the mud (again) but this time we headed on a shorter loop that took us through some trees then down a steep bank, across a stream and back up a steep bank. Along a track that became exceedingly muddy again threatening to swallow up shoes, back across the road bridge and then into and round another muddy field. After the field there was a steep uphill where, even though my legs were dying, I managed to overtake a couple of people. Then it was back round towards the finish where I tried to drum up the energy for that final sprint that had served me so well at the beginning of December but it didn’t seem to be there. Still everyone else seemed to be in much the same state and so nobody passed me as I pushed for the line.
Soup and sausage on a roll in the Stables Tea Room afterwards was the perfect end to my first Borders XC experience. I’ll definitely be back.
The next race is at Berwick on 29th Jan and promises some sand.