It has been a busy few months containing a lot of success for the Reivers.
At the end of September Karen Maxwell got a late call up for the junior home internationals in Northern Ireland. She responded in style taking 4th place, on the mist covered hill that was the scene for the individual event and as well as this she was top Scot. This resulted in her being in the top relay team for day 2. After coming back in the pack and her second leg runner running very well, her team was in the lead but unfortunately they were overcome by Englands strong W18s at the end to finish 4th. Scotland finished 2nd overall.
During the first weekend of October many of the Reivers travelled across the Border, to the October Odyssey and were successful in their raid. The first day on Edges Green was a physically tough and wet moorland and although not the most technical, mistakes were easily made due to running too fast. The following day, even closer to home, the event was held on the army ranges near Otterburn and with courses being even more physical than the previous day, as well as the weather not being the nicest, many found the courses extremely tough. However this suited the Reivers, over the two days there were overall wins for Kirstin Maxwell W20, Fiona Forrest W35, Eileen Maxwell W45 her first win in this category and John Tullie M50. As well as this 2nd places went to Lindsey Knox W50 and Ian Maxwell M50 and a very respectable 4th place for Andrew Armstrong in M50.
The following weekend saw John and Lindsey running for Scotland in the veteran home internationals, this year held in Aberdeenshire. John did not have his best of runs but still took valuable points finishing 6th on M50, while Lindsey finished top Scot in a very respectable 4th on W50 against some strong opposition. Scotland finished a very close 2nd overall in the individual competition. Unfortunately due to a mix up by the organisers in the relays the results were voided and the trophy was not awarded overall.
However two weeks later the senior home internationals were held in Wales. The individual was held on a very tricky limestone plateau covered with hundreds of pits and depressions making navigation tremendously challenging. In the W20 class Kirstin Maxwell finished extremely frustrated with her run after losing large amounts of time on the first three controls. A steadier second half saw her finish in 5th place, top Scot. It was a different story for James Tullie though, who ran strongly and cleanly to record his best result for some time and win the M21 category. No one was more surprised than himself and his dad was heard to have asked if anyone else had turned up!!! It looked like a convincing win for Scotland on the individual day but with the odd scoring system it turned out a draw with England?!
All was to play for. Scotland came out stronger than ever to the relays on another detailed open area filled with tussocks. Kirstin Maxwell put yesterday behind her and bounced back with a fantastic run. After heading out in 3rd place behind a fellow Scottish team and one England team, she overtook the English more experienced runner and closed the gap on first. This allowed her 3rd leg runner to go on and catch the other team for victory! James Tullie produced another great run to take his team up from 3rd on the final leg, to finish in 2nd place behind a fellow Scottish team. Scotland came 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the womens and 1st and 2nd in the mens relay which secured the overall win with style.
Meanwhile back in Scotland the Reivers not competing in the home internationals were at the final Scottish orienteering league race at Barry Buddon. Barry Veitch finshed 4th in the competitive M40 class. John Tullie was narrowly beaten to finsh 2nd on M50 and just behind after an excellent run, finally managing to put it altogether was Ian Maxwell in 4th. Fiona Forrest finished 3rd on W35 and Lindsey Knox took the win on W50. Eileen Maxwell finished a respectable 8th on W45 and Karen Maxwell was unlucky to finshed 2nd on W16 only 13seconds down, in what was a very open area, where her rival who started two minutes behind, could see her the whole way around…..
Last weekend saw another event closer to home at Altarstone near Peebles. The Tinto Twin compromises of a night event followed by a day event. Only a few brave Reivers turned out for the night event but were successful. After picking up the wrong map and having to return to the start for his own, John Tullie took 1st place on M50. His daughter Sarah ran exceptionally well to win W20 short and win the short blue class outright by over two minutes. Kirstin Maxwell, who has never had a good run at night changed that by having only one error and being able to use her speed on the open moor, surprised herself and took the win on W20 long and the blue course overall. Barry Veitch was an impressive 2nd in a strong M40 field.
The following day they were joined by a few more Reivers for the day event. John Tullie finished 2nd in M50 but retained his overall lead to win over the two days. It was the same story for Kirstin Maxwell who made more mistakes in the light. Sarah Tullie won W20S on the day and took the overall title too. Barry Veitch was 3rd in M40 but retained his 2nd place overall. Lindsey Knox had a great run to win W50 by almost 9 minutes and Bill Bruce finished 3rd on M55 short. Fiona Forrest ran extremely well to finish 1st on W35 by 15 minutes! Andrew Armstrong was first M50 on the blue course.
The rest of the Maxwell family who are keen urban racers made the trip down to Yorkshire instead. On the Saturday was a two part chasing sprint at Leeds University. Karen had the best run finishing 2nd overall in the junior girls category to a much stronger runner. Ian also ran well finishing 2nd in M50 after suffering a fall through some railings near the last control. After a mistake right at the beginning of the first race Eileen recovered well to finish 2nd W45.
On the Sunday was a longer urban race around Skipton. Due to the rule resulting in under 16s not being allowed to cross main roads, Karens course was around a park which did not suit her but she still finished a respectable 2nd on the junior girls class. Eileen finished 6th on W45 in stronger field than the previous day. Unfortunately while on course for another great result Ian ran past an easy control in the open, while being smart and planning ahead for the next few controls. His time would have put him in an excellent 3rd on M50.
Finally also during that weekend was the Original Mountain Marathon, an extremely tough long distance race which was this year held in Perthshire. The elite course, the most demanding includes a 36km course with 2210m climb on day one, then an overnight camp followed by, on day two, a 29km course with 1980m climb. After 6hours of running on day one and almost 5 on day two Doug Tullie and his partner John Rocke from Leicestershire finished an excellent 3rd place in this class.
This weekend is the east of Scotland championships at Livingston at which the Reivers will be hoping to take many trophies once again.