In 1787, whilst roaming around Galashiels and surrounding areas, and composing some songs, Robert Burns penned ‘The Braw Lads O Galla Water’ writing in the person of a young girl admiring the handsome and noble young men of this borders area. The poem starts.
Braw, braw lads on Yarrow-braes,
They rove amang the blooming heather;
But Yarrow braes, nor Ettrick shaws
Can match the lads o' Galla Water.
After a two year hiatus, a normal cross country season commenced for Central Athletic Club last Saturday 9 October. At Mossilee Farm on the side of a very steep hillside close to Galashiels, a worthy army of volunteers from Gala Harriers hosted the East District Cross Country Relay Championships at which East District clubs (from as far north as Aberdeen, all the way down to the borders) pitted themselves against each other in a cross country relay format; three women to a team and four men to a team.
Upon arrival at the farm in Galashiels, it rather felt that we had stepped back to 2019, with no face masks, no check-in apps, no elite-only fields, and competition for all those with a pair of spikes and a hunger. Despite the moderate warm rain near the start, everyone beamed with enjoyment at being back to their cross-country endeavour. The course itself, nestled in the rural outskirts of Galashiels, looked like something from a Yorkshire Tea advert, with wide expanses of very steep grass farmland interspersed only by dry stone dikes and muddy ditches to trap the unsuspecting.
Regrettably Central AC could muster no junior teams on the day, and so it was to the men’s and women’s teams that the club turned their hope. So ladies first. Due to injury ailments associated with one of the ladies team members, our team was reduced from three to two, however, Cliona Diamond and Claire Houston brought as much energy and enthusiasm as three athletes could muster, and as the rain began to ease on our Yorkshire Tea hillside, Cliona Diamond set off keenly. This was a debut cross country run in the Club for Cliona Diamond, and she ran steadfast and sure up and around the steep hills, coming home in 15th in 17:59mins. Cliona then passed off to long-standing Central AC stalwart Claire Houston. Claire ran 18:23mins, and even spirited a smile as she neared the end of the race, such was her enjoyment to be back. Both women ran well, and the day will no doubt prove to be a great experience for them as they set their sights to the Scottish Cross Country Relay Champs at Scone Palace in two weeks time where a full team awaits.
Then to some braw lads. This race title had been the preserve of the Central AC men for many many years up until 2019, when, in a moment of weakness, they relinquished the title to the formidable Edinburgh University Hare and Hounds. Following COVID, Central AC men had not one, but two years, during which to nurse their wrath to keep it warm. Last Saturday the Men’s A team was ably represented by Calum Phillip, Ben MacMillan, Luca Fanottoli and Hamish Hickey. University of Stirling student, Calum Phillip, set off first, and went round confidently holding his own against a throng of seasoned individuals coming home in 6th place in 13:46mins. After his break-through season on the track summer past, the imaginary baton was then handed to Ben MacMillan. The steep hill and dale is not the natural habitat of young Ben, however, this proved no barrier, and he enjoyed a magnificent leg on the day, bringing the team from 6th to 2nd place at the conclusion of his leg with a 13:21mins performance, just being held off for 1st place by our foes, Edinburgh University.
It was then to our Italian club member, Luca Fanottoli, for the third leg. Luca, currently in the form of his life, set off with supreme composure and after only a few hundred metres, he took the lead from Edinburgh University. The brutally steep hillside proved no match for Luca, and with ethereal lightness, he showed his opponents a clean pair of heels and brought the team home in 1st place in a 13:29mins performance, and with a comfortable ten second lead.
Italian Luca Fanotolli taking a decisive lead
The last leg went to cross
country aficionado, and University of Stirling student, Hamish Hickey. Hamish
losing his lead in this last leg was about as likely as Eliud Kipchoge announcing
to us all that he’s decided to start running barefoot, and Hamish drew to a close the two-year
wait for redemption with a commanding 13:12mins run, which was the fastest leg
by the team, and proved to be the third fastest run of the day. Three years since their last victory in these East District Cross Country Relay championships, the gold medals hung around the necks of the Central AC men once again.
It was also great to see the Club supported by fourteen other men formed across four other teams, all of whom ran with distinction. The Club owes a debt of thanks to Scottish Athletics, and to the dedicated volunteer team at Gala Harriers, for hosting the event in such beautiful surroundings.
On a wet afternoon last Saturday, the braw braw lads o’ Central AC lads roamed the steep hillside around Gala, and no one could match them.
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