Philiphaugh Hill Run

I headed back home to Selkirk on Sunday for the first Philiphaugh Hill Run.  The race was set-up to try and raise some money for a new kids play park in the town and turned out to be a great little event.

The race followed a route round the Philiphaugh estate and according to the Walking Scotland website it is 7k with a 220m height gain.  The race starts on the outskirts of the town and heads up the Corbie Lynn to the Top Pond reservoir.  The climb up to the Top Pond is through the woods along a dirt track.  It’s a nice steady climb, levelling off a little in the middle.  One you reach the Top Pond your out into the open hills and about to tackle the hardest part of the run up to the grave of Tibbie Tamson (supposedly she has a grave on the outskirts of town because she was thought to be a witch!). It’s quite a steep climb over the hill to the top and there are a few thistles to dodge on route. Luckily the ground was dry but if it had been raining it would have been messy.  Once you reach the top then it’s mostly downhill to finish. The route back to the start heads firstly down through a trail in the woods and then through a few fields before finishing on a dirt tracker back to the start.

There was a complete mixture of people taking part from club runners to kids and the atmosphere was really good.  It was decided it was such a success that next year the event will be extended to be a bigger event and include a longer run, probably up to the Three Brethren (three cairns at the top of the Yair Hill on the Southern Upland Way) which a few of you might enjoy and a shorter fun run to include more kids. 

After the race it was back to Selkirk Rugby Club for some cakes and prizes. Lots of spot prizes available too including a round of golf and some meat from the local butcher! 

The winner was from Moorfoot who finished in 21:50 and I managed to sneak in as first lady with the luck that there seemed to be no other female club runners. I’ve attached the results below. 

A new race to add to your calendars for next year?