Team Borders young athletes were some of the first to experience the relocated Glasgow Commonwealth Games track in the first of their three Forth Valley League Division 1 matches for 2015. The high-spec Mondo surface was relaid at Grangemouth Stadium after being dismantled from Hampden Park and is reputedly very fast.
Sunshine and a slight tailwind down the home straight greeted the athletes and although temperaturesremained modest, it was a pleasant introduction to the summer’s track and field season as Team Borders set out to see if they could go one better than their 2014 runners-up spot.
And the composite team, comprising athletes in the U15, U13 and U11 age-groups from Chirnside Chasers, Gala Harriers, Moorfoot Runners and TLJT, many of whom were having their first taste of this sort of competition, made the best possible start with an outstanding overall victory in the match. A final total of 496.5 points placed them ahead of perennial winners Edinburgh on 443 points and Pitreavie on 432.5 points.