This month Kevin has us climbing up "The Swire" but from the Yarrow Valley not the Ettrick Valley. So directions are head out the A708 from Selkirk going towards St Mary's Loch. At Yarrow on the left hand side there is a wee unclassified road connecting the Yarrow and Ettrick Valley. It's signposted Ettrick. The hill climb starts on the wee stone bridge and the hill climb finishes at the cattlegrid right at the very top. The length of the climb is 2.3km with a 7% average gradient. The Strava segment is https://www.strava.com/segments/12519135

Remember you can do it as many times as you like during the month of July then at the end of the month pass you best time to Kev. Happy climbing folks.

Today saw the 2nd of our 3 Junior events for 2016, with 39 juniors taking part in the Aquathon held at Galashiels pool.  Great fun was had by all, the winners were:

Age 8
1st Girl - Holly D'Agrosa
1st Boy - Iain Haldane
Age 9-10
1st Girl - Isla Paterson
1st Boy - Alex Read
Age 11-12
1st Girl - Eva Nobile
1st Boy - Gregor Collins
Age 13-14
1st Girl - Sally Jack
1st Boy - Jake Shepherd
Age 15-16
1st Girl - Lindsay Jack
1st Boy - Jack Nobile 

Full Results are on our Results Page

June's road bike hill climb challenge takes us to Harden Hill which is about 2 miles away from Roberton. To get there either go through Hawick, probably best to go through Wilton Park. It's Tarmac all the way and keeps you away from the A7. The climb starts on the B711 at the junction which is signposted to Harden and Borthwickshiels. It finishes at the top at the junction which is signposted left to Alemoor and Tushielaw. The climb is 2.9km in length so a bit longer than last months. The Strava segment for this climb is https://www.strava.com/routes/5213123 Enjoy!

Below is the start line

Below is the finish line.

Today saw the first f our 2016 Junior Events, the Bowhill Junior Duathlon.  A great turn out on a beautiful day.  

Winners of the 8-12years race were:
Rory Laidlaw for the Boys
Esme Minto for the Girls

Winners of the 13-16years race were:
​William Taylor for the Boys 
Elena McGorum for the Girls

​Full Results can be found here or by clicking on our results page.

Well done to all who took part and a big thank you to all our brilliant marshalls, we couldn't do it without you.

Our next junior event is the Galashiels Aquathon on 12th June 2016. 

This year Kev is once again organising a road bike hill climb challenge for 2016. For those new to the club its a road bike hill climb challenge, starting in April and finishing in September. Every month Kev chooses a climb then you have that month to get your ass up it. You can go up it as many times as you want during the month, at the end of each month pass your best time to Kev. In September the King & Queen of the mountains will be revealed.  This is a great way to get you out cycling on different Borders roads.

So Aprils hill climb will be in Lauder. It's going to  start at the junction of Mill Wynd and the road to Gala. (This road does not have a road number but it is the road that goes from Lauder through Langshaw and joins the B6374 in Galashiels).  The climb is 2.1km in length and goes past the cemetery, the golf club and Woodend Farm. It finishes at the brow of the hill just through the trees. The finish line is in line with the Southern Upland Way Post on the left hand side at the top of the hill.

For those of you on Strava, a segment has been created and its called BTC April 2016 Hill Climb. See https://www.strava.com/segments/11739640
​

The Start​

The Finish​

The Junior Bowhill MTB Duathlon and the Junior Galashiels Triathlon are now open for online entries. Go to the KIDS page for all the info and how to enter.

Just a wee reminder that club membership subs are due this month, still a bargain at either £15 or £6, you can renew here.

Tuesday 29th September saw the junior members take part in a mini triathlon at Gala Swimming pool.  There were two age groups and the race was hotly contested.

1st in the Age 9-10 Category was Ethan Blaen in a time of 17mins 17 secs.  2nd was Aaron Little in a time of 19mins 34 secs

1st in the Age 8 Category was Oliver Little in a time of 16mins 57 secs.  2nd was Innes Little in a time of 18mins 48 secs

All right folks here we are in the last month of our road bike hill climb challenge. September climb will be in the Ashkirk area. Turn off the A7 into Ashkirk, which is well signposted, and the climb starts at the wee garage. Head up the road that will eventually take you onto the Ettrick Valley. The climb finishes at the cattle grid at the top. This will be the last climb for this year so could everyone taking part make sure all times have been passed to Kev for the months of April - Sept. Slight difference to this month in that you have until the 26th September rather than the 30th of September to get your times as the presentation of prizes for the 2015 hill climb challenge will be on the 27th of September when the club goes to play "at the day on the bay". Have fun, climb climb climb, hope to see you on the 27th! 

The club will hold an end of season bash on Saturday 21st November in the Woll restaurant which is located at Ashkirk golf club. Transport will be be arranged to and from the doo. This will be a fun evening consisting of some silly nonsense lovely nosh and presentation of all the club's prizes. Get this date in your diary now folks.  

The club AGM has been booked for Tuesday 27th October at the Traquair Arms Hotel, Innerleithen, 7pm. Would be great to see as many club members as possible, hope you can all make it!