SATURDAY'S Cademuir Rollercoaster open hill races, sponsored by Franco’s Ristorante, saw some quality racing on the challenging but enjoyable terrain of Cademuir hill near Peebles.

A total of 69 runners finished the three races, which incorporated the Scotland trials Junior Home International hill running Championships, with the first two finishers in each age category being certain of selection.

The Home International will be held on the same courses on Saturday, September 16.

On Saturday the 3.8km race, which incorporated the Under 17W Scotland trial race, included a climb of 176 metres.

Seventh overall and first home in the Under 17 age-group was regular Scotland internationalist Lynn McKenna of Giffnock North in a time of 18.10 minutes.

But hats off to Scottish Under 13 cross country champion, now a first-year at U15, Anna Hedley of Fife AC who stunned everyone by romping home to be first female in 16.54 minutes.

Anna put the cat amongst the pigeons for the selectors by finishing third overall in the race, just 12 seconds off the winner and was only narrowly beaten home by two Under 15 boys.

James Connelly of Garscube gained two places on the final descent, including passing Anna, to take the win in 16.42 minutes, and Ben Cameron, who had made the long journey south from Forres, was second in 16.46.

Beth Hobbs from the host club Moorfoot Runners had a strong run to finish 12th overall and fifth in the trial race in 20.00.

The day's second race over 5.8km, with 321 metres of climbing, incorporated both the Under 20W and Under 17M Scotland trial races.

First overall and U17M trial winner was Robert Sparks of Fife AC in 27.58 minutes.

Elliot Duff from Garscube took second in 28.18 with Yousuf Khursheed of Gala Harriers third in 28.54.

Next to finish in this race in fourth overall, with a time of 29.24, was the U20W trial winner Lauren Dickson of Lasswade, in what was just her second ever hill race.

Local veteran Sue Ridley, who was racing just over from where she lives, showed she is still in good form by finishing eighth overall, second female and first female veteran in 32.19.

Moorfoot and Scotland internationalist Mairi Wallace made a late call to race having only just returned to full training after injury and finished 12th overall and third U20 in 35.33.

The final race of the day incorporated the U20M trial and took in the steep climb to the Cademuir summit twice for a total of 433 metres of ascent during the 8.2km course.

Lauder's Gavin Bryson, who runs for Edinburgh AC, showed a welcome return to form to run out a convincing winner in 36.07 and seal his Scotland selection.

Clubmate Freddie Carcas chased him home for the other guaranteed international selection in 37.09.

Fourth overall and third home in the U20M category was Faisal Khursheed of Gala Harriers in 39.23.

He was preceded by the evergreen fifty-something and Hawick resident Colin Donnelly, who runs for Cambuslang.

Unusually, this race turned out to be an all male affair so the women’s 8k prize of a Franco’s meal voucher and bottle of top-notch prosecco was gratefully received by the first male veteran young Mr Donnelly.

The final word goes to the final finisher in the 8k, Frank Birch from Teviotdale Harriers who was applauded home in 71.18, a shade less than double the winner’s time.

He added: “Thanks for such a brilliant race. It was a comprehensively organised, marshalled and signposted event. It was tough going on occasions, but I enjoyed the challenge!”