MORE than 400 athletes of all ages and abilities kicked off this winter's Borders Cross Country Series in Lauder on Sunday.

And the often dominant Hunter Bog Trotters laid down a few early markers in the senior race.

Mark Shankey produced a tremendous run to win by a minute, in a time of 26.09 minutes, from Corstorphine's Tom Ferrington.

And fellow Bog Trotter Oleg Cheplin raced home to take third.

Teviotdale's Rory Anderson led home the Borders athletes in 11th with a time of 28.15 - two places and nine seconds in front of Gala Harrier Clark Scott.

Fraser Clyne from Teviotdale was 15th, Gala's Tim Darlow was 17th and Darin Dougal from the Moorfoot club crossed the line in 19th.

Gala Harrier Sara Green held off the challenge from Dalkeith's Lisa Macdonald to win the Ladies race in a time of 31.02.

Dunbar's Megan Wright came home a minute further back in third.

A total of 265 runners completed five-miles course.

East Lothian completed a clean sweep in the shorter junior race over two miles.

Angus Wright won the sprint for the line against Cameron Fordyce to win by just two seconds in a time of 11.09 minutes.

Gregor Collins from Gala Harriers was a further 20 seconds back in third.

Fellow Gala Harrier Ewan Christie finished well for fifth, just ahead of Moorfoot Craig Angus in sixth.

East Lothian's Flora Henry broke the tape in the Girls' race ahead of Gala Harrier duo, Anna Fairclough and Isla Paterson.

A total of 147 juniors completed the Lauder course.

The second of this winter's eight rounds takes place at Dunbar on Sunday, November 18.