The Borders XC League offers a different flavour to the East District League. For many runners, it’s the perfect bridge between the Autumn and Spring road seasons. For others, it’s simply a brilliant excuse to spend Winter Sunday mornings exploring the Borders with friends, coffee and cake. As the 2025/26 season-end nears, 3 members of the CAAC Senior Squads; Andy Nichol, Jack Eykelbosch, and Craig Campbell, share tales of their adventures.
Why We Run the Borders League
Andy joined CAAC in early 2023, having not run for 35 years. His first race back was the National XC at Falkirk, a “huge awakening” by any measure. “Stevie Blair highlighted the Borders Series in the Club chat later that year.” Drawn in by the additional cross-country preparation, Andy has signed up every year since.
Jack, the winner of last year’s Seven Hills of Edinburgh race, was a newcomer to the Borders League this year. He had friends taking part, and, having seen how unique the courses were, entered the series to have something new to keep him motivated through winter before his 2026 racing season.
Craig joined CAAC in September 2024 after a decade of running mostly alone, dipping into the occasional parkrun but never imagining himself as a “club runner”. His first ever cross country was at Kirkcaldy just 1 month later. “I didn’t even know how to pin my number on my vest,” he laughs. But he loved the club atmosphere, the sense of being part of something bigger. When he heard others talking about the Borders XC, he signed up without hesitation.
A Run‑Down of the Courses
The Borders Cross Country League has a character all of its own. “It has more of a community feel and is less intimidating than the East District League races.” explains Andy. “ Each of the various Borders clubs hosts an event and wants to create the best impression. There’s always one seniors’ race for all ages and both sexes”. Craig calls it “a hybrid between the more competitive East District events and a parkrun”. Everyone runs hard, but the emphasis is on experience, not pressure.
Seven races, seven very different courses, and a winter’s worth of mud and camaraderie. Running from early November through to the start of March, the series takes athletes across the region: from the beaches of Dunbar to the woodland climbs of Vogrie, the rolling fields of Paxton House and the infamous hills of Peebles and Lauder. Each is around 4 miles long, enough to build stamina and improve fitness without being too daunting.
Craig reflected on his enjoyment of the route variety. “Every one is different and I have run on beaches, tarmac, trails, farmers’ fields, jumped over logs, trees, stone dykes, run through burns and streams and had to use my arms on trees and ropes to pull myself up steep inclines and over calf deep water. And as many are over fields and through woods, there is a lot of mud. I enjoyed Dunbar and Vogrie as there were less big hills and they were faster courses as a result! Over the 5 events I have done there has been about 650m in elevation.”
Andy, perhaps less starry-eyed, narrowed down his favourite course by a logical process of elimination! “Peebles has a hill that I find impossible to run up. Lauder can be similar. Spittal wasn’t on the series this year and can only be scheduled when the tide is out. Dunbar is the flattest with a mix of beach, sand dune, sea wall and grass. Gala has a long continual incline but is runnable. Paxton House is perhaps my favourite, lovely setting and is a proper cross country route – fields, trails, inclines, burns to cross – and with a tea room for filled roll or bowl of soup afterwards.”
The Social Side, and the CAAC League Standings
That Andy judges his events, in part, to the post-run cafe, is a nod to the inherent social side to the league, as Craig attests. “I have participated mainly from a fitness, enjoyment and social point of view,” Craig adds. “We have travelled to all the events as a group which has meant I have got to know the others beyond just a training night. And at Paxton, Peebles and Galashiels we have had post run coffees, food, cakes or beers. I’ll remember that as much as the runs… and definitely with more fondness than the hills!”
The CAAC contingent mostly car-shared for the races, with the exception of Gala. “I caught the train down with David Pattison, Steve Blair and Craig Campbell (Jeremy couldn’t make it)” describes Andy, “And it enabled us to round off with a couple of post-run beers!”
But if you’re only interested in soup and cups of tea, you’re better off paying a visit to your local garden centre. Or a bar if you want something stronger. These courses are tough, and you certainly earn your post-run fuel.
“The size of some of the hills in the Borders Series really surprised me. These are more challenging than the hardest of the East District League courses.” notes Andy. “I wasn’t too prepared for the hills,” adds Craig. ”They were steep and long. But then there were fast downhills too. The variety of terrain was most surprising. But this made it more interesting and challenging.”
With the season results all tied up, here’s how the CAAC team got on:
| CAAC Athlete | Category | Category Position |
| Jack Eykelbosch | Senior Men (U35) | 1st (3rd Overall) |
| Jeremy Rogers | M50-55 | 2nd |
| Andy Nichol | M50-55 | 6th |
| Steve Blair | M60-65 | 8th |
| Craig Campbell | M55-60 | 11th |
| David Pattison | M45-50 | 20th |
Up at the front of the field, Andy’s “impossibly hilly” course at Peebles received a glowing review from Mr Eykelbosch, who described it as an “excellent course and atmosphere.” Jack was a bit unsure about the Sunday races (most leagues are run on a Saturday) “I spoke to my coach and we agreed that each week the league was on to switch my long run to Fridays and do the borders league Sunday, so I treated them as good training stimulus for cross country. Initially going into winter, I wasn’t sure how many I’d realistically do, but you enter the full series and can decide which ones work.”
Why You Should Try It
All 3 men recommend the league to fellow CAAC-er’s. “I’ll enter again next season.” asserts Craig. “I haven’t run through a stream/burn or vaulted a wall since I was a child. And yet here I am doing just that in Berwick and Galashiels on a Sunday afternoon.” Jack added that the league is well organised, and that the variety of courses made XC training really enjoyable.
The people running in the senior events mirror a cross section of the CAAC elite, senior endurance, and craic squad groups. And if the promise of a supportive and social environment isn’t enough, it was only £30 (2025/26 price) for the series which gave you up to 7 events to take part in. Juniors take note, for there are races for you as well.
Andy, ever competitive chimes in here: “I’ll definitely sign back up next year. It would be great to get more CAAC members competing, and to stop HBT scooping most of the prizes!”
When asked for any tips to prospective racers, Andy and Jack both tell us that the right footwear is crucial, with trail shoes generally more suitable than XC spikes. “My first Borders XC experience was Lauder and featured 5 tumbles, most of which involved sliding down hills on my back for many metres. My eldest daughter greeted me on the finishing line and commented on the mud-stained CAAC vest by saying “Dad, you look like you’ve had an exploding nappy!”
What’s Next for Our Runners
Looking ahead to 2026, Craig has started training for his first half marathon, a yet-to-be-decided event, potentially combined with a European holiday. Andy has signed up for the 20 Along the Forth in March, which will sway his attempt on a potential marathon. And Jack is targeting the Tom Scott 10 Mile Race, which will once again serve as the Scottish National Champs, in March. He’ll race the National XC at Falkirk and the 6 Stage Road Relays along the way too.
The Borders XC League may be muddy, hilly and occasionally chaotic, but it’s also one of the most rewarding, sociable and memorable parts of the running calendar for many. Here’s to an even bigger CAAC turnout in 2026/27.
Written by Scott Jenkins, CAAC Publicity Officer.
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