Up and running! Lindsays Cross Country Season off to great start despite weather issues

Sunday 8th October 2023

Laura Muir helped with the junior race medal presentations at the West District XC Relays (photo by Bobby Gavin)

*Report still subject to corrections, alterations, additions. Thanks for your patience.

By Peter Jardine, Head of Communications

Leading sportswriter Hugh MacDonald once described cross country as ‘life-affirming’ after a visit to the Lindsays National XC at Falkirk. And Hugh had not pulled on spikes.

The label came to mind on Saturday as the Lindsays Cross Country Season kicked off at three venues with our District XC Relays events.

With uncanny timing, the weather conditions were, well, #LindsaysXC, and yet we remain convinced hundreds of athletes around the country will have felt good later in the day. After they warmed up, dried off and enjoyed the endorphin ‘high’ of competing. Life-affirmed, even.

Thanks therefore to every single athlete who competed at the East, north and West events. And a huge thank you to the volunteers, host clubs and Officials from scottishathletics who helped make it all happen.

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West Results

It’s not often we are treated to the presence of Olympians at District XC events but that’s what happened at the West at Alexandra Park close to the M8 Glasgow.

Laura Muir kindly gave us her time to present medals for the two age group races and posed for many a rain-soaked selfie with total patience.

Callum Hawkins pulled on his spikes to race the anchor leg in the Senior Men’s race and he guided Kilbarchan AAC home after solid performances by Jack Patton, Fraser Gilmour and Lewis Hannigan.

Glasgow Uni Hare and Hounds had an excellent day to finish second with host club Shettleston Harriers taking the bronzes.

Shettleston women had a superb season last year and picked up where they left off to win here – although Fionnuala Ross had to work really hard to see off the challenge of Cambuslang Harriers (Steph Tucker) in the final leg. Giffnock North took third.

In the age group races, Springburn Harriers led the way in the Young Females race to land their golds from Laura. Giffnock took the silvers and Kilbarchan AAC were third.

Giffnock are always strong at this event and they took the top two podium places in the Young Males race for a fine club 1-2. Again, Kilbarchan AAC were third.

*Masters golds in the West went to Cambuslang Harriers in the Men’s race and Giffnock North in the…