Bethan Kitchin anchors Lasswade AC to victory in the Young Females race – and their first ever National team title (photo by Bobby Gavin)
By Peter Jardine
Lasswade AC were formed back in 1981 and in more than four decades since then their best performance at the Lindsays National XC Relays was fourth place.
All that changed in the Cumbernauld sunshine on Saturday as the Young Females opened the four-race programme.
Minutes after that outcome, the Young Males podium was awash with yellow and blue as Giffnock North AC teams went 1-2 in an impressive display of collective strength.
White vests became gold in the Young Females as Lasswade’s anchor leg runner, Bethan Kitchin, worked hard to hold off the challenge from defending champions Giffnock (who had to settle for silver this time).
What a moment for the East champions with their team having had to change since Livingston due to a holiday commitment. Opening runner Isla Madhra and second leg runner Cerys Wright, however, were in superb form to win by 23 seconds.
Taking third place on that podium was another smaller club well worthy of acclaim – Strathearn Harriers.
It was a first-ever podium place for the Perthshire outfit where an emerging group has shown recent signs of national impact.
Back to Lasswade. All three athletes are part of the group coached by husband and wife team, Linda and Kirk Smith.
‘I’ve been involved in coaching at the club for about 20 years and Kirkk came in a little later after that,’ said Linda.
‘We enjoy it and the athletes are great to work with. We had to change the team but came in and had a really strong run as well and Cerys.
‘Looking back over the years we had a strong team around the time that Sarah Tait and Lauren Dickson were coming trhoguh -b ut the best they managed was fourth so just missed the podium.
‘The athletes are chuffed today and have been rewarded with chips from the van on the course! No, seriously, they work hard and support each other and for a club like ours to have champions at the National XC Relays feels special.’
In the Young Males race, Giffnock powered home to golds and silvers with Team East Lothian keeping chase and being rewarded with bronze medals.
Giffnock’s winning team on this occasion featured Evan Tyler (U13), Louie Muir (U15) and Alasdhair Maclean (U17).
Coach Eilidh Macdonald said: ‘We are thrilled with gold and silver medals in the…
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