STEWARTS NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

20th February 2010

There was a sense of déjà vu as Alastair Hay (Central AC) and Freya Murray (Edinburgh AC) repeated their respective Stewarts Scottish National Cross Country Championship wins on Saturday 20th February over a frosty course in Callendar Park, Falkirk.

A three lap test of 12,000 metres was presented to the Senior Men as Hay and Shettleston's Tsegezab Woldemichael set a searing pace with a front running group of eight on the first lap being whittled down to five on the second lap.  With some 1,000 metres to go it was a head-to-head between Hay and Woldemichael with Derek Hawkins (Kilbarchan AAC), Chris Powner (Winchester and District) and 4K Champion Dan Mulhare (Inverclyde AC) left to fight for Bronze. 

Hay and Woldemichael were locked together as they entered the long final run in to the finishing line when, as in 2009, Hay unleashed his powerful sprint finish to win his second National Cross Country title (37.40) with Woldemichael (37.45) going one better than his Bronze from last year.  Hawkins (37.55) finished strongly for third ahead of Powner (38.03) and Mulhare (38.25).

As the lines of finishers came through the team title became the main talking point and here it was Inverclyde AAC (101) who prevailed by point from Shettleston Harriers (102) with Central AC (175) holding off Ron Hill Cambuslang (191) to lift Team Bronze.

Freya Murray underlined her quality as she swept to an emphatic victory, covering the Senior Womens 8,000metres course in an impressive 27:41 to capture her fourth title in five years. 

While Murray's victory was never in doubt there was an excellent race unfolding for Silver and Bronze with Emma Raven (Central AC) running stride for stride with Rosie Smith (Hunters Bog Trotters) and Kilbarchan AAC's Elspeth Curran in close attendance.  Raven confidently unleashed her track speed in the final run-in to lift Silver (29.25) ahead of Smith (29.27) with Curran having to settle for a close fourth (29.32).  Team honours went to Hunters Bog Trotters (35 points) ahead of Edinburgh AC (39) and Central AC (56).

The Under 20's Men Race, also held over 8,000 metres, saw some confident front running from Callum Hawkins (Kilbarchan AAC) (25.34) as he held off the challenge from the persistent Matthew Gillespie (Shettleston Harriers) (25.37) with Scott MCDonald (Central AC) (26.08) following round in third as he led his Club (30) to the Team medals ahead of Kilbarchan AAC (43).

The Under 20 Women's Race was held over 4,800 metres and proved to be the closest of the day with Nicola Hood and Beth Potter (both VP Glasgow) powering down the finishing straight to finish in 16.23 and 16.24 respectively with Hood prevailing and revering the positions from the combined Under 17/Under 20 race of 2009.  A couple of strides behind Sarah Inglis (Lothian RC) sped through for Bronze in 16.25 and with Abbey McGhee (VP Glasgow) in fourth the team medals were destined for VP Glasgow (7).  Kilbarchan AAC (32) and Edinburgh University Hare and Hounds (52) lifted Silver and Bronze Team medals respectively.  The Under 17 Women ran with the Under 20's and here it was Rhona Auckland (Banchory Stonehaven), in seventh overall (17.20), who picked up the Under 17 title ahead of Hollie Young (VP Glasgow) and Halina Rees (Fife AC).  It was VP Glasgow (37) who again lifted the Team title from Aberdeen AAC (50) and Giffnock North AAC (72).

Ross Matheson (Lasswade AAC) covered the 6,400 metre Under 17 Mens course in a tasty 22.32 for a significant victory, following up on his Silver medal run in 2009.  Ron Hill Cambuslang's Jack Hamilton (23.08) finished in second to hold off Scottish Steeplechase record holder Scott Green (Central AC) (23.15).  Giffnock North AAC (35) finished their first four runners in the top eleven places to lift the Team honours from Ron Hill Cambuslang (41) and Law and District AAC (126).

The Under 15 races were held over 4,000 metres with Shettleston Harriers' Ahmed Hassan (13.22) celebrating confidently before the line to win the Boys race.  A determined sprint finish by Falkirk Victoria's Dale Colley saw him rewarded with Silver with Ayr Seaforth's Finlay Rae taking Bronze with both Boys creditted with 13.35.  VP Glasgow proved to be runaway victors in the Team honours finishing all their counters in the top nine. 

Preston Harriers' Florie McLeish stamped her authority all over the Under 15 Girls race to win by some 42seconds with 14.59.  Rachel Dunn (Edinburgh AC) held off the remaining challengers with a 15.41 run with Danielle Beattie (Nithsdale AC) lifting Bronze (16.01).  Edinburgh AC (74) were Team Gold medallists ahead of Gala Harriers (141) and Kilbarchan AAC (164).

The Under 13 races started the day with both held over 3,200 metres, a good test for the youngsters.  The Boys race saw Euan Gillham (Kilbarchan AAC) prevail with a 12.26 clocking ahead of Edinburgh AC's Robert Bough (12.33) and 2009 winner Josh Kerr (12.36).  The Edinburgh AC outfit (51) prevailed in the Team standings ahead of Kilbarchan AAC (54) and Inverclyde AC (67). 

In the Girls race it was Kathryn Gillespie (Central AC) who strode assertively to victory (13.25) holding off determined runs from Chloe Cowan (Giffnock North AAC) (13.29) and Eilidh MacCorquodale (Central AC) (13.38).  Team Gold medals went to Central AC (63), just ahead of Giffnock North (64) with Edinburgh AC (88) in third.

Full results can be found here.