Lewis lands first Senior gold as Annabel wins, too

Monday 1st April 2024

Photo by Bobby Gavin

Story subject to updates, corrections

Lewis Hannigan took gold on his first visit to the Scottish 10-Mile Champs and will use the victory as a springboard to half marathon this summer.

The Kilbarchan AAC athlete, who has represented GB and NI in cross country, claimed the first Senior Scottish title of his career at Strathclyde Park.

Annabel Simpson for her part is no stranger to the top of national podiums with previous track and road success but the Scottish 10-Mile gold for 2024 marked another strong stide forward after little racing during 2023.

Conditions were as benign as can be hoped for in Scotland with little wind on the Strathclyde Park course as the Tom Scott Road Races convened for their 60^th edition.

The national championship medlas add kudos to the occasio and, at the very front, Hannigan required a strong finish to head silver medallist Sean Chalmers as the winner clocked 49:07 to win by 11 seconds. Ryan Thomson of Cambuslang was third in 49:35.

Sean was a silver medallist at the Scottish Half Champs in Inverness, too, and like Lewis enjoyed his first visit to this event.

Results and all Tom Scott Road Races prize-winners

Photos by Bobby Gavin on Facebook

‘I am pretty happy with that – I went out staying within myself initially and then picked up the pace to catch up with the leaders,’ said Lewis, coached by Robert Hawkins.

‘The weather was good and conditions fine for a race. I pushed it on over the last mile and just managed to get ahead of Sean.

‘I’m looking towards half marathon now so today was a wee guide to see how that might feel for me.’

Annabel, who is coached by Steve Doig, followed up a strong long lap run at the National Road Relays to win in 54:35 – only 30 seconds or so outside her own Course Record at the Tom Scott event.

It was also an A standard in our Road Race GP with the time barrier for Women at 56:20. Silver medallist Ginie Barrand was also inside that at 55:50 and the Metro Aberdeen athlete is preparing for the Copenhagen Marathon in a month’s time.

As Dermot Cummins took a fine Master’s gold – two days after his 40^th birthday – there was another strong run from Sara Green. The Gala Harrier was the Women’s bronze medallist at 58;47 and took Masters gold, too.

There were team titles for Cambuslang Harriers in the men’s division as Edinburgh AC won the Women’s team golds.

Medallists (subject to scrutiny)

Men

1 Lewis Hannigan; 2 Sean Chalmers; 3 Ryan Thomson

Women

1 Annabel Simpson; 2 Virginie Barrand; 3 Sara Green

Teams (Men)

1 Cambuslang Harriers; 2 Edinburgh AC; 3 Bellahouston Harriers

Teams (Women)

1 Edinburgh AC; 2 Law & District; 3 Gala Harriers

V40 Men

1 Dermot Cummins; 2 Darrell Hastie; 3 Grant Baillie