Central AC head for Portugal; Jamie and Lynn lead XC Grand Prix
Central AC men celebrate Senior Men’s golds at Falkirk last year (photo by Bobby Gavin)
By Katy Barden
Central AC will represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland at this weekend’s European Champion Clubs Cup Cross Country (ECCC) in Albufeira, Portugal this weekend (Sunday 2 February).
The ECCC Cross Country is one of the longest standing and most established cross country fixtures on the calendar. This will be the fifth time Central has competed at the event, most notably finishing 12th in 2023.
A series of strong performances at November’s British Athletics Cross Challenge in Liverpool clinched the place for the Scottish club.
Lindsays National XC champion Jamie Crowe – winner of the recent British Athletics Cross Challenge in Glasgow – is one of five Central athletes entered alongside Aidan Thompson, runner-up in Glasgow, plus Hamish Hickey, Alastair Marshall and Luca Fanottoli.
Four athletes will run, with three to count. The final decision on selection will be made closer to the race.
‘It’s an absolutely fabulous event,’ says Central AC coach Derek Easton. ‘It’s always really well organised; it has a great atmosphere and it’s quite an honour to represent the country.’
The Algarve course, situated in the small village of Açoteias just outside Albufeira, is a popular cross country venue and hosted the 2010 European Cross Country Championships.
This year’s ECCC is incorporated within the 48th edition of the annual Almond Blossom International Cross Country. The senior men’s race starts at 11.55 local time (same time as UK) and athletes will compete over 9,280m (5 x 1,830m laps plus start/finish straight).
The event will be streamed live on the European Athletics website from 09.55 with English-language commentary courtesy of Eurovision Sport. Detailed updates will be provided on the European Athletics website and across European Athletics’ social media channels.
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Inter-District XC champions Jamie Crowe and Lynn McKenna lead the way in our Scottish Cross Country Grand Prix.
The series is on the home straight now with the final chance to win points coming up at the Lindsays National XC in Falkirk on Saturday 22 February.
Athletes will share a total of £4000 in prize-money and the Callendar Park points will help determine how that cash is allocated.
Central AC are 1-2 at the top of the Men’s table with Jamie on 136 points and Aidan Thompson on 115. Scott Stirling of Falkirk Vics is third at the moment on 99 points.
Completing the top five are Ross Gollan (East Sutherland) on 77 points and Jamie Burns (Shettleston) on 66.
Lynn leads the Women’s table with 143 points from Central AC’s Morag Millar on 122. Nancy Scott, who won the Short Course but missed the Inter-District XC, is third on 100 points.
Completing the top five are Rosa Donaldson (Shettleston) on 88 points and Eve MacKinnon (Cambuslang Harriers) on 69 points.
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Tags: Cross Country GP, Scottish Cross Country GP
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