From grassroots to elite: Olympians past, present – and future – have us enthralled at Cumbernauld

Saturday 25th October 2025

Central AC celebrate seven-in-a-row in the Senior Men and Non-Binary race at Cumbernauld – (L-R) Andy Butchart, Jamie Crowe, Aidan Thompson and Hamish Hickey

*Report subject to changes and corrections. We plan a second report on the Young Females and Young Males races on our website through Sunday. Thanks for your patience.

By Peter Jardine, Head of Communications

Results from Cumbernauld

Andy Butchart and Beth Potter once stood in a muddy field in Central Scotland and spoke of their belief that victory in the Lindsays National XC would help propel them from Falkirk to the Olympics.

They were proved right because our National XC champions of February 2016 duly made it to Rio with GB and NI that very year – Butchart indeed finishing sixth in the 5000m final.

At the time it felt like a ringing endorsement of the pathway for athletics in Scotland.

And the ‘wheel’ which links grass roots in Scotland and our elite athletes turned full circle again on Saturday at the Lindsays National XC Relays at Cumbernauld.

Butchart, now a double Olympian, and Megan Keith, who made her Olympic debut in Paris and was tenth at the World Champs in Tokyo only last month, respectively helped guide Central AC and Inverness Harriers to memorable victories in the Senior races.

Cumbernauld revisited was thus a theme and, amid the superb atmosphere we have come to expect from these #LindsaysXC occasions, the hope remains we were watching future Olympians as well as the genuine article (who also incidentally included Falkirk Victoria Harriers Masters athlete, Freya Ross).

Above all the quality of athlete on show – particularly in the Senior Men’s race – was excellent with perhaps as many as 10 individuals therein nursing Team Scotland ambitions for Glasgow 2026.

Aberdeen AAC and Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds carried the fight to their illustrious rivals and were rewarded with podium places in both races.

As always on these occasions we say a huge thank you to all volunteers; our Officials on duty; the Road Running and Cross Country Commission; North Lanarkshire Council and Cumbernauld AAC for setting up the course.

It takes a team effort to run a relay and it is the same when it comes to delivering the event.

Megan’s anchor leg was something to behold as she reeled in the teams ahead to give Inverness Harriers a first ever win.

The team also featured Caitlyn Heggie, Charlotte Burton and Helen Leigh.

‘We won the National Road Relays at Livingston in March so this has been quite a 2025 for my home club,’ said Megan.

‘I wanted to help and it is really the first time in two years I have raced cross country. Obviously the World Champs were late and then I was ill for a couple fo weeks so I am just coming back.

‘But there is a plan from some cross country this winter and I will race again in Cardiff and see how I fare over a longer distance. I enjoyed it today.’

Edinburgh Uni had to settle for the silver medals after being overhauled and Aberdeen AAC took the bronze medals with a strong team effort.

Gala Harriers had an excellent day with no fewer than three podium places overall.

Two of those came in the Women’s race as the landed both the Masters golds and the W50 golds.

The winning team in the Masters race featured Katy Barden, Pamela Beattie and Sara Green. Silvers went to Giffnock North and bronzes to Garscube Harriers.

Gala’s W50 winners were Julia Johnstone, Gillian Lunn and Kate Jenkins. Silvers went to Hunters Bog Trotters and bronzes to Cambuslang Harriers.

Senior Men podium

Central AC’s Senior Men made it seven-in-a-row in terms of golds at the Lindsays National XC Relays.

Aidan Thompson and Hamish Hickey gave them a start that Butchart and Jamie Crowe were never likely to relinquish.

Aidan, in point of fact, raced the 4k leg with only one shoe after being caught in the heel on the start-line. His ripped shoe was there to be retrieved – and less than an hour later he was collecting gold,

Talk about giving heart and (sock) sole for the yellow vest.

‘I know something happened with Aidan and if he ran the full leg in one shoe then fair play to him,’ said Butchart.

‘We have quality and depth and the B team were very close to the medals, too.

‘It’s years since I have raced here but I enjoyed it. Liverpool and the Euro Cross Country Champs trial is something I am looking towards.’

Aberdeen AAC were second to underline a really strong day for that club with two Senior podium places and victory in the Young Females race.

Edinburgh Uni took third with Logan Rees finishing fast for Fife AC just outside the medals.

Study this photo carefully and you may spot Aidan Thompson’s ‘lost’ shoe in mid-air

Corstorphine AAC won the Men’s Masters title back in the 2024 and repeated that thanks to the runs of Dermot Cummins, Donald MacAulay, Ian Hutchinson and Tom Ferrington.

Edinburgh AC took home the silvers and Metro Aberdeen headed back north with bronze bling.

Cambuslang Harriers made it three-in-a-row in the Men’s M50 race. Mark Gallacher, Justin Carter and Stephen Allen brought home golds after tough time recently for that club (with the sad passing of Colin Feechan).

Edinburgh AC were silver medallists here, too, and Cumbernauld AAC were third.