Cumbernauld stage set for Lindsays National XC Relays action

Wednesday 23rd October 2019

Mass start of the Young Females race in the October sunshine last year as Bobby Gavin captures the moment

You Tube coverage for #LindsaysXC at Cumbernauld

Cumbernauld has been our regular venue for the Lindsays National XC Relay for all but the first year of the current century.

And why not? The undulating grounds of Cumbernauld House deliver the required hills and mud for competitive cross country against a stunning autumn backdrop.

The North Lanarkshire location is well-situated to motorway links and is within reasonable reach for a sizeable percentage of our clubs.

Hawkins set to race – BBC Scotland

Hundreds will thus converge of Cumbernauld again this Saturday for the eagerly-awaited Lindsays National XC Relays with a remarkable 2534 names on start-lists.

We have had around 2600 entries in the past but, this year, with a new online system we believe this is the largest number of paid-up scottishathletics members entered (as in the past there were always a few lapsed members among the names submitted).

Event section page – key information for Saturday

At scottishathletics, we should never be blasé about those numbers and it is likely there will be around 3000-4000 people in the park on Saturday. When the event first moved to Cumbernauld in October 2001, there were 192 finished teams. Last year, it was 399.

Thank You to athletes, coaches, clubs and parents for this on-going support for national championships and commitment to competition.

Thanks in advance, too, to host clubs Cumbernauld AAC and Kirkintilloch Olympians for their efforts in course set-up, to the Road Running and Cross Country Commission volunteers and to North Lanarkshire Council.

Thanks! 2534 names on Cumbernauld start-lists

CCTC 2019 R1

Cumbernauld is the second of three events in our Cross Country Team Challenge for 2019.

The gold medallists from each of the District XC Relays lead the table after the first round – with double points on offer at the Lindsays National XC Relays.

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If it is competition which fuels rising standards then the Senior Men’s race could be one to savour once again.

Central AC, despite a number of absentees, were imperious in victory once again last year and indeed had three teams placed in the top 17.

Remarkably, it was a sixth set of team golds in seven years for the squad led by coach Derek Easton.

Can anyone stop the yellow train? Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds did so at the East Districts but have a couple of athletes racing in Leeds this weekend; Cambuslang Harriers are the West champions and Moray Road Runners led home the North field.

Inverclyde AC, winners two years ago, should be stronger on Saturday with Andy Douglas and Jonny Glen available after missing Kilmarnock.

And what about Kilbarchan AAC? Could Callum Hawkins augment a team which already boasts Connor Maclean and Cammy Wright? Or will Shettleston benefit from the presence of Scottish half marathon champion Weynay Ghebreselassie as well as Lachlan Oates?

Glasgow Uni, Aberdeen AAC and Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds have all made the podium in the past three years.

The battles will no doubt continue right through the field to Masters and V50 level. There were 26 teams involved in the latter age-group contest last year.

Central AC celebrate another win in the Senior Men’s race at Cumbernauld last October – after they made it seven victories in eight years (photo by Bobby Gavin)

In the Senior Women’s race, victory has been savoured in recent years by Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds in 2016, 2017 and 2018 for three-in-a-row but others to top the podium include Edinburgh AC (2015) and Central AC (2014).

Could 2019 East champions Fife AC break the mould only a few weeks after Ron Morrison became President? As well as those clubs mentioned, VP-Glasgow have been regular medallists in recent years.

Shettleston Harriers won the West XC Relays and Inverness Harriers took the golds at Gordonstoun in the North event.

Giffnock North AC will shoot for a hat-trick in the Young Males race – and few would bet against them after their teams went 1-2-3 at Kilmarnock in the West XC Relays. Central Ac were silver medallist last year while Garscube Harriers collected bronze for the second year in a row.

Fife AC broke the mould when they won the Young Females race last year for the very first time (ending a sequence of Edinburgh AC success).

Giffnock girls took second last year with Inverness Harriers taking the bronzes to give North a slice of team podium glory.

Anna Hedley leads Fife AC home to win the Young Females race for the first time (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Provisional timings:

Young Females and Young Males declarations open at 10am;  Women’s and Men’s declarations open at 11.15am

Timetable

12.00: Young Females (Declarations Close 11.30)

12.40: Young Males (Declarations Close 12.10)

13.20: Sen/Jun Females (Declarations Close 12.50)

14.45: Sen/Jun Males (Declarations Close 14.15)

Senior/Junior and Master Men will run four Laps – Masters M50 will run three laps only.

Senior/Junior Women will run four Laps – Masters Women and W50+ will run three laps as in previous years.

Four more years! New sponsorship deal for Lindsays Cross Country Season

 

Tags: Central AC, Cumbernauld, Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds, Fife AC, Giffnock North AC, Lindsays National XC Relays