Enthralled at Cumbernauld: Lindsays National XC Relays review

Saturday 19th October 2024

Photo by Bobby Gavin

What a day. What an atmosphere. What an event.

The Lindsays National XC Relays is always one of the most popular events in the year across the championship calendar in Scotland and the 2024 edition lived up to that reputation. And some.

Cumbernauld once again delivered the perfect backdrop for four races replete with drama, medals, sunshine and mud.

The sight of a couple of hundred spectators racing from one side of the course to the other to watch the finish of the Senior Men and Non Binary race – roaring as they ran – will live long in the memory.

It felt like scenes not seen since Callum Hawkins raced at Holyrood Park a few years ago (while noting the higher level of competition).

Jamie Crowe, off a flight from New York at 9am, was propelling Central AC to six-in-a-row and close to the line by that stage as, 100m or so adrift, Andrew McGill of Cambuslang and Finlay Ross-Davie of Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds staged a dramatic battle for the silvers.

‘There was such a noise and excitement that I actually turned my head to try and watch them battle towards the finish on the other side of the run-in to the line,’ smiled Jamie.

‘I thought ‘everyone else is watching this so I might as well, too.’

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Central’s victory was laced with emotion as they won once again in North Lanarkshire but without the presence of the late Alastair Hay, who had such an influence on the National XC Relays.

Cameron Milne articulated the feelings of his club-mates superbly on our post-race interview (see below).

It has since emerged (via Lewis Millar and Ross Houston) that Ali first won gold for Central at the National Relays in 2005. He was involved an incredible nine times in the winning team!

Mc’Gill’s final surge anchored Cambuslang to the silver medals and their first place on that podium for 19 years.

Edinburgh AC broke the hold of Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds to win the Senior Women’s race and there was pathos there, too.

The trophy they received was the Marjory Cook Trophy and this is the first time Edinburgh have won it since Marjory passed away in 2021 and her family initiated that commemorative trophy.

In the younger age groups, Lasswade AAC savoured the moment as they won at this event for the first time with golds in the Young Females race. Strathearn Harriers took bronzes for their first ever medals here, also.

Giffnock North were second there and the podium for the Young Males was bathed in yellow and blue with they went 1-2 ahead of third-placed Team East Lothian.

Crowe really did fly in for victory but, as Ali Hay would always have acknowledged, it was a real team effort once again from the group guided by coach supreme, Derek Easton. Central AC teams also finished fifth and eighth which reflects exactly their awesome depth.

Luca Fanottoli had a tough ask on leg one – with Taha Ghafari (12:14) and Kris Jones (12:12) blasting off fast – but kept Central in touch at fifth place.

Aidan Thompson, back in Scotland from America back in January, had a strong run to just edge in front and Cameron Milne made sure Crowe had margin for error with a lead of around 100m.

Cambuslang had come through to move into second but the race between McGill and Ross-Davie for eventual bronze medallists Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds captivated crowds around the course.

And, incidentally, this is an event where the description ‘crowd’ really does apply. There were probably close to 3000-4000 people in the park all told on Saturday.

‘Yes, we were thinking of Alastair Hay this morning and all of us in the team, and the club, wanted to honour his memory today,’ said Cameron.

‘He loved the National Relays and had a fantastic record here over a number of years.’

Race announcer John Mackay, so knowledgeable, mentioned pre-race that the inclusion of Dermot Cummins may help Corstorphine AAC in the Masters race.

So it proved as they took golds thanks to a team that also included DJ Macauley, Malcolm Laing and Stewart Livingston. Inverclyde AC were second and Garscube Harriers were third.

Cambusang Harriers are always strong and M50 and they won gold thanks to Chris Upson, Mark Gallacher and Justin Carter. That was the same team in the same running order as 2023.

Host club Cumbernauld AAC took silver medals there and Corstorphine AAC landed the bronzes.

Logan Rees clocked a superb 12:13 to guide Fife AC to fourth place in the Senior Men’s race.

Well done to Glasgow Frontrunners who competed in that race as our first Non Binary team in the National XC Relays.

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The Senior Women’s race held the intrigue throughout but the constant was Edinburgh AC.

We highlighted in PB magazine very recently the strong group and ending a seven-in-a-row streak for those in green – Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds – was clearly on the minds of those representing the capital club.

Challenges from the likes of Inverclyde and Shettleston initially then began to fade and Edinburgh AC played their cards well with Nancy Scott leading off (and building a lead) followed by Beth Ansell, new recruit Elsa Palmer.

Nancy’s excellent run was underlined by 14:13 in the individual leg times.

On the anchor leg, Kirsty Walker never looked likely to relinquish a winning position.

‘We are quite competitive,’ said Beth, in what may have been something of an understatement.

‘There’s a strong team spirit at the club and among us at the moment and we feel we are well suited for relay events and team events, almost whatever the surface or conditions.’

Kirsty said: ‘It was a solid lead the team handed over to me and We’re thrilled to win and end that run from Edinburgh Uni. There were some different orders from teams but we felt we could be strong on all four legs and that’s showed.’

Giffnock North took the Women’s Masters race thanks to the efforts of Yvonne McNairn, Allie Chong and Jill Smyllie. Garscube took silver medals and Kilmarnock Harriers were third.

In the W50 race, our champions are Edinburgh AC via performances by Janet Dunbar, Sue Ridley and Jennifer Maclean.

Completing that podium were Kirkinitlloch Olympians and Linlithgow – great moments for those clubs.

Huge thank you to all our clubs for grreat commitment to competition and to the Road Running and Cross Country Commission and our scottishathletics Officials.