All roads lead to Lanark: Runners get ready for Lindsays Short Course XC

Thursday 6th November 2025

Hundreds of eager athletes will head to Lanark this weekend for another edition of our Lindsays Short Course XC event.

The vast majority of those pulling on spikes may well be unaware they are following in the footsteps of history.

It was Lanark Racecourse that the Scottish National Cross Country was born . . . some 139 years ago way back in 1886.

Only two clubs finished in a men’s race that day, Edinburgh Harriers and Clydesdale Harriers, but the seed was planted and come Saturday once again clubs, coaches and athletes will engage in cross country action in a national championship context.

There are no fewer than 1250 names on the start lists and, while the Senior categories are down, there are rises on last year in both U15 races and the U17 Men.

Once again at this stage we say a huge thank you to all those supporting the Lindsays National Cross Country Season and our national championship events.

Law and District AAC are our host club and we extend our gratitude to them, our endurance Officials, the Road Running and Cross Country Commission and all volunteers helping out on the day.

As always at the Lindsays Short Course XC there are a number of elements to look out for on Saturday . . .

*Medals for individuals and teams at U15, U17 and Junior/Senior/Masters level.

There are team medals for U15, U17 and Seniors. Individual medals all age groups and Masters from M40 in ten year bands.

Medal details

*Finisher numbers for each club will be fed into the tables for our Lindsays Trophy event – which is now a three-tier league system competition.

Finisher numbers are tallied for Cumbernauld and Lanark to set up the finale at Falkirk (Lindsays National XC) in February.

*Senior club teams will earn points for the Scottish Cross Country Team Challenge. This is raced for across three events with Lanark being the third and final chance for clubs to earn points. Central AC lead the Men’s division and Edinburgh Uni Hares and Hounds have a one-point advantage in the Women’s division.

Team Challenge update

*Senior athletes compete in the Cross Country Grand Prix at Lanark. It is the first of the four race series over this winter.

Cross Country GP

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RACE TIMETABLE FOR LANARK