Friends reunited and national pride as Scottish Masters tackle mud in Leeds

Monday 17th November 2025

By Katy Barden

In a brief moment of calm before the first race of the British and Irish Masters Home Countries International, Scotland’s John Bell spoke poignantly about his friend Colin Feechan who sadly passed away in October.

It was an emotional moment for all of those who had known Feechan, but it was also emotional for those like me who had never met him but could see how much he meant as a friend, team-mate and competitor.

It was a reminder too, of why the Masters community is special; there are many great athletes, but, as Bell pointed out, there are even better people.

I knew some of those people before I arrived in Leeds; brilliant athletes like Freya Ross (Falkirk Victoria Harriers) and Morag Millar (Central AC) who I’ve had the privilege of working with, running with (or in the same races at least!) and becoming friends with over the last 15 years or so; athletes I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing for scottishathletics or Athletics Weekly; club-mates past and present; even a primary school classmate from the 1980s!

But there were also those I’d never met before who made me feel at ease immediately.

‘It’s a really friendly event,’ commented Central AC’s Jennifer Wetton who finished eighth overall in the women’s W35-64 race (and fifth in the W35 category). ‘You really feel part of a team at this one.’

And she was spot on.

Roundhay Park in Leeds – hosting this prestigious event for the first time – had looked resplendent in the autumn sunshine the previous weekend, but as it welcomed athletes and spectators from across the Home Countries, the sky was grey and conditions underfoot were wet, muddy and challenging for everyone.

Yet people were happy to be there, to share the experience and to support one another (with the Scotland team competing under the auspices of the Scottish Veteran Harriers Club).

Scotland’s overall race winners on the day were Millar (recently crowned Lindsays Short Course Senior Women’s champion) in the W35-64 race, leading Scotland’s W35s to team gold along with Wetton, Ross and Dundee Hawkhill’s Sandy McDougall, and Metro Aberdeen’s Jim Tole in the M50-64 category. Both were incredibly classy in breaking the tape.

‘It was a really good experience and a nice team,’ said Millar after her first Masters international. ‘I thought the course was really tough, every lap got noticeably muddier, but it was good.

‘I’ve been feeling a bit under the weather this week and by the third lap I really wasn’t feeling that great . . . I kept looking behind me thinking, ‘They’re coming for me!’. The Irish girl in second was so good on the hill and because the hill was so close to the finish I didn’t want her to get within touching distance . . .’

In the end she finished with a 15 second lead while Tole’s margin of victory in the men’s race was even more impressive, finishing a minute clear of second place.

Katy Barden in action in Leeds

Everyone had their own reasons for being there; some were racing to win, some were racing simply because they could. Warming down, a teammate commented that running can bring you joy whatever your age, and that was evidenced aplenty this weekend.

As for me, I’d been a bit anxious – I didn’t want to let myself or my team down on my Masters international debut – but I recalled a conversation with Chris Upson (multiple medallist in the recent European Masters Championships) who reminded me of the importance of taking opportunities that come your way.

‘Not every performance has to be brilliant,’ he said. ‘It just has to be good enough.’

And I think that was probably me on Saturday. I’ll never be the fastest athlete out there, but I grasped the opportunity and I did my best – and in return I played a part in our W45 team bronze medal.

Along with new friends made and old friendships rekindled, I’ll that that as a win.

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