Record finishers! Women’s field is biggest ever for Lindsays Short Course

Monday 9th November 2026

Making a point: Stefanie and Ben relish gold medals

Early in Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week, we highlighted strong entry numbers for the female races at the Lindsays Short Course XC.

And so it came to pass in Kirkcaldy that we witnessed the biggest ever field for the Senior Women’s race in this particular event.

A brilliant total of 295 athletes finished the race – 13 more than the Record field of 282 finishers a year ago at Lanar..

Talk about #SheCanSheWill.

We know the Lindsays Short Course is eagerly awaited each year and the numbers reflect.

But, each year, any potential misgivings about taking on cross country are being shattered and more and more women at our clubs are lacing up spikes and racing.

How World Cross planted seed for Short Course XC

On these pages on Friday, Alex Jackson traced the (grass) roots of the Short Course – with the first event taking place in 1999.

It has been through some venue and scheduling changes in the intervening 27 yes but early winter season mud remains the same and over a distance somewhat less daunting than 8k or 10k.

Just 24 women raced that first edition and even as late as 2012 fewer than 100 women competed at the Short Course. There were 110 finishers in 2013 when Laura Muir won at Bellahouston.

At scottishathletics, we feel building interest in women and girls sport should have no limits. It should be a year-long aspiration and most certainly is in this parish.

So today we send another huge thank you to all 295 finishers at Kirkcaldy from race winner Stefanie Tucker right through the packed field to the back markers.

You proved once again there are no barriers in cross country for women and girls.

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Women’s champion Stefanie tends to wear her heart on her sleeve and her finish line victory scream rent the November air in Fife.

The Cambuslang Harriers is rarely lost for words, either, and our social media interview drew her compliments.

A strong respect for rivals underscored her comments and reaction and it is well worth highlighting bronze medallist Morag Millar.

Now 40, Morgan became the first woman to win an overall medal as well as Masters gold with yet another timeless strong run at Kirkcaldy.

It was also a ninth podium place for Morag in the Short Course event; a quite remarkable sequence for this Central AC legend.

Meanwhile, silver medallist Zara Redmond was our U20 champion as she represented Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds.

Somehow that 20+ years spread on the podium sums up the Lindsays Short Course XC.

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Ben Baillie topped the U20 Men’s podium . . . and the family ‘rankings’ (photo by Bobby Gavin)

As always, there were other angles well worth a mention . . .

*In the W60 age category there was a gold medal for Carol Mantle of Lauderdale Limpers. We are pretty certain a first National medal for this small Borders club. Well done Carol and Lauderdale Limpers.

*Garscube Harriers athlete Lesley Bell has been a very strong Masters athlete now for some years. So there was no surprise in W50 gold for Lesley.

Making it a memorable Masters gold family double, however, was her dad, Alex (Chisholm). Alex won the M70 race to give Garscube (and the family) a second Short Course title.

*Family ties are often strong in our events with brothers and sisters competing and/or parents and children.

Step forward the Baillie family from East Kilbride AC. Ben won the U20 gold after sister Zoe made top six at U16. Dad Grant was fourth M40 and mum Kelly was ninth W40. Superb effort!

Twins Caitlin and Kirsty Purcell were top 30 in the Women’s race for Aberdeen AAC and Lynn and Charlotte McKenna raced for Shettleston Harriers.

Then there are the MacMillans. Twins Harrison and Rory went 2-3 for Falkirk Vics in the U18 Men’s race – to land team gold. And Ben made the top eight in the Senior race.

Maybe we need to look at family entry . . .

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Tags: Kirkcaldy, Lindsays Short Course XC