Giffnock and Aberdeen land race wins at our National XC Relays

Sunday 23rd October 2022

Hamish McKay’s anchor leg helped land golds for Aberdeen in the Young Males race (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Giffnock North AC and Aberdeen AAC claimed the honours in the age group races at wet and misty Cumbernauld.

It was a return to the North Lanarkshire venue for the first time in three years and our young athletes once again relished the challenge of a tough course.

Giffnock had a superb day, as is often the case at the Lindsays National XC Relays.

Two teams on each podium was their success this time with Aberdeen somehow breaking their grip on the Young Males race with a fine team effort from those in white (and red) vests.

A word of thanks to all our volunteers, the Road Running and Cross Country Commission and, of course, our Endurance Officials who all worked hard to contribute to an excellent event.

Sister Act . . . love this photo as young Garscube Harrier gets support around the course (photo by Bobby Gavin)

The Young Females race was the first of the day and it was obvious from the early stages that those yellow vests would be prominent.

Giffnock duly took the gold medals and the bronzes with Team East Lothian splitting them with fine runs for silver.

The winning team were home in 31:00 minutes thanks to the efforts of Eilidh Caldow, Freya Campbell and Esme Dougall.

Team East Lothian were seven seconds behind and their lineup featured Morven Kenny, Freya Wright and Maja Thomson. Giffnock B took the bronzes thanks to Millie Boothman, Scarlett Wilson and Emma McLennan.

‘It was a great performance by our teams and a number of individual athletes in both the Young Females and Young Males races,’ said Giffnock coach Dudley Walker.

‘Picking the teams is a really tough call for us with the depth of talented, hard-working girls across the U13, U15, U17 age groups. Thankfully I think we managed to get the selections right today and podium places are always a nice reward for these young athletes.’

Esme Dougall brings it home for Giffnock in the Young Females race (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Giffnock would have harboured strong hopes in the Young Males race but Aberdeen were superbly served over the three legs by Alex Henthorne, Harris Callander and Hamish McKay.

Aberdeen coach Nichola Crawford won our Community Coach of the Year award last year and while Nichola was absent on holiday on Saturday the club’s pride at golds was clear.

Aberdeen were home in 27:06 with Giffnock taking silvers and bronzes. The second place team featured Ethan Scobie, Tristan Robin and Oliver MacDonald. The third-placed team featured Louie Muir, Matthew Shaw and Alasdair Nugent.

Spare a thought for the young athletes and coaches at Falkirk Victoria Harriers.

They were firmly in contention in both races but duly had to settle for fourth place in each. Good work happening at Falkirk, without question.