Jamie and Alice crowned Lindsays National XC champions after superb day

Saturday 24th February 2024

Alice Goodall savours a golden moment at Falkirk (photo by Bobby Gavin)

By Peter Jardine

Jamie Crowe turned the grass and hills of Callendar Park into his own personal road to redemption as he took gold at the Lindsays National XC.

The Central AC athlete had to settle for silver some 12 months previously when losing out to Logan Rees of Fife AC in the Senior Men and Non Binary race.

This time, Crowe made certain of title No 3 as he pulled away from the strong challenge of local hero, Scott Stirling, with the Falkirk Victoria Harriers athlete this year’s silver medallist.

Earlier, Alice Goodall swapped the 30 degree heat of Muscat in Oman for winter sunshine in central Scotland to land gold in the Senior Women’s race only a week after making the podium at the World Unis Cross Country on the other side of the world.

Once again the event felt like a real ‘festival’ of Scottish cross country.

It was the tenth year of support from Lindsasy and there were 40 or more club tents pitched. More than 950 athletes raced at Senior level and was say a huge well done to every single finisher at all ages and stages.

Thanks, too, to host club Falkirk Vics, other club marshals, volunteers, our Road Running and Cross Country Commission and our Officials.

Crowe’s victory spearheaded another Central AC victory – make that 13-in-a-row for Derek Easton’s squad.

The yellow train isn’t being derailed any time soon, although Inverclyde AC gave Central a real challenge with only a 16-point winning marging. Bronze medallist Ben Potrykus led home Inverclyde

‘I was hurting for some time after losing out last year,’ said Jamie.

‘It was such a close battle with Logan and I had hoped to win my third title that day. So this year’s event was ringed on the competition calendar very early and it was a major target.

‘Scott gave me a really good race. We pulled away from the pack together quite early and then it was a wee bit cat and mouse in terms of what happened next.

‘We were into the third lap before we headed out on the golf course that I just sensed maybe the time was right to try and create a gap. Thankfully it was to prove enough.

Crowe clocked 31:31 for the 10k course and won by`8 seconds from Stirling. Scott, for his part, became the first Falkirk Victoria Harrier ever to medal in this race in decades of history.

‘I didn’t know about that until immediately after the race – Alex Jackson told me in the pen,’ smiled Scott.

‘That’s a great honour and there can’t be anyone more local to Callendar Park than me. I went to school across the road at Graeme high School and I worked a summer job on the ‘swans’ (boats) in the loch here!

Hill runners tend to do well at Callendar Park and Carnethy HRC proved they are an emerging force in cross country by taking the team bronze medals.

+++

Goodall, like Crowe, was a silver medallist in 2023.

Scout Adkin took the win on that occasion but was back in third this time with Edinburgh AC’s Alice putting together an impressive race to follow on from that World Unis silver.

Goodall only arrived back in Edinburgh on Tuesday and next to no running this week was the best option ahead of Falkirk.

‘I did one shake-out run and that was all, really, because it was a long journey back home from Oman,’ said Alice, who won by 34 seconds with 36:03.

‘It was totally different conditions out there least – it was 30 degrees. And it was as close to road running as a cross country event can be. I even ran with my carbon shoes.

‘So coming back to Callendar Park was definitely different but I did think there was a chance of another medal.

‘I wasn’t sure if I could improve on silver or how my legs would feel – but I am thrilled to be the Senior Women’s Scottish champion because it is big honour and this is the home of cross country in Scotland.’

Alice led home Edinburgh AC with team-mate Nancy Scott making it a club 1-2 with Grand Prix leader, Kirsty Walker, in fourth. Adkin, racing in for Moorfoot Runners, was the bronze medallist.

With Zoe Pflug and Eve MacKinnon at fifth and sixth, Cambuslang Harriers had high hopes of making the podium and so it proved with silver medals there the first of any colour in that race for a club who turned 75 this year.

Shettleston Harriers were no sooner off the podium for their bronze medals than they were hot-foot to Glasgow Airport for a flight to Portugal! Shettleston women were due to race in the Euro Club Cross Champs on Sunday.

+++

Andrew McGill wins U20 Men’s gold

Andrew McGill and Natasha Phillips have emerged significantly over the past 12 months or so – and proved their class at Falkirk.

Both are GB and NI internationals with Andrew having raced the Euro Cross in December while Natasha competed at the Euro U20s last summer on the track.

Surges around the Callendar Park course propelled them to U20 gold with the Women’s race more clearcut.

The Dundee Hawkhill Harriers established a winning lead long before the final straight to come home first ahead of Isla Paterson of Gala Harriers and Isla Hedley of Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds,

McGill, racing for Livingston Ac, had to fight harder for his gold but did enough in an exciting finish to see off Finlay Ross-Davie of Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds (and Garscube) by three seconds. Fraser Gilmour of Kilbrachan AAC took the bronze.

The team podiums at U20 level were as follows:

Men: 1 Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds; 2 Livingston AC; 3 Cambuslang Harriers

Women: 1 Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds; 2 Glasgow Uni Hare and Hounds; 3 Strathclyde Uni