Lindsays National XC delivers again as Logan and Scout win Senior golds

Saturday 25th February 2023

Scout Adkin celebrates with silver medallist Alice Goodall (on right) and Steph Pennycook (photo by Bobby Gavin)

By Peter Jardine, Head of Communications

Commentator Jim Goldie was in full flow as the leading men in the Senior Men’s race at the Lindsays National XC entered the third and final lap at Callendar Park.

‘This is going to be a truly Titanic last lap battle between Logan Rees and Jamie Crowe,’ he boomed.

And so it was with Crowe and Rees trading blows over the final 3k or so until the Fife AC athlete – who has been in America for the past four years – did just enough to secure a winning margin and land a thrilling gold.

Logan clutched his head in his hands almost in disbelief as he crossed the finish line with Jamie, winner in 2020 and 2022, just behind as his Central AC team-mate, Hamish Hickey, took bronze.

With Crowe and Hickey taking silver and bronze, Central AC already had a strong basis for another Senior Men’s team success – to make it 12-in-a-row in that particular yellow fever streak.

The Senior Women’s race featured GB hill international Scout Adkin taking victory after landing silver the previous year.

Scout held on after establishing her lead with Edinburgh Uni’s GB international, Alice Goodall, taking second with Steph Pennycook giving Fife AC presence on both the Senior race podiums.

There were U20 title wins for Hannah Ryding of Giffnock North AC and Matt Knowles of Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds.

But first to Logan . . .

‘I’ve always been obsessed with the National XC and Falkirk but I am not quite sure why because I’ve been away in the States and not raced here since 2018,’ he said.

‘I guess it goes back to coming here as a kid and competing regularly in the age group races.

‘Jamie and I went into that last lap neck-and-neck and at times I wasn’t sure if I could stay with him or if he would get back. I put in a kick up the hill through the tents and got a bit ahead but even then he closed right up on me again.

‘Thankfully I’ve had enough to win and it is special day for myself, my family, Fife AC who I have represented for many years and for someone like Ron Morrison.’

Ron, the scottishathletics President, was thrilled to see a fulfilling moment for an athlete he has known night on 20 years and it was fitting he presented the medals.

Central AC, for their part, had more than enough to see off the challenges (as last year) of Shettleston Harriers and Cambuslang Harriers.

‘It’s great for the club again and what a team effort,’ smiled Hickey.

‘Cameron Milne was our sixth counter and he has hardly trained at all recently. But he’s come out and put in a great run for the team.

‘We’ve so many guys driving each other on at the moment and training is hard work but fun, too.

‘It was a great race. At one point, after Logan and Jamie had moved ahead, I looked round and I thought a pack of six to eight athletes might swallow me up. I think we were still on the second lap then.’

Logan Rees is overcome as he crosses the finish line at Falkirk (photo by Bobby Gavin)

In the Women’s race, Adkin had broken away after the first lap and then began to wonder if the strategy was right with still 6k or so to run.

‘I did worry a bit that I’d made a move too early,’ said Scout.

‘Alice (Goodall) was still there throughout the second lap and I think closed a bit at times on the third but I was far enough ahead when we turned into the straight.

‘After winning silver last year, it was a good feeling running in towards the finish for the victory.

‘I’ve won medals in hill races (including a European Mountain Running bronze) and, while they are different events and achievements, it’s brilliant to be a Scottish National XC champion,

‘I’ve been in the sport almost 20 years and came here time after time as a youngster without being anywhere near the medals. I hope there’s a message there for young athletes.’

Shettleston Harriers took the golds in the Women’s team race – a very solid achievement given the absence of Fionnuala Ross.

Again, teamwork paid off and a group of athletes who recently competed at the European Club Cross Champs benefited. Edinburgh AC took the silvers and Carnethy HRC the bronzes.

U20W podium at #LindsaysXC
1. Hannah Ryding @gnaac1
2. Natasha Phillips @dundeehawks
3. Hannah Anderson @EUHareHounds pic.twitter.com/pF8IDb0yH2

— scottishathletics (@scotathletics) February 25, 2023

Hannah Ryding had to overcome the effects of jet-lag to win gold in the U20 Women’s race.

Hannah of course made an excellent GB and NI debut at the World Cross in Bathurst, Australia, only eight days prior to Falkirk.

‘I got home to Scotland on Monday night and it took me two or three days to recover from the flights and the travel,’ said the Giffnock North AC athlete.

‘I wanted to race here if I felt good enough and the decision was made by about Thursday. I did start to wonder about when we went off up that hill!

‘To say it is different from the conditions in Australia would be an understatement. It was so hot and nothing like anything I had experienced before.’

Dundee Hawkhill Harriers athlete Natasha Phillips took silver with bronze for Hannah Anderson of Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds.

The U20 Women’s team podium was: 1 Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds 2 Glasgow Uni Hare and Hounds 3 Giffnock North AC.

U20M podium at #LindsaysXC
1. Matt Knowles @EUHareHounds
2. Ryan Martin @Central_AC
3. Conan Harper @gnaac1 pic.twitter.com/un8RVgIhgi

— scottishathletics (@scotathletics) February 25, 2023

Edinburgh Uni’s Matt Knowles has represented GB and NI on the hills and he brought that quality to bear on a strong U20 Men’s race.

Ryan Martin of Central AC was second and Conan Harper of Giffnock North AC was third.

The U20 Men’s team podium was: 1 Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds 2 Giffnock North AC 3 Kilbarchan AAC

As always on these occasions, we say a big ‘Thank You’ to host club Falkirk Victoria Harriers, Falkirk Harriers, volunteers from no fewer than 21 clubs, our Endurance Officials and the Road Running and Cross Country Commission.

From all over Scotland they came, they ran, some conquering, some not.

Athletes from our island communities, with representation from Shetland, North Uist and Stornoway, will still be a long way from home as you read this.