Lindsays Masters XC medals are hard-fought in Forres

Sunday 11th February 2024

Grant Baillie and Sara Green were among the gold medallists at Forres (photos by Carol Sim)

From Charles Bannerman in Forres

Athletes from the 45-49 age category dominated the men’s contest at the Lindsays Scottish Masters XC Champs at Forres as the took the top three places overall.

East Kilbride’s Grant Baillie eventually crossed the line first in 29:04 after a titanic mid-race battle with Ben Livesey of Moray Road Runners (29:15).

Livesey held an early advantage after a hilly, forest section but Baillie pressed on in the latter stages to take the honours, with Jim Tole (Aberdeen Metro) third in 29:45.

Top M40 Ross Houston (Central) was just five seconds behind Tole and the other age category winners were as follows:

M50 Justin Carter (Cambuslang – 31:20); M55 Stevie Cairns (Hunters Bog Trotters – 32:34); M60 Dave Thom (Cambuslang – 35:56); M65 Colin Feechan (Cambuslang- 25:58); M70 Tony Martin (Fife -27:48); M75 Alex Sutherland (Inverness – 30:48).

Aberdeen Metro won the M40+ team title while the 50+ award went to Cambuslang.

With thanks to Carol Sim for photos

Scottish Masters first 3 women and V65+@scotathletics pic.twitter.com/GgPF3kU7SR

— #7eamsim Carol Sim (@simcarol99) February 11, 2024

However the W40 “youngsters’ were dominant in the women’s contest where Sara Green of Gala was a runaway winner, leading from gun to tape to retain her title by 70 seconds in 24:12 from Dundee’s Sandy McDougall. Sarah Attwood of Highland Hill Runners took the bronze in 25:56.

Green was still in McDougall’s sights going into the Grant Park feature known as “Horrible Hill” but the defending champion broke well away on the long upgrade.

Champions in the other age groups were – W45 Claire Gordon (Hunters Bog Trotters – 26:01); W50 Angela Mudge (Ochil, fresh from Scotland team management duties at the Armagh International Road Races – 27:00); W55 Carol Moss (Moorfoot- 27:50); W60 Fiona Matheson (Falkirk – 27:03); W65 Erica Christie (Cambuslang – 31:18); W70 Linden Nicholson (Lasswade – 34:16).

Highland Hill Runners were W40+ team champions and the 50+ title went to Edinburgh AC.

Club President Elaine Mackay makes a welcome return to competition @scotathletics Masters XC today. 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/OqAen16kx5

— Shettleston Harriers (@ShettlestonHarr) February 11, 2024