Triple Crown: Giffnock North toast Lindsays Tier One title win and two more XC trophies

Wednesday 30th April 2025

Ian Beattie with Giffnock North youngsters and the Lindsays Trophy (photo by Mark Gibson)

2025 Lindsays Trophy Finishers – final tables

Giffnock North AC have reclaimed the Lindsays Trophy for the 2024-25 season after winning our Tier One title.

Our participation competition for the Lindsays Cross Country Season, which places clubs according to finisher numbers, has been played out once again in a league division format following a pilot the previous year.

Finisher numbers are tallied for three National Championship events over the winter – the Lindsays National XC Relays at Cumbernauld, the Lindsays National Short Course at Kirkcaldy and the Lindsays National XC at Falkirk.

And Giffnock emerged on top for the fifth time in six years with victory by only eight athletes from Edinburgh AC, who were original winners when the Lindsays Trophy began in 2015.

Giffnock mustered 217 finishers in total to EAC’s 209 over the three events. Cambuslang Harriers took third place with 145 and Central AC were fourth on 143.

We’re delighted the three tier tables confirm no fewer than 94 clubs from the length and breadth of Scotland were represented at the Lindsays Cross Country Season.

To complete a special year for Giffnock they won the two overall trophies for the Lindsays National XC, as well.

For the fourth year in a row, they won the AT Mays Trophy for combined male performances at Falkirk and the Pat Spence Trophy for combined female performances after an impressive collective effort at Callendar Park.

Lindsays Trophy background and history

AT Mays & Pat Spence

Ian Beattie with Giffnock duo Lynne Macdougall and Dudley Walker with the three cross country trophies (photo by Mark Gibson)

Ian Beattie, Chief Operating Officer of Lindsays, helped us with the presentations at a club training night at Williamwood High School.

‘This is a competition which seems to get stronger with every year, which is a great reflection of the work carried out by scottishathletics and individual athletics clubs across Scotland,’ said Ian.

‘It is fantastic to see how competitive the events have been throughout this year and our congratulations go to everyone who has taken part and made this such an entertaining Lindsays Cross Country Season.

‘Through our support of scottishathletics, we are proud to be helping encourage healthier lives through sport. As we look towards another Commonwealth Games in Scotland, we hope that running as part of a healthy lifestyle can continue to grow.’

Giffnock North AC Endurance Coach, Dudley Walker, said: ‘It’s the Triple Crown!

‘To win the Lindsays, Pat Spence and A T Mays trophies all in one fell swoop is an achievement the whole club is thrilled with, from youngest U 11 to our oldest most experienced Senior and Masters athlete.

‘The Lindsays Trophy of course is the prize that spreads the widest, most generous glow, sharing the honour across all the age groups.

Photos by Mark Gibson

‘It is set up for participation and as such encourages athletes to compete in and finish races, which recognises all the hard work by coaches, officials, volunteers and families who help make the club what it is.’

Echoing those sentiments was Giffnock North Club Chair Chris Deery, who said: ‘We are delighted to put the club name on the Lindsays Trophy for a seventh time.

‘It’s such an inclusive award, reflecting the spirit of the sport as well as the club, and it is great to have a knowledgeable sponsor, so committed and in tune with the deeper values of athletics. Thank you, Lindsays!’

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The three tier system operates promotion and relegation for the top and bottom four clubs.

Dropping down from Tier One for next season are: Kilmarnock Harriers, Kilbarchan AAC, Greenock Glenpark Harriers and Inverclyde AC.

Winning promotion are our Tier Two champions Fife AC (105) and second-placed Lothian RC (79). Also promoted are: VP-Glasgow (75) and Lasswade AC (70).

Fife had Logan Rees leading the way as our Senior Men’s champion at Falkirk, of course, and that Lothian RC promotion reflects great work at that particular club – Lothian RC won our Tier Three trophy in 2024 so now thus complete back-to-back promotions.

Dropping down from Tier Two for next season are: PH Racing, Portobello, Cumbernauld AAC and Ayr Seaforth AC.

Our Tier Three champions this year are Stirling University with 50 athletes with Inverness Harriers in second place with 42. Also promoted from Tier Three are Strathearn Harriers (38) and Kirkintilloch Olympians (37).