Giffnock North AC are our Lindsays Trophy winners again as 115 clubs listed

Saturday 28th May 2022

Ian Beattie presents the Lindsays Trophy to Giffnock North AC’s Hamish Armitt at Eastwood High School (photo by Bobby Gavin)

2022 Lindsays Trophy

Giffnock North AC have won the Lindsays Trophy for the third successive year.

The Glasgow club enjoyed a superb Lindsays Cross Country Season and tallied the biggest overall number of finishers across three national events at Lanark, Perth and Falkirk.

With 242 athletes having competed, Giffnock were well clear of nearest rivals Edinburgh AC to land the trophy they won in 2019 and 2020. Garscube Harriers, winners in 2018, took third place.

The Lindsays Trophy was handed over to Giffnock at a special presentation by Ian Beattie, chief operating officer of sponsors Lindsays; GB U20 international and Giffnock North AC athlete Hamish Armitt and Mike Johnston, Convenor of the Road Running and Cross Country Commission.

We are delighted to confirm that this year’s final table includes no fewer than 115 clubs – with 109 of those being Scottish clubs. That’s up by almost 20 clubs from the 96 listed in 2019-20 and represents strong growth post-pandemic.

All of the top ten clubs had more than 100 finishers which is terrific for the sport. A club is listed if they have at least one finisher at any of the three Lindsays Cross Country Season national events.

Lindsays Trophy history (with full table for 2021-22 via icon)

The global pandemic hit cross country events hard in 2020-21 but thankfully the season returned in full over the past winter.

Big turnouts at the Lindsays National Relays at Scone Palace and the Lindsays Short Course Champs at Lanark set up the February highlight – as the Lindsays National XC was staged at Falkirk after a two-year absence.

‘I’m delighted to award Giffnock North AC the Lindsays Trophy following another strong season,’ said Ian Beattie MBE, Chief Operating Officer at Lindsays.

‘The club’s record in the competition really is impressive. Huge credit goes to the athletes, their coaches and supporters.

‘We are undoubtedly in a great period for athletics across Scotland, with the success of our elite athletes proving an inspiration at all levels.

‘The fact that we had 115 clubs competing in this competition stands testament to the remarkable impact that the sport is having in communities the length and breadth of the country.

‘As a firm, we are incredibly proud to be able to put Lindsays name to the Scottish Cross Country Season and to support athletics in Scotland.

‘The original idea behind presenting a Lindsays Trophy was to grow participation in the sport so it’s brilliant to see the number of clubs steadily rising. And joining Hamish for the presentation reminds us all what can be achieved.

‘The links between good physical health and positive mental health have never been clearer. Both are key to active, healthy communities and a thriving economy. As employers, we’re committed to encouraging all of this. It has never been more important as the nation recovers and rebuilds from Covid-19.’

‘Everyone at the club, from the most seasoned Veteran to youngest Junior, is delighted to have won the Lindsays Trophy again,’ said Giffnock North President, Billy Glasgow.

‘It’s a much-appreciated reward for all the efforts that go into supporting – and enjoying – the cross country season’s major events. Major thanks must go to Lindsays for their continued, far-sighted and considerate support of the sport.’

Endurance Coach Dudley Walker added: ‘The Lindsays Trophy is a prize we love to be in the running for, as well as a great incentive to every club in Scotland – because it is about getting team out there competing at National events.

‘Having more runners means deeper competition, a more exciting atmosphere and a more memorable day out for all, including the volunteers, relatives, parents and supporters.

‘‘Claiming all six age group golds at the 2022 Lindsays National XC was the cherry on top of a long, demanding season for our athletes and as hard-working a band of coaches as you’ll meet.

‘We look forward to defending the Lindsays Trophy next year and facing up against so many strong and able clubs.’

Hamish Armitt helped make presentation at the club’s training bases at Eastwood High School on Glasgow’s south side.

Hamish was 10th at the European Cross Country Champs in Dublin last December as he represented GB and NI in the U20 Men’s race for the second time (he was 31st in Portugal in 2019).

His connection with cross country stretches back a number of years already and Hamish is in fact the only Giffnock North AC athlete to win gold at the Lindsays National XC at U13, U15 and U17 level.

Here’s the table of top ten clubs:

Giffnock North 242

Edinburgh AC 199

Garscube Harriers 165

Cambuslang Harriers 160

Central AC 136

Corstorphine AAC 122; East Kilbride AC 122  

Bellahouston Road Runners 107

Shettleston Harriers 105

Falkirk Victoria Harriers 101

Giffnock youngsters with the Pat Spence Trophy and the Lindsays Trophy (photo by Bobby Gavin)

AT Mays & Pat Spence (salroadrunningandcrosscountrymedalists.co.uk)

There are two overall trophies on offer at the Lindsays National XC each year.

And we can confirm that Giffnock North AC are the winners of both of these – the AT Mays Trophy for overall performances in the male division and the Pat Spence Trophy for overall performances in the female division.

It’s very rare for one club to win both of these in the same year – Kilbarchan AAC did so back in 2007 – so many congratulations to Giffnock North AC and their athletes, coaches and team managers.

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Tags: Billy Glasgow, Dudley Walker, Giffnock North AC, Hamish Armitt, Ian Beattie, Lindsays Trophy, Mike Johnston

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