Ben wins again and Nancy lands gold, too, at Lindsays Short Course XC

Saturday 2nd November 2024

Ben Potrykus labelled his Lindsays Short Course XC gold as the most significant national title win of his career after Kirkcaldy glory for the second time.

And Nancy Scott became a Scottish champion for the first time as Edinburgh AC’s winning streak was maintained in the Senior Women’s race.

Kirkcaldy High School greets visitors with a sign in reception with the message ‘I will do my utmost‘.

It’s not clear if the motto is specific to cross country but around 1000 competitors at the Lindsays Short Course XC clearly thought so.

Top performances aplenty lit up a November afternoon in damp but still conditions in Fife as six great races unfolded across U15 and U17 and then two 4K battles for the Junior/Senior/Masters athletes.

The Senior Women’s race had 281 finishers, the best for this event at Kirkcaldy. And really encouraging when note the figure of finishers in 2017 for that race was 197.

Photo by Bobby Gavin

Potrykus was the last winner of the day as he came home just ahead of Central AC’s Jamie Crowe – last year’s winner at Lanark.

Aidan Thompson, also Central AC, took the bronze and it emerged an eve of race meeting with former Balwearie High School pupil Ben proved helpful for the local hero.

There was a funny story there,’ laughed the gold medallist, who won here in 2022 also.

‘The flat I share with a friend had some shower issues this week with the bathroom being done up.

‘Aidan and I are both from Fife and have been pals for years. I called him and asked if I could use his shower. He helped me out and we had a wee chat about the race at his flat on Friday.

‘It must have worked well with both of us on the podium. No, seriously, I rate that my best ever Scottish Championship win because I was well down in terms of leg times at Cumbernauld and only really raced that one for the team.

‘But I knew after 30 seconds today that it could go well for me. You know you are running well if Jamie Crowe is behind you and Aidan had a strong run for third, too.’

Central AC landed the team golds as so often but there were silver medals here for Carnethy HRC with the bronzes for Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds. Jamie and Aidan were backed up by Kieran Reilly (seven) and Cameron Milne (ten).

Nancy is joined by silver medallist Lynn McKenna and bronze medallist Morag Millar (photo by Bobby Gavin)

The margin of victory was similar in the Women’s race with Nancy Scott tracking Lynn McKenna for a long part of the race before moving ahead of Shettleston’s back-from-injury silver medallist. Morag Millar, a former champion over the 4K, took bronze this time.

Edinburgh AC, as they did at Cumbernauld, won the Women’s race with silver medals for Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds and bronze for Shettleston. Nancy was backed up by Kirsty Walker (four), Elsa Palmer (six) and Beth Ansell (seven).

‘I was a silver medallist at Falkirk in the National but that’s over 10k. So to win this one today I am delighted.

‘I kept close to Lynn for a spell and managed to follow in her line quite a lot.

‘Thankfully I had enough left after taking the lead. It is team golds again and we are thrilled as a club – the team spirit is pushing everyone on I think.’

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U20 Women’s podium at Kirkcaldy

The U20 races happened within the Senior races.

Millie McClelland-Brooks wasn’t too far away from the main podium with a superb run (fifth overall).

The Inverclyde AC athlete thus wins in this event for the fourth year in a row after U15 and two successes at U17. Saoirse McNulty of Giffnock was second and Isla Paterson of Gala was third.

Harris Pagett performed superbly at an Italian hill race the weekend before and the flatter surface at Kirkcaldy appealed to the Strathhearn Harriers athlete, too, as he took a fine U20 gold.

Reiss Marshall was second and Andrew McWilliam of Lasswade AC was third.

The Masters races were over ten-year age bands as is now the custom.

Lesley Bell of Garscube was the clear W40 gold medallist with second there for Philippa Millage – as the VP-Glasgow athlete made a welcome return after two years out. Dundee Hawkhill’s Sandy McDougall was third.

W50 gold went to Avril Mason of Shettleston from Claire Heasman (Helensburgh) and Suzanne Gilmour (VP-Glasgow). W60 gold went to Fiona Matheson of Falkirk Vics from Hilary Ritchie (fife AC) and Joy Gudgin (Carnegie Harriers). Our W70 champion was Ann White of Garscube Harriers from Morna Fleming (Pitreavie AAC) and Charlotte McKay (Greenock Glenpark).

Darrell Hastie of Gala won the M40 race by just under 20 seconds from Iain Whittaker of Edinburgh AC and Jim Tole of Metro Aberdeen.

M50 gold went to John Coyle of Garscube from Central AC’s Scott Brember with bronze for Justin Carter of Cambuslang Harriers. M60 gold was won Colin Feechan of Cambuslang from David Eckersley of Central and Michael McQuaid of Falkirk Vics. M70 gold went to Tony Martin of Fife AC with the silver for Ed Norton of PH Racing and bronze to Eric Stevenson of Edinburgh.

Tags: Kirkcaldy, Lindsays Cross Country Season, Lindsays Short Course XC