Crowe and Walker land XC Senior Race golds at Renfrew

Saturday 13th January 2024

Kirsty Walker celebrates at the Renfrew finish line (photo by Bobby Gavin)

*Note we will have a separate report on U17, U15, U13 due to come through Sunday. Thanks for your patience.

Jamie Crowe and Kirsty Walker claimed double golds as cross country action returned to Renfrew.

The benign course at king George V playing fields played host to the Short Course Champs a few years ago and this time hosted our Inter-District XC and the British Cross Challenge.

With Celtic Nations XC medals up for grabs in certain age groups, too, the podium presentation team were kept on their toes throughout.

But the enjoyment across all age groups on a sunlit January day was crystal clear and, in the Senior races, Crowe and Walker were well-deserved winners.

Crowe saw off the strong challenge of Scott Stirling – with the smaller, Central AC athlete, almost falling victim to an accidental elbow from the taller, Falkirk Victoria Harrier, at one stage as Stirling led the charge.

Now both will feature for Scotland at the Home Countries XC in London next weekend and the Armagh 5K in early February.

‘It’s a busy period and I am looking forward to representing Scotland again in two big events,’ said Jamie.

‘Winning today gets 2024 off to a good start. There is that quiet spell after Liverpool and the District Champs and it was good to get back out there again.

‘I was right behind big Scott at one stage and, yes, I was aware if I went any closer I might get an elbow. It was a case of anything goes so long as I could tuck in behind and let him take the wind.

‘Parliament Hill looks like a great event with beer and running through a tent and so on. I’m looking forward to that experience.’

Crowe and Stirling went 1-2 in the Cross Challenge and Inter-District XC medals. West athlete Lewis Hannigan took the Inter-District bronze.

In the U23 Celtic Nations race, there was a Scotland 1-2-3 as Lewis led home Duncan Robinson and Andrew McGill.

Unsurprisingly, that gave Scotland team golds with the Inter-District race won by the East from the West and the Scottish Students.

Walker for her part saw off the threat of Scout Adkin and her Edinburgh AC team-mate, Nancy Scott, to similarly win Cross Challenge and Inter-District gold.

‘It was a good race over the three laps,’ said Kirsty.

‘We were building up to the last lap and I think the flat course probably worked better for me – there were a couple of hill runners in there. I got ahead and had to make sure I sprinted for the line.

‘My parents are from Glasgow and I moved back to Scotland two years ago. There are lots of runners in Edinburgh and good people to train with. I’m pleased with the improvement.’

West athlete Eve Mackinnon and East’s Lauren Dickson joined Walker on the podium to for the 1-2-3 in the Inter-Districts.

Ireland had first and third in the U23 Women’s Celtic race with a silver there for Sarah Coutts.

Ireland won team gold there while the Inter-District team result saw East take golds from the West and the Scottish Students.

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Natasha Phillips takes victory at Renfrew (photo by Bobby Gavin)Scotland pulled off a fine women’s victory the Celtic Nations U20 races.

Natasha Phillips won that race to claim British Cross Challenge gold and Celtic Nations gold and she was backed up superbly by her team-mates.

Millie McClelland-Brooks and Amy Teasdale were the other counters as the Scotland trip saw off U20 teams from both Northern Ireland and Ireland.

The Irish turned that around at U20 Men;’s level with race winner Harry Colbert leading those in green to Celtic Nations team golds.

Scotland took silvers thanks to the runs of Logan Beagley (two), Andrew McWilliam (five) and Connor Bell (seven).

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Tags: British Cross Challenge, Celtic Nations XC, Inter-Distrcit XC, Renfrew