Lifted by Lanark: Superb atmosphere as Record fields enjoy Short Course

Saturday 4th November 2023

Jamie Crowe takes gold in the Senior Men’s race at Lanark (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Results (provisional)

By Peter Jardine

A couple of hundred miles separate Lanark and Liverpool via the M74 and M6 – but at times on Saturday it felt as if the distance had been cut to 4K.

Both our Senior champions at the Lindsays Short Course Champs are already making plans for Merseyside and the forthcoming Euro Cross trial races at the British Cross Challenge event at Sefton Park on Saturday 25 November.

GB and NI internationals Eloise Walker and Jamie Crowe proved their class over the short distance in Lanark and will seek to be just as effective when the distance increases in Lancashire.

The duo from Edinburgh AC and Central AC respectively triumphed at the front of big fields – with the combined finisher number for those two U20/Senior/Masters races coming in just below 800 athletes.

That’s a rermarkable endorsement for the Lindsays Cross Country Season and indeed the Short Course XC event itself.

We say right away a huge thank you to all who pulled on their spikes and vests on Saturday as well as coaches, volunteers, Officials and host club Law and District AAC to help deliver an excellent day of cross country.

The atmosphere at these occasions is to be savoued and the feelgood factor spread across our social channels.

With athletes from the Western Isles and champions from Inverness Harriers and Gala, it really is a national championship event.

Eloise won the Women’s race by a decent margin and the real battle was for silver – with her Edinburgh AC team-mate, Kirsty Walker, winning that one against bronze medallist, Fionnuala Ross of Shettleston Harriers.

‘It was good to be back racing cross country and to win – I was here two years ago and the conditions were appalling,’ laughed Eloise.

‘This time it was very firm underfoot and we even had sunshine. I prefer it when it is not too muddy and it worked to my advantage.

‘I will go to Liverpool and try and contest selection for the U23 Women’s team for the Euro Cross. You know at the moment in Britain that making teams is tough but hopefully I can have a good race there and be in the mix.’

That Women’s race had 281 finishers and the appeal of 4K cross country was very much apparent right through the field and the various ages and stage – with Masters medals for the likes of Sara Green, Michelle Sandison and Fiona Matheson.

Edinburgh AC won the Senior Women’s team golds from Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds and Corstorphine AAC completed a capital clean sweep in terms of the podium with well-earned bronze medals.

Crowe was in a pack of six to eight men at halfway in an exciting – and huge – Men’s race which ultimately delivered 504 finishers.

Falkirk Victoria Harrier Scott Stirling initially broke up that group and landed the silver medal after Crowe’s late charge. Behind them, the duo of Freddie Carcas and Duncan Robinson finished stride-for-stride with the Edinburgh AC athlete duly winning the decision on bronze.

Further down the field, Freddie’s dad, Max Carcas, was among the M50 finishers. It is that kind of day.

‘I’ve won a few road and cross country titles in Scotland but never the Short Course,’ said Jamie.

‘It’s on the short side for me, really, and at halfway I was thinking I was in a group with some guys who have a pretty serious kick in them on the track.

‘When I realised it was that final turn into the finishing straight I just kicked as hard as I could and got a bit ahead of Scott.

‘I’m headed for Liverpool and hoping for another GB and NI vest if I can. I will try and time the preparation just right over the next three weeks and hopefully have a strong run there.’

Crowe led home Central AC to the team medals with Cambuslang Harriers taking the silvers with two finishers in the top ten.

Photo by Bobby Gavin

*Listed below the full range of age group and Masters medallists.

In the Women’s division, there were ten different clubs represented by 10 medallists, including one for Troon Tortoises.

In the Men’s division, Cambuslang went 1-2-3 win the M60 category.

Men’s U20 1-2-3:

Harry Henrikson (Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds); Corey Campbell (Team East Lothian); Ryan Martin (Stirling Uni)

M40 1-2-3

Darrell Hastie (Gala Harriers); Iain Whittaker (edinburgh AC); Grant Baillie (East Kilbride AC)

M50 1-2-3

David Gardiner (Mothewell AC); Daniel Scroop (Garscube Harriers); Allan Cameron (VP-Glasgow)

M60 1-2-3

Colin Feechan (Cambuslang Harriers); Edward Stewart (Cambuslang Harriers); Dave Thom (Cambuslang Harriers)

M70 1-2-3

Tony martin (fife AC); Ed Norton (PH Racing); Frank McMahon (Greenock Glenpark Harriers)

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Women’s U20 1-2-3

Anya Maclean (Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds); Isla Paterson (Gala Harriers); Josie-Wren Golder (Corstorphine AAC)

W40 1-2-3

Sara Green (Gala Harriers); Michelle Sandison (springburn Harriers); Katrine Kelly (Troon Tortoises)

W50 1-2-3

Allie Chong (Giffnock North); Julie Menzies (PH Racing Club); Janet Dunbar (Edinburgh AC)

W60

Fiona Matheson (Falkirk Vics); Hilary Ritchie (Fife AC); Joy Gudgin (Carnegia Harriers)

W70 

Ann White (Garscube Harriers); Morna Fleming (Pitreavie AAC)

Tags: Eloise Walker, Jamie Crowqe, Lanark, Lindsays Short Course XC