The Lindsays Scottish Athletics National Cross Country Championships returned to Callendar Park, Falkirk after a two year absence on a day that was enjoyed by runners and spectators alike. The cross country season in Scotland builds to this event and with a testing and an amazingly clean course given the changeable weather in recent days the scene was set for some quality running.

As the season builds to these Championships the day also builds to the Senior Men’s race which saw Central’s Jamie Crowe defending his Senior Men’s title and Central’s team defending their team title held since the 2010-11 season so there was much at stake. Jamie Crowe did not disappoint with another master class of endurance running taking gold in emphatic fashion covering the 10 kilometre course in 32 minutes 26 seconds. Hamish Hickey had challenged for the lead in the early stages and showed great resilience to come home fifth with 33:07. Tom Graham-Marr was another to show how much he has matured of late to finish 11th with 33:35. Matthew Sutherland is fast becoming a mainstay of the team and his solid run (17th; 34:52) kept the club on track for the top team prize. Alastair Hay was fighting for his ninth team gold in this event, with a couple of individual golds thrown in for good measure, and again did not disappoint finishing 32nd with 35:12. Calum Phillip continues to make progress and here completed Central’s scoring six on the day in 38th with 35:25. When the team results were calculated Central had indeed retained the Elkington Shield by seven team points from a strong attempt by Shettleston Harriers. Ross Houston (40th; 35:37) and Scott Brember (48th; 36:01) provided the essential back-up with both replicating their Masters positions of second and third from Aberdeen two weeks previously.

The seemingly endless stream of runners (624 finishers) saw further tasty performances from the improving Luca Fanottoli (51st; 36:09), Cameron Harris (52nd; 36:14) and Josh Wood (73rd; 37:10). Most of the runners would have been pleased to have a fast course although the hills and the strong wind had also to be contended with so it was good to see further good runs from Lewis McComb (134th; 39:04), Craig Coull (257th: 42:20), Neil Ferrier (270th; 42:37) and Callum Scott (310th; 43:42). Charles Graham-Marr (374th; 45:13) had another solid run to lead in Jens Subke (397th; 46:03), Donald Shaw (422nd; 46.54), Iain Dunsmore (449th; 47:27), Hugh Buchanan (489th; 48:32), Allan Gall (556th; 54:32), and Cameron Campbell (600th; 55:54).

Central’s Senior Women faced the same 10 kilometre test as the Senior Men and here Morag Millar was made to work hard to take the bronze medal with a fine 37:39 effort. Jennifer Wetton (ninth; 39:34) also ran strongly throughout and with more spirited runs from Fiona Davies (25th; 41:19), Catriona Buchanan (26th; 41:20), Claire Houston (73rd; 45:16) and Kirsten McStay (92nd; 47:05) Central’s Senior Women were rewarded with bronze team medals behind Edinburgh University and Edinburgh Athletic Club. Louise Torr (137th; 50:01), Mandy Williams (138th; 50:06) and Julia McAfee (184th; 52:43) all worked hard throughout leaving a trail of further finishers in their wake.

Central’s Under-20 Men continue to impress and here Ben MacMillan and Alastair Marshall were locked in a tough battle for individual silver and bronze medals. As the 6.8 kilometre course flew by for these talented runners Alastair mas making progress on the hills with Ben looking good on the flat. The final sprint saw Ben prevail to take the silver medal with 22:13 and Alastair just a couple of strides behind to lift bronze with 22:14. Back up here was provided by Sam Grivell (30th; 25:22) and Euan Andrews (55th; 29:02) with the team being rewarded with silver team medals.

As always the Championships had started with the youngest athletes and it was pleasing to see the Club with full teams in the younger age groups. Central Athletic Club’s Under-13 Girls tackled a 3.2 kilometre course and did themselves and the Club proud through Emily Stanford (25th; 13:57), Ciara Middleton (61st; 15:04), Fia Watkin (63rd; 15:06), Katherine Mitchell (84th; 15:35) and Lilia Warden (85th; 15:36) with the Girls finishing as ninth team overall. The Under-13 Boys race followed over the same 3.2 kilometre course which saw Joel Gillan lead in Central’s challenge in 62nd (13:36) ahead of further good efforts by Finley MacGregor (111th; 15:17), Fraser Kingsley (112th; 15:17) and Noah McIntyre-Simm (123rd; 18:14) and the team finishing in fourteenth.

The Under-15 Girls and Boys races were over a 4.3 kilometre course with the Central Girls represented by Niamh McKinlay (23rd; 18:01), Leah Brown (41st; 18:45), Tabitha MacKenzie (76th; 20:32) and Robyn McKerracher (86th; 21:22) all showing good form and finishing as seventh Girls team on the day. Aaron Middleton (36th; 16:23) led in Central’s Under-15 Boys with further strong performances from Henry Crossley (79th; 17:44), Alex Dunlop (105th; 18:33) and Scott Hill (107th; 18:36) with eleventh team spot the reward for the Boys.

Catriona Kane came home in ninth place in the Under-17 Women’s race over a 6.2 kilometre course finishing in a tasty 25 minutes 41 seconds with back-up here from Scarlett Roy (35th; 28:33), Zosia Paddon and Rachel Warden finishing together in 45th and 46th respectively with 31:04 the team finishing fifth. Cameron Kerr again acquitted himself well in the Under-17 Men’s race, covering the 6.2 kilometres in 21:53 to finish twelfth on the day while Euan Docherty (46th; 24:33) kept pushing on throughout.