Megan Keith and Andy Butchart during the Scottish National XC Relay in Lindsays on Saturday.
Andy Butchart and Beth Potter once stood on a muddy field in central Scotland and spoke of their belief that winning the Lindsays National XC would help push them from Falkirk to the Olympics.
They were proved right as our national champions of February 2016 duly reached Rio with GB and NI that very year; Butchart did finish sixth in the 5000m final.
At the time it seemed a resounding endorsement of track and field in Scotland.
And the ‘wheel’ that connects Scotland’s national roots and our elite athletes turned again on Saturday at Lindsay National XC Relays in Cumbernauld.
Butchart, now a two-time Olympian, and Megan Keith, who made his Olympic debut in Paris and was 10th at the world championships in Tokyo just last month, helped guide Central AC and Inverness Harriers respectively to memorable victories in the senior race.
Cumberland’s revised theme was therefore a theme, and amid the great atmosphere expected on these occasions of the Lindsays Cross Country season, hope remains that we were watching. the future The Olympians as well as the genuine article which incidentally also included Falkirk Victoria Harriers Masters athlete Freya Ross.
Above all, the quality of athlete on display, particularly in the senior men’s race, was excellent, with perhaps 10 people there nursing Team Scotland’s ambitions for Glasgow 2026.
Aberdeen AAC and Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds took the fight to their illustrious rivals and were rewarded with podium places in both races.
Keith’s anchor leg was something to behold as he spun through the forwards to give Inverness Harriers their first win.
The team also featured Caitlin Heggie, Charlotte Burton and Helen Leigh.
“We won the National Road Relays in Livingston in March, so it’s been quite a 2025 for my hometown club,” Keith said.
“I wanted to help out, and it’s really the first time in two years that I’ve run cross country. Obviously the world champs were late and then I was sick for a few weeks so I’m just coming back.
“However, there is a plan for some cross-country this winter and I will race again in Cardiff and see how I do over the longer distance. I enjoyed it today.”
Edinburgh Uni had to settle for silver medals after a major overhaul and Aberdeen AAC took the bronze medals with a strong team effort.
Central AC’s senior men made it seven in a row with gold medals at the Lindsays National XC Relays.
Aidan Thompson and Hamish Hickey gave them a start that Butchart and Jamie Crowe would never relinquish.
Thompson actually ran the 4km leg in just one shoe after getting caught in the heel at the start line. His torn shoe was there to be retrieved, and within an hour he was collecting gold.
Talk about giving a heart and (sock) sole for a yellow vest.
“I know something happened to Aidan and if he ran the whole leg in one shoe then fair play to him,” Butchart said. “We have quality and depth and the B team was also very close to medals.
“It’s been years since I raced here, but I loved it. Liverpool and the Euro Cross Country Champs is something I’m aiming for.”
Aberdeen AAC were second to highlight a really strong day for that club with two senior podiums and a win in the junior ladies race.
Edinburgh Uni finished third, with Logan Rees finishing quickly outside the medals for Fife AC.
Corstorphine AAC won the Men’s Masters title in 2024 and repeated it thanks to runs from Dermot Cummins, Donald Macaulay, Ian Hutchinson and Tom Farrington.
Edinburgh AC took home the silvers and Metro Aberdeen headed north with the bronze bling.
Cambuslang Harriers made it three straight wins in the M50 race. Mark Gallagher, Justin Carter and Stephen Allen brought home gold medals after some difficult times for the club of late. Edinburgh again took silver, with host club Cumbernauld AAC third.
Gala Harriers had a great day with no less than three podium places in total.
Two of them took part in the women’s race as they landed both the masters and W50 golds.
Cathy Burden, Pamela Beatty and Sarah Greene competed in the winning team in the masters race. Silvers went to Giffnock North and bronze to Garscub Harriers.
The Gala’s W50 winners were Julia Johnstone, Jillian Lunn and Kate Jenkins. Silvers went to Hunters Bog Trotters and bronze to Cambuslang Harriers.
Aberdeen AAC won the junior women’s race and Giffnock North won the gold medal in the junior men’s race.
