Photo by Bobby Gavin
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Jamie Crowe was a man on a mission at the Scottish 10K Champs – as Fionnuala Ross once again revelled in her favourite race.
The Podfather 10k was centre stage as hundreds of runners descended on the Stirling course to race in excellent conditions on a good day for the sport in Scotland.
Central AC were excellent hosts for a race that attracted a record field of just over 1300 – with 800 of those scottishathletics club athletes. In the end, there were around 950 finishers.
Jamie for his part was seeking to win a National Road title to add to three others in 2024 over cross country, trail and hills.
The Central AC local hero did so in fine style with a sub 30-minute run despite having raced the British 5k road champs in Newcastle on Friday evening.
Fionnuala, meanwhile, now needs the fingers of both hands to celebrate success in Stirling – this was her SIXTH victory in this particular race and the bonus this time was a fine PB performance of 33:17 (gun time).
Inverclyde AC won the Men’s team golds led by Masters champion Mark Docherty and Edinburgh AC were our Women’s champions with their consistency reflected on the individual podium where Nancy Scott took silver in 33:51 and Kirsty Walker the bronze (34:14).
Inverclyde won on countback from Central AC with bronze medals for Cambuslang. The Women’s silver medallists were Central AC with bronzes for Costorphine AAC.
‘I was looking to win on the roads this year to add to my others victories in the cross country, trail and hill champs,’ said Jamie.
‘It is always good to be Scottish champion and I’m pleased with today after also running on Friday night.
‘I have won a national title on the track before – over 5000m, but not this year – and maybe it just reflects my training. I get bored quite easily so trying different terrain helps keep me interested.
‘It was a good race up the front today for the medals and once again a cracking event in Stirling. Well done to the club for putting it on.’
Jamie clocked 29:42 for the win. Shettleston’s Taha Ghafari was second in 29:53 and Aberdeen AAC athlete Michael Ferguson took the bronze with 30:21 after recently representing Scotland on the roads in Antrim.
Fionnuala’s gun time was 33:17 and within five seconds of the Course Record set here last year by Natasha Phillips.
‘I do love this course and have won here a number of time before (five prior to this year),’ smiled the Irish international.
‘The conditions were really good today. When there is no wind like that you really feel you want to try and take advantage.
‘Put it this way; it was a complete contrast to the wind and rain at the Antrim Coast Half marathon a couple of weeks ago.’
With Docherty at 30:51, Sara Green was the Women’s Masters champion at 35:32 (in a close race with Michelle Sandison of Springburn) as the Gala Harrier followed up her recent Scotland appearance on the roads in Antrim.
*Big thank you to Central AC, race directors Lewis Millar and Morag Millar, sponsors Podfather, Stirling Council and all helping out on the day for a superb Scottish 10K Champs.
Scottish Masters champions in ten-year bands (NOTE: these are gun times):
M50: Andrew Wright of PH Racing
W50: Lisa Finlay of Dumfries RC 38:03
M60: Chris Upson of Cambuslang Harriers 35:26
W60: Fiona Matheson of Falkirk Victoria Harriers 38:23
M70: James Scott of Edinburgh AC 43:37
W70: Liz Bryson 55:07
Photo by Bobby Gavin
Tags:
Central AC, Fionnuala Ross, Jamie Crowe, PODfather Stirling 10k, Scottish 10K Champs
