Photo by Gary Mitchell
From Peter Jardine in Liverpool
‘Sorry about the mud on your hand,’ apologised Peter Molloy amid the handshakes and post-race celebrations in Liverpool.
Truth is, the Scotland international was anything but sorry about the mud at the British Cross Challenge and Euro Cross Trial at Sefton Park.
The orienteer from Central AC had navigated his way to a superb third in the U23 race.
Peter thus clinched automatic selection for the Euro Cross in Turkey and a first GB and NI vest in cross country.
It was a tough day overall for Scottish athletes over various age groups, however, certainly in terms of selections for Antalya.
The depth of the field in Liverpool almost always dictates that athletes who don’t bring their A game cannot ‘escape’ with a good placing. There is no hiding place in the Merseyside mud bath.
A number of Scottish athletes finished between places 10 and 20 and most of those – although maybe not all of them – will feel they performed reasonably well.
The last race of the day featured the Senior Men and U23 men.
Jamie Crowe was the first Scot home in his Central AC vest as the club chased another Euro Clubs Cross qualification. Angus McMillan was just behind Jamie in 12th.
Stuart McCallum and Aidan Thompson had good runs thereafter with Ben Potrykus third of those picked for Scotland. Unfortunately, Logan Rees was a DNF.
The U23 race was shorter and Molloy finished strongly to take third and hold off challenges
‘It was the race of my life in cross country and I didn’t expect that,’ he grinned.
‘I shouted as I crossed the line and that was just excitement at making the team for Turkey.
‘I wanted it muddy and was praying for rain all week. It did . . . and then some. So I was very happy with those conditions.’
Central were smiling at the finish, too, as four athletes in the top 47 places booked their tickets for another crack at the Euro Clubs Cross in Portugal next February. Cameron Milne and Alistair Marshall followed in Jamie and Aidan.
Congratulations to all the Central AC squad and coach Derek Easton.
Still on a Central AC theme, Morag Millar gave one of the best performances of her 30s to be top Scot in the women race and 14th overall
‘It’s not bad for a 38-year-old mother of two, isn’t it?, ‘ asked Morag
‘I caught up with Lynn McKenna and we had a really good ding-dong battle. I used to come here trying to make the GB team but that’s not realistic now given my training – so in many ways I am happier with how I have run here this time. ‘
Mckenna was in 16th as second Scot followed by Zoe Pflug and newly eligible Edinburgh AC athlete, Beth Ansell. Anna Hedley was the top Scot finisher at U23 with vests for Kirsty and Caitlin Purcell.
It was tough for Scots at U20 level and issue over the Men’s Results around U20/U17 means some wrong placings have been issued. Apologies and we await corrections.
What we can say is that at U20 Logan Beagley was our top performer and closely followed by Harris Pagett. In the U17 race within a race, Andrew Baird had an excellent run.
In the U17 Women’s race, Zara Redmond took a fine bronze medal as the Kilbarchan AAC athlete finished third and right behind Zara was Eilidh Dallas of Strathearn Harriers.
At U15 level, there were good runs for Lasswade AAC duo Freya Brown (seven) and Cerys Wright (eight). Falkirk twins Rory and Harrison MacMillan finished eighth and tenth.
Giffnock North AC’s Sam Deery won the U13 Boys race.
The 12-race programme had stated with two 1.5k races as athletes chased Mixed Relay places for Turkey.
Kane Elliott of Falkirk Victoria Harriers with fifth in the men’s race and Sarah Calvert of Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds was at fourth in the women’s.
