Lynn McKenna cannot believe the moment she becomes Scottish champion at Falkirk (photo by Bobby Gavin)
By Peter Jardine, Head of Communications
Photographer Bobby Gavin – now a veteran of a dozen editions of the Lindsays National XC – feels the perfect labels for the Falkirk occasion are ‘the sport’s gala day’ or ‘Scotland’s cross country festival’.
To say the 2025 version lived up to that billing would be something of an understatement.
Logan Rees claimed the Senior Men’s gold for the second time in his career while Lynn McKenna enjoyed her best moment so far – both could almost certainly be described as runaway wins.
But that simple sentence only briefly covers it on a day when the inclusive approach covered 10 races for age groups from U13 right through to the Senior Men and Non Binary race come mid-afternoon.
There was a champion from the Borders in the U20 Women’s race with a strong rugby connection; and a medal in that race for Shetland AAC. Stornoway RAC, forced to leave early to catch a later ferry home because of weather warnings for Sunday, had already claimed an individual bronze in the U17 Women’s race.
This, then, was a day which once again demonstrated how the National XC appeals right across the length and breadth of Scotland
Central AC delivered the perfect tribute to the late Ali Hay with their 14th consecutive Senior Men’s team golds.
Also at Senior level, and the bronze medallists, Brogan Wallace of Shettleston and Kevin Campbell of Cambuslang, both had interesting back stories: Brogan returned after being out the sport for five years and M35 Kevin is a very recent recruit and following up his West XC performance with a superb run here.
And what a National XC for Carnethy Hill Running Club – scaling summits with ease – as they took team medals in both the Senior races in a fine collective performance.
We even had twins on the podium in the U15 Boys race – from host club Falkirk Victoria Harriers.
The stories and feelgood isn’t always restricted to athlete medallists.
Ron Morrison, twice our President, coached Logan to his second win as the Fife AC athlete won in front of his California-based girlfriend and family from around Scotland.
Trains, Planes and Automobiles (plus Ferries), meanwhile, could have been a sub-title for those who simply felt they had to be in Falkirk.
The images, mid-race, of partially sighted Edinburgh AC athlete being roared through the tented village somehow seems to sum up the spirit of the day.
McKenna won gold from Nancy Scott of Edinburgh AC and Wallace of Shettleston.
Shettleston won team golds with Edinburgh second and Carnethy third.
‘I’ve not run here for a few years as I’ve been injured at this point of the season – so Falkirk was a big target for me this year,’ said Lynn.
‘I felt as if Nancy and others were close to me in the first couple of laps but once you feel you are ahead you just have to push on and trust yourself.
‘It means an awful lot to me to win this when I see the names on the trophy. Freya Murray (now Ross) is the first one I recall, really, and Mhairi Maclennan.’
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Rees was a man with a plan and executed it superbly as home favourite Scott Stirling took silver and Campbell a surprise bronze.
Central won the team golds once again with Carnethy won the silvers and Shettleston were third.
‘My girlfriend was over from America and a lot of family were here too so I could not let them down,’ said Logan.
‘I think Liverpool and Falkirk are the two big ones for Scottish athletes in terms of cross country. Liverpool didn’t go way I hoped but I have to be really satisfied with today.
‘I felt the atmosphere around the course was very special once again and I enjoyed the new course route through the tents and the finish.’
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Logan Beagley won the Men’s gold in one of the tighter races of the day as Harris Pagett of Strathearn Harriers took silver and Andrew McWilliams of Lasswade the bronze.
Giffnock won team golds from Lasswade and Central.
‘I was fourth in this race last year and gutted at the time to miss the podium,’ said Central AC athlete Logan,
‘So to come back and win in a strong field is great. There were a few of us running together for a spell but I was ahead into the final stages and loved running in to the tape.’
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Isla Paterson won the U20 Women’s gold from Millie McClelland-Brooks of Inverclyde AC and Layla Todd of Shetland AAC.
Giffnock won team golds from Edinburgh Uni and Glasgow Uni.
‘It’s the best win of my career after being silver medallist last year and I am so happy with the run,’ said Isla.
‘My uncle (Chris) was an international player for Scotland so he is someone I always looked up to and admired his dedication to his sport.
‘I am now based in Leeds and coached by Laura Weightman but had so much help through the years from Neil Renton and he’s still helping me now.’
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Tags:
Central AC, Falkirk, Isla Paterson, Lindsays National XC, Logan Beegley, Lohan Rees, Lynn McKenna, Shettleston Harriers
