January’s torrid weather may be hitting the UK hard but its only heating up for tomorrows BUCS Cross Country Championships in Stirling. With over 1421 Male and Female athletes entered for the event.

St Mary’s Men have sent the message out that they’re the team to beat, with fine movie making skills, previewing their rivalry with Birmingham Uni, Football Factory style.

Birmingham though has the two Jonny’s to boast in Hay and Davies they will be seen as main contenders. Davies, a first year student, has claimed two victories in the British Cross Challenge as well as the British trials and was a well respected fourth for Team GB at the Under 20 European Cross Country Championships in Belgrade. Hay meanwhile an Under 23 finished 12^th in Belgrade and has not finished below third in any of his Cross Challenges this year.

St Mary’s defending champions will have a tough choice in their six men for the Men’s Long Race as they have the picks of last years third finisher Stephen Scullion, just behind him was Rowan Axe as well as inform Richard Goodman could all be possibilities for a strong St Mary’s side. Even after the Long Race the Men’s B race will still be competitive as ever with a vast field eager to prove it’s their season.

The Women’s race see’s a top field with all of the winning U20 GB team from Belgrade participating with the stand out leader being Emelia Gorecka. Gorecka who stormed to her European Cross win this year will be looking to get maximum points and retain her title for Royal Holloway as she again faces last year’s runner up Lauren Howarth. Howarth finished 11^th in Belgrade in the U23 age group and will know of Gorecka’s sprint finish but could gain valuable BUCS points for Birmingham. Other runner’s see the multi talented triathlete Georgia Taylor-Brown who finished 4^th in Belgrade represents Leeds Metropolitan University whilst Brunel athlete Jessica Andrews will also be in contention.

Whoever takes the 2014 BUCS championships in Scotland, there is bound to be celebrations but as the Cross season comes to a close it should be a celebration for all! In what has been a top talented Cross-season in the UK and an extremely promising one for the future!

How it works:

BUCS POINTS‚Ä®

The follow points scoring system will be in operation in the Men’s and Women’s Long Races:‚Ä®

• Men’s Individual – First 4 home will score BUCS points.‚Ä®

• Women’s Individual – First 4 home will score BUCS points.‚Ä®

• Men’s Team – First 8 teams home will score BUCS points.‚Ä®

• Women’s Team – First 8 teams home will score BUCS points.‚Ä®

• The Men’s B Race does not earn BUCS points

AWARDS

‚Ä®Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to the top three individuals and teams in each race. BUCS Trophy medals will be awarded in the Men’s B Race.

AFTER PARTY ‚Ä®

The University of Stirling Athletics Club would like to invite all athletes and friends to the after party in the University of Stirling Students Union. The Students Union will be open from 21:30 to 02:00 (tbc). Tickets will be priced at £4 and will be available throughout Saturday 1st February. The venue has a capacity of 700 and the athletics club will update ticket sales progress via the use of the clubs twitter account.‚Ä®