There’s a danger the Scottish National XC may be investigated by the Monopolies Commission. Or, more accurately, the Hawkins family of Kilbarchan AAC may be the ones under scrutiny.
Callum Hawkins maintained the family tradition by claiming his first Senior title at Callendar Park to put the final seal on an excellent winter of cross country by the 10,000m Commonwealth Games hopeful.
Remarkably, that’s a round dozen gold medals now won across the age-groups and seniors by the clan. Brother Derek has five in all, Callum now has four and middle boy Scott three while dad, Robert, won one ‘back in 1979’ as a youngster.
Callum looked hot favourite despite a strong field and he lived up to that billing to win in 37.41.
The muddy conditions didn’t seem to slow him down at all and he ended it with a handsome 55-second advantage over Central AC silver medallist, Andrew Butchart. Tewolde Mengisteab of Shettleston Harriers took the bronze, a further 18 seconds behind Butchart.
Rhona Auckland claimed the Senior Women’s title in a high quality race and there was an U20 double for Edinburgh AC pair, Jake Wightman and Rachael Dunn.
It was a remarkable day for the sport in Scotland with around 4000-5000 people in attendance the final tally of those who finished – 1520 – the biggest since the championships began to feature Men, Women and Age Groups back in 1994.
‘I’m delighted to win the Senior title after winning at some of the younger age groups,’ said Callum.
‘It is a nice one for the family because Derek obviously has a couple of senior titles. Both my brothers have won titles here, in fact, because Scott has a couple of age group ones as well. My dad won one as well, apparently!
‘I went out quite fast, not all that fast, and thought I’d wait and see if that gave me an advantage. When I realised it had, I felt comfortable enough to push on and let the others try and pull it back if they could.
‘It has been a decent cross country season for me with races in Liverpool, Belgrade and Edinburgh before today. That will give me a really good endurance base for the forthcoming track season.
‘I’m actually racing next weekend in the Scottish 3000m champs at the Emirates. It might be a bit short, in fact, but I will give it a go.’
Edinburgh University student Rhona Auckland eclipsed a quality field in the Women’s race to win the 8k race in 28.09. There were Olympians, former champions and World Champs representatives in her wake with marathon runner Susan Partridge, 10th in Moscow last August, claiming silver for the second successive year some seven seconds back.
Beth Potter, 2013 champ, had to settle for bronze, with both Susan and Beth representing VP-Glasgow.
‘I have had some good memories running at Falkirk and this is right up there now,’ said Rhona, with Rosie Smith fourth and Freya Ross at fifth to emphasise the high standard on Saturday.
‘I just like the course here with the hills and the smaller undulations and it suits me when it is a longer race. The mud is good!
‘Now I am a Senior, the distances are further and I’m happy with that. It feels pretty good to have won U17, U20 and now Senior titles at Callendar Park.
‘There was a very good field this time, some top athletes, so I will take a lot of confidence out of this. I think that may well be the reason why I ran okay – because I looked at those names and didn’t feel too many expectations about getting a medal earlier in the week.’
Olympian Freya Ross wasn’t too disappointed as she missed out on what would have been a record-breaking seventh individual title.
‘I have not run since the East District cross country in December so it was good to be back,’ she said.
‘I am heading to America soon for altitude training and then I will maybe look at a couple of events when I come back from there.
‘It was a record entry field for the National XC in terms of women which I think is great and then the top end of the field had some quality athletes. It is definitely the best race I’ve experienced in terms of depth for our National championships and that’s encouraging for the sport.’
Jake Wightman won the Men’s U20 title as he claimed a first Scottish cross country national medal ‘after a few years of trying’. The European U20 champ at 1500m won it in 26.54 with silver for Dale Colley (Central) and bronze medal for Ryan Thomson (Ronhill Cambuslang).
‘I didn’t have a good race in the Great Edinburgh Cross County at the start of January which was a disappointment,’ said Wightman, chasing Glasgow 2014 standards for 800m or 1500m.
‘So it was great to come here and win. I have raced the Scottish National a few times and never medalled before – so I really enjoyed the feeling.’
Edinburgh AC’s Rachael Dunn was an impressive winner of the Women’s U20 title as she came home in 17.01 – with a 25-second advantage over Danielle Beattie (VP-Glasgow). The bronze was won by Glasgow University’s Kathryn Pennel.
Jonathan Glen was probably pre-race favourite for the U17 Men’s title and the Inverclyde athlete made his intentions clear early-on. A devastating burst on the first lap set Glen up well for victory in 23.13 with Kilbarchan AAc pair, Gavin McArdle and Euan Gillham, forced to accept silver and bronze.
These three athletes have been regularly acquainted with the podium over the past two or three years and it is good to see them still developing.
Catriona Graves has proved her ability at GB level in hill running – and also in cross country in the past – and she successfully defended her U17 title. The Garscube Harriers girl won it in 17.18 – with a 20-second margin over Kirstin Oakley of Ayr Seaforth and VP-Glasgow’s Gillian Black.
The U15 titles went to a couple of well-known names. Ben Greenwood (Perth Strathtay) did enough to see off the challenge of Fife AC pair, Tristan Rees and Adam Scott. Erin Wallace (Giffnock North) won by eight seconds from Kate Gallagher of Central AC and Kilbarchan’s Laura Stark. Triathlete Wallace has impressed on the track at the Age Groups only a week earlier.
Jennifer Walls of Central took the U13 Girls title in 13.41 and her mother told scottishathletics: ‘We’ve been inspired by watching Laura Muir over the past few weeks.’ Talk about great role models.
Sara Tait of Lasswade took silver and bronze went to Eloise Coombs – to put Nithsdale AC on the podium.
Ronhill Cambuslang’s Ryan Stephen was the first winner of the day – in a fine U13 Boys race. Ryan headed Inveclyde’s Cameron Wilson and Jamie Burns of Shettleston Harriers.
*Central AC maintained their domination of the men’s team scene with a fourth successive title win and their women took the team race as well – but only on countback from Hunters Bog Trotters.
The U20 team titles went to Fife AC in the women and Edinburgh AC, led by gold medallist Wightman, in the men.
