The rising popularity of cross country in Scotland has resulted in the countries highest ever team entries ahead of this weekends National Cross Country Relay Championships, which will be covered by VincoSport.
Saturday’s event, which will be held at Cumbernauld, has seen almost 1,700 admissions, the most it has received since it entered its current form 20 years ago.
When the names of ‘back-up’ athletes are listed too, impressively, the number increases to a whopping 2,000.
The 2013 event will see 163 senior men, 99 senior women, 127 young male and 121 young female teams take to the starting line.
Nigel Holl, chief executive of Scottish Athletics, said: “We are really encouraged by these figures and they prove the popularity again of national events and cross country.
“I am advised by our Road Running and Cross Country Commission that we are looking at a 20-year high in terms of entries and to have around 2,000 people signing up is brilliant.
“There are a number of factors that play a part, including what I call the Olympic ‘tidal wave’ effect and the anticipation ahead of Glasgow 2014. We can see and feel the enthusiasm and excitement of these big global events rubbing off at grassroots level.”
In particular, the rise in numbers from female teams has been very promising. The young females category hosted just 54 teams 10 years ago, with that record over doubled this year.
“We’re particularly encouraged with the young female numbers as, for this event, each team has an athlete from the U13, U15 and U17 age-group,” Holl spoke.
Adding: “Girls in Scotland really seem to be relishing cross country and that’s marvellous. Again, it is our clubs – through parents, coaches, officials and volunteers – who are working hard on this. After getting them interested, the next thing is retention.”
Scotland has seen steady rises across various competitions, but a significant boost over the past two Octobers has sprung them into record breaking entry territory.
Holl added: “I credit our clubs across the length and breadth of Scotland for their hard work in getting their entries in and getting athletes – young and old – out to compete.
“We have seen significant rises now for more than 12 months in all our national championships, be that in cross country or track and field, both indoors and outdoors.”
As well as the benefits London 2012 and the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow has provided, Scottish Athletics’ NVT Club Together scheme has a lot to say for the countries increase in participation, too.
“We launched our NVT Club Together scheme back early in 2012 with part-time ‘recruitment officers’ appointed to grow the sport. That was across 17 projects in Scotland and we’ve another 10 in the pipeline now – I think that is another factor in the growth,” Holl said.
Saturday’s national relays are part of a busy weekend for the host nation, with the International Festival of Athletics Coaching and Athlete of the Year Annual dinner taking place, too.
