Scenic routes for East Lothian Cross Country

Great running in John Muir Country Park as over 180 finishers at East Lothian Cross Country 

picture courtesy of Mark Kinghorn

East Lothian's John Muir Country park provided the scenic coastal backdrop for the 2016 East Lothian Cross Country, which incorporated the East Lothian championships with 182 finishers across the three races. In very strong fields, there was some strong running from local East Lothian athletes, providing some good competition ahead of the Stewarts National Cross Country at the end of the month. 

In the Under-9 and Under-11 race over 1.4miles, Angus Wright (Team East Lothian/ Haddington RC) was the first across the line with a convincing win; Katie Johnson (Edinburgh AC/TEL AC) followed close behind to be the first girl across the line with an equally impressive run. There was a strong field in the youngest age group with 78 Under-9 and Under-11 athletes competing from clubs and schools from across East Lothian as well as athletes from the Lothian and Borders. Both Katie and Angus picked up gold medals for the Under-11 East Lothian Championships with their very strong runs. Haddington Running Club (HRC) athletes Innes Wright and Grace Crawford picked up the honours in the Under-9s category. Completing the podium in the Under-9s was Toby Ralph (HRC) for silver and Robbie Calder Clark (HRC) for bronze, and with Olivia Robbins (DRC) and Holly Hughes (unattached) picking up the honours in the Under-9s girls. In the Under-11s section of the East Lothian Championships Glen Crawford (HRC) and Amy Paul (DRC) picked up the silver medals, with Callum Queen (Law PS) and Lucy Thompson (DRC) taking the bronze medals.

In the 2.75mile race, it was local Dunbar lad, Fraser Kelly (TEL AC), who was both the first East Lothian finisher and the first across the line taking the gold for the Under-15 East Lothian Championships. Emma Johnson (EAC/TEL AC) was the first female East Lothian finisher in the race, and claimed the U13 Girls title with a fine run. Esme Callendar (TEL AC) picked up gold in the Under-15 Girls category, Robbie Anderson (TEL AC) in the Under-13 Boys category and Lucy Allan (Dunbar GS) in the Under-17 Women for the East Lothian Championships. Ioan Goldie (DRC) picked up silver and Esme Balfour (TEL AC) bronze in the Under-13 Girls category; in the Under-13 Boys Calum McCullogh (TEL AC) picked up silver and James Walter (TEL AC) bronze; Cameron Bullen (TEL AC) was the silver medallist in the Under-15 Boys championships.      

The senior race proved extremely competitive with 72 finishers and there was a strong field from across the East Lothian clubs as well as across the Lothians. Duncan Coombs (Hunter Bog Trotters) was the race winner and East Lothian’s Callum Reid (Edinburgh AC) was second, claiming the East Lothian Championship. Both the East Lothian V40 and V50 winners, John Smart (unattached) and Stuart Hay (Dunbar RC) respectively, finished in the top 10 against a quality field whilst claiming their East Lothian Championship titles. Roman Bark (Dunbar GS) took the Under-17 Boys East Lothian title.  

In the women’s field Sarah Louise Macisaac (HBT) was the first female athlete home and finished in the top ten of the whole race, and claimed the East Lothian championship title. There were also fine performances from Nicola Finlayson (HRC) to claim the V40W title, Avril Clark (HRC) in the V50W title and Sheila Strain (HBT) the V60W title. 

Thanks to the officials and volunteers that helped make the day a great success.

 East Lothian XC Championships Medal Winners 2016

Results can be found below. Please report any errors to athletics@enjoyleisure.com