As you may be aware we have organised ten pin bowling for our junior athletes to celebrate the club’s 40th anniversary. The response has been so good that we have reached capacity and cannot accept any more names. We have put a waiting list in place and if we are advised of any children that can no longer attend we will contact anyone that has been added to the waiting list.
The first of this season’s cross country races took place at the weekend in Galashiels with the annual East District XC Relays last held in 2019 due to the pandemic. It was great to see so many athletes and clubs participating over a challenging hilly course in the border’s countryside.
Lasswade AC initially had eleven teams entered for the event over all age groups, however there were a number of withdrawals due to injury and Covid 19 so ended up with eight teams on the day.
The first event to get underway was the young females and our u13 girl Isla Taylor got the team of to a great start finishing the first leg in 4th place. U15 Eloise Scott was our second leg runner and she had a strong run to hand over to our final leg runner u17 Olivia Meikle in 8th place. Olivia ran well on the final leg to pull back one place and bring the team home in 7th place, a great start to the day’s events.
The next race was the young males and we had three teams, although one was incomplete. Our u13 first leg runners were Jonathan MacQueen, Ruairidh Wood and Lauchie Welsh. All the boys ran well with Jonathan leading home in 20th, not too far behind was Ruairdh in 25th followed closely by Lauchie in 28th. Our u15 boys were Rowan Taylor, Cian Murray and Will Heatlie with Rowan having a fine run to move the first team up to 11th. Cian was next home with a good run in 27th and one of our new athletes Will had a solid run to finish in 30th. We only had two under 17 runners, Alastair Scott and Rory Scott with both boys having good runs their lap times were within a couple of seconds of each other. Their teams finished in 14th and 22nd place respectively.
The ladies race was next and Lasswade AC had finished 3rd in this event the last time it was held in 2019 albeit with a slightly different team. This year we had two teams and hoped our girls could prevent Edinburgh University who had a number of good teams getting a clean sweep. We were not to be disappointed with first leg runner Amy Smith in her first race for a number of years having a good run to hand over in 7th place to U23 GB international Sarah Tait who showed her class to put in the fastest lap of the day and move us up to 3rd place and hand over to final leg runner Amy Frankland. We could see Amy on the hills in the distance and she looked like she was moving well and closing in on the athletes in front of her. As the athletes approached the finish and came into the last field Amy Frankland was leading from Cera Gemmell of Edinburgh University. A fantastic race and great result for Lasswade AC to win from Edinburgh University who were 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th. Our other ladies team was led off by Hannah Little who ran well to hand over in 31st place to Cathy Dickson who had a great run to pull us up to 22nd place. Debra Urquhart wass on the final leg and in her first race for a few years ran well to bring the team in 24th place.
The final event of the day was the men and Lasswade AC had two teams. On the first leg Christian Graham made his intentions clear from the start and went straight to the lead closely followed by another Lasswade AC athlete Harry Henriksen who was running for Edinburgh University.
It was great to see Christian and Harry leading the race with Christian first home closely followed by Harry. Martin Gore was our next runner and ran well over the 4k course to keep us in the top 10 and hand over in 7th place to our 3rd leg runner David Woods. David a newer member was running for Lasswade AC for the first time and ran well to keep us just outside the top 10 in 11th place. Our final leg runner Euan Hood had a solid run on the final leg to bring us home in 12th place. Our other men’s team was initially going to be all masters but unfortunately we had a few late withdrawals so it became a mixed team. Andrew McGlone led the team off and declared that it was a tough course coming home in 35th and handing over to Scott Dickson. Scott had a good run to move us up a couple of places to 33rd. Greg Louden was next off and running very well to move up seven places to 26th. Our final leg runner was Sean Hadden who had a solid run to finish in 27th place.
Christian leading at the end of the first leg!
A great day’s athletics with fine performances from our athletes with some amongst the fastest times of the day. The highlight has to be our ladies win.
Congratulations to everyone on their performances.
Thanks for all your help on the day especially Stuart Meikle for arriving early and helping us erect the tent, Scott and Cathy Dickson for taking it away to dry it and to all the officials and volunteers, especially Linden, who make these events happen.
See you all at the National Relays!
Kirk and Linda
Photo’s Courtesy of Neil Renton
The cross country season consists of league, district, and national events. Please see below for further details on each. All events are very friendly and are a great way to get some conditioning work in!
Athletes compete in the same age groups as they did for Summer T&F. However, the full DOB age ranges for Winter 2024/25 XC may be viewed here
| Date | Venue | Schedule | |
| East League 1 | 26th Oct | Kirkcaldy | Schedule |
| East League 2 | 16th Nov | Dundee | Schedule |
| East League 3 | 18th Jan | Bathgate | Schedule |
All the declaration links below take you to the same form, so you can enter multiple events on the same form.
Lasswade AC are in the East District with two events over the season for U13 to Masters. The events are, the East District Relays* and East District Championships.
*The District Relays are the season opener and they are great fun. Junior relays should have one athlete from each age group (U13 – U15 – U17) per team. (TEAMS MUST HAVE AN U13) Each run their own leg before passing to their team mate in the next age group. All legs are the same distance. Senior teams are made up of 4 athletes, U20 and upwards.
| Date | Venue & Event Info | Declare | |
| District Relays | 5th Oct | Livingston | Here by Sept 18th |
| District Champs | 30th Nov | TBC | Here by 14th Nov |
These events are the National Relays, National Champs – both for U13 to Masters. Then we have National Short Course Champ’s (U15 upwards) and finally the National Masters Champ’s.
| Date | Venue & Event Info | Declare | |
| National Relays | 19th Oct | Cumbernauld | Here by 5th Oct |
| National Short Course Champs | 2nd Nov | Kirkcaldy | Here by 16th Oct |
| National Masters | 8th Feb | Dundee | Here by 25th Jan |
| National Champs | 22nd Feb | Falkirk | Here by 8th Feb |
’10K’ TRAIL RACE @ 19:15
Junior ‘2.5K’ TRAIL RACE (11yr – 16yr) @ 18:45
2.5K TRAIL RACE 16yr+ @ 18:45
“Scenic woodland trail – Mostly firm paths – Some muddy patches – Short tarmac sections – Nice Views”
The 2.5km race follows a single loop of paths around Dechmont Law. The 10km starts with the same loop and then follows a longer loop past the Alien Stone then to the North Wood before returning to Dechmont Law.
The Races are held under the current Scottish Government and Scottish Athletics guidelines.
You must stay at home if you:
• If you have Covid-19 symptoms.
• Someone in your household has Covid-19 symptoms.
• If you have been asked to self-isolate at home by the Scottish Government Test and Protect system.
• If you are returning from a country outside the UK you must follow the Scottish Government guidance on quarantine.
Entry Fees for 10km and 2.5km Trail Races
Minimum age for 10K entry is 17 years on date of race
Minimum age for Junior 2.5k entry is 11 years on date of race
Entries On Line via Team App
We hope to arrange parking at Deans Community High School, Livingston, EH54 8PS
also you can park at Middlewood Park EH54 8BD
Facilities: First Aid, Portable Toilets adjacent to the Start
All athletes to Collect race numbers and Timing Chips on the day from registration adjacent to the Start/Finish.
The races will be Chip Timed by Keep it Simple Timing. Results will be posted as soon as possible at www.kitst.co.uk
You must return your Timing Chip after you Finish.
Enquiries to: events@lothianrunningclub.co.uk
The above event is being organised by Harmeny AC and will take place at the Oriam Sports centre in the ground of Heriot Watt University.
There will be no charge for participation as Harmeny want it to be as successful as possible and be a bit of a celebration of the return of off-track events prior to the return of Cross Country in October.
The course is a mixture of trail paths, tarmac and grass.
There will be car parking, café and toilet facilities available, but no changing facilities.
It woud great to support this event as Harmeny have been one of the local clubs that helped organise the smaller local cross country events last winter.
There will only be club-entries so you will need to let Linda or I know if you would like to be entered for the event and we will provide a list of entrants to Harmeny. We need to provide a final list by Thursday 9th September so please confirm to us by Monday 6th September.
Provisional Timetable
| Race | Register | Race | Distance |
| U11 Girls | 10.00am | 10.30am | 1.9km |
| U11 Boys | 10.20am | 10.50am | 1.9km |
| U13 Girls | 10.40am | 11.10am | 2.7km |
| U13 Boys | 11.05am | 11.35am | 2.7km |
| U15 Girls | 11.30am | 12.00pm | 2.7km |
| U15 Boys | 11.55am | 12.25pm | 2.7km |
| U17/20 Girls | 12.20m | 12.50pm | 4.3km |
| U17/20 Boys | 12.50pm | 1.20pm | 4.3km |
If anyone has any questions please get in touch or see us at training.
Thanks
The Scottish National track and field championships took place at Grangemouth on the weekend of 14th and 15th August and it was great to see a number of Lasswade AC athletes competing.
There were some fine performances from Lasswade AC athletes over the weekend.
On Saturday Alastair Scott ran very well in the U17 800m to finish 2nd in his heat running 2.03.99 which was just outside his pb narrowly missing out on a place in the final. In the senior mens 800m race Greg Louden had a solid run to finish 3rd in his heat in a time of 1.57.59 just missing out on a place in the final. Greg also ran in the 400m later in the day and finished 3rd in his heat in a time of 49.70 qualifying for the final on Sunday. Clubmate Guy Learmonth dropping down from his normal 800m also ran in the senior mens 400m qualifying comfortably for the final in 48.07.
Guy is off is mark in the mens 400m!
Greg – working hard in the finishing straight of the mens 400m.
(Photo’s courtesy Bobby Gavin)
Murray Blair was competing in the senior mens 100m and made it through the first round but was knocked out in the semis finishing 6th in his race in a time of 11.55. In the u17 women 1500m Olivia Meikle had a strong run to finish 6th in a time of 5.02.81 to qualify for the final. Magnus Tait had chosen not to run his strongest event, the steeplechase, but to do the mens 1500m instead. After the first 150m it was clear nobody was willing to take up the running in the very windy conditions so Magnus went to the front leading the field to the bell but faded on the final lap to finish 8th in 4.01.30.
On Sunday, the conditions although still blustery were much better than Saturday where the wind has been much stronger. Harry Henriksen was first Lasswade athlete on the track in the u20 mens 5000m. Harry led from gun to tape with a strong run just outside his pb Harry won in 14.59 – what a start!
Harry on his way to the Scottish National u20 5000m title!
(Photo courtesy Bobby Gavin)
In the field events Matthew Tait was competing in the u17 high jump and he took the title with a jump of 1.83m.
Matthew Tait in action on his way to the u17 Scottish National High Jump tilte!
(Photo courtesy Bobby Gavin)
The next athlete in action for us was Sarah Tait in the 3000m steeplechase for senior women. A bit jaded from recent competitions Sarah had a comfortable win bringing Lasswade AC a hat-trick of National titles with three athletes still to run their finals.
Sarah Tait comfortably wins her her first senior 3000m steeplechase title.
(Photo courtesy Bobby Gavin)
In the senior mens 400m strangely all the athletes ran slower in the final than they did in their heats which were run in much windier conditions! Guy Learmonth finished 2nd with clubmate Greg Louden finishing in 5th. Olivia Meikle was the final Lasswade AC athlete to run and she was in the U17 womens 1500m. Olivia finished the weekend with a fine performance finishing 9th running a personal best of 4.57.74!
A great weekend of athletics, it was fantastic to see everyone competing again and to bump into and catch up with coaches, athletes and officials who all did an amazing job to make the weekend a success.
Congratulations to all the athletes on their performances.
Sarah Tait continued her fine form over 3000m steeplechase this season when representing Great Britain in the u23 European Championships in Estonia last week.
Sarah would have been forgiven for being nervous representing GB for the first time but there was no sign of nerves on the start line in her heat last Thursday. Sarah put in a fine performance only a few seconds outside her PB running 10.06.71 to finish 5th and make sure of automatic qualification for the final taking place on the Saturday afternoon. A day to relax and recover.
Sarah – 5th in Europe !!
The Saturday was a hot day with temperatures reaching 34 degrees, not ideal for a fair skinned Scot! However, once again Sarah set to the task and settled down in the field of 15 runners. The race set off at a slow pace which was no doubt a good thing in the heat but it soon picked up with the french athletes who were the pre race favourites together with a polish athlete pushing it on over the last 1000m. Sarah wasn’t too far behind sitting inside the top 7 or 8 runners and moving up nicely. Sarah had a strong final lap to move up to 5th in a time of 10.04.53 and finish first british athlete. A fantastic experience of championship running at the highest level and a fine debut in a GB vest.
Congratulations Sarah all the hard work and dedication has been worth it.
Lasswade AC athlete Sarah Tait has had a busy month of competitions and has shown great form over all the events that she has competed culminating in a 3rd place in her favoured event the 3000m steeplchase at the UK senior championships last weekend in Manchester.
Having run 10.00.49 for the 3000m steeplechase which was marginally outside the European u23 qualifying time of 10.00 when winning the English u23 championships in Bedford, Sarah had a nervous few days waiting to see if the selectors would give her the nod.
Thankfully it was fantastic news today when the team was announced and Sarah earned her first GB vest so is off to Tallin in Estonia next week for the u23 European Championships. Please click here for announcement on UK athletics website.
Sarah pictured at Manchester last weekend after finishing 3rd in her first senior UK Championships
Congratulations Sarah, all of your hard work and dedication has been worth it and your selection is very well deserved.
Good luck next week from all at Lasswade AC !
Lasswade AC athlete Sarah Tait made the trip to Bedford at the weekend competing on Sunday in the 3000m steeplechase. Sarah has been in fine form this season over the barriers with 3 wins out of 3 and beating her previous best time on each occasion.
This was the English u23 championships but also the trial for selection for the European u23 Championships. A win gained automatic selection providing you had the qualifying time of 10.00.00.
Sarah set off with clear intent taking the lead with pre-race favourite Elise Thorner matching her stride for stride for the first four laps. Sarah looked strong and her hurdling and water jumps were all good as she began to get a gap on Elise. Sarah continued to push on with the gap widening there was no other athlete near her. It was Sarah against the clock. It was an agonising last 100 metres as Sarah pushed for the line only to cross it in 10.00.49. A fantastic time and another personal best but 0.49 seconds outside the qualifying.
Congratulations from all at Lasswade AC – great performance!
Sarah receiving her medal and cuddly toy!!
Scottish Athletics have confirmed that they have added further Coach Education course dates including the Athletics Coach & Coach in Running Fitness qualifications together with another series of Coaching Assistant and Leadership in Running Fitness courses.
Details are available via the Scottish Athletics website here
If any parents or older athletes are interested in completing a coaching qualification then please speak to our Club Development Officer Craig Morton in the first instance.
Contact details for Craig are as follows:
lasswadeatheltics@gmail.com or on 07751-279456
