Last weekend saw the thirtieth running of the Midlothian based open cross country event staged by Lasswade Athletic Club at the Gore Glen course which has become so popular with Scottish runners and attracts athletes from all parts of the country.  Once again the main sponsor was John Noble (Electrical) Ltd. and again a large entry of class runners turned out for this popular event.  The youngest age group was 9 years to 11 years and the first race which was for these potential young stars started at 12.30 on a bright sunny day when the girls race set off over the mile course.  In an exciting finish Mairi Wallace of Moorfoot Runners edged ahead of Ishbel Strathdee of Edinburgh and Sarah Calvert of Livingston with the team prize going to Moorfoot’s top three runners.  Best for Lasswade were Caroline McKinlay and Demi Cherubini.  The under eleven boys event over the same distance was similarly close and resulted in a win by young Jake Gumbrelli of Helensburgh with Stephen Addison of Corstorphine second and Taylor Stewart of Giffnock in third place.  The winning  team were Airdrie and as well as Fraser Judge in 6^th , Lasswade had Craig Gallacher 23^rd, Euan McAlister 24^th and Euan Donaldson 26^th. 

In the under 13 girls two mile race Leah Davie (Pitreavie) proved too strong for the opposition who were led by Hilary Lewin (Edinburgh) 2^nd. And Regan Binnie (Law and District) 3^rd.   For the host club Lauren Dickson 6^th brought home Rachel Hutchison and Lauren Wilkie to sixth team position.  In the same age group for boys Connor Morris (Pitreavie) triumphed over Adam Scott (Fife) and Ross Little (Larkhall) with Ross McKenzie and Lewis Donaldson best for Lasswade.

Eilidh MacCorquodale (Central) won the under 15 girls from Hannah Addison (Corstorphine) and Pamela McNicol (Law) while Sophie Miller was top Midlothian runner.  Edinburgh took the first two places in the boys event through Josh Kerr and Robert Bough with Pitreavie’s Aiden Thompson coming in third, just ahead of Lasswade’s Jamie Cousin who lead Iain Lawson and Kyle MacKenzie to second team place.  Callum Grahame was the fourth Lasswade runner.

Amy Frankland of the home club was a runaway winner in the under 17 women’s race with the nearest opposition coming from her team-mate Amy Smith.  Katie Watson (Edinburgh) was third and the winning Lasswade team was completed by Fiona Matheson supported by Katie Logan.  The host club’s Euan Bathgate ran a strong race in a tough under 17 men’s race which was well won by Dundee Hawkhill’s Jamie Crowe from Law’s Andrew Lawler and Ben Potrykus (Pitreavie).

In the final two races over respectively three and three quarter and six miles the Lasswade club’s senior runners came into their own.  First of all Temple’s Keira Murray destroyed the opposition in the senior women’s event winning by two and a half minutes from Rowen Bell-Scott and Kate Jenkins and leading the team of Wilma Kerr and Karen McKinlay to third place with Lorna Rice the fourth Lasswade runner.

In the men’s six miles, young Lasswade internationalist Ross Matheson was equally dominant leading from start to finish to win from Corstorphine’s Keith Hood and Robbie Idle of Ireland. The Lasswade team of Matheson, Martin Gore and Ben Mitchell were good winners and club Chairman Brian Wilson ran strongly in support.

Prizes were presented by Councillor Lisa Beattie and councillor and MSP Colin Beattie (who intimated their pleasure at being involved in an enterprise which reflected so well on Midlothian in national terms) and Greg Louden, Lasswade AC Great Britain junior internationalist.     

Dave Hand

Lasswade AC