Masters XC Scotland Team Trial - Tollcross Park

The SVHC provided an early start to this year's cross country season on Saturday afternoon, holding the Scotland Team Trial for the British & Irish Masters International Cross Country being held in Derry, Northern Ireland later in November.

On an overcast afternoon interspersed with occasional light showers, competitors lined up for two races. The ladies and over 65 men raced over 6k (3 laps) at 1pm whereas the M35 and over men raced over 8k (4 laps) at 2pm. The rules for selection were simple, half of each age group team (F35/M35, F40/M40, F45/F45, etc all the way up to F75/M75 this year) would be selected on age group position during the trial (e.g. for those age groups which have a team of 6 in the international, the first 3 in that age group in the trial would be selected). The other half of each age group team would be selected on evidence of current form, whether competing in the trial or not.

The course was the same fantastic course within Tollcross Park as used for the trial and the international last year. There were no complaints as the course provided a mixture of flat stretches, short, steep banks and longer climbs and descents, all with the benefit of lush, mud-free grass underfoot.

Our only competitor in the 6k race was Stuart Waugh in the M65 category. I believe this age group consists of a team of 4 and therefore automatic qualification (first 2) would be very tough with former British champion Andy McLinden of Hamilton Harriers now joined by Frank Hurley, a newcomer to this age group but another British medalist in previous years, both racing. However, as it turns out, both of these M65's were beaten by Tony Martin of Falkland Trail Runners in a very tight finish between him and Frank Hurley. Indeed, it looks like Andy McLinden must have dropped out during the race as he does not appear in the results, despite challenging for the M65 lead in the early stages. This placed Stuart as 8th M65 (28:18) in an age group that seemed to have Scots from all over the UK travelling to compete for the limited places. There were competitors from Highland Hill Runners, Keith & District, Bure Valley (?), Morpeth Harriers, Springburn Harriers and Falkirk Victoria as well as Calderglen and the other clubs mentioned. Great to see so many fighting for a place in the team.

The same was not true of the ladies 6k event and this was definitely an opportunity missed by Calderglen ladies (and those from many other clubs) for Scotland selection and the experience and confidence that this builds. The F35 age group was competing for 3 places in a team of 6. There were only three F35's competing, at least one of which could have been beaten by several of our Calderglen F35's. The situation was even more clear cut in the F40 race. Again this was a competition for 3 of the places in a team of 6. In this case there were only 2 F40's competing, so automatic selection guaranteed for a third runner if they were there and put in a reasonable performance. As I have said recently at the club in relation to West District XC relays (for which there has been an outstanding response by the way!), these opportunities only come around once per year and are less frequent if you also put in the requirement to be fit and injury free, so they have to be taken. An individual or team championship medal or Scotland vest stays with you forever whereas a voucher or goody bag at some random road race is soon forgotten. You've got to be in it to win it as the saying goes.

The second race for M35's and above was a very competitive affair indeed. Andy Henderson (M60) and I (M50) were the only Calderglen competitors as Richard Lawton had to pull out in the morning with an injury. The M50 age group comprises a team of 6 so again I was battling for a first three place as I had managed the past two years. As the race numbers start with the first two digits of each age group (e.g. 5077 for me) and as numbers were worn front and back, identification of who I was up against was very clear. Having missed the National Trail Race due to illness and hardly raced in recent months, this was the last chance saloon for me. I knew that Jim Buchanan of Dumfries, a regular in the M50 team, was not competing today, but had probably done enough in finishing a close 2nd M50 in the National Trail Race to another runner from Dundee who was not here today either. That left Dennis Williams of Shettleston who had finished 3rd at the trail championships and was here. Then the M50's all started to appear out of the woodwork, most notable of which was Bobby Quinn of Kilbarchan, the quality Scottish distance athlete of his era who's senior international career was cut short before it began when he was hit by a motor bike whilst out training 30 years ago. I was at university with him at that time and well remember it. However, although not reaching the heights he might have internationally as a result, he has won the National cross country championships many times and won the British & Irish Masters XC outright on his one previous appearance about 10 years ago. So that was one of the 3 x M50 places gone! I also spotted Michael McLoone of Greenock, who also regularly qualifies for the team and a few other fast looking M50's I did not recognise. This was going to be difficult given my recent relatively poor form and illnesses. However, there is nothing I like better than a good hard race and that is what I got!

My plan was to hang off the initial pace, which is usually too fast, and then to try to move through on laps 3 and 4. For the first lap this seemed to work. I couldn't see Bobby Quinn, who was presumably right up the front but I could see 4 other M50's between 2 and 20 m in front of me, with Dennis Williams being the closest. Nothing really changed on lap 2. I had to fend off Andy Ronald of Falkirk Victoria who appeared half way around lap 2 but I managed that fine, leaving me close behind Dennis Williams but still about 20 metres behind the next 2 M50's who were closely grouped with another M50 in between Dennis and them. Things didn't go well on lap 3 though as I felt weak and slipped back about 10 or 15m behind Dennis. When we started to hit the wide open playing fields part way into the 4th lap, I focused on relaxing and lengthening my stride, stabilising the gap. To my surprise, at the first steep bank on the furthest away part of the course, the gap closed suddenly. The chance of catching Dennis was improving. The thought then was if I should catch him and sit on his shoulder or not. As that was only going to give me 5th position, that was not really an option. The best tactic in that situation is to catch, accelerate past and keep going and that is what I did, quickly opening a large gap according to the shouts I was getting from the spectators who knew me. I was also catching the 3 M50's ahead, especially as we hit the final ascent 200m from the finish. But there was not enough distance left and 5th was my final position in 28:04. This is only about 18 seconds slower than I ran in the international the same course a year ago, so not too bad. I had opened a 7 second gap on Dennis and was 22 secs, 7 secs and 4 seconds behind the 2nd, 3rd and 4th M50's respectively. Impressively, Bobby Quinn was 4th overall in 26:12. Different class! Just as impressively, the race was won by M45 Scott Brember of Central AC in 25:33. I am pretty sure he won the Killin 10k which I did a few weeks ago. I will have to wait and see if I am selected for one of the 3 discretionary places but it does look a little unlikely given the current form of at least two others who were not there.

The most uncomfortable position to be in these age group races is in the oldest age group in a particular race as with natural aging, it is inevitable that you will end up near the back, even if you are competitive within your age group. This was the case with Andy Henderson in the M60 age group (2 to qualify for a team of 4 I think). This was another well contested age group with Paul Thomson of Cambuslang confirming his form to win the age group in 29:15. The competitors were also far traveled for this one with runners from as far as Dumfries and Stornoway joining the ranks of central belt club runners. Andy was 9th M60 in 34:14 and was happy enough to win a race long tussle with another in his age group.

Well done to Stuart and Andy for battling strongly on a great cross country course and thanks to SVHC for a well set out course and impeccable organisation, all for a £2 entry fee for SVHC members.

Full results are here, including a photo of Stuart from a previous National XC at Falkirk!
Alan