CROWE AND WALKER CLAIM SENIOR VICTORIES AT RENFREW CROSS CHALLENGE

Kirsty Walker (coach: Neil Walker, club: Edinburgh) and Jamie Crowe (Derek Easton, Central) were among the winners at the third stage of the British Athletics Cross Challenge in Renfrew, Scotland on Saturday (13).

Walker headed an Edinburgh AC 1-2 in the senior women’s race after a commanding performance. She came through to seal a convincing victory ahead of Nancy Scott (Philip O’Dell, Edinburgh), while international mountain running medallist Scout Adkin (Angela Mudge, Ambleside) claimed third place overall.

Crowe, winner at the Scottish Cross Challenge fixture in 2023, continued his run in Renfrew with a big win in the senior men’s race. Coming in as the favourite for victory, Crowe ran a measured race as he won by over 17 seconds from Scott Stirling (John Pentecost, Falkirk). U20 athlete Joseph O’Connell (Mick Woods, Aldershot Farnham and District) grabbed third spot after a fine display ahead of Lewis Hannigan (Robert Hawkins, Kilbachan).

There was another winner by a big margin in the U20/U17 women’s race as Natasha Phillips (Dundee Hawkhill) claimed the victory by over 24 seconds from her nearest opponent. Northern Ireland’s Anna Gardiner (East Down) was her closest challenger in second, while Mille McClelland-Brooks (Norrie Hay, Inverclyde) took third position; she was also the top U17 in the standings.

Ireland’s Harry Colbert pipped Logan Beagley (Livingston) to first position in the men’s U20/U17 race, with just a second separating the pair at the end. In a frantic finish, Sean Lawton – also representing Ireland – was a further two seconds back to earn the final spot on the podium. Jamie Connor (Dudley Walker, Giffnock North) was the first U17 athlete across the line.

Olivia Forrest (Paul Forrest, Brentwood Beagles) – winner at the Liverpool Cross Challenge fixture in 2023 – was a convincing winner of the U15 girls race from Olivia McGhee (Michael Lewis, Rugby & Northampton) and Paige Quinn (Hayley Ratcliff, Torbay).

Meanwhile, Angus Wilkinson (Niall Walker, East Kilbride) took the U15 boys race win ahead of Alistair Street (John Rodger, Kilbarchan), while Will Birchall (Exeter) narrowly claimed third spot ahead of Hugo Berry (Cumbria Schs).

The U13 girls race saw Ellie Birchall (Exeter) triumph ahead of Imogen Turner (Team East Lothian), while in a fiercely contested U13 boys race which saw the top seven separated by just four seconds, Adam Paget (Rushcliffe) came out on top overall.

Results

Video courtesy of Scottish Athletics.