Scottish Trail Champs

Sunday 6th September 2015

Scottish marathon champion Patryk Geirjatowicz took home gold from the Mid-Trail championships after a good run at Falkland in Fife.

And Edel Mooney picked up the women’s title in this event for the second time in three years after winning it in 2013 and taking silver 12 months ago.

It was a true test of trail running in a great setting in perfect conditions in Fife with the 14k route for men and women taking in varied surfaces and including one very steep climb.

Unfortunately, a handful of athletes went off route and ended up either failing to complete the distance or indeed running too far.

Decisions had to be taken on the day and ultimately those performances were removed from the results list both individually and in a team sense.

However, at the Awards Ceremony following the race, it was noticeable that the first athlete on his feet to congratulate Hunters Bog Trotters winner Patryk – who also in fairness had the good grace to be slightly sheepish when collecting gold – was Robert Gilroy of Ronhill Cambuslang.

Gilroy had been one of two leading athletes who went off course when he should have had only a couple of miles to go. We’re absolutely certain Robert didn’t give that handshake a second thought . . . but nonetheless it was a fine sporting gesture in the spirit of athletics.

Geirjatowicz won it with 50.41 with Cambuslang’s Jamie Reid second in 51.05 and Michael Reid of Carnethy third in 51.22.

Mooney was home in 55.59 to win by a significant margin from Charlotte Morgan of Carnethy, who clocked 56.41. Taking bronze was Megan Crawford, on the day she was awarded Honorary Life Membership by Fife AC in recognition of winning a GB vest at the European Hill Running Champs as well as other recent fine performances.

Edel Mooney – repeated 2013 win

Senior race photo album with thanks to Pete Bracegirdle

In that Senior race, there were U20 Women’s medals for Bronagh Wishart of Edinburgh Uni Hares and Hounds, who took the gold, and her club-mate, Amy Frankland. There were no U20 Men’s medals.

Ronhill Cambuslang’s support for the event was widespread and thus they took the men’s team golds despite having two or three athletes removed from the results. The quartet of Jamie Reid, William Macrury, Justin Carter and Colin Feechan picked up the golds. HBT took the silvers and Fife AC were third.

Fife AC women were well-represented, too, as they hosted the race and the team of Megan Crawford, Jennifer Spence, Katie Jones and Alison McGill took gold. Edinburgh Uni Hares and Hounds won the silvers and Dundee RR the bronzes.

The main Masters prizes went to Justin Carter of Ronhill Cambuslang and Gillian Sangster of Dundee Road Runners. Medallists for the various age groups (in 10-year bands) are on the main results download.

Junior races photo album with thanks to Pete Bracegirdle

The U17 and U15 races were for Scottish Championship medals and there were golds there for Anisha Badial (Aberdeen AAC) and George Rees (Fife AC) at U17 and for Robert Sparks (Fife AC) and Grace Whelan (Moray Road Runners) at U15. The U13 and U11 races were open and there is a results file on the Events page.

Thanks very much indeed to Fife AC for hosting the event and the Road Running and Cross Country Commission for the organisation. As always, these events do not take place without a big effort by volunteers.

Thanks, also, to Pete Bracegirdle for sharing albums of his photographs and others who sent them in. Much appreciated.

History of the Mid-Trail event, previous results