On Saturday 8th November, it was the National Short Course Cross Country Championship in Kirkcaldy, Fife. Well done to our magnificent seven Bellas who ran the 2.5 mile course with Oscar Coetzee 12:41, Paul McNairn 13:17, Josh Evans 13:33, Jordan Davidson 13:57, Alan Moss 14:17, Ben Law 14:42, Mark Young 15:24.
cross country
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Saturday 31st October saw the first of this season’s West League Cross Country events in Paisley. A lovely afternoon for this event, hosted by Kilbarchan AC. Well done to our super six who tackled the hilly, 6k course viz. Oscar Coetzee (c.21:40) 2nd, 1st MV40, Sam Ramsay (c.24:30), Mark Young (c.26:41), Jen Conway-Evans (c.27:56), Cathy Wood (c.28:10) & Kirsty MacFarlane (c.32:16). Next up will be Calderglen park on 9th January 2027, before the series finale at Strathaven on 13th February 2027.
On Saturday 10th October, it was the start of the Scottish Athletics Cross Country season with the Lindsay’s West District XC Relays at Kilmarnock. The weather was kind on the day at the excellent Ayrshire venue in the fields adjacent to the Athletics Arena. We had a great turnout of 28 Bellas, with results as follow: (M) Oscar Coetzee 11:54, Paul McNairn 12:36, Josh Evans 12:54, Jordan Davidson 13:12, Bryan Mulgrew 13:13, Iain Murphy 13:22, Sam Ramsay 13:29, David Jarrett 13:38, Alan Moss 13:47, Jamie Robinson 13:57, David Pattison 15:42, Alan Digweed 15:45, Kalonde Kasengele 17:31, Frank Thielen 18:02. Congratulations to Oscar, Paul, Jamie & David were first place Mens Masters Team! (F) Cathy Wood 14:22, Abby McGlone 15:20, Kirsty MacFarlane 17:15, Lynne Hamilton 17:39, Alice Howe 17:56, Angela Eadie 18:33, Roz Wilson 19:03, Claire Galloway 19:26, Chi My Ta 20:19, Sue Campbell Senior 20:37, Alison Brown 21:14, Louise Gray 21:35, Louise Nimmo 21:38, Terry Nimmo 22:48. And well done too, to Ross Horgan 12:37, Ben Nurse 13:29 & Debi Gallagher 16:32 with Garscube Harriers, Glasgow Frontrunners & Giffnock North respectively.
It was the Scottish Veteran Harriers Club (SVHC) Cross Country Trials for the British & Irish Masters on Saturday 12th September at Tollcross Park. 8k for the gents and 6k for the ladies, and always a challenging course. Fantastic performances from Oscar Coetzee 26:02 2nd overall, Cathy Wood 23:46 1st FV35, Jen Conway-Evans 23:52 2nd FV35, Claire Wharton 26:11. So Oscar, Cathy & Jen qualify for the finals in Dublin in November. It was also the hilly Kyles 10 Miler on the same day at Kames. A great Bella turnout and very well done to Bryan Mulgrew, who was 3rd in an amazing 1:00:18! Great going too by Colin Hughes 1:05:57 2nd MV60, Martin Murphy 1:25:23, Shirley Wieland 1:26:37 2nd FV60, Frank Thielen 1:28:05, Roz Wilson 1:28:59, Wallace Gray 1:29:10, Louise Nimmo 1:42:02, Louise Gray 1:44:27, Terry Nimmo 1:49:33, Stevie Bell 2:30:36 1st MV70. First off on Sunday 13th September was the Kilmacolm Half Marathon. A West District Championship event, and a beautiful morning, and some scorching performances too from Oscar Coetzee 1:12:15 3rd 1st M40, Calum Borthwick 1:12:33 5th, 3rd MSr, Amelia Matthews 1:24:50 2nd lady, 1st F30, Ronnie Hart 1:28:14 2nd M50, Jamie Wieland 1:30:33, Deborah Gray 1:30:54 2nd F40+ 1st F50, Conan McCreadie 1:32:57 PB 2nd MU21, Sandy Macdonald 1:34:23, Laura Henderson 1:53:10, Camilla Cunningham 2:07:20, Murdoch Rodgers 2:12:39 1st M70. In the 10k Ross Gale finished 2nd in a brilliant 34:24! It was also the Cumbernauld 10k the same day. Very well done to Cathy Wood 39:57, Katie Mathieson 45:05 1st FV50, Kalonde Kasengele 49:29, Sue Campbell Senior 49:35 PB 2nd FV50, Lucy MacKay 56:56.
Well done to everyone who ran in the Lindsay’s Scottish Athletics National Cross Country at Callander Park, Falkirk, on Saturday 21st February. The climax of the Cross Country season, it’s always a tough, but brilliant event. And it was fantastic to see Laura Muir returning to the event. Our first threes were (Male) Oscar Coetzee (35:54), Josh Evans (36:50) & Paul McNairn (37:34) / (Female) Cat MacDonald (38:54, 20th), Cara Thom (42:58) & Jen Conway-Evans (45:09). Full can be found below: https://results.sporthive.com/events/7427379424208617472
We had a super six Bellas at the Lindsays Scottish Athletics Masters Cross Country at Tollcross Park on Saturday 31st January 2026. A tough course for our batch of masters athletes who enjoyed decent conditions however. First off was the ladies and M65+ race, which ran over 6k. Well done to Claire Wharton (27:22) & Al MacLachlan (27:35) with solid performances. Next off were the masters men who raced over an 8k distance. Our four gents ran well in a busy field with Oscar Coetzee (29:18), Paul McNairn (30:45), Alan Moss (31:12) & Sam Ramsay (34:33). Next stop is the climax to the Scottish cross country season, the National at Falkirk on 21st February! And thankyou to David McNulty Race Photography from the brilliant pictures from the event!
It was Barwwod Park in Erskine on Saturday 6th December 2025, for the latest Scottish Athletics West District Cross Country Championship event. We had a quartet of ladies and a dozen gents taking part on a decent day in Renfrewshire. Conditions underfoot were soft, with several tricky sections with an accumulation of some impressive mud! Our ladies set off first, with 3 laps of the course, covering around 4.2 miles. Cara Thom was the first Bella lady home in am impressive 30:30, continuing her impressive form this year. For the gents, the ever impressive Oscar Coetzee was the first Bella gent home in 24:52 to take MV40 bronze, and helping the gents senior team to 4th place, just outside of the medals. Next up is one for the masters at Tollcross Park on 31st January 2026!
On Saturday 15th November, Claire Wharton made her debut for Scotland at the 36th British & Irish Masters International Cross Country at Roundhay Park, Leeds. Claire qualified (FV55) via the Scottish Veteran Harriers Club trials at Tollcross Park in early October 2025. The Roundhay course is a long standing Cross Country venue, and is a tough test for anyone. Claire (Bib 55314) ran a brilliant 29:37 over the 6k course and her Scotland V55 team finished just outside the medals in that category, finishing in 4th place. Claire is a long standing, and highly respected member of Bellahouston Road Runners and it is fantastic to see her efforts being rewarded with a Scotland vest. Well done Claire!
It was the Great Scottish Run 10k & Half Marathon on Sunday 5th October. The stormy weather gave way to blue skies and a bit of a breeze for a great event. Excellent support and a new start at the top of St Vincent Street for a record field this year. We had around 100 Bellas running and marshalling! It was an early 10k start, but great running from our 6.2 milers, with our first 3’s being: Ross Horgan (32:35, 15th), Grant Murphy (33:10 PB, 20th), Ross Wood (44:44) – Lauren Rice (43:04), Rachel Fraser (44:41 PB), Alex Shaw (49:39). Then, it was the Half Marathon, where we had around 72 Bellas running. Some amazing PBs achieved and too many great runs to mention. Our top 3s were: Ruairi Barfoot (1:14:52 PB), Ross Gale (1:15:38), Jordan Davidson (1:16:05 PB) – Rebekah Russell (1:25:49, 3rd F35-39), Rhona Fraser (1:30:48, 1st F45-49), Cara Thom (1:31:56 PB). In addition, Al MacLachlan (1:33:56) was 1st M65-69. Elsewhere, Claire Wharton qualified for the British & Irish Masters Cross Country after trials at Tollcross Park! Lynn Stuart ran a brilliant PB at the Chester Marathon, Flora Henry was second lady at the Barry Buddon 10 Miler in Carnoustie, and Poppy Bowie was first lady at the Brisbane Road Runners 20k! Very well done ladies!!
A super 60 Bellas took on the National XC Champs in Falkirk on Saturday . It was a fantastic day again at Callander Park and we assembled one of the largest club squads for this year’s Nationals! A HUGE well done to all our runners with amazing performances all round. Our Ladies team came home in 8th place and the men’s team came home in 11th place – top running team . We’re delighted to see such great enthusiasm for this year’s cross-country races. We topped the day off with a BIG Bella bake off. Indulging in some amazing home baking was a perfect way to celebrate the end of a successful XC season. Thanks to everyone who baked and took part. A special mention needs to go to the six club members who completed all of the cross-country races this season. Our cross-country performances are going from strength to strength. Now it’s on to the road season, and we’re already looking forward to some more team racing in the upcoming road relay races.
Sometimes it’s important to take time out from hard training and racing, to just enjoy the sport of running. In Glasgow we’re close by to lots of stunning Scottish countryside. The club has plenty of trail runners, ultra runners, and hill runners who all love to get out amongst it. Our social media feeds were lit up at the weekend with some inspiring pics from members who were (quite rightly!) pleased with their efforts, so we thought we’d share them with you! We’ve also included links to Strava too to help with ideas. Simon Wells took the amazing featured picture for out on a run at Glen Loin/Ben Vorlich with Derek and Christie. It’s a favourite loop of theirs, and relatively easy to get to, and scenic right through the year. Huge credit to them though for taking this amazing pic when it looks so cold (Extra kudos for the Shorts Simon!) Elle, Alison, Terry, Lynn and Kelly were out near Helensburgh doing a recce of the From Hel’n Back hill racethat takes place later in the year, and took this super selfie with the backdrop towards the Clyde estuary. Of course some members just love running around muddy fields, and the Kilmarnock Harriers Roon The Country open XC was on on Sunday, and a few club members headed down the road to take part (and managed to win a case of beer as a spot prize!). Cat MacDonald had earlier continued her excellent cross country season, with the overall win of the Ladies event. Closest to home, the brilliant trails of Pollok Country Park are always a great option, and this weekend were the focus of the latest in the new South by Five series of races. The 5k trail race was certainly a muddy affair, although Jamie Wieland here in this pic by Bella and marshal Garry Smith was taken just before the heavy going section down past the North Wood pond. Anyway, always lots to inspire and enjoy in and around Glasgow, and great to see so many members getting out and about enjoying the beautiful Scottish countryside!
Saturday saw a couple of brilliant results for Bellas. At the Scottish Athletics Inter-District XC, Catriona MacDonald finished 7th overall, and as 3rd team counter, helped the West District secure team silver in the Scottish Athletics Inter-District XC. 🥈 Ciaran Dougherty was also in action, winning the Great Stirling Castle run a 7.3k multi-terrain race taking place earlier in the day, in an impressive 28:29 🥇 Well done to both Catriona and Ciaran!
We’ve recently been looking at some options for cross country courses in Bellahouston park, and thought it would be fun to look at some of the historical courses that have been used, as well as some of the history of the park itself. The biggest cross country event by far was the 1978 World Cross Country Championships, and we are immensely grateful to Graham Macindoe, and Hugh Barrow of Victoria Park, for having unearthed a couple of absolute gems from this big event. Firstly, the map of the course from the event. It’s interesting to see the change in layout of the park, and the old sports centre (refurbished in the late 1990s). There is plenty more on the park’s history on Wikipedia. For a more close-to-home section, including some quotes from our very own Jimmy Irvine, scottishdistancerunning.scot has a section on Bellahouston, featuring a history of the running track in the park. There’s an interesting piece, featuring ourselves, on the Nethercraigs page. Secondly, a copy of the programme, and admission prices. Last, but by far from least, here’s a super section of video from the John Treacy archive. John was the eventual men’s winner, and very successful Irish Olympic athlete. The winner crosses the line at 8:40, and it runs until 12:27 when it switches over to another event. We hope you agree it’s a lot of fun to see the park as it was, in 1978. Maybe some of that course might feature in a future XC event!?
The club has been busy with cross-country events over the last few weeks, and with the last big race of 2019 the West District Cross Country Champs at Balloch Country park yesterday, we thought it was time for a results catchup! At Balloch there were tough conditions with driving rain, a tough course and very muddy underfoot making for a a very challenging two loop circuit, Everybody who took part did well to complete the course. In particular, well done to: Catriona MacDonald for winning Bronze in the individual ladies race The Bronze winning ladies team of Catriona MacDonald, Louise Ross, Ann Robin and Isla McIntosh Grant Murphy led the Bella men home with a superb time of 34:11, helping our men’s team to 8th overall (out of 19). Our Masters women narrowly missed medals with 4th (out of 12), and our Masters men in 10th (out of 21) the Big Bella Bakeoff saw club members baking cakes galore for post-race treats. The overall winner was Isla McIntosh for her delicious Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes 🧁🏅😋 Well done to everybody who took part. For a taster of the day, Henry has put together a super video which you can find over on our facebook page. A couple of weeks before was the Renfrewshire AAA Cross Country Champs at Gourock, and there were some great performances on a tough and hilly course. Some super pics over on facebook too. Well done to: Rhoda Yarmahmoudi for Silver for V50 Women 🥈 Tony McParland for Bronze for V50 Men Allon Galbraith for Bronze for V60 Men And on the weekend of our 10k, Louise Ross and Ann Robin were proudly sporting Scotland vests at the 2019 British and Irish Masters in Liverpool: Louise Ross and Ann Robin helped secure the Scotland V40 women team Bronze medal Well done to everybody who took part in a cross country over the last few weeks: It’s amazing and inspiring to everybody at the club to see club colleagues we train with right through securing medals, but it’s every bit as good to see big club turnouts and everybody having fun in the process, and getting the most out of their club membership. We’re really very grateful too to the many people who volunteer in order that these events happen. Many thanks to Gordon Goldie for many of the pictures.
Well done to everybody who took part at the 2019 National XC Relays in Cumbernauld yesterday! We had a cracking turnout from the club, lovely weather on the whole, and conditions were ideal for the familiar, but always challenging 4k XC circuit around Cumbernauld House Park. The club fielded a total of 10 teams (4 from the Ladies, and 6 from the Men). Some superb performances throughout! We’re delighted to report that our Ladies Masters team of Ann Robin, Louise Ross, and Jane McNeilly secured the Women’s Masters Gold Medal, making it three straight years on the podium in this team competition! Cat Macdonald ran an impressive individual leg in 14:48, 10th fastest on her leg. For the gents, our V50 team worked to take a solid 8th overall in that competition, with excellent runs by Tony McParland, Liam Conway and Gerry Scullion. Some standout individual runs from the gents included a brilliant 14:01 by Andy Campbell anchoring our men’s A team, and an excellent 14:57 from Craig Ross, returning to XC after a 9 years! Great support out on the course for our runners, and of course everybody taking part. Everybody was delighted to watch some brilliant racing in all the events, but a highlight for everybody was of course seeing Olympian Callum Hawkins tear by chasing Central AC in the senior men’s event. Scottish Athletics race report is available, with a link to the provisional results. We’re very grateful for the work by Scottish Athletics, all the volunteers and marshals for making the event another great success. Many thanks too to the Bellas who helped with setup, home baking, cleanup, team management and support on the day. The trombone was an interesting innovation from Henry too. We’ll pass on any feedback to him 🙂 A few pics below, plenty more on our club social media groups too. Thanks to Kevin Queenan, Alan Digweed, Elle Tea and others for the pics.