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Olympian Andrew Butchart will lead Scotland in the Home Countries XC International at the Run Stirling event on Saturday, January 11. Seven years after winning his first Scotland international vest in Cardiff as a late call-up, the GB international who finished fifth at the European Cross Country in Lisbon recently is relishing the prospect of racing so close to home.
Dunblane man Butchart trained in the Stirling park on many occasions while coming through the ranks with host club Central AC. Joining Andrew in the senior men’s team will be fellow Central AC runner Jamie Crowe (right with Butchart) while Hamish Hickey (pictured left) gets his chance in the Under 23 men’s team.
Butchart said:“I am really looking forward to pulling on the Scotland vest and representing the country once again.
“It is good to see an event like this being held in Stirling and well done to all those behind the scenes working to pull it together including those at Central AC.
“With the British Cross Challenge element and the international competition, as well as a live stream on BBC and Vinco, it should be a great event and a strong advert for athletics in Scotland.
“It will be a little surreal for me racing there because I’ve done many a training run in King’s Park growing up as a kid and as a teenager with Central AC.”
Butchart won his first Scotland vest in the Celtic International XC in Wales back in January 2013 – when a late call-up paid off as he finished third as Dewi
Griffiths took the U23 gold.
He recalled, “It’s a while ago now but I do remember a very long bus journey south on the Saturday.
“There was snow and ice in Cardiff but I ran well and got on the podium and actually that selection and performance gave me a bit of push at that time to train harder and try and realise my potential.”
A number of partners have combined to help stage the event including scottishathletics, EventScotland, Stirling Council, British Athletics and Great Run. Local club, Central AC, are also taking on much of the organisation as host club.