Cross country event set for Stirling switch

A deal has been struck to save January’s international cross-country event in Scotland, with organisers Great Run poised to agree a three-year deal to move the prestigious event to Stirling.

It comes almost four months after Edinburgh abruptly ended its longterm backing for the televised showpiece, which has attracted the world’s best athletes.

With the city unwilling to maintain the six-figure financial backing required, despite pleas from the likes of Laura Muir and Liz Mccolgan, rival bids from England were launched for a race which is considered second only in prestige to the world cross-country championships.

But despite interest from Glasgow and other Scottish cities, King’s Park in Stirling is set to become the new venue.

“The Edinburgh international cross-country is a fantastic event for Scotland,” said Visitscotland’s Events Director Paul Bush. “It gets 1.4 million viewers on TV. We’ve always been keen to keep it in Scotland.”

Scottish Athletics chief executive Mark Munro welcomed the offer of Scottish Government backing to keep the event north of the border. “It’s great because it’s an event kids can go to and see people like Laura or Mo Farah up close.”