Elite races will be televised by BBC
If you’re heading to Stirling to see some of the world’s best athletes battle it out on Saturday, here is a run-through of the events and how they work.
Team GB and Northern Ireland will take on Europe and the USA in a thrilling competition on a tough cross country course in one of Scotland’s most iconic locations.
The overall winners will be determined by the best aggregate finishing positions of the four best placed athletes.
On the day the Simplyhealth Great Stirling XCountry event consists of three elite races televised live on BBC One Women’s 6km and Men’s 8km (both international team races with teams of six runners from GBR, USA and Europe); relay featuring mixed teams of four runners from GBR, USA and Europe plus junior teams from GBR, USA and Europe and a Scottish Athletics guest team - all running a 1.5k leg.
Teams will be competing in the mixed relay for the Stewart International Relay Trophy, named in honour of the achievements of Scots legends Ian and Lachie Stewart.
Scottish Athletics Inter-District races of various distances are also taking place with each race consisting of around 35 invited competitors.
Among the stars on show in the men’s senior race are Team GB’s Andy Vernon (2014 European 10000m silver and 2013 European XC bronze); Europe’s Issac Kimeli (2018 European XC silver and 2016 European U23 XC gold) and USA’s Garrett Heath (2016 Great Edinburgh International XC winner, 2014 and 2015 Great Edinburgh International XC 4k winner).
In the women’s race, 2016 Great Edinburgh International XC winner Kate Avery (GB) will be running against Europe’s Anna Emilie Moller (2018 European U23 XC and 2017 European U23 Steeplechase winner) and Anna Gehring (2018 European U23 XC silver).
In the mixed relay, Laura Muir will be joined by Scotland’s Adam Craig (2018 Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run 10K winner).
The Simplyhealth Great Stirling XCountry is free to spectate with some of the best places to watch the action being near to the start and finish areas of the XCountry near Stirling Golf Club. This is also the transition area for the relay and offers the perfect vantage point to cheer home the athletes.
There are also spectator viewing areas close to the centre of the event village in Kings Park, where the short and long courses of the XCountry meet.
In the event village in the middle of the cross country course, there is a big screen to make sure you don’t miss a moment of the action with food and drink outlets like Risotto2go, Gastrogrilla and Coffee on the Street.