A golden day for Fife’s athletes

2016-02-29 -

Fife AC celebrated a title double at the Scottish National Cross-Country Championships at Callendar Park, writes our athletics correspondent.

Stephanie Pennycook picked up the honours in the U20 women’s race, while Tristan Rees did likewise in the U17 boys.

Dunblane athlete Andrew Butchart helped lead Central AC to six-ina-row in the men’s team race with a winning time of 40 minutes and two seconds.

A record field in the women’s championship saw Glasgow Commonwealth Games athlete Beth Potter (VP Glasgow) complete the two laps in 29.45.

Fionnuala Ross (Shettleston) held off Rosie Smith (Hunters Bog Trotters) for the runners-up spot.

Hunters Bog Trotters and Edinburgh AC were first and second respectively while Fife AC celebrated team bronze.

In the marathon Angela Richardson led the Fifers in eighth, backed up by Helen Sharpe 16th, Halina Rees 24th and Jennifer Spence 35th.

Fife AC dominated the U20 women’s 4.8km, taking individual gold and bronze as well as the team title.

Stephanie Pennycook finished first in 18.16, with Annabel Simpson third 27 seconds later.

Ailsa Cruickshanks was 16th as Fife’s 20 point total saw them take gold.

Courier Country athletes also dominated the U17 boy’s 6.4m race, taking all three podium places.

Sol Sweeney (Perth Strathtay) looked to be heading for victory until the final hilly stages of the course.

Tristan Rees (Fife AC) doggedly clawed back the Perth athlete to open up a 20-second lead, sprinting over the final half-mile to finish in 22.59.

Sweeney, at 23.19, held second place while James Donald (Dundee Hawkhill) overhauled Edinburgh’s Joseph Arthur to take the individual bronze.

In the U15 boys 4km race, Fife’s Robert Sparks (14.14) finished second behind Falkirk Victoria’s Lewis Pentecost (14.13).

Inter- district U13 girls champion Anna Hedley (Fife AC) came fourth to miss out on the medal placings by six seconds.

Pitreavie’s top result of the day came as Sarah Coutts finished 10th in 13.53.