Cairns’s double-take as Inverness runners win national awards

Inverness Harrier Ross Cairns was extremely surprised to win the scottish athletics 4 J Studios Development Coach of the Year award.

The prestigious prize is usually made at a glamorous black-tie event but had to be done virtually because of the current restrictions on social gatherings.

Cairns had further reason to celebrate when one of the athletes he coaches, distance runner Megan Keith, was declared Scotland’ s under-20 athlete of the year.

She also received the George Dallas Memorial Trophy awarded to the person considered to have achieved distinction in cross- country, road running, track-and-field or hill running in Scotland during the year.

Cairns said: “I’m very honoured to get this award. It was a bit of a surprise to say the least, so I am obviously very pleased.

“As a coach you just try to do your best for the kids and guide them through the various stages of the age group system.”

The highlight of Cairns’s year came at the national cross- country championships in February when three Inverness athletes won age group titles.

Mhairi Mac Len nan struck gold in the women’s race, Keith took the under-20 title in high positions across the age groups and Cairns’s son Lucas won the under-17 boys’ crown and led his side to silver in the team competition. His daughter Anna was third in the under-15 girls race.

He said: “I was impressed by the attitude of the kids last winter.

“The icing on the cake was the national crosscountry as there were so many good performances from the group in addition to those who won medals. It was really satisfying to see so many Inverness vests finishing in high positions.”