Scone Palace played perfect - albeit muddy - host for a high-profile cross country event last weekend.
The Perthshire venue is no stranger to welcoming some of the UK’s top athletes and continued that tradition with the British Cross Challenge and Scottish Inter-District XC.
Perth Road Runners were on hand to help with the organisation and were praised for being “key” to the success.
Conditions overhead for almost the complete eight-race programme were as good as could have been hoped for in midwinter in Scotland – the sunshine lighting up the Palace backdrop for photographers.
Underfoot was a little different. The rain which swept the country for many travelling to and from the event on Saturday simply added to recent wet conditions to deliver the proverbial mudbath.
Colin Hutchison, chief executive Scottish Athletics, highlighted the “magnificent” backdrop that Scone Palace provides and the benefits of the location.
“We were delighted to return to Scone Palace for the third time in recent years,” he said.
“The venue first became available to us in the winter of 2020 when there were still some Covid travel restrictions on athletes in certain parts of Scotland.
“We returned again in October 2021 for a very successful Lindsays National XC Relays with bigger numbers involved.
“The Scone Palace backdrop looks magnificent and the grounds are so expansive that there is plenty of room for us to set up a course, tented village, parking and even a wide start line – which is what you need with big numbers in a cross country race.”
Mr Hutchison added: “Conditions were very wet and muddy underfoot, of course, following recent poor weather, but we’ve had great feedback from English and Irish visitors who made the trip to Scone to race in the British Cross Challenge.
“The event also featured our Inter-District XC with teams coming from the North (Highlands) and Perth’s location helps in terms of the travel time we are asking of those athletes.
“I believe there were even 18 athletes who travelled from Stornoway while one of the younger age group medallists was from Southampton.
“I’d like to thank all locally involved with volunteers from Perth Road Runners key to a successful event.”
Jamie Crowe, who only recently returned from a lengthy injury absence, won the men’s race in 24:55 with a victory margin of 11 seconds.
“I’ve raced here three times and won three times, so it is always a good course for me,” he smiled.
There was a strong performance in the men’s event from Perth Road Runner James Waldie, who placed 53rd in 28:26.
Megan Keith always looked strong favourite in the women’s race and won in 28:58 over approximately 8k with a 14-second victory margin.
Race categories for U13s, U15s and U17/20s ensured it was a very busy day of action at the Palace.
