Gemmell ploughs through mud to make top 10 at National Cross Country
The Lindsay’s National Cross Country Championships descended on Falkirk’s Callendar Park again for 2015, boasting the biggest entry for 21 years with 2213 entries from Under-13 to Senior age groups. Saturday’s National Cross Country also saw one of East Lothian’s biggest contingents in the junior ranks racing, with Team East Lothian entering a boys and girls team in the Under-13 age groups.
It was a great result for both the boys and girls team, with the Under-13 girls’ team finishing in a superb 13th place.
It was North Berwick’s Cera Gemmell who led the charge for East Lothian, with a stellar performance in the mud and rain to finish in 10th place. The team was completed by Catriona McPheat (71st), Esme Balfour (76th), Holly Stuart (139th), Elana Kerr (160th) and Kate Crawford (162).
There was equally a strong performance from the boys, with a 20th place finish in the team event with Joe Donnelly (56th) the first East Lothian finisher along with Cameron Bullen (100th), Thomas Leitch (119th) and Robbie Anderson (156th) to complete the team.
In the senior men’s race there were over 570 finishers and North Berwick’s David Wright was the first East Lothian man home in 56th place for Hunters Bog Trotters. Young Callum Reid, donning the Edinburgh vest, finished in a fine 66th place to help Edinburgh AC to a 6th place team finish. William Jarvie (Portobello RC) finished in 278th place. Haddington Running Club’s contingent consisted of David Woods (333rd), Bill Watson (436th), Frank McPartland (438th) and Sandy Wallace (518th).
North Berwick ladies, Megan Wright (HBT) and Rhona Anderson (Dunbar RC,) had some fine runs against a field of over 220 senior women. Megan finished in a strong 40th place, with Rhona Anderson in 81st.
It has been a fine Cross Country season for East Lothian athletes with some strong performances across the League and Borders Series as well as the National and District Championships.
