The annual Stirling University Cross Country event once again was successfully staged on University Campus on Wednesday (3rd October). The race was this year changed from being a single three kilometre race to male and female relays which were enjoyed by the competitors.

Both male and female races were dominated by Edinburgh University teams with top three finishes for both teams from the host University.

A team of Katie Reynolds and Jenny Dybeck (who ran the first and second leg) claimed first place in 39mins 19secs.

The Stirling University team of Alex Campbell and 1st year debutants Lorna Gooday and Amy Stenson came home second in 43mins 26secs.

Edinburgh University’s 2nd team, Emma Prentis, Rozy Shepherd and Jenny Nicolas took third in 45mins 52secs.

Only 43 seconds separated the top three teams in the Male race. Patryk Gierjatowicz, Coll Williamson and Ben Stevenson came home in 32mins 41secs to claim first spot.

Strathclyde's Alessandro Tronconi, Nathan Kirley and John Fergusson took second in 33mins 8secs.

Matthew McKenna and Jonathan Adam, making their first appearances for Stirling University, where accompanied by Triathlete Greg Turner and together they took 3rd spot in 33mins 24secs.

It was a largely successful day for the Athletics club with the male 2nd and 3rd team coming in eighth and tenth respectively. A total of six new members competed in their first race which bodes well for the forthcoming cross-country season.

The course and new formula went down well with the travelling teams and it is hoped greater numbers can be attracted to the event in future years with an almost identical turn-out to last year.

The event was for the first time sponsored by the new Up and Running store in Stirling who provided fantastic prizes and great support to our event.