Falkirk | 21 February 2026
The National Cross Country Championships returned to Falkirk on the same course used in 2025, providing a familiar but no less demanding test. The recent wet weather contributed to a few slips and slides, lost shoes and lots of muddy kit. CAAC had 61 athletes on the start line, represented in every age group from U13 through to Senior.
U13 & U15: Emerging Talent
The day began with the U13 races over 3.4km, where CAAC fielded four girls and four boys. Riley Harrison was the first CAAC finisher in the U13 girls, with Aidan Gowans our leading counterpart in the boys race.
Having eight athletes competing at this level is an encouraging sign for the club. A strong presence in the youngest age group provides an important foundation, and we hope to see this cohort continue to progress through the age groups in the years ahead.
In the U15 events (4.3km), Callie Logan led the girls home with 31st place in a field of 125, while Mylo Hibberd was first back for the boys, finishing 65th in a competitive field of 99.
U17 & U20: Top-10 Performances
The standout performance of the junior programme came in the U17 Men’s race, where Tymek Chmielowski finished 8th in a field of 77, mixing it at the sharp end of the national competition, covering 5.9km well inside 20 minutes.
In the U17 Women’s race, Isla McGrath and Alice Craigie both competed strongly over the same distance.
The U20 categories continued the momentum. Alice Mourao delivered an excellent 8th place finish in the U20 Women’s race (7.6km), confirming her position among the top junior athletes nationally. Charlotte MacPhie, who recently represented Scotland at Parliament Hill, narrowly missed the top ten with 11th place in the same race.
In the U20 Men’s event, George Vickers placed 23rd in a high-quality field of 68.
Senior Women: Championship Quality
Perhaps above all others, the Senior Women’s 10km race underlined the level of competition at this year’s championships. The race was won by Laura Muir, Olympic 1500m silver medallist from the Tokyo Games, highlighting the calibre of athlete on the start line.
In that context, CAAC’s performances were strong. Fiona Davies led the club home in 32nd place in a field of 305, followed closely by Kirstin Maxwell (48th) and Alice Gray (62nd). The team packed well through the field, with eight senior women competing overall.
Racing in a field of this quality is an achievement in itself, a big well done to all who competed.
Senior Men: Strength in Numbers
The final race of the day saw 577 athletes take on the 10km Senior Men’s course, once again the largest field of the championships. CAAC had 33 athletes on the start line.
Jack Eykelbosch, podium-placer in the Borders League (23rd), Dermot Cummins, star of the National Masters Champs (24th), and Tom Martyn (27th) all finished inside the top 30, leading a strong front end for the club. From there, our white vests were spread throughout the field, reflecting the depth of the senior squads.
Aaron Hoyle (41st) and Blayne Wright (42nd) reinforced that strong front pack, keeping CAAC firmly in contention in the team standings.
Ultimately, with our first six finishers scoring, CAAC placed 4th overall with 206 points, a result to be proud of in a championship of this depth. Indeed, perhaps we had too much depth! If 12 were to count, our club statisticians report that CAAC would have placed 2nd team.
Yet it is Moray Anderson, and Chris O’Brien who can claim to be the most committed to CAAC running on the day. It was their 19th nationals representing the club, with only Graeme Fletcher (who was watching on) ahead with an incredible 20 years of race performances.
A Full Club Effort
With representation across every age group and 61 athletes competing, CAAC’s presence in Falkirk reflected both development at junior level and depth in the senior ranks. And with the National Champs behind us, the XC season is nearly drawn to a close. From Calendar Park, to the fixture Calendar , we now pivot to the road and track seasons.
Well done to all athletes who raced, and thank you to the coaches, parents, and supporters who contributed to the day. Full results are available here.
Report by Scott Jenkins. Photos by Stephen Jack.