Success for Bristow pair in Scottish Cross Country Championships

The annual Scottish Cross Country National Championships proved to be a highly successful afternoon for Lerwick brother and sister Bobby and Katie Bristow as both collected team gold medals in their respective age categories.

Katie, now in her eighth consecutive appearance in this event, produced her best run to date to complete the three-mile course in 17 minutes 58 seconds to finish in sixth. In a race won by a GB international she was always up with the leading contenders with the icing on the cake being the team gold for Ron Hill Cambuslang Harriers.

It has been an excellent winter season for Katie, especially as injury robbed her of six weeks of training and racing. Early season form was good when she led her team to victory in the senior West District relays. This was very impressive as Katie and her team mates are all under 20.

A ninth place at the Scottish University Championships was next earning her a call-up to represent Scotland Universities at the Inter County race in Edinburgh. Unfortunately injury meant withdrawing but she returned strongly to record 10 minutes 34 secoonds at the Armagh International 3k road race, a new Shetland under-20 record for this distance.

Katie’s season is due to end on a high following her performance at the nationals. She has been selected to run for Scotland West senior women at the UK Inter Counties in Birmingham next month, a great achievement and fitting reward for her continued hard work and dedication.

Not to be outdone, Bobby also went home with team gold in the male under-20 race. A solid performance of 29 minutes 21 seconds gave him 21st position in the five-mile race and third out of four for his team.

It is a welcome return to form for Bobby who ran a sensible race with team positions always at the forefront of his mind. It is also his second gold of the winter season having won with his team in the same age category at the West Districts in December.

With the cross country season now over, Bobby’s thoughts turn to track and road with the summer’s target being the defence of his Shetland Half Marathon title in June.