Edinburgh Athletic Club’s senior ladies’ endurance squad have enjoyed a recent run of great success at competitions across Scotland. The ladies have won national-level individual and team medals across all distances and surfaces including on the road, on the track, on the cross-country circuit, and on the trails and hills. Long-standing records have also fallen as the ladies’ section has gone from strength to strength, and there are now almost 100 ladies of all ages and abilities in the club.

The 2023-24 Scottish cross-country scene was dominated by Edinburgh AC’s ladies. In the National Championships at Falkirk, Alice Goodall took the win, Nancy Scott was second and Kirsty Walker was fourth, with Beth Ansell, Rose Penfold and Doireann Hughes also putting in strong runs to secure team gold medals. Janet Dunbar won the F50 title, while Sue Ridley picked up F50 bronze.

The club’s ladies gave another show of strength at the National Short Course Championships in Lanark. Eloise Walker took the overall win, and Kirsty Walker battled hard for second. With Nancy Scott in fifth and Alice Goodall in tenth, the ladies took team gold, while Janet Dunbar claimed F50 bronze.

The club’s ladies were also prominent in the East District League, comfortably winning senior, masters and overall gold across the three races in Kirkcaldy, Bathgate and Dundee. Core athletes included Kirsty Walker, Nancy Scott, Merce Sanchez Oller, Rose Penfold, Beth Ansell, Lauren Stoddart, Isla Scott-Pearce, Doireann Hughes, Fiona Davies, Janet Dunbar, Jenny Maclean, Sue Ridley, Frances Liddell, Katy Newell, Anne Duncan, Elaine Davies, Hannah Waugh, Karen Dobbie, Emma Laverie and Isobel Joiner.

Edinburgh AC’s Kirsty Walker, Nancy Scott and Lauren Stoddart were called up to represent Scotland East in the prestigious Inter-District Championships in Renfrew. Kirsty Walker won the race outright, while clubmate Nancy Scott was beside her on the podium in second.

The F50 ladies also took silver at the Scottish Masters’ cross-country championships in Forres, with Sue Ridley, Karen Dobbie and Julie Wilson making up the team. Sue Ridley won individual silver, Karen Dobbie won individual bronze, while Anne Duncan, Sharyn Ramage and Elaine Davies also competed well.

Moving to the roads, at the National Road Relay Championships in Livingston, Edinburgh AC’s ladies finished second, with Beth Ansell, Chloe Malcolm, Merce Sanchez Oller and Rose Penfold all putting in strong runs. Sue Ridley, Jenny Maclean and Julie Wilson landed gold medals in the F50 category.

At the National 10-mile Championships in Strathclyde Park, Rose Penfold, Doireann Hughes and Isabella Ellwood all ran close to 60 minutes to take team gold. Janet Dunbar picked up bronze in her F50 category. Meanwhile, at the East District 10km championships in Grangemouth, Rose Penfold took the win with clubmate Ailie McGowan-Bolton in second. Hazel McCormack also had a strong run to help secure the team title.

Edinburgh AC’s ladies also swept to glory at the London Marathon, which doubled as the Scottish marathon championships. Doireann Hughes, Isabella Ellwood and Jayne Nisbet all smashed the 3-hour barrier to win the Scottish team title. Then the fast and furious Scottish 5km Championships along the Cramond shore saw Jacqui Rainger win a bronze medal in the F40 category and Julie Wilson take silver in the F50 category.

Alice Goodall and Janet Dunbar won senior and F50 titles respectively at the Scottish Trail Running Championships in Birnam. Sue Ridley made the trip to the European Masters Mountain Running Championships in Madeira, taking category gold, silver and bronze medals across three mountain races ranging from 5km to 33km. Sprinter Stacey Downie won four silver medals at the European Indoors Masters championships in Poland, and Sharyn Ramage also picked up a team bronze medal.

Finally, Edinburgh Athletic Club’s senior ladies recently set a new Scottish All Comers’ record and Scottish Championship Best time as they won the 3 x 800m race at the Scottish National Track Relay Championships in Ayr. Beth Ansell, Margot Wyrwoll and Kirsty Walker completed the race in 6:43.21, taking almost 3 seconds off the previous record, which had stood for 32 years.

Beth Ansell explained: “Our middle distance team at Edinburgh AC is amazing. There’s excellent communication and camaraderie, and a real desire to come together and bring our best to the different team events. It’s rare to get 3 senior women’s 800m runners in one club, let alone get them all fit, healthy and willing to run on the same day.

“In 2023, our senior men and senior ladies ran really well in the 3 x 800m, and so this year I thought I’d see if the women’s record was achievable. A quick bit of maths showed that a team of three would each have to run an average of 2:15 per 800m leg. Knowing the girls and knowing their form showed we were well capable of that.

“Everyone bought into it and committed, and our combined efforts on the day were enough to break a record that had stood for 32 years. In a sport which is so often focussed on individuals, team success is a welcome and rewarding feeling which shouldn’t be underestimated.”

Margot Wyrwoll reflected on the record-breaking run: “The 3 x 800m Scottish relay championships are always a fantastic event. Beth found out about the record in advance and told us about it, and she thought we might have a chance to break it. Personally, I didn’t think too much about it in advance. I don’t like to put too much pressure on myself…

“We practised handing over the baton in training. However, as the speed is lower in the 800m than in the sprint relays, the exchange is not so difficult and a tenth of a second is usually not decisive. I decided to have a safe exchange than risking losing the baton.

“On the day itself, it was very windy so I wasn’t sure if we could all run quick times. Beth ran the first leg and was immediately ahead of the field. She handed the baton securely over to me and I aimed to defend our first position without being overtaken. I achieved my goal and handed the baton over to Kirsty in first place, who ran a strong third leg.”

“All three of us were delighted that we were able to win and also break the record despite the strong wind. The three of us celebrated it with a sightseeing cool-down jog through Ayr and a non-alcoholic cocktail!”

Margot went on to praise the club and the people behind the scenes. She said: “We are grateful to Bill Walker and Enid Johnstone who supported us on the day and who had arranged everything in the background beforehand. Kirsty and Beth train with coach Sandy Cameron, while I am extremely grateful to my coach Lewis Orr, who provides excellent training programmes for me, and has supported me in various ways since I moved to Scotland a couple of years ago.

“The club has made me feel very welcome. Having so many great runners around makes it possible to have really strong teams for Scottish championship events, and we are often able to challenge for national titles. I really value the club and appreciate all the people who support me.

Kirsty Walker agreed with her team-mates, saying: “There is a real buzz about the team at the moment. Our strength in depth has been very impressive the last few years, and athletes want to compete well for themselves and for the club.

“There is a real drive to win within our team, and also behind the scenes. Club coaches and managers are inspiring us and co-ordinating teams for the different events. We’ve had great success recently, winning national team and individual titles in cross-country, on the roads, and on the track.

“Beth was really keen to try and break the 3 x 800m record. We knew on a good day, if we all ran well, we could do it. The average time we would need to run was 2:15 and our combined personal bests averaged 2:10. But you still have to deliver, and deal with the conditions on the day…

“Race day was pretty windy! Beth gave us a huge lead, coming home in around 2:11. Margot then continued the lead and kept us on track for the record. I took over for the final leg but I knew the record was still going to take a big effort to set. When I crossed the line I wasn’t sure we had done it, but Margot’s and Beth’s cheers soon confirmed it!”

Ladies’ team manager Karen Dobbie, herself an excellent runner, commented on the unprecedented successes of the 2023-2024 season, saying: “We have some very talented athletes and it’s great to win national-level medals! But success can be measured in many ways. We have a fantastic team spirit and great camaraderie. Everyone plays a part in the team and no matter where we finish, everyone supports each other. There is a very inclusive atmosphere.

“We are also supported by amazing coaches who encourage us all to compete. I think the feeling of being part of our running family means that everyone is willing to turn up, whatever the weather, to train and race – not just for themselves but also to represent the club and run as a team.”

Long-serving club coach and figurehead Alex MacEwen agreed, saying: “I don’t think this current success is a flash in the pan. Our club has a long history of ladies’ success, and there are a number of factors that contribute to this.

“There is a good management and trustee group working tirelessly behind the scenes. We also have great coaches who work with and encourage the youngsters, but also right through to senior and masters level, where we promote both high performance and participation.

“We have transitioned from elite only to a more all-embracing athletics club. We have a really welcoming and supportive ethos, and our successes motivate us to keep driving the club forwards. Well done to all our ladies on their recent achievements!”

With such a dedicated squad of athletes, coaches and support staff, it seems that the ladies are well set for future successes…

For further information on the club, training sessions, and how to join, visit www.edinburghac.org.uk 

John Lenehan

photos Bobby Gavin