Sat 17 March 2018, Forres This year’s British Masters cross-country championships took place in their most northerly ever location, the picturesque market town of Forres, near Inverness. Whilst more southerly parts were suffering from the “mini beast from the East”, the far north of Scotland enjoyed bright sunshine and only an occasional snowflake. Masters runners from all over the country were given a warm Highland welcome, with a pipe band on the start line, a pack of shortbread for all competitors and hot pies for everyone afterwards. (The local bakery must have been on overtime to produce them all.) Age category winners were presented with a special edition single malt whisky from the local distillery and medallists also received a commemorative neck warmer.
The course was partly on undulating grassland in the town’s scenic Grant Park and partly on idyllic woodland trails which wove back and forth on the hill above the park. In the women’s race over 6 km, Marian Hesketh dug deep at the finish to win a close tussle for 1st WV60 and Kevin Hesketh finished 8th MV60 in the main race over 8 km.