Athletics: PH Racing Club's Malcolm Hammond picked for Scotland

Malcolm Hammond will don the vest of his country at the British and Irish Masters Cross Country International, which will be held in Leeds on Saturday November 22.

At the Scottish Veteran Harriers Trial Race, at Tollcross Park in Glasgow, he completed the 6k course in 27 minutes and nine seconds, to finish as the first V75 competitor.

With the top three in each age category selected, that guaranteed Yorkshireman Hammond's place in the team, as he becomes the second member of his family to represent his adopted nation, after his son, John, ran in 2022 Anglo Celtic Plate 100k event.

Another PH member taking part in the trial race was Paul Kieran, who was the sixth V50 runner home, finishing his longer 8k race in 28:06.

Although that didn't automatically secure a place, he could still be picked for the team, which will be announced soon.

Elsewhere, PH athletes have been successful of a range of distances at events recently.

At the Great Scottish Run Half Marathon in Glasgow, Stuart Meiklejohn and Kristin Lownie were neck and neck, before Meiklejohn finally pulled ahead with a sprint finish to cross the line in 1:22:24.

Lownie was only three seconds back and secured a new personal best, and ladies club record, for the distance, while also finishing as the second V40, behind Olympian, Freya Ross.

Meanwhile, in Cardiff, Peter Gibson was a minute faster, completing his race half marathon in 1:21:24 as part of his preparations for the Frankfurt Marathon.

On the same day, Mark Webster was taking on the Chester Marathon, where he finished in 3:20:38, almost three minutes faster than his Berlin time from only a fortnight before.

Ivor McIvor took on the Linlithgow 10k, over an undulating route, and finished as the second V70 in 51:29, whilst Luke McNeil finished sixth overall in 33:10.

At the Scottish Ultra Trail Championships, incorporated into the Ochils 50 Mile Race, Michael Stewart was the sole PH athlete, and finished in 13 hours and five minutes.