The Central Belt town was chosen as the newest venue on the 2019/20 UK cross-country circuit earlier this year. Run Stirling will provide runners of all levels – as well those picked to represent Scotland or one of our Districts – plenty of opportunities to get stuck in, six weeks before the Lindsays National XC.

The day’s programme will include the Home Countries XC (Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland) and the Celtic International XC (Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland). Previously part of the Great Stirling XC and its forerunner the Great Edinburgh XC, scottishathletics’ Inter-District XC Champs will also be held the same day.

Stirling Golf Club and Kings Park will host the bumper event – which will also include the 7k Great Stirling Castle Run – on Saturday, 11 January.

Alasdhair Love, scottishathletics Events Manager, said: "We’re delighted to be hosting a fixture in the British Cross Challenge Series early in 2020 at Stirling. ‘It’s long been an aspiration for scottishathletics to bring one of these events to Scotland because we believe it can be a real success here – with clubs having backed spectacularly our own cross country season in recent years with big rises in numbers.

"We really hope athletes from Northern Ireland, the North-East, the Borders, the North-West and maybe even further afield will take the chance to come and race in Scotland just as many of our athletes do at Liverpool. That would help us deliver a great day of cross country against the backdrop of Stirling Castle."

Photo: scottishathletics (Neil Renton)