On Saturday Feb 1st, Kilmarnock played host to the Scottish Athletics Masters Cross Country Championships (athletes over 40 for this race) and Troon were represented by the dynamic duo of cross country racing, Anne Noble and Caroline Mutch.

Cross country racing is renowned as a hard test and the Kilmarnock venue had its fair share, with a combination of snow, ice, mud, puddles and difficult terrain. The ladies race featured two laps of 3k with the early part of each lap a flat loop around grass playing fields before leading into the more challenging terrain. Such is the strength and depth of Masters racing that the ladies field was over 100 brave souls (men over 65 and ladies competing together), all braving the icy temperature on a deceptively sunny day. Both Troon ladies gave great performances establishing good positions in the early stages and battling through for highly creditable finishes. Caroline came round in a time of 31’57 for 55th and Anne a fine 32’27 for 58th and 10th in her age category.