The 2025 Hamilton College Cross-Country Championships have been declared a resounding success after being run on the Hamilton Park track for the first time.
Nine independent schools from around Scotland took part at the popular racecourse last week, as two-legged competitors replaced the four-legged variety more accustomed to charging down the home straight.
Hamilton College competed alongside South Lanarkshire neighbours Fernhill, St Columba’s (Renfrewshire), Glasgow schools Belmont House, Jordanhill and Hutchesons’ Grammar, Merchiston Castle (Edinburgh), Strathallan (Perth) and Robert Gordon’s College (Aberdeen).
Three hundred pupils competed over a variety of distances and Hamilton College head teacher Richard Charman is hoping to see even more participate next year.
“It was amazing to see a combination of participation and performance at Hamilton Park on Wednesday,” he said. “The weather was perfect, and the setting allowed for the best runners to display their talents on what was a challenging cross-country course – it is certainly not as flat as it looks!
“I am delighted for all the winning runners and schools and we will look forward to growing the competition next year!”
The PE philosophy at Hamilton College centres on supporting and challenging each pupil to develop a lifelong love of physical activity through a strategic curriculum, varied co-curricular programme and excellent teaching and learning.
Staging the school’s cross-country event at Hamilton Park was a prime example of this and director of sport Ross Horne said: “Thank you to those schools who competed in the Hamilton College Cross-Country Championships.
“It was great to see so many young people enjoying cross-country in the beautiful surroundings of Hamilton Park. It was a proud day for Hamilton College to have so many junior and senior school learners representing the school and displaying the school values. I am looking forward to the event growing next year and having more pupils competing.”
Hamilton Park managing director Ashley Moon said: “It was wonderful to see so many students of all ages take to the track for the Hamilton College Cross-Country Championships for our first ‘race meeting’ of 2025.
“Our congratulations go to all of the participants and winners on the day, and I hope that they enjoyed the event as much as we enjoyed hosting it.”
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