Morpeth Harrier Cat Macdonald represents Scotland at iconic relay race in Italy

Morpeth Harrier Cat Macdonald travelled to Italy at the weekend to take part in the prestigious Trofeo Vanoni mountain race at Morbegno in Lombardy, northern Italy, and in the process collected her fourth Scotland vest, although this was the first time she had represented the country outside the UK.

Cat Macdonald in action for Scotland in northern Italy. Picture: @fabiovedovatti

Hosted by local club CSI Morbegno, the race is now twinned with the International Snowdon Race and has a tremendous history, the men’s race having been contested for 66 years.

It was the 40th running of the women’s event, a relay for teams of two, run over a challenging 5k mixed terrain course with a climb of 248 metres from start to summit, conditions made worse by 10 days of heavy rain – although race day proved to be dry and mild.

Taking over from lead-out runner Alice Goodall, the European U23 10,000m champion, Macdonald moved Scotland up to fourth with a time of 24 minutes 56 seconds, the 10th fastest time of the day and only 22 seconds slower than Goodall. Italian outfits Valtellina and Recastello finished first and second, and Ireland came third.

Closer to home, there were more than 5,000 finishers at the annual Leeds Abbey Dash on Sunday morning, a race which continues to attract a quality field for its fast and flat out and back course from the city’s town hall to Kirkstall Abbey.

In a race won by Icelandic U23 international Baldvin Magnusson in a time of 28 minutes 51 seconds, just ahead of past winner Jonny Mellor in 28:53, Lawrence McCourt was the first of the six Morpeth Harriers who travelled down the A1, finishing in 17th place in a time of 30 minutes 7 seconds.

Only six seconds back was Finn Brodie in 30:13, with regular visitor to the race Sam Hancox 34th in 30:51.

Leeds-based Phil Winkler was 43rd in 31:15, George Lowry 68th in 31:58 and Rob Hancox 481st in 39:29 and also 11th Over-55.

Lincoln Wellington’s Abbie Donnelly won the women’s race in 32:05, with Herne Hill Harrier Georgie Grgec second in 32:25 and Lincoln Wellington’s Sophie Wallis third in 32:41.