MOB Match Lothian V Linlithgow 2026, at Beacraigs Country Park Parkrun Saturday 14th March 2026.

This was the 3rd MOB match between Lothian RC and Linlithgow AC, it started in 2024 at Polkement Parkrun, followed by Auldcathie in 2025 and now Beecraigs in 2026 with Bo’Ness the agreed venue for 2027. In 2024 Lothian won all four categories, in 2025 Lothian edged in it with 3 category wins to Linlithgow’s 2. What difference would Linlithgow being on home soil at the new addition to the Parkrun family make in 2026. Like last year it followed on from the National Cross Country Championships and Allan Scally Road Relays. Linlithgow had the most teams of any club at the Allan Scally’s, a magnificent sixteen teams, to Lothian’s impressive six, was the writing on the wall before the first timers briefing had even started? Lothian had several walking wounded from the Civic Centre Crew determined to hobble round or volunteer, I am sure Linlithgow had the same.

What part would the climb of the first two kilometers play? Secret tactics from Lothian was to engage their Linlithgow counterpart in a friendly chat and then outsprint them in the last 50m, however given the amount of climb there was no chat! I am sure many, including Yasmin, questioned if their soul had actually left their body at 2km.

David McNulty, photographer, turned up and captured the morning beautifully, thank you David. https://photos.app.goo.gl/hVbSrrSdLrGhQRdt5

This year we increased the number of categories to six, biggest MOB (finishers and volunteers), fastest three females, fastest three males, best placed female finishers, best placed male finishers, and the best 20 age value percentages from each club.

The main category of who had the biggest MOB was an extremely close run thing, Lothian had 65 finishers and 3 Volunteers, Linlithgow had 60 finishers and 7 volunteers, so the biggest MOB goes to Lothian by only one member!

Fastest three females, Lothian (Jennifer, Lesley, Andrea) totalled 72 mins 13 seconds, Linlithgow (Jennifer, Lynsey, Christine) totalled 68 mins 15 seconds. A win for Linlithgow. Impressively, four of these six runners ran course PBs.

Fastest three males, Lothian (Charlie, Gavin, Scott) totalled 60 mins 54 secs, Linlithgow (Sam, Andrew, Martin) totalled 57 mins 23 secs. A win for Linlithgow. Remarkably, this included five course PBs from these six.

The points category is treated as if only Lothian and Linlithgow turned up for two separate races, male and female. The winner of each race is awarded one point, 2nd gets two points and so on, teams with the lowest points total wins. To make this fair we must have the same number of counters from both clubs. The accepted practice in MOB races is the club with the lowest number of finishers minus three. Lothian had 25 finishers, Linlithgow had 30.

So for the Female points race that was calculated to be the first 22 finishers from each club. For Lothian the last counter was Mags T and they scored 528 points, for Linlithgiow the last counter was Zara G and they scored 462 points. A win for Linlithgow. The number of females in before 30 mins gave Linlithgow the edge this year.

For the Male points race Lothian had 40 finishers, Linlithgow had 30, based on the formula, the first 27 finishers from each club would count. For Lothian Thomas C was the last counter and they scored 688 points, for Linlithgow Lewis B was the last counter and they scored 833 points. A win for Lothian. Lothian had a group of belligerent old men finishing around 26 minutes which made the difference.

Under pressure from Ted Finch and Liz Bondi a new category was introduced this year, Age Value. This gives you a score compared to the best runners for your age and gender in the world, unfortunately these had to be typed in by hand so only the best twenty from each club counted. Highest total is best. For Lothian the last counter was Abbie and their best twenty totalled 1320.26, for Linlithgow the last counter was Claire and they totalled 1351.79. A win for Linlithgow who were on average only 1.5 points better per person so another close result.

A special mention for Christine M from Linlithgow, she may be getting on a bit but what an influence she had on this MOB match, she was 3rd fastest female, only added 3 points in the female points race and had the best Age Value of the whole Parkrun.


Highlights for 2026, the last 3km, as always a huge range of club members representing their clubs, 94 Course PBs (includes first timers) group photos (including a Lothian retake due to the late arrival of Dawn), club tent and banner (nice touch Linlithgow), Emma T’s 50th, Drew’s 100th, Malcolm’s 300th, David’s 400th, the banter within and between clubs, cakes (especially the cakes). Probably best of all, the warm glow that you have been part of something special, where 135 members from both clubs turned up on a cold March morning for an interesting 5km challenge on a very scenic course.

Same time next year at the very flat, but equally scenic, Bo’Ness Parkrun for another exciting MOB Match.