JK 2026: Day 3 (Long) Results

The organisers of the 2026 Jan Kjellstrom International Festival Long distance race pulled out all the stops to ensure their event went ahead in challenging conditions, and were rewarded with a memorable day.

A deep coating of overnight snow greeted the volunteers who were on hand early to set up at Rannoch Forest, and the arena looked like something from the recent Winter Olympics. The medium range weather forecast was for blizzards (and blue skies!) and those with long memories were reminded of the 1998 JK in Wales, where the Elite courses had to be abandoned due to the starts being cut off by snow.

Event co-ordinator Jon Cross and his team worked wonders to ensure the courses were ready for action, and had everything licked into shape to start on time and without a hitch, and it's to their credit that the race was able to take place.

In the Elite classes, there was once again Scottish dominance, with all six podium athletes on the 21+ courses from north of the border. Euan Tryner (EUOC) is the new M21E champion, as he was done and dusted in 102.32 off the second-last start, as overnight leader Simon Harden elected not to race. Matthew Gooch (MAROC) battled hard, but was already 80 seconds adrift by the 2^nd control, and finished in 104.26, and Charlie Rennie was 3^rd (107.35) in the navy and green of EUOC.

Niamh Hunter (AROS) bided her time, and pounced on a mispunch from the course leader with four to go, to run in for a victory in 105.17. Eilidh Campbell (MAROC) took the silver medal in 111.25, and INT's Mairi Eades got up late to come home in 120.45 for bronze.

Ruth Gooch (MAROC) backed up her Middle distance win with top place in the W20E Long race (76.06), as Eve Buckley (KerryO – 81.36) and Heather High (SO – 84.08) were also on the podium, while in the M20E event, James Hammond made it a hat-trick of wins for the weekend, in a blistering 70.29, as EUOC clubmate Michael Bishenden (82.36) was once again in the silver medal spot, and Ruben Razetti (85.08) took bronze for WCOC.

There was the same set of podium athletes in M18E, but in a different order, as Oliver Duncan (WCOC) claimed victory in 73.34) with Finn Selmer Duguid (TAY) once again 2^nd in 75.37, and MOR's Finlay McLuckie had to settle for bronze this time (77.21).

Anna Todd started in provisional silver medal position in W18E, but was in front by the 5^th leg, and came home in 88.36 for the title. Iona Scott (INVOC) was 2^nd in the race (90.14) and also in the overall rankings, and although Ella Baxter (SYO) was 3^rd in the stage (91.56), clubmate Charlotte Chapman went away with the bronze medal overall.

After three days of competition, there are only seven athletes who remain unbeaten across the stages, and it's congratulations to Jon Duncan (Sandnes) in M50, Steve Whitehead (EBOR) in M75, Roger Maher (SO) in M85, John Thompson (TVOC) in M90, Jenny Thompson (TVOC) in W85, Hannah Inman (FVO) in W14 and Ingrid Edenbrandt (ESOC) in W10.

Tomorrow's event will conclude this year's competition as we finish Day 4 with the Relays at Tullchroisk. Well done everyone!

Long Results