All the news from the last few days on the UK cross country running scheme
START FITNESS NORTH EASTERN HARRIER LEAGUE, Wrekenton, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, January 19.
After several canceled games due to weather and parking difficulties, the league returned and Durham University student James Johnson, a competitor in the Aquathlon World Championships, was not only first home overall, but also the fastest man to compete.
It was a similar story in the women’s division as Lydia Turner was first home and fastest overall, however she had to overcome a time delay of over two minutes to cross the line first.
The Birtley Harrier repeated their league win from Thornley Hall last September.
Back in 2014, Turner finished third in the women’s under-20 race at the European Championships, one of several appearances at the event.
James Johnson (David Hewitson)
General (first house): 1 J Johnson (Durh U) 31:25; 2 A Sayers (Crook) 32:58; 3 C Alborough (Crook) 33:18
Fastest: Johnson 31:25
M40: 1 J McKenna (Tyne Br) 31:51
M50: 1 J Armstrong (Morp) 35:58
M60: 1 P Redman (Sun) 40:17
U17: 1 L Powell (Tyne Br) 18:39
Fastest: Chef (Gateway) 4:28 p.m
U15: 1 A Darling (T’dale) 8:50
Fastest: Dear 8:50
U13: 1 M Karter (Tdale) 10:0
Fastest: O Curran (Darl) 8:57
Men’s Start (David Hewitson)
Women. 1 L Turner (Birt) 25:25; 2 A Bell (Gate, U20) 26:01; 3 J Patterson (Durh U) 26:19
Fastest: 1 Turner 22:54; 2 J Heslop (Elsw, W45) 24:28; 3 R Newman (Durh U) 25:29
W40: 1 J Hodgson (Morp) 24:57
W50: 1 L Short (T’dale) 26:20
W55: 1 J Murphy (S Shields) 27:52
U17: 1 H Cutler 21:31
Fastest: G Carter (Durh) 20:31
U15: 1 T Bishop (Gen.) 10:38
Fastest: H Robison (Hought) 9:29
U13: 1 E Hawkins (NSP) 10:47
Fastest: P Phillipson (Birt) 9:39
Women’s Start (David Hewitson)
CHINGFORD LEAGUE, Epping Forest, January 18
In general. 1 S McCauley (Lon H) 30:31; 2 A Other (Lon H) 30:35; 3 C Bruce (Trent P, M40) 31:10
M50: 1 R Maidment (Orion) 32:43
M60: 1 R McCormick (Barn) 35:49
U17: 1 A O’Driscoll (WG&EL) 17:14; 2 W Muffett (WG&EL) 17:15; 3 S Lindsell (E&H) 17:56
U15: 1 F Reina (Ilf) 18:59
Women. 1 C O’Shea (VP&TH) 36:05; 2 Z Oldfield (Lought, W40) 36:24; 3 K Clark (VP&TH, W40) 36:53
W50: 1 M Reid (Ilf) 37:09
U17: 1 E Trainor (WG&EL) 24:12
U15: 1J Falkowski ((Trent P) 7:56 p.m
SOUTH EAST LANCS LEAGUE, Heaton Park, Greater Manchester, January 18
Men. 1 Jay Watson (Traff, U20) 30:14; 2 M Harris (E Chesh) 30:40; 3 D Norman (Alt, M45) 30:56
M55: 1 T Shanker (Manch YMCA) 34:11
TEAM: 1 E Cheshire 21; 2 Manchester YMCA 48; 3 Glossopdale 56
TEAM M40. 1 E Cheshire 6 p.m
M50 TEAM 1 Glossopdale 28
TEAM M60. 1 Rochdale 5 p.m
U17: 1 M Fleet (E Chesh) 21:02; 2 O Walker (E Chesh) 21:11; 3 N Dunne (E Chess) 21:23
TEAM: 1 East Cheshire 6
U15: 1 H Yates (Horw) 21:16; 2 B Hadfield (Roch) 21:31; 3 L Rhodes (E Chesh) 22:42
TEAM: no team shut out
U13: 1 L Schofield (Salph M) 11:02; 2 T Stewart (Chorl Tri) 11:05; 3 Z Jones (Ehesh) 11:13
TEAM: 1 Salford Mets 10am
Women. 1 C McMurdoch (Salf M, W35) 22;47; 2 K Kay (E Chesh, W40) 34:55; 3 R Marshall (Bury) 35:01
W50: 1 M Vaughan (E Chesh) 37:38
W60: 1 G Kinloch (Burnden) 38:48
TEAM: 1 E Cheshire 14; 2 Salford Great 18; 3 Horwich RMI 34
W40 TEAM. 1 E Cheshire 15:00
U17: 1 A Clarke (Salph M) 25:49; 2 H Fleet (E Chesh) 25:57; 3 M Wright (His Chess) 27:09
TEAM: no team shut out
U15: 1 L Dent (Bury) 22:43; 2 M Preston Tri) 23:30; 3 I Reid (Chor) 24:22
TEAM: 1 Chorley 9:00
U13: 1 G Freary (Horw) 11:52; 2 G Benson (Chor Tri) 12:09; 3 H Wilkinson (Burty) 12:33
TEAM: 1 Bury 20:00
SUSSEX MASTERS, Lancing, West Sussex, January 18
Zared Arasaretnam-Hale took the championship, again held at Combe Farm in the shadow of Lancing School, from multi-race winner James Baker, who was the best M45 home, ahead of third-placed Howard Bristow.
The over-50s came home ahead of the women’s individual race, with Linda Schofield, second on the all-time British masters 10km list in 36:06, beating all the younger age groups by almost a minute.
But (M35-49). 1 Z Arasaretnam-Hale (B&H, M40) 26:47; 2 J Baker (Cheech R, M45) 26:58; 3 H Bristow (B&H, M45) 27:38; 4 Jay Dix (B&H) 27:59; 5 G Tomlinson (Horsh J, M45) 28;18; 6 B Buchanan (Hy, M40) 28:24
TEAM: 1 Brighton & Hove 15; 2 Cheech R 56; 3 B&H B 58
But (M50+). 1 S Rowan (High H) 29:47; 2 C Trigg (Phoe) 30:12; 3 L Cedar (Lewes, M55) 31:04
M55: 2 G Godden (B&H) 31:54
M60: 1 J Burrell (Lewis) 32:14; 2 M Herron (Phoe) 34:29
M65: 1 J Lowden (B&H) 38:54
M70: 1 D Prince-Isles (Lewes) 38:27
M75: 1 A Haig (Phoe) 51:11
TEAM M50. 1 Haywards H 28; 2 Phoenix 30; 3 Arena 80 42
TEAM M60. 1 Lewes 23; 2 Phoenix 28; 3 B&H 30:00
Women. 1 L Schofield (B&H, W50) 31:24; 2 A Robinson (Worth, W35) 32:09; 3 R Hillman (Lewes) 32:27
W50: 1 S Amer (Armenian H) 36:41
W55: 1 L Lumber (E’brne) 37:13
W60: 1 G Moffatt (P’slade) 34:29; 2 C Wood (Arena) 36:23
TEAM W35. 1 Phoenix 16; 2 Lewes 18; 3 Arena 80 32:00
TEAM W50. 1 B&H 12; 2 Haywards H 20; 3 Cheech R 42
Vets AC Champs with Claire Elms (right) (Tom Conlon)
VETERANS AC CROSS-COMPIONSHIP, Wimbledon Common, January 18
Athletics Weekly’s 2024 Female Masters Athlete of the Year Claire Elms became the oldest ever individual overall female winner as the 61-year-old led home the younger athletes, Steve Smith reports.
The event for all masters organisations, which was founded at Stamford Bridge in 1931 to support veteran athletes, was due to change course this year.
The usual loop around Lake Queensmere had to be removed due to engineering works, which cut a total of 800 meters off the usual two-lap course, making the race just 6.8km.
The overall winner of the race was Surrey Masters 1500m runner-up Wimbledon Windmiller and M40 David Sharman, who enjoyed his biggest win to date with a time of 24:57.
However, Sharman is not a member of the VAC, so their overall champion was runner-up Rich Berry, who was only eighth overall in his previous appearance in 2023. M50’s Craig Jackson was third, and then there was a big gap for the age groups winners
M35 Eric Dole, M60 Mark Tennyson, M55 Muhamud Hale and M45 Martin Edwards completed the top seven as they all claimed VAC titles.
Tennyson, the South Thames champion in his age group, was the pick of the winners and the M60s easily gave away the most competitors with 15 per cent of the field.
Eighth home was Elms, making his first appearance in the race after winning in 2012 and 2013. After a steady start, he was too strong for Clapham Chasers’ Portuguese Mariana Arces, who was half a minute short
Third woman home and second VAC was Elms’ predecessor as AW Masters Athlete of the Year, Sue Macdonald.The 2023 W55 World Masters 10km and half marathon champion has yet to beat Elms at home, but won W55 gold here.
In the older age groups, new M65 Martin Leeth narrowly beat defending champion and 2023 British 5km champion Tony Pamphilon.
M75 winner Mike Mann narrowly edged England national team and M80 record holder Peter Giles.
Total (6.8 km (VAC, unless specified): 1 D Sharman (Wimb W/gst, M40) 24:57; 2 R Berry (M50) 25:27; 3 C Jackson (M50) 25:57; 4 E Dol (M35) 26:59; 5 M Tennyson (M60) 27:13; 6 M Haile (M55) 27:20; 7 M Edwards (M45) 27:39; 8 C Elms (W60) 27:43; 9 J Carrington (M45) 27:44; 10 M Marques (Applause C/gst, W35) 28:14
M45: 3 R Steeples (Coll/gst) 28:44
M50: 3 J Armstrong-Plieth 28:35
M60: 2 L Reilly 29:21; 3 D Haughey 30:16
M65: 1 M Leet 30:04; 2 T Pamphilon 30:13; 3 S Smith 33:23
M70: 1 R Turner (THH/gst) 33:13; 2 D Coates (SCVAC/gst) 34:38; 3 V pauses 35:33
M75: 1 M Mann 36:29; 2 M Anglim (SWV/gst) 36:34; 3 D Maskell 41:59
M80: 1 P Giles 37:08; 2 P Newby (THH/gst) 43:29
Women. 1 Elms (W60) 27:43; 2 Marques (W35) 28:14; 3 S McDonald (W55) 28:30; 4 L Hancock (Applause C/gst, W40) 29:04; 5 M Armstrong-Plieth (W40) 29:18; 6 W Buck (W50) 29:26; 7 R Berry (W50) 29:34; 8 A Coomber (W50) 30:15; 9 N Richmond (P50) 30:30; 10 R Pickard (W45) 30:35
W45: 2 J Sinfield (Col/gst) 32:48
W55: 2 H Davies 34:12; 3 L Mill 36:51
W60: 2 L Woolhouse 31:17; 3 N Atkins 36:23
W65: 1 L Wilson 34:51; 2M Davis (SCVAC/GST) 35:03; 3 J Quantrill 36:55
W70: 1 J Georghiou 40:57; 2 A Ros 46:12
EAST OF SCOTTISH COUNTY LEAGUE, Bathgate, January 18
Men (8.8 km). 1 L Rees (Fife) 25:38; 2 S Stirling (Falk VH) 25:55; 3 H Hickey (Central) 26:03; 4 A Marshall (Centr) 26:07; 5 L Fanorolli (Cantr) 26:18
M40:D Hasty (Gala) 27:01
U20:H Pagett (S’earn) 26:44
TEAM:: 1 Centr 63; 2 Corinthians 149; 3 Fife 156; 4 Adin 283
TEAM OF MASTERS. 1 Metro 15; 2 Center 32; 3 Cor 42:
U17 (5.8 km). 1 F MacKenzie (Subway) 18:17; 2 O Chirnside (A’deen) 18:18; 3 K Hardie (Injury) 6:19 p.m
TEAM: 1 Damage 14; 2 Adin 39; 3 Metro 40:00
U15 (4.6 km). 1 L Sedman (Falk VH) 15:13; 2 L Anderson (Anst) 15:24; 3 R Lees (Edin) 15:29
TEAM:1 Edin 16; 2 Falk VH 17; 3 T Board 22:00
U13 (2.9 km). 1 T Hilton (Perth S) 10:07; 2 F Bell (Perth S) 10:09; 3 J Shinnie (A’deen) 10:15am
TEAM: 1 Perth S 12; 2 Edin 28; 3 Damage 35
U11 (1.7 km). 1 G Wright (Hudd) 6:13; 2 Q McInally (S’earn) 6:29; 3 J Gerrard (Adin) 6:30
TEAM: 1 Edin 28; 2 Perth S 36; 3 G Her Sc 62
Women (5.8 km). 1 N Scott (Edin) 19:47; 2 K Walker (Edin) 20:45; 3 M Sanchez Oler (Edin) 21:09; 4 G Whelan (Central) 21:16; 5H Cox (Edin) 21:20
W35: M McClelland (HBT) 23:01
TEAM: 1 Edin 11; 2 Corinthians 49; 3 Center 69; 4 HBT 115
TEAM OF MASTERS. 1 HBT 10; 2 Edin 18; 3 Gala 49:00
U17/U15 (4.6 km). 1 E Dallas (S’earn, U17) 15:57; 2 C Wright (Lass, U15) 16:17; 3 R Caves (Harm, U15) 16:27
U15: 3 L Gibb (Dunf T) 17:33
TEAM: 1 Damage 18; 2 Falk VH 18; 3 T Board 45:
U13 (2.9 km). 1 I Madhra (Lass) 11:06; 2 G Whyte (Perth S) 11:08; 3 E Daunt (Edin) 11:22
TEAM: 1 Edin 17; 2 Damage 35; 3 T Board 36:
U11 (1.7 km). 1 C Chekalovska (Adin) 6:04; 2 A Thomas (Dunf T) 6:14; 3 K McNab (Edin) 6:19
TEAM:1 Edin 12; 2 Adin 19; 3 Score 34
General men’s team. 1 Adin 672; 2 Edin 845; 3 Leave 878
Women’s general team. 1 Edin 93; 2 Corinthians 318; 3 Read 520
» Subscribe to AW Magazine herecheck out our new podcast! here or subscribe to our digital archive of back issues from 1945 to the present day here
