The event at Wimbledon Common kicks off our latest round.
AC VETERANS CHAMPIONSHIP, Wimbledon, January 16
Claire Elms, the previous course overall record holder last used in 2021, was well ahead of the new course record at 62. Steve Smith reports.
The multiple world record holder had thought he might have to miss the event after concussing himself in the weightlifting a few days earlier, and he was pleased to see former champion Nicky Sturzaker make an early lead.
With a faster second lap, Elms won by 40 seconds and his time of 30:13 set a new standard for a lap of Wimbledon Common, despite the muddy descent to the lake being the most slippery and treacherous in years.
Around 40 seconds earlier, European Masters medalist Sturtsaker set his fastest time on the course to win the W50 title for the third consecutive year.
Up front M40 Jim Alchin proved too strong for multiple winner and men’s course record holder and top M45 Richard McDowell. Alchin’s run was a welcome return to form, having suffered a strong dose of prolonged Covid in recent years.
Brian Jenkins, invited from Eastern Masters, was third. Nick Thirle took the M50 title easily, despite the best men’s run coming from M60 Mark Tennyson, who finished ahead of his Guildford clubmate Terry Booth, who comfortably took M55 gold.
M60s were easily the most prolific age group of the day with over a dozen entries. M80 Pete Giles put in another exceptional effort finishing just short of former National Masters champion Barry Atwell who claimed the M70 medal and M75 winner Mike Mann.
The young women’s age groups were particularly thin and behind Elms and Sturzaker, Madeline Armstrong-Pliet was third to finish, giving her W45 gold, while Vicky Filsel won W55 gold ahead of former 10km world champion Susan McDonald.
Although four minutes ahead of Elms, Lucy Woolhouse beat her old W60 course record of 34:26 and Pamela Witter set a W65 record to finish second in the age grade with 92.3 per cent to Elms’ 102.2.
But (7.5 km). 1 J Alchin (M40) 25:56; 2 R McDowell (M45) 26:32; 3 B Jenkins (M40) 26:37; 4 A Russell (M45) 27:03; 5 M Cummings (M40) 27:16
M50: 1 N Tearle 27:47; 2 R Berry 28:48
M55: 1 T. Chamber 29:37; 2 N Urquia 30:30
M60: 1 M Tennyson 29:05; T Sowter 30:16
M65: 1 S Smythe 37:41; 2 J Foss 40:06
M70: 1 V Pausers 38:37; 2 Kings 40:32; 3 B Attwell 40:49
M75: 1 M Man 40:51; 2 D Maskell 46:48
M80: 1 P Giles 40:49; 2 M Johnson 46:56
Women (7.5 km). 1 C Elms (W60) 30:13; 2 N Sturzaker (P50) 30:53; 3 M Armstrong-Plieth (W45) 31:56; 4 V Philsell (W55) 32:34; 5 S McDonald (W55) 33:00
W55: 3 N Richmond 33:19
W60: 2 L Woolhouse 34:26; 3 P Major 37:50
W65: 1 P Whiter 35:16; 2 L Tyler 38:02
W70: 1 J Georghiou 44:58
YORKSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIPS, Ripon, North Yorkshire, January 17
After being postponed the previous week due to dangerous ground in the parking lots, the event went ahead a week later at Lightwater Valley.
Ed Bovingdon led the demolition of Leeds in the team race as his club fielded six of its runners in the top nine to finish in the senior men’s race.
It was a bit of a scrappy win for Bovingdon as his gap to second-placed Joe Firth was almost a minute after he moved up from third last year.
In the women’s race, mountain runner Jemima Elgood enjoys a 120m lead over Abby Haworth.
Numbers fell short of what could have been expected and only four senior women’s teams completed the swing, with only the 10 under 20 women’s race won by Isabella Waugh having no full teams.
In one of the more quality races in the youth events, 2024 England Under-15 Champion Mikey Bacon beat Jake Norris and Tom Take in the Men’s Under-17s. However, it was Takei Hallamshire who just edged out Leeds and Rotherham in the team stakes
Men. 1 in Bovingdon (Leeds) 29:01; 2 And Hobbes (Ilk) 29:21; 3 F Roden (Abbey) 29:29
TEAM: 1 Leeds 33; 2 Ilkley 152; 3 Rotherham 183
U20: 1 J Sanderson (Settle) 22:45; 2 E Wilkinson (K&C) 23:50; 3 D Reeve (Roth) 23:53
TEAM: 1 Keighley & Craven 19; 2 Rotherham 26; 3 York 30:00
U17: 1 M Bacon (Roth) 17:04; 2 Jay Norris (Leeds) 17:21; 3 T Thake (Hallam) 17:29
TEAM: 1 Hallamshire 26; 2 Leeds 26; 3 Rotherham 27:00
U15: 1 T Hastings (Wake) 11;29; 2 C Sanderson (Settle) 11;34; 3 J Dawe (Hallam) 11:34
TEAM: 1 Hallamshire 27; 2 Keighley & C 39; 3 York 42:
U13: 1 J Preston (K&C) 9:19; 2 R Emsley (Bing) 9:35; 3 Z Garratt (Hallam) 9:36
TEAM: 1 Bingley 26; 2 Leeds 33; 3 Keighley & Craven 37
Women. 1 J Elgood (Nidd) 26:54; 2 A Howarth (Steel) 27:22; 3 R Sunman (Holmf) 27:30
TEAM: 1 Leeds 37; 2 Holmfirth 43; 3 Bingley 99
U20: 1 I Waugh (Roth) 20:29l 2 A Sibley (Roth) 21:03; 3 N Robinson (H’gate) 9.30pm
TEAM: no team shut out
U17: 1 I Tutt (Wake) 18:17; 2 P Henson (Leeds) 18:37; 3 C McKie (K&C) 18:53
TEAM: 1 Rotherham 15; 2 Keighley & Craven 31; 3 Leeds 36
U15: 1 M McGoldrick (Settle) 12:30; 2 A Andrews (Roth) 12:38; 3 J Thake (Hallam) 12:41
TEAM: 1 Hallamshire 21; 2 Leeds 26; 3 York 31:00
U13: 1 C Bailey (Hallam) 9:49; 2 S Levine (P’fract) 10:08; 3 H Carter (Bing) 10:18
TEAM: 1 Bingley 20; 2 York 35; 3 Hallamshire 43
East of Scotland League, Bathgate, January
Men (8.8 km). 1 J Crowe (Central) 25:39; 2 H Hickey (Central) 25:59; 3 L Rees (Fife) 26:58; 4 M Pryde (Loth) 27:16; 5 A Marshall (Centr) 27:25
TEAM:1 Centr 37; 2 Fife 101; 3 Cor. 171; 4 Metro 181; 5 HBT 383
Season total1 Centr 204; 2 Fife 390; 3 Cor. 496
M40+. 1 J Tole (Metro) 28:55; 2 R Houston (Central) 29:14; 3 M Maciocia (metro) 29:18
TEAM:1 Metro 11; 2 Corinthians 32; 3 Edin 40:
Season total: 1 Metro 44; 2 Corinthians 87; 3 PHRC 147
U20:K Hardy (Injury) 27:34
U17 (5.8 km). 1 H MacMillan (Falk VH) 18:58; 2 S Darlow (T Board) 19:19; 3 L Sedman (Falk VH) 19:23
TEAM:: 1 T Board 11; 2 Falk VBH 18; 3 Adin 30:00
Season total: 1 T Bord 50; 2 Adin 102; 3 Read 125
U15 (4.6 km). 1 B Upfold (Falk VH) 15:16; 2 C McNab (Edin) 15:24; 3 A Kinghorn (Falk VH) 3:30 p.m
TEAM:1 Falk VH 16; 2 Edin 33; 3 Perth S 36
Season total: 1 Edin 104; 2 Perth S 117; 3 Damage 124
U13 (2.9 km). 1 A Whyte (Dunfer) 10:16; 2 A Hilton (Perth S) 10:32; 3 F McVey (Injury) 10:47
TEAM:1 Dunfer 30; 2 S’Earn 33; 3 Damage 35
Season total: 1 Dunfer 90; 2 S’arn 109; 3 Perth S 156
U11 (1.7 km). H Burnett (Mont) 6:10
TEAM:Edin 27:00
Season total: Ed is 90
Women (5.8 km). 1 M Millar (Central) 20:19; 2 G Whelan (Central) 21:31; 3 K Walker (Edin) 21:49; 4 H Cox (Edin) 21:58; 5 N Nyabadza (Harm, U20) 22:18
TEAM::1 Center 37; 2 Edin 44; 3 Dund R 98; 4 Falk VH 101; 5 kernels 102
Season total: 1 Edin 108; 2 Course 211; 3 Center 263
W40:1 C Gordon (HBT) 23:24; 2 R van Rensberg (Fife) 23:51; 3 J Menzies (PYRC) 23:51
TEAM:1 HBT 16; 2 Edin 21; 3 L’gow 44
Season total: 1 HBT 39; 2 Edin 77; 3 Fife 137
U17/U15 (4.6 km). 1 E Dallas (S’earn) 16:45; 2 R Fitzpatrick (A’deen, U15) 16:46; 3 C Wright (Lass) 16:55
U15:: 2 E Taylor (A’deen) 16:56; 3 E Daunt (Edin) 17:14
TEAM:: 1 Adin 14; 2 T Bord 32; 3 Damage 34
Season total: 1 Adin 68; 2 Damage 69; 3 T Board 92
U13 (2.9 km). 1 R Davidson (T Board) 11:12; 2 G Whyte (Perth S) 11:25; 3 I Patterson (Injury) 11:30
TEAM:1 Edin 26; 2 T Board 28; 3 Damage 32
Season total: 1 Edin 66; 2 Adin 104; 3 Perth S 132
U11 (1.7 km). E Birnie (Bank) 6:43
TEAM:Bank 2:00 p.m
Season total: Item 33:
Men’s team. 1 Edin 571; 2 Damage 977; 3 Falk VH 1573
Season total: 1 Edin 1587; 2 Damage 2356; 3 Read 4811
Female team. 1 Edin 242; 2 damage 259; 3 Cor. 343
Season total: 1 Edin 539; 2 damage 1198; 3 Adin 1267
SCOTTISH WEST COUNTY LEAGUE, Strethaven, January 17
But (6 km). 1 J Downey (Kil’k) 20:02; 2 J Ferguson (E Kilb) 20:33; 3 L Howard (Seth) 20:49; 4 J Work (Kil’k, U20) 21:01; 5 P Mochanm (E Kilb) 21:12
TEAM:1 E Kilb 34; 2 Sheth 40; 3 Kilkee 81; 4 Bella H 110; 5 Law 127
M40+. 1 G Baillie (E Kilb) 21:40; 2 M Paxton (Shett) 21:45; 3 I Reid (Cambus) 22:34
TEAM:1 Sheth 11; 2 E Kilb 25; 3 Bella H 26:
U20 TEAMKilkee 31:00
U17 (4.4 km). 1 D Kinnaird (Cambus) 14.12; 2 B Baillie (E Kilb) 15.01; 3 J Frood (Cambus) 3.11pm
TEAM:1 Kambos 9; 2 And Kilb 19; 3 Law 34
U15 (3.2 km). 1 E Tyler (Giff N) 11:38; 2 J Walker (Kil’k) 11:50; 3 C Curley (Kil’k) 11:51
TEAM:1 Kilc 11; 2 C’glen 53; 3 Law 55
U13 (2.8 km). 1 C Cooke (Kil’k) 9:46; 2 C Brown (Cambus) 9:51; 3 J McMillan (E Kilb) 10:09
TEAM:1 Kilk 35; 2 E Kilb 38; 3 Ayr S 40:
U11 (1.2 km). TIM: Give N 8
Women (6 km). 1 C Gillen (Springb) 22:51; 2 The other (non-Saxon) 24:34; 3 K Glynn (Bella H) 24:44; 4 C Bain (Cambus) 25:01; 5 CCallum (Shett) 25:16
TEAM:1 Cambus 37; 2 Bella H 52; 3 E Kil 110; 4 Law 125; 5 Sheth 129
W40+. 1K O’Brien (Cambus) 26:23; 2K Baillie (E Kilb) 26:43; 3 E Morris (Cambus) 26:49
TEAM:1 Cambus 8; 2 Bella H 19; 3 C’glen 44
U20:Andrew (E Kilb) 25:59
TEAM:E Kilb 25:
U17 (4.4 km). 1 AN Other (air) 16:58; 2 AN Other (Law) 174:22; 3 M Frew (E Kilb) 18:43
TEAM:1 Law 17; 2 And 40; 3 E Kilb 43
U15 (3.2 km). 1 N Clark (E Kil) 12:17; 2 L Finnus (Nlys) 12:23; 3 Her Nicholson (Giff N) 12:33
TEAM:1 E Kilb 19; 2 Ayr S 20; 3 N Ayres 27:00
U13 (2.8 km). 1 AN Other (Law) 10:32; 2 S Williams (Kilb) 11:01; 3 M Ashelby (E Kilb) 11:09
TEAM:1 Ayr S 17; 2 Law 24; 3 Giff N 39
U11 (1.2 km). TEAM: Act 6
SUSSEX MASTERS CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS, Lancing, West Sussex, January 17
Coombes Farm hosted again as the turnout was good despite a clash with the Vets AC Championship at Wimbledon Common, with James Turner a comfortable winner in the youngest men’s age group race.
Brighton & Hove team-mate Howard Bristow was again on song in the over-50 race, winning by over a minute.
Kathleen Lowe won the women’s age combined event by the same margin as top W50 Sally Rushforth.
Top age group masters Caroline Wood in the W60s and Chris Naylor in the 70s followed.
M35 Race: 1 J Turner (B&H, M40) 25:36; 2 B Short (Craw) 26:58; 3 J Franklin (B&H, M40) 27:12
M45: 1 T Meanwell (Lewis) 27:45
TEAM: 1 Cost 65; 2 Arena 82; 3 Henfield 105
M50 Race: 1 H Bristow 28:06; 2 L Taub (B&H) 29:35; 3 M McLoughlin (Vets) 30:53
M55: 1 M Melish (Arcade) 31:25
M60: 1 M Usher Lewes) 31;28; 2 D Benton (B&H) 31:40; 3 J Russell (Lewis) 31:57
M65: 1 T Hicks (Hay H) 36:02; 2 M Miles (Chich R) 36:29
M70: 1 M Schofield (B&H) 45:51
M75: 1 R Hughes (Lewes) 44:21
TEAM M50. 1 B&B 21; 2 Arena 27; 3 Lewes 27:00
TEAM M60. 1 B&H 15; 2 Lewes 22; 3 Phoenix 29:00
Women W35. 1 K Law (B&H) 30:58; 2 S Rushforth (Phoe, W50) 32:03; 3 R Hillman (Lewes, W40) 32:14
W45: 1 F Cripps (Cheech R) 34:47; 2 L Pemberton (Cheech R) 35:30
W50: 2 S Fry (Hail) 34:25
W55: 1 M Davies (E’brne) 37:19
W60: 1 C Wood (Arena) 37:04
W65: 1 Jay Lennon (Steyn) 41:54; 2 K Diwal (Luz) 42:01
W70: 1 C Naylor (Arena) 42:34
W75: 1 V Brockwell (P’slade) 54:50
TEAM W35. 1 Arena 18; 2 Phoenix 24; 3 Chichester R 34
TEAM W50. 1 Haywards Heath 21; 2 Phoenix 25; 3 Lewis 30:00
