Wednesday 27th May 2009

THE May Bank Holiday Monday in the United Kingdom always plays host to the traditional sights and sounds of the many country fayre’s held across the green and pleasant land of the British Isles.

In Leicestershire the county hosts two popular country fayre’s that also feature annual cross-country races at the picturesque venues of the Oaks-in-Charnwood and in the village of Arnesby.

The Oaks-in-Charnwood event staged over what is arguably the toughest multi-terrain race on the county racing calendar – a challenging 6.5 mile two-lap course surrounding Iveshead – teenager Sam Densham representing Charnwood AC claimed a fine victory in the Men’s race crossing the line in a time of 46mins 30secs to finish clear of Fleckney & Kibworth’s fell running specialist Adam Taylor.

The ever-improving Taylor, having recovered well in the race from taking a wrong turn after the first mile battled back to secure second place in 47:07 ahead of Shepshed’s third placed Martin Booth (47:49).

In the Women’s race Jenni Muston (pictured above left) continued her run of recent good form to claim a fine victory for the host club Shepshed. The 35-year-old, having set a new personal best at last months Flora London Marathon (3:08.22) and winner over the mile at the Derby Winter Midweek Training Races in March, finished clear of another of Charnwood’s impressive production line of young talented athletes, Zoe Hawkins, in a time of 54:37.

Hawkins, the 2008 Leicestershire County Schools Cross Country champion, clocked 55:59 to take the runners-up position ahead of the vastly experienced Gill Evans (Shepshed).

At the Arnesby May Fayre 4.5 mile race over the course surrounding the neighbouring villages of Shearsby and Bruntingthorpe, Stacey Voss representing Fleckney & Kibworth prevailed in the Men’s race to take victory in 31:05 ahead of Graeme Slight of Huncote and Rob Gregory of the OWLS.

Sam Winters (OWLS) broke the course record to win the Women’s race with a strong performance finishing fifth overall in a time of 33:08.

The junior races were dominated by Fleckney as Leicestershire’s newest club completed an excellent clean sweep of victories.

The girls race was won in 21:30 by Charlotte Mathers only four seconds ahead of team mates Frances Blackburn (21:34) and Clarisse Bale (21:41), whilst in the boys race Luke Mathers completing a family double to match sister Charlotte's victory by taking victory in 16:30 ahead of Oscar Trier (16:37) and third placed Bryn Williams (16:53).
Oaks in Charnwood Cross Country Challenge Race

Full Results (mixed):
1 Sam Densham Charnwood 46:30; 2 Adam Taylor Fleckney & Kibworth 47:07; 3 Martin Booth Shepshed 47:49; 4 Paul Gregory Hermitage 48:15; 5 Andrew Stuart Dark Peak Fell Runners 48:34; 6 Shane Godrich Bowline 48:46; 7 Mark Morgan Coalville Wheelers 49:03; 8 Jake Smith Shepshed 50:49; 9 Simon Walters Leics Police 51:12; 10 John Rees Barrow 51:32; 11 Gareth Pymm Bowline 51:38; 12 Ian Williamson Hermitage 51:44; 13 Pete Whitehead Shepshed 52:07; 14 Leon Fairbrother Shepshed 52:29; 15 Rick Frolich Unatt 53:14; 16 Kurt Reid Hermitage 53:31; 17 Jez Allard Shepshed 53:37; 18 Mark Bradford Hermitage 54:09; 19 Steve Turk Shrewsbury 54:19; 20 Jenni Muston Shepshed 54:37; 21 Tim Price Bedford Harriers 54:43; 22 Paul Hannah Stamford Striders 54:46; 23 Peter Thomas Stamford Striders 55:32; 24 Zoe Hawkins Charnwood 55:39; 25 Paul Goddard Desford Striders 55:41; 26 Terry Challower Fleckney & Kibworth 55:42; 27 Andy Steel Wreake 55:59; 28 Chris North Charnwood 56:00; 29 Pat Christopher Wreake 56:44; 30 Denis Thompson West End 56:48; 31 Mick Davis Shepshed 57:05; 32 Jerry Cook Shepshed 57:37; 33 Royston Lee Barrow 57:44; 34 Chris Perry Barrow 57:45; 35 Gill Evans Shepshed 58:44; 36 Katya Blackledge Charnwood 58:59; 37 Mary Mills Holme Pierrepoint 59:56; 38 Paul Goodchild Desford Striders 60:16; 39 Paul Brown Hatton Darts 60:42; 40 Dave Mann Ivanhoe 61:00; 41 Jon Jakubecz Hermitage 61:14; 42 Leonie Sijtsma Shepshed 61:24; 43 Mick Yeoman Bowline 61:29; 44 Jack Danvers Shepshed 61:41; 45 Rob Harlow Unatt 61:49; 46 Mick Taylor Wreake 63:06; 47 Phil Densham Charnwood 63:15; 48 Tim Danvers Shepshed 63:38; 49 Michael Palmer East Cornwall 63:52; 50 Siobhan Palmer Mornington Chasers 63:52; 51 Dennis Reeson Redhill Road Runners 64:06; 52 Amanda Hannah Stamford Striders 65:24; 53 Derek Butler Shepshed 65:48; 54 Mark Harris Unatt 67:42; 55 Kevin Sanders Ivanhoe 68:40; 56 Chris Wright Stamford Striders 68:44; 57 Trish McPherson Ivanhoe 69:06; 58 Brian Gallagher Barrow 69:23; 59 Jane Collingham Wreake 72:25; 60 Gavin English Barrow 75:08; 61 Rebecca Skirrow Shepshed 78:01; 62 Sheila Carruthers Shepshed 78:05; 63 Jane Danvers Shepshed 78:10
2009 Arnesby Fayre Races

Full Results:
Senior Race (Mixed)
1-31.05-Stacey-Voss-Fleckney & Kibworth; 2-31.19-Graeme-Slight-Huncote Harriers; 3-32.35-Robert-Gregory-Owls; 4-33.08-Anthony-Waterford-Owls; 5-33.10-Sam-Winters-Owls; 6-33.22-Nigel-Ayres-N/A; 7-33.23-David-Wheeler-Fleckney & Kibworth; 8-33.24-Andrew-Wood-Bowline; 9-33.37-Clive-Jones-Owls; 10-34.18-Les-Chesterton-Owls; 11-34.43-Dale-Jenkins-Roadhoggs; 12-35.08-Sam-Pratt-N/A; 13-35.18-MARK-LOMASNEY-N/A; 14-35.19-James-Grant-N/A; 15-35.21-Laura-Davison-West End Runners; 16-35.30-John-Heywood-Huncote Harriers; 17-36.04-DAVID-HOGG-N/A; 18-36.05-Henry-Trier-Fleckney & Kibworth;1 9-36.07-Claire-Beach-Fleckney & Kibworth; 20-36.14-Tony-Pratt-N/A; 21-36.46-Ant-Grimmet-Fleckney & Kibworth; 22-36.51-Phil-King-N/A; 23-36.58-Nick-Jackson-N/A; 24-38.27-Tania-Brandon-N/A; 25-38.41-Dale-Hudgson-N/A; 26-34.42-Lucie-Butwell-Fleckney & Kibworth; 27-38.52-Aileen-Collins-Fleckney & Kibworth; 28-38.59-MILAN-DURIC-N/A; 29-39.08-LIAM-LOMASNEY-N/A; 30-39.23-Jamie-Robinson-N/A; 31-39.56-Kim-Richardson-Roadhoggs; 32-39.58-Sam-Richardson-Roadhoggs; 33-40.21-Sally-Horrocks-N/A; 34-41.11-Russ-Lyons-N/A; 35-41.26-Tim-Steele-N/A; 36-42.17-Rich-Adams-N/A; 37-42.20-Peter-Holden-N/A; 38-43.08-Jonathon-Stone-Fleckney & Kibworth; 39-44.11-Nina-Messenger-N/A; 40-44.19-Gary-Lloyd-N/A; 41-44.24-SALLY-SMITH-N/A; 42-45.18-Carole-Priestley-Owls; 43-45.50-Fiona-Davison-West End Runners; 44-46.11-Mick-Chapman-N/A; 45-48.23-Keith-Ovenden-N/A; 46-48.58-Bev-Cann-N/A; 47-48.58-Steve-Cann-N/A; 48-49.39-Hannah-Gormin-N/A; 49-49.39-Alex-Prettyman-Fleckney & Kibworth; 50-50.06-Nigel-Countney-N/A; 51-52.25-Clare-Trier-N/A; 52-52.36-STEPH-WALKINSHAW-Arnesby; 53-52.38-KAREN-BEARDSALL-Arnesby; 54-52.42-Irene-Forty-Huncote Harriers; 55-52.42-Lesley-Cann-Huncote Harriers; 56-52.44-Praful-Solanig-N/A; 57-53.57-Jane-Hoskyns-N/A; 58-54.14-TERRY-CANE-N/A; 59-57.04-Annette-Christie-N/A; 60-57.04-Carol-Edwards-N/A
Junior Races (Mixed)
1-16.30-Luke-Mathers-13-Fleckney & Kibworth; 2-16.37-Oscar-Trier-10-Fleckney & Kibworth; 3-16.53-Bryn-Williams-10-Fleckney & Kibworth; 4-17.19-Jack-Williams-13-Fleckney & Kibworth; 5-17.39-Jacob-Robinson-11-; 6-17.52-Stephen-Palmer-13- 7-18.00-JOSEPH-HUTTON-10-; 8-18.52-Michael-Megginson-14-; 9-19.00-WYNDHAM-HOGG-12-; 10-19.08-Charlie-Holden-11-; 11-20.29-Oliver-Freer-10-Fleckney & Kibworth; 12-21.25-William-Blackburn-8-Fleckney & Kibworth; 13-21.30-Charlotte-Mathers-10-Fleckney & Kibworth; 14-21.34-Frances-Blackburn-10-Fleckney & Kibworth; 15-21.39-Will-Adams-7-; 16-21.4-Ben-Watson-10-Fleckney & Kibworth; 17-21.41-Clarisse-Bale-13-Fleckney & Kibworth; 18-25.32-Joe -Lloyd-13-; 19-26.01-Lucy-Ring-9-; 20-26.02-AGNES-HOGG-9

2009 IAAF World Cross Country Championships

Amman, Jordan

Saturday 28th March 2009

ETHIOPIA and arch rivals Kenya finished with honours-even as Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam and Florence Jebet Kiplagat respectively sprinted to the men’s and women’s individual titles following dramatic and exciting senior races at the 37th IAAF World Cross Country Championships held over a challenging course in the capital city of Amman in the Gulf State of Jordan.

Ethiopia, however, completed a clean-sweep of titles in the junior races as Ayele Abshero and Genzebe Dibaba completed victories.

In blustery mild conditions over a dusty almost road-like track surrounding the Bisharat golf course on the outskirts of Amman, a venue that more favoured the track specialists, Kenya’s Florence Kiplagat produced a track sprint finish over the firm ground to claim a surprise victory in the senior women’s 8km race ahead of long-time leader and compatriot Linet Masai.

The long-legged Masai looked to have the gold medal already around her neck as she strode clear of the field, however, the 19-year-old struggled on the long killer hill up to the finish allowing the resurgent Kiplagat, the bronze medalist in 2007, to sprint past to take the title in a time of 26mins 13secs to lead Kenya to team gold with Masai having to settle for second in 26:16 with Ethiopia’s Meselech Melkamu taking third in 26:19.

Kiplagat commented afterwards: “I would like to thank God,” she said. “Kenya has not won since 1994, we are determined to perform at the same level as Kenyan men.”

Kenya's victory broke Ethiopia’s seven-year winning streak in the team competition as Great Britain finished in 9th place overall led by three-time junior European cross-country champion Steph Twell (Aldershot, Farnham & District) who suffered over the final stages to secure a disappointing 38th place after falling off the leading group following the early stages clocking 28:46.

Twell was followed home by fellow Beijing Olympian Hatti Dean (Sheffield Hallamshire) in 49th place with 29:05, Jane Potter (Charnwood AC) on her senior debut in 51st with 29:04, mountain-running specialist Sarah Tunstall (Kendal AC) 55th in 29:07 and Leicestershire’s Hannah Whitmore (Charnwood AC) also gaining her first senior vest in 58th with 29:19.

Late replacement Sonia Samuels (Loughborough Students), short of preparation struggled with the conditions and failed to finish dropping out after three laps. Great Britain had targeted a top six finish in the team competition but it was Portugal who went home with the prize of first European nation.

In the men's senior 12km race Ethopia's Gebre Gebremariam collected his country's third gold medal of the afternoon after both junior races were also won by the powerful Ethiopian's.

Gebremariam bided his time in the leading pack of six athletes to produce a storming sprint finish destroying the field to secure the title in a time of 35:02 taking victory by a margin of just two seconds ahead of Uganda's Moses Kipsiro, as the 2007 champion Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea, preparing for his debut in next months Flora London Marathon, claimed the bronze medal.

Great Britain in the absence of reigning European champion Mo Farah, preferring to run indoors this season to great effect winning the 3,000m title in Turin, faded to 14th place overall with Frank Tickner the highest placed athlete in 74th position in 37:58. The Wells City Harrier was followed by Andy Vernon (Aldershot, Farnham & District) 78th in 38:04, Phil Nicholls (Tipton Harriers) 86th in 38:15, Mike Skinner (Blackheath & Bromley AC) 87th in 38:22, Lee Merrien (Newham & Essex Beagles) 91st in 38:35 and Keith Gerrard (Newham & Essex Beagles) 96th in 39:03.

In the women's junior 6km race, the highly impressive 17-year-old Genzebe Dibaba, younger sister of five-time Olympic champion Tirnuesh, claimed gold to successfully defend her title crossing the line in a time of 20:14. Kenya won the team competition.

“I am extremely happy I won, even though Tirunesh was not here,’’ she said after the race, “I’m happier even than last year, because this year’s race was extremely difficult.”

Great Britain's Lauren Howarth (Leigh Harriers) and Charlotte Purdue (Aldershot, Farnham & District) produced fine performances to secure top-twenty finishes in 13th and 14th respectively with times of 21:14 and 21:23 leading the team to a fine fourth place overall and top European nation. They were backed by compatriots Kate Avery (Shildon Running) 25th in 21:53, Lily Partridge (Aldershot, Farnham & District) 30th in 22:10, Louise Small (Aldershot, Farnham & District) 33rd in 22:13 and Laura Park (Ellenborough AC) 75th in 23:45.

In the men's junior 8km race Ethiopia’s Ayele Abshero went one better than at the Worlds in Edinburgh last year - where he won silver - this time claiming gold in a time of 23:26, Kenyan Titus Mbishei was second as Uganda Moses Tibet won a sprint finish for third.

Great Britain's highest placed athlete was Tom Farrell (Border Harriers) in 58th place with a time of 26:13 as the team slipped to 15th place overall when Nick Goolab (Belgrave Harriers) and Simon Horsfield (East Cheshire Harriers and Tameside AC) failed to finish. Team GB’s other scoring runners were Ronnie Sparke (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies) 83rd in 26:59, James Wilkinson (Leeds City AC) 85th in 27:04 and Jonathan Hay (Aldershot, Farnham & District) in 90th with 27:17.

UKA National Endurance Coach and Team Leader Ian Stewart reflecting on Great Britain’s performances commented: “We are where we are. I think that our junior women ran really well and the junior men were mostly disappointing. You can’t fault our senior men for lack of trying, but I think we have got to work on getting their track times down before they can really challenge.



“As for the senior women, it was a hard lesson for Steph to learn, but she lives to fight another day and I’m sure she will come back stronger in the future. The course today was hard and fast. Really, it was like a 10,000m track race with a hill in the middle. 



“I think we have to look again at the way we prepare and select for this event. Every now and then you get a World Cross ran on a traditional English-style cross-country course, but very rarely. They are nearly always flat and fast and they are always fast. So we need to look at developing our speed on the track first and foremost, but nothing is insurmountable.”

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full Results:
Junior Women (6km)
1-Genzebe Dibaba- ETH-20:14-+0:00;2-Mercy Cherono- KEN-20:17-+0:03;3-Jackline Chepngeno- KEN-20:27-+0:13;4-Frehiwat Goshu- ETH-20:34-+0:20;5-Nelly Chebet Ngeiywo- KEN-20:36-+0:22;6-Sule Utura- ETH-20:38-+0:24;7-Emebet Anteneh- ETH-20:42-+0:28;8-Hilda Chepkemoi Tanui- KEN-20:49-+0:35;9-Meseret Mengistu- ETH-20:52-+0:38;10-Jackline Chebii- KEN-21:01-+0:47;11-Emily Brichacek- AUS-21:02-+0:48;12-Tsega Gelaw- ETH-21:11-+0:57;13-Lauren Howarth- GBR-21:14-+1:00;14-Charlotte Purdue- GBR-21:23-+1:09;15-Gladys Jerotich Kibiwot- BRN-21:25-+1:11;16-Delvine Relin Meringor- KEN-21:27-+1:13;17-Nanaka Izawa- JPN-21:27-+1:13;18-Erika Ikeda- JPN-21:30-+1:16;19-Neely Spence- USA-21:33-+1:19;20-Asami Kato- JPN-21:33-+1:19;21-Aki Otagiri- JPN-21:40-+1:26;22-Chitose Shibata- JPN-21:47-+1:33;23-Tejitu Daba- BRN-21:47-+1:33;24-Shitaye Eshete- BRN-21:50-+1:36;25-Kate Avery- GBR-21:53-+1:39;26-Ashley Brasovan- USA-21:55-+1:41;27-Clémence Calvin- FRA-22:01-+1:47;28-Tsige Gebrebrhan- ERI-22:02-+1:48;29-Helen Hayelom- ERI-22:07-+1:53;30-Lillian Partridge- GBR-22:10-+1:56;31-Chloe Tighe- AUS-22:11-+1:57;32-Baoqin Bai- CHN-22:11-+1:57;33-Louise Small- GBR-22:13-+1:59;34-Alexandra Dunne- USA-22:15-+2:01;35-Nicki Maria McFadzien- NZL-22:15-+2:01;36-Emi Kameyama- JPN-22:15-+2:01;37-Elena Sedova- RUS-22:17-+2:03;38-Maxine Heine-Wacker- RSA-22:24-+2:10;39-Francine Nibaruta- BDI-22:25-+2:11;40-Tatiana Prorokova- RUS-22:26-+2:12;41-Chelsea Graham- CAN-22:29-+2:15;42-Valeria Roffino- ITA-22:30-+2:16;43-Emily Pritt- USA-22:31-+2:17;44-Anna Catharina Gildenhuys- RSA-22:32-+2:18;45-Kedish Tesfay- ERI-22:33-+2:19;46-Jana van Wabeke- BEL-22:35-+2:21;47-Hollie Emery- AUS-22:39-+2:25;48-Marina Petrova- RUS-22:40-+2:26;49-Caroline Pfister- CAN-22:42-+2:28;50-Narjes Issaoui- TUN-22:44-+2:30;51-Tiegssti Negassi- ERI-22:44-+2:30;52-Daniela Cunha- POR-22:44-+2:30;53-Liudmila Lebedeva- RUS-22:44-+2:30;54-Aleksandra Kudryashova- RUS-22:47-+2:33;55-Jeanne d'Arc Mukakigeli- RWA-22:50-+2:36;56-Charo Inga- PER-22:52-+2:38;57-Adeline Musabyimana- RWA-22:53-+2:39;58-Hadda Souadia- ALG-22:54-+2:40;59-Safa Jammeli- TUN-22:55-+2:41;60-Embeitey Belay- ERI-22:58-+2:44;61-Fatima-Zahra Ouhrisse- MAR-23:03-+2:49;62-Lucia Coli- ITA-23:06-+2:52;63-Sandra Mosquera- ESP-23:08-+2:54;64-Sara Vaughn- USA-23:09-+2:55;65-Tamara Carvolth- AUS-23:14-+3:00;66-Hafida Benjilali- MAR-23:16-+3:02;67-Nawal Yahi- ALG-23:19-+3:05;68-Habiba Hammam- MAR-23:22-+3:08;69-Fatima Ouezzani- MAR-23:23-+3:09;70-Stephanie Aldea- CAN-23:25-+3:11;71-Nabila Sifi- ALG-23:27-+3:13;72-Nandipha Dywili- RSA-23:37-+3:23;73-Estefanía Tobal- ESP-23:39-+3:25;74-Tamara Jewett- CAN-23:42-+3:2875-Laura Park- GBR-23:45-+3:31;76-Ashleigh Schnettler- RSA-23:49-+3:35;77-Yamna Ambarki- MAR-23:53-+3:39;78-Hayat Amri- MAR-23:57-+3:4379-Letitia Saayman- RSA-24:09-+3:55;80-Bénisse Inamahoro- BDI-24:10-+3:56;81-Elena Gerasimova- RUS-24:17-+4:03;82-Tania Carretero- ESP-24:20-+4:06;83-Zinhle Sinqe- RSA-24:27-+4:13;84-Ala'Ziad Khalifah- JOR-24:32-+4:18;85-Marwa Nasri- TUN-24:58-+4:44;86-Nabila Chaib Draa- ALG-25:00-+4:46;87-Hassiba Bioudi- ALG-25:10-+4:56;88-Naïma Bakaddour- ALG-25:19-+5:05;89-Amira Saghraoui- TUN-25:28-+5:14;90-Katarzyna Broniatowska- POL-25:53-+5:39;91-Rasha Ayoub- JOR-26:13-+5:59;92-Ghurour Aldeghemat- JOR-26:20-+6:06;93-Nahida Albawwat- JOR-27:02-+6:48;94-Naama Barka- LBA-28:48-+8:34;-Justine Johnson- CAN-DNF-.-Geneviève Lalonde- CAN-DNF-.-Esra'a Ikhlawi- JOR-DNF-.-Faten Nemrawy- JOR-DNF-.-Nazret Weldu- ERI-DNS-
Teams:
1- Ethiopia-18-2- Kenya-18-3- Japan-76-4- Great Britain & N.I.-82-5- United States-122-6- Eritrea-153-7- Australia-154-8- Russia-178-9- South Africa-230-10- Canada-234-11- Morocco-264-12- Algeria-282-13- Tunisia-283-14- Jordan-360
Junior Men (8km)
1-Ayele Abshero- ETH-23:26-+0:00;2-Titus Kipjumba Mbishei- KEN-23:30-+0:04;3-Moses Kibet- UGA-23:35-+0:09;4-Paul Kipngetich Tanui- KEN-23:35-+0:09;5-Japheth Kipyegon Korir- KEN-23:36-+0:10;6-Atalay Yirsaw- ETH-23:38-+0:12;7-Gashaw Biftu- ETH-23:44-+0:18;8-Debebe Woldsenbet- ETH-23:52-+0:26;9-John Kipkoech- KEN-24:00-+0:34;10-John Kemboi Cheruiyot- KEN-24:08-+0:42;11-German Fernandez- USA-24:13-+0:47;12-Dieudonné Nsengiyuma- BDI-24:16-+0:50;13-Charles Kibet Chepkurui- KEN-24:17-+0:51;14-Goitom Kifle- ERI-24:18-+0:52;15-Chris Derrick- USA-24:20-+0:54;16-Legese Lamiso- ETH-24:20-+0:54;17-Dickson Huru- UGA-24:21-+0:55;18-Mulue Andom- ERI-24:23-+0:57;19-Nassir Dawud- ERI-24:32-+1:06;20-Youssef Nasir- MAR-24:33-+1:07;21-Merhawi Tadesse- ERI-24:34-+1:08;22-Olivier Iradukunda- BDI-24:35-+1:09;23-Zicheng Li- CHN-24:38-+1:12;24-Ryan Gregson- AUS-24:40-+1:14;25-Timothy Toroitich- UGA-24:43-+1:17;26-Alemu Bekele- BRN-24:44-+1:18;27-Akinobu Murasawa- JPN-24:46-+1:20;28-Edwin Chebii Kimurer- BRN-24:49-+1:23;29-Harry Summers- AUS-24:52-+1:26;30-Luke Puskedra- USA-24:53-+1:27;31-Adil Rached- MAR-24:54-+1:28;32-Yetwale Kende- ETH-24:59-+1:33;33-Gebrebrhan Tesfamariam- ERI-25:01-+1:35;34-Abraham Tewelde- ERI-25:03-+1:37;35-Adam Haroon- SUD-25:08-+1:42;36-Richard Everest- AUS-25:16-+1:50;37-Bernard Kibekei Cheptoch- UGA-25:19-+1:53;38-Ronald Kiprotich- UGA-25:19-+1:53;39-Sylvain Nyandwi- BDI-25:25-+1:59;40-Wataru Ueno- JPN-25:30-+2:04;41-Isaac Kemboi Chelimo- BRN-25:31-+2:05;42-Shota Hattori- JPN-25:32-+2:06;43-Azzeddine Feraoun- MAR-25:32-+2:06;44-Kazuto Nishiike- JPN-25:39-+2:13;45-Kenta Chiba- JPN-25:44-+2:18;46-Brett Robinson- AUS-25:47-+2:21;47-Mfumaneko Fadane- RSA-25:51-+2:25;48-Patrick Dupont- USA-25:52-+2:26;49-Hicham Sigueni- MAR-25:56-+2:30;50-Andrey Dmitriev- RUS-25:58-+2:32;51-El Mahjoub Dazza- MAR-25:58-+2:32;52-Ryan Hill- USA-26:04-+2:38;53-Joel Mmone- RSA-26:05-+2:39;54-Yahya El Mekkaoui- MAR-26:06-+2:40;55-Mario Mola- ESP-26:09-+2:43;56-Nyjal Majock- CAN-26:12-+2:46;57-Mohammed Ahmed- CAN-26:13-+2:47;58-Tom Farrell- GBR-26:13-+2:47;59-Ameur Maouni- ALG-26:13-+2:47;60-Moussa Ziane- ALG-26:15-+2:49;61-Éderson Pereira- BRA-26:17-+2:51;62-Francisco Medrano- USA-26:18-+2:52;63-Boubakar El Seddik Becharef- ALG-26:19-+2:53;64-Hassan Ismail- SUD-26:22-+2:56;65-Sityhilo Diko- RSA-26:24-+2:58;66-Diaaeldin Hassan Ahmed- SUD-26:30-+3:04;67-Antonio Abadía- ESP-26:30-+3:04;68-Antonio Guzzi- ITA-26:31-+3:05;69-David Ricketts- AUS-26:32-+3:06;70-Sami Lafi- ALG-26:32-+3:06;71-Dario Santoro- ITA-26:33-+3:07;72-Folavia Sehohle- RSA-26:36-+3:10;73-Yutaro Fukushi- JPN-26:38-+3:12;74-Sondre Nordstad Moen- NOR-26:39-+3:13;75-Vincent Boucena- FRA-26:42-+3:16;76-Mohammed El Amin Cheouaf- ALG-26:43-+3:17;77-José Costa- POR-26:43-+3:17;78-Aitor Fernández- ESP-26:46-+3:20;79-Adam Abdelmunaim- SUD-26:48-+3:22;80-Aleksandr Kuternin- CAN-26:52-+3:26;81-Nabil Mohammed Al-Garbi- YEM-26:55-+3:29;82-Martín Ortiz- ESP-26:58-+3:32;83-Ronnie Sparke- GBR-26:59-+3:33;84-Mohamed Saad- TUN-27:03-+3:37;85-James Wilkinson- GBR-27:04-+3:38;86-Joshua Johnson- AUS-27:08-+3:42;87-Ali Mohammed Al-Khawlani- YEM-27:08-+3:42;88-Simon Denissel- FRA-27:14-+3:48;89-Windy Jonas- RSA-27:17-+3:51;90-Jonathan Hay- GBR-27:17-+3:51;91-John Paul Malette- CAN-27:18-+3:52;92-Hamid Abdelghani- SUD-27:19-+3:53;93-James Leakos- CAN-27:20-+3:54;94-Valdison Silva- BRA-27:25-+3:59;95-Jaime Villa- ESP-27:27-+4:01;96-Waleed Saleh Elayah- YEM-27:30-+4:04;97-Mubarak Musa- SUD-27:32-+4:06;98-Vuyisile Tshoba- RSA-27:37-+4:11;99-Mattias Wolter- CAN-27:39-+4:13;100-Anselme Manirazika- BDI-27:42-+4:16;101-Ali Hussein Al-Abidi- YEM-27:49-+4:23;102-Anes Traikia- ALG-28:03-+4:37;103-Salameh Al-Hayawi- JOR-28:04-+4:38;104-Maamoun Bali- PLE-28:20-+4:54;105-Waleed Mohammed Al-Abidi- YEM-28:29-+5:03;106-Hamza Barhumah- JOR-28:31-+5:05;107-Fares Hassan- LBA-28:42-+5:16;108-Yazan Abunaja- JOR-28:53-+5:27;109-Ra'ed Abumharab- JOR-29:00-+5:34;110-Motasem Akkawi- JOR-29:26-+6:00;111-Omar Mourad- KUW-30:59-+7:33;112-Abdullateef Al Rweih- KUW-31:31-+8:05;113-Pierre-Célestin Nihorimbere- BDI-31:54-+8:28;114-Mohamad Nodum- KUW-32:01-+8:35;115-Manea Alajmi- KUW-33:16-+9:50;116-Hamad Salem- KUW-33:39-+10:13;117-Abdullah Rabeaa- KUW-34:02-+10:36;-Nick Goolab- GBR-DNF-.-Simon Horsfield- GBR-DNF-.-Hasan Al-Najjar- JOR-DNF-.-Bilel Aloui- TUN-DNF-
Teams:
1- Kenya-20-2- Ethiopia-22-3- Eritrea-72-4- Uganda-82-5- United States-104-6- Australia-135-7- Morocco-143-8- Japan-153-9- Burundi-173-10- South Africa-237-11- Sudan-244-12- Algeria-252-13- Spain-282-14- Canada-284-15- Great Britain & N.I.-316-16- Republic of Yemen-365-17- Jordan-426-18- Kuwait-452
Senior Women (8km)
1-Florence Jebet Kiplagat- KEN-26:13-+0:00;2-Linet Chepkwemoi Masai- KEN-26:16-+0:03;3-Meselech Melkamu- ETH-26:19-+0:06;4-Lineth Chepkurui- KEN-26:23-+0:10;5-Wude Ayalew- ETH-26:23-+0:10;6-Hilda Kibet- NED-26:43-+0:30;7-Ann Karindi Mwangi- KEN-26:49-+0:36;8-Gelete Burka- ETH-26:58-+0:45;9-Maryam Yusuf Jamal- BRN-27:00-+0:47;10-Iness Chepkesis Chenonge- KEN-27:00-+0:47;11-Pauline Chemning Korikwiang- KEN-27:03-+0:5012-Deska Mamitu- ETH-27:04-+0:51;13-Kimberley Smith- NZL-27:05-+0:52;14-Sentayehu Ejigu- ETH-27:40-+1:27;15-Ana Dulce Félix- POR-27:42-+1:29;16-Sara Moreira- POR-27:54-+1:41;17-Lisa Jane Weightman- AUS-27:59-+1:46;18-Yuko Shimizu- JPN-28:02-+1:49;19-Ana Dias- POR-28:05-+1:52;20-Judith Plá- ESP-28:08-+1:55;21-Julie Culley- USA-28:08-+1:55;22-Analía Rosa- POR-28:10-+1:57;23-Siham Hilali- MAR-28:14-+2:01;24-Alessandra Aguilar- ESP-28:18-+2:05;25-Sarah Ramadhan- TAN-28:18-+2:05;26-Lara Tamsett- AUS-28:19-+2:06;27-Bouchra Chaabi- MAR-28:19-+2:06;28-Mimi Belete- BRN-28:21-+2:08;29-Lebogang Phalula- RSA-28:23-+2:10;30-Koren Jelela- ETH-28:29-+2:16;31-Diana Martín- ESP-28:31-+2:18;32-Kenza Dahmani- ALG-28:33-+2:20;33-Delilah Di Crescenzo- USA-28:34-+2:21;34-Salima El Ouali Alami- MAR-28:35-+2:22;35-Élodie Olivarès- FRA-28:37-+2:24;36-Rebecca Donaghue- USA-28:37-+2:24;37-Catherine Cormier- CAN-28:41-+2:28;38-Stephanie Twell- GBR-28:46-+2:33;39-Dina Lebo Phalula- RSA-28:46-+2:33;40-Kathy Newberry- USA-28:50-+2:37;41-Habiba Ghribi- TUN-28:50-+2:37;;42-Jacqueline Martín- ESP-28:51-+2:38;43-Yeisy Álvarez- VEN-28:51-+2:38;44-Yingying Zhu- CHN-28:53-+2:40;45-Kazuka Wakatsuki- JPN-28:54-+2:41;46-Maria Laghrissi- MAR-28:55-+2:42;47-Federica Dal Ri- ITA-28:55-+2:42;48-Korei Omata- JPN-28:56-+2:43;49-Hatti Dean- GBR-29:00-+2:47;50-Agnes Chikwakwa- MAW-29:03-+2:50;51-Jane Potter- GBR-29:04-+2:51;52-Melinda Vernon- AUS-29:04-+2:51;53-Claudette Mukasakindi- RWA-29:05-+2:52;54-Chisa Nishio- JPN-29:05-+2:52;55-Sarah Tunstall- GBR-29:07-+2:54;56-Johanna Hermiena van Schalkwyk- RSA-29:07-+2:54;57-Victoria Poludina- KGZ-29:16-+3:03;58-Hannah Whitmore- GBR-29:19-+3:06;59-Erin Densham- AUS-29:23-+3:10;60-Xiaoqin Dong- CHN-29:23-+3:10;61-Konstadína Kefalá- GRE-29:29-+3:16;62-Elsa Medhane- ERI-29:30-+3:17;63-Letekidan Gebreyohannes- ERI-29:33-+3:20;64-Elisabete Lopes- POR-29:36-+3:23;65-Linda Byrne- IRL-29:36-+3:23;66-Sueli Silva- BRA-29:38-+3:25;67-Chantell Widney- CAN-29:45-+3:32;68-Yuki Numata- JPN-29:48-+3:35;69-Samia Akbar- USA-29:51-+3:38;70-Eden Tesfalem- ERI-29:55-+3:42;71-Ezgamen Kahsay- ERI-30:04-+3:51;72-Tomoka Inadomi- JPN-30:07-+3:54;73-Rosângela Faria- BRA-30:18-+4:05;74-Tebogo Masehla- RSA-30:24-+4:11;75-Lindsey Scherf- USA-30:27-+4:14;76-Chantelle Wilder- CAN-30:42-+4:29;77-Jackline Sakilu- TAN-30:44-+4:31;78-Myrette Filmalter- RSA-30:57-+4:44;79-Yirgalem Gebrekidan Beraki- ERI-31:10-+4:57;80-Tara Palm- AUS-31:23-+5:10;81-Marilyn Arsenault- CAN-31:37-+5:24;82-Adriana Aparecida da Silva- BRA-31:40-+5:27;83-Mariola Konowalska- POL-32:00-+5:47;84-Asha Abdalla Khatib- TAN-33:17-+7:04;85-Giuli Dekanadze- GEO-33:18-+7:05;86-Rehab Mohammad Ahmad- EGY-36:14-+10:01;87-Nadima Mirzoeva- TJK-38:00-+11:47;88-Nagah Zenatni- LBA-38:50-+12:37;-Rachelle Malette- CAN-DNF-.-Cristina Jordán- ESP-DNF-.-Annemari Sandell-Hyrvärinen- FIN-DNF-.-Sonia Samuels- GBR-DNF-.-Laila Hmatou- MAR-DNF-.-Hanane Ouhaddou- MAR-DNF-.-Inês Monteiro- POR-DNF-.-Safa Aissaoui- TUN-DNF-.-Zakia Mrisho Mohamed- TAN-DNS-.
Teams:
1- Kenya-14-2- Ethiopia-28-3- Portugal-72-4- Spain-117-5- United States-130-6- Morocco-130-7- Australia-154-8- Japan-165-9- Great Britain & N.I.-193-10- South Africa-198-11- Canada-261-12- Eritrea-266
Senior Men (12km)
1-Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam- ETH-35:02-+0:00;2-Moses Ndiema Kipsiro- UGA-35:04-+0:02;3-Zersenay Tadese- ERI-35:04-+0:02;4-Leonard Patrick Komon- KEN-35:05-+0:03;5-Habtamu Fikadu- ETH-35:06-+0:04;6-Mathew Kipkoech Kisorio- KEN-35:08-+0:06;7-Mark Kosgey Kiptoo- KEN-35:11-+0:09;8-Chakir Boujattaoui- MAR-35:12-+0:10;9-Teklemariam Medhin- ERI-35:14-+0:12;10-Hunegnaw Mesfin- ETH-35:16-+0:14;11-Moses Cheruiyot Mosop- KEN-35:17-+0:15;12-Feyisa Lilesa- ETH-35:22-+0:20;13-Saif Saaeed Shaheen- QAT-35:28-+0:26;14-Mangata Kimai Ndiwa- KEN-35:32-+0:30;15-Dino Sefir- ETH-35:49-+0:47;16-Samuel Tsegay- ERI-35:51-+0:49;17-Tadese Tola- ETH-35:52-+0:50;18-Ahmad Hassan Abdullah- QAT-36:04-+1:02;19-Geofrey Kusuro- UGA-36:07-+1:05;20-Felix Kikwai Kibore- QAT-36:14-+1:12;21-Nicholas Kiprono- UGA-36:16-+1:14;22-Samson Kiflemariam- ERI-36:20-+1:18;23-Stephen Kiprotich- UGA-36:23-+1:21;24-Issak Sibhatu- ERI-36:25-+1:23;25-Linus Kipwambok Chumba- KEN-36:29-+1:27;26-Carles Castillejo- ESP-36:30-+1:28;27-Ahmed Baday- MAR-36:35-+1:33;28-Gamal Belal Salem- QAT-36:37-+1:35;29-Collis Birmingham- AUS-36:38-+1:36;30-Ayad Lamdassem- ESP-36:39-+1:37;31-Alemayehu Bezabeh- ESP-36:41-+1:39;32-Stephen Mokoka- RSA-36:47-+1:45;33-Ryan Vail- USA-36:54-+1:52;34-Brahim Beloua- MAR-36:55-+1:53;35-Khoudir Aggoune- ALG-36:55-+1:53;36-Michael Shelley- AUS-36:58-+1:56;37-Robert Curtis- USA-37:00-+1:58;38-Mouhssin Moubssit- MAR-37:02-+2:00;39-Faustin Musa- TAN-37:03-+2:01;40-Max King- USA-37:05-+2:03;41-Moorosi Soke- RSA-37:05-+2:03;42-Gervais Hakizimana- RWA-37:07-+2:05;43-Ben Siwa- UGA-37:07-+2:05;44-Felix Ntirenganya- RWA-37:07-+2:05;45-José Rocha- POR-37:09-+2:07;46-Mourad Marofit- MAR-37:10-+2:08;47-Suehiro Ishikawa- JPN-37:11-+2:09;48-Jean Baptiste Simukeka- RWA-37:17-+2:15;49-Javier Carriqueo- ARG-37:20-+2:18;50-Jeffrey Gwebu- RSA-37:21-+2:19;51-Tshamano Setone- RSA-37:27-+2:25;52-Sylvain Rukundo- RWA-37:29-+2:27;53-Francisco Javier López- ESP-37:31-+2:29;54-Hussain Jamaan Alhamdah- KSA-37:32-+2:30;55-Essa Ismail Rashed- QAT-37:36-+2:34;56-Kidane Tadasse- ERI-37:37-+2:35;57-Elisante William- TAN-37:38-+2:36;58-Edwardo Torres- USA-37:38-+2:36;59-Seigo Ikegami- JPN-37:38-+2:36;60-Ed Moran- USA-37:42-+2:40;61-Gabriele De Nard- ITA-37:43-+2:41;62-José Luis Blanco- ESP-37:44-+2:42;63-Morhad Amdouni- FRA-37:45-+2:43;64-Hiroyoshi Umegae- JPN-37:47-+2:45;65-Adilson Dolberth- BRA-37:48-+2:46;66-Tonny Wamulwa- ZAM-37:49-+2:47;67-Manuel Ángel Penas- ESP-37:49-+2:47;68-Mark Kenneally- IRL-37:50-+2:48;69-Liam Adams- AUS-37:50-+2:48;70-Suliman Alghodran- JOR-37:55-+2:53;71-Chauncy Master- MAW-37:57-+2:55;72-Licinio Pimentel- POR-37:57-+2:55;73-El-Mokhtar Benhari- FRA-37:57-+2:55;74-Frank Tickner- GBR-37:58-+2:56;75-Brett Gotcher- USA-38:01-+2:59;76-Naoki Okamoto- JPN-38:02-+3:00;77-Ihar Tsetserukou- BLR-38:04-+3:02;78-Andrew Vernon- GBR-38:04-+3:02;79-Eduardo Mbengani- POR-38:05-+3:03;80-James Kibet- UGA-38:06-+3:04;81-Benjamin Malaty- FRA38:08-+3:06;82-Eric Sebahire- RWA-38:11-+3:09;83-Manuel Damião- POR-38:11-+3:09;84-Claudir Rodrigues- BRA-38:13-+3:11;85-Peter Sulle- TAN-38:13-+3:11;86-Philip Nicholls- GBR-38:15-+3:13;87-Michael Skinner- GBR-88-Tao Cheng- CHN-38:29-+3:27;89-Methkal Abu Drais- JOR-38:30-+3:28;90-Denis Mayaud- FRA-38:33-+3:31;91-Lee Merrien- GBR-38:35-+3:33;92-Sérgio da Silva- BRA-38:40-+3:38;93-Musa Amer Obaid- QAT-38:42-+3:40;94-Makoto Fukui- JPN-38:43-+3:41;95-Sibusiso Nzima- RSA-39:03-+4:01;96-Keith Gerrard- GBR-39:03-+4:01;97-Miguel Barzola- ARG-39:09-+4:07;98-Abdullah Abdulaziz Aljoud- KSA-39:11-+4:09;99-Shepherd Kenatshele- BOT-39:14-+4:12;100-Kaelo Mosalagae- BOT-39:22-+4:20;101-Richard Kalumba- ZAM-39:23-+4:21;102-Yohan Durand- FRA-39:25-+4:23;103-Linos Chintali- ZAM-39:28-+4:26;104-Sebastian Hallmann- GER-39:29-+4:27;105-Saheed Khan- CAN-39:30-+4:28;106-Ayman Al Rubaiat- JOR-39:30-+4:28;107-Kgosi Tsosane- RSA-39:31-+4:29;108-Abdel Fattah Zaki Abdelhalem- EGY-39:34-+4:32;109-Alex Genest- CAN-39:34-+4:32;110-Joël Bourgeois- CAN-39:42-+4:40;111-Sevak Yeghikyan- ARM-39:43-+4:41;112-Ahmed Hassein Hassein- EGY-39:44-+4:42;113-Ramoseka Raobine- BOT-39:54-+4:52;114-Rached Amor- TUN-40:02-+5:00;115-Unaswi Dambe- BOT-40:14-+5:12;116-Xiangqian Lin- CHN-40:15-+5:13;117-Hussein Momani- JOR-40:21-+5:19;118-Hassan Hirt- FRA-40:29-+5:27;119-Sotyvoldy Khaitov- TJK-40:34-+5:32;120-Hamza Al-Madahna- JOR-40:53-+5:51;121-Yovanny Adames- DOM-40:54-+5:52;122-Ahmed Bakry- EGY-41:12-+6:10;123-Khaled Giaeda- LBA-41:24-+6:22;124-Hassan Marzouk Eisa- EGY-41:35-+6:33;125-Mahmood Alrashedi- IRQ-41:38-+6:36;126-Derek Nakluski- CAN-41:40-+6:38;127-Raouf Boubaker- TUN-41:55-+6:53;128-Jeiran Khoperia- GEO-42:02-+7:00;129-Ahmad Alibrahim- SYR-42:17-+7:15;130-Ahmad Aljafal- SYR-42:34-+7:32;131-Qais Salim Al-Mahroqi- OMA-42:40-+7:38;132-Mohammad Moharm Hmadallah- EGY-42:44-+7:42;133-Antoine Simon Labiche- SEY-42:50-+7:48;134-Noori Al-Darraji- IRQ-43:05-+8:03;135-Samir Pashayev- AZE-43:16-+8:14;136-Ali Salih- IRQ-43:27-+8:25;137-Abdulzahra Al-Mohammedawi- IRQ-44:29-+9:27;-Gladson Barbosa- BRA-DNF-.-Daniel da Silva- BRA-DNF-.-Bashar Mahmoud Irheil Al-Kufrini- JOR-DNF-.-Abdelrhani El Aouad- MAR-DNF-.-Abdel Naser Mohd. Awajna- PLE-DNF-.-Hélder Ornelas- POR-DNF-.-Rui Pedro Silva- POR-DNF-.-Marvin Blanco- VEN-DNF-.-Ezekiel Jafari Ngimba- TAN-DNS-.-Samwel Shauri- TAN-DNS-.-Jonathan Chinyoka- ZIM-DNS-.-Wirimai Juwawo- ZIM-DNS-.-Oliver Kandiero- ZIM-DNS-.-Cuthbert Nyasango- ZIM-DNS-.-Elmore Sibanda- ZIM-DNS-.-Nkosiyazi Sibanda- ZIM-DNS-
Teams:
1- Kenya-28-2- Ethiopia-28-3- Eritrea-50-4- Uganda-65-5- Qatar-79-6- Morocco-107-7- Spain-140-8- United States-168-9- South Africa-174-10- Rwanda-186-11- Japan-246-12- Portugal-279-13- France-307-14- Great Britain & N.I.-325-15- Jordan-382-16- Botswana-427-17- Canada-450-18- Egypt-466-19- Iraq-532

www.amman2009.com

2009 British & Irish Masters Cross Country Championships

Ruthin, Denbighshire

Saturday 21st March 2009

TARA KRZYWICKI made an immediate impact on her debut as a Vet35 by storming to victory at the 2009 British & Irish Masters Cross Country Championships held in dry breezy conditions in the North Wales town of Ruthin in Denbighshire.

In the dry breezy conditions with conditions good under foot, Krzywicki, the former United Kingdom 3,000m Steeplechase record-holder representing Charnwood AC, was simply a class apart producing a superb gun-to-tape victory over the 6km course surrounding Ruthin school finishing 30-seconds clear of Bingley Harrier Sarah Jarvis in a time of 21mins 48secs.

There was further success for Leicestershire athletes as World Masters half marathon champion Nicki Nealon won a surprise gold to retain her Vet40 title finishing in fourth place overall in 23:15. This was a remarkable return to form for the Huncote Harrier, who won the title outright in 2008, following her recent operations.

The team title went to Bingley Harriers who pushed Charnwood into second position by a margin of just three-seconds. Midlands Masters champion Clare McKittrick in 8th place with 23:29 and Nicki Thompson in 27th in 25:57 completed the Loughborough's squads line-up.

Above photo by Jeremy Hemming

Full results are available on the following link: www.bvaf.org.uk/results/res2009/Race1-Individual.html

2008/09 McCain UK Cross Challenge Series

(incorp. Inter-Counties Championships & IAAF World Trials)

Wollaton Park, Nottingham

Saturday 7th March 2009

STEPH TWELL completed a fabulous clean-sweep of victories of this seasons McCain UK Cross Challenge series with a stunning solo exhibition run to win by a country mile ahead of her domestic rivals to cement her place in the Great Britain team for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships that take place in Amman, the capital city of the Gulf State of Jordan on March 28th.

Twell, the 19-year-old three-time junior European champion representing Hampshire stepped up to senior level for the first time with consummate ease taking victory having broken clear after 2km to cross the line in a time of 28mins 17secs over a challenging course in the perfect conditions of Nottingham’s Wollaton Park.

This competes the full set of UK Cross Challenge victories for the Aldershot, Farnham & District athlete, having won in Gateshead, Liverpool and Antrim over the winter.

A delighted Twell commented afterwards: “I thought it was a fantastic race, I felt strong throughout relaxed front-running a great stepping stone towards Jordan, I kept pressing on over the hills to gain those extra seconds."

Looking ahead to the World Championships she said: “I feel really confident, I’ve just got to keep fit and healthy, I don’t want to put a limit on where I want to come, but top-twenty would be nice.”

Kendal’s world mountain-running champion Sarah Tunstall claimed a distant second for Cumbria in 28:41 as the Charnwood duo of Jane Potter and a resurgent Hannah Whitmore, showing little signs of the ankle problems that blighted her outdoor season in 2008, produced a battle royal for third to race out for the final guaranteed Team GB slot as Potter representing the hosts Nottinghamshire held her nerve to edge ahead over the line in a time of 28:45.

Potter reflecting on gaining her first senior Team GB call-up said: “This is so nice. It has been hard, but I’ve been lucky to be consistent in my training recently. The only downside is I wish Juliet (her twin sister in 13th) had been closer to me.”

Loughborough graduate Sonia Samuels clocked 28:59 to secure 6th place in 28:59 for the North East with defending champion and fellow university Alumni Laura Kenney 8th in 29:15 representing Warwickshire.

Charnwood internationals Juliet Doyle and Sarah Maude finished 13th and 16th for Nottinghamshire in 29:38 and 29:54 respectively.

However, there maybe a silver lining to Whitmore’s stellar performance for Leicestershire as the selectors could decided to take the 25-year-old, an Under-23 team gold medallist for Great Britain at the 2006 Europeans, for the World Championships on a discretionary place when the squads are announced next week.

Leicestershire finished in 9th place overall in the team standings as Sarah Haines (49th in 31:11), county champion Gemma Steel (55th in 31:25), British Masters international Kate Ramsey (69th in 31:50), Loughborough student Katie Lomas (138th 33:21) and the Midlands Masters champion Clare McKittrick (144th in 33:29) combined with Hannah Whitmore’s excellent fourth place completed the scoring team. Fellow squad members Beverley Gray and Debbie Marsden finished in 169th and 196th positions in 33:58 and 34:50 respectively.

In the Men's Senior 12km race English National champion Frank Tickner was defeated by the British Universities champion Andy Vernon by a margin of three seconds in a time of 37mins 23secs with Lee Merrien taking third in 37:52.

Vernon said afterwards: “I knew it would be closer here than at the national,” he said. “Wollaton Park is a much faster course and more to my liking than Parliament Hill.

“Frank was pushing on over the final stages and I was working hard to stay with him – but I knew he would be trying to do that to get away – I just held on and in the home straight I was able to go for the sprint.”

Former Birmingham & District League champion Mark Powell led the way for Leicestershire in 66th place with a time of 40:24 followed by team scoring Nigel Stirk (110th in 41:37), Peter Swaine (126th in 41:53), Phil Chritchlow (146th in 42:21), Alistair Watson (147th in 42:21) and Jason Williams (171th in 42:51) completing the squad that finished in 17th place overall. Loughborough student Steve Mears finished in 227th place in 44:30.

In the Under-20 men’s 8km race the impressive Nick Goolab representing Middlesex claimed a runaway victory in 25:40 as Leicestershire finished in 16th place overall in the team event led by Josh Norman in 45th place followed by Tom Mahon (79th in 29:14), Michael Brind (118th in 30:23) and Tom Nutt (30:46).

Paul Thompson claimed a hard-fought victory for Warwickshire in the men’s Under-17 6km race clocking a time of 20:31 following a very close finish with Scotland’s Callum Hawkins taking the win by just one second over the line. Leicestershire finished in 19th place overall with the team of Sam Stabler in a fine well-deserved 6th place in 20:50, combined with Lewis Smart (72nd in 22:06), Elliot Hart (122nd in 22:55) and Patrick Radley (128th in 22:52).

A similar story unfolded in the Under-15 boys 4.5km race as Connor Robinson representing Cornwall also claimed the title by a margin of one second out sprinting Suffolk’s Kieron Clements over the line. Jacob Kench led Leicestershire in 31st place in 87th position in 16:29 followed by Steffan Ashman (150th in 16:58), Harry Mullen (171st in 17:05) and Jonathan Monk (180th in 17:09).

In the Under-13 boys 3km race Adam Howard secured victory for Greater Manchester with a time of 12:36 as Xander Tansley continued his fine cross-country season with a top five finish for Leicestershire clocking 12:46 as the county finished in 17th place in the team standings with James Hatton (65th in 13:26), Sam Moore (102nd in 13:40) and Charlie Stevenson (142nd in 13:54) completed the squad.

Lilly Partridge ran a perfect tactical race in taking the junior women’s 6km title ahead of European cross-country silver medallist Charlotte Purdue in a time of 22:55 representing Surrey.

Kettering Harrier Vanessa Rollins was the highest placed athlete for Leicestershire in 62nd place clocking 26:16 as the team finished in 19th place with Amber-Sian Magee (107th in 27:48), Jennifer Warner (119th in 28:05) and Zoe Hawkins (28:29) completing the line-up.

Yorkshire’s Lauren Proctor claimed victory in the Under-17 women’s 5km with a runaway victory in 17:53 as Lucy Crookes secured a fine top-twenty finish in 19th place in 19:34 as Leicestershire also finished in the Top 20 in the team standings with Louisa Monk (102nd in 21:24), Amy Danaher (103rd in 21:26) and Briony Bendle (118th in 21:37).

The outstanding talent Emelia Gorecka, club-mate of Steph Twell at Aldershot, here representing Surrey completed the double of National and Inter-Counties titles with victory in the Under-15 girls 4km race outpacing Cornwall’s Annabel Gummow with a time of 14:22. Freya Vincent in 56th place in 16:16 combined with Megan Fairbrother (71st in 16:27), Tilly Abraham (117th in 17:01) and Lizzie Mellor (17:03) led the Leicestershire squad to a top-twenty place overall.

Leicestershire claimed their highest team finish in Nottingham in the girl’s Under-13 race where Gloucestershire’s Loren Bleaken claimed individual victory over the 3km course with a time of 13mins 31secs as the highly talented Amy Griffiths in 8th place with 13:53 combined with English schools bronze medallist Mari Smith (26th in 14:10), Hannah Cox (60th in 14:53) and Jemima Green (89th in 14:53) led the county to a well-deserved 8th place overall in the team standings.

Report by Mark Woolley - Copyright Athletics-leics.com

Full results are available on the results page: www.athletics-leics.com/results.html

McCain UK Cross Challenge Inter-Counties Championships – Preview

Thursday 5th March 2009

LEICESTERSHIRE & Rutland teams will be chasing podium places at the 2008/09 McCain UK Cross Challenge Inter-Counties Championships that incorporates the IAAF World Cross Country Trials at Nottingham’s Wollaton Park on Saturday 7th March.

The best chance the county have for success in the senior races lies with the women’s squad that will draw on the talents of a remarkable six athletes from the powerhouse club Charnwood AC - no surprise in this selection by team manager Ian Wilson as the Loughborough-based club have dominated the domestic United Kingdom team events this winter with an unprecedented double success winning the Saucony National Relays title in Mansfield back in November, followed by the English crown in the heavy muddy conditions at Parliament Fields two weeks ago.

British internationals Hannah Whitmore and the winner of the UK Cross Challenge title back in Millennium year, Tara Krzywicki, combined with emerging talent Gemma Steel will head the assault on gaining a set of medals for Leicestershire.

Overwhelming favourite for the individual title in Nottingham will be the three-time European junior champion Steph Twell who is looking to complete a clean-sweep of UK Cross Challenge victories this season, having won in Gateshead, Liverpool and Antrim.

Reigning county and British & Irish Masters champion Tim Hartley (Notts AC) will line-up with Mark Powell (OWLS) to spearhead the challenge in the senior men’s event for Leicestershire where national champion Frank Tickner, winner in 2007, and the British Universities title-holder Andy Vernon look the most likely contenders to battle for the individual crown.
Below is a full list of the Leicestershire & Rutland teams with profiles of the senior squads:
Senior Women’s Team:
Hannah Whitmore (Charnwood AC)

Age 25 - One of the most outstanding naturally gifted talents to emerge from Leicestershire athletics in the past decade, an 800/1500m-track specialist with superb cross-country pedigree. Won Under-23 team gold for Great Britain at the 2006 European Championships in Milan and was part of the Kelly Holmes mentoring programme.

Three-time and youngest ever winner of the Leicestershire domestic cross-country title in 2005, the Leicester University graduate, coached by Phil Banning, collected the Midlands title in 2008 - now happily relocated to Surrey with partner and fellow athlete Tim Doran, she has struggled with a long-term ankle injury that curtailed her outdoor campaign last summer, however, having finished 16th in the BUPA Great Edinburgh race in January and secured third place at the Midlands championships Whitmore looks to be on the road to recovery and will spearhead the county challenge in Nottingham.
Tara Krzywicki (Charnwood AC)

Age 34 - Talismanic leader of Charnwood’s glorious golden team successes since the mid-nineties, a former international footballer for Wales turned to athletics whilst at university in Loughborough gaining instant success making use of her natural sporting ability.

The Yorkshire-born athlete won the UK Cross Challenge individual title back in Millennium year and went on to be a pioneer in the steeplechase for women not only in this country but also around the world - breaking the British record and representing Great Britain over the distance at the 2002 European Cup in the searing heat of Annecy. Has recovered successfully from foot surgery in 2008 to win this season’s North Midlands cross country title.
Kate Ramsey (Barrow Runners)

Age 40 - Evergreen and ever-consistent, Ramsey has enjoyed a glittering career at both Senior and Masters level over the past two decades. Successfully dividing her time between life as an international runner and a busy mother of two the Barrow athlete has dominated the Leicestershire domestic scene this winter both over the country and on the road winning the Derby Runner League title.

Represented Team GB alongside superstar Paula Radcliffe at the Chiba Ekiden Relays in 2005, and despite having to compete over recent years with a worn disc in her spine, which has resulted in a change to her training and racing programme under the guidance of coach Roger Francks, Ramsey continues to defy time easily capable of competing successfully with athletes half her age - a terrific role model for any young athlete coming into the sport.
Clare McKittrick (Charnwood AC)

Age 37 - The Charnwood athlete has returned successfully to the sport following the birth of her first child to win the Midlands Masters title in January. An England international whom as with Tara Krzywicki has enjoyed a long and successfully career as part of Charnwood’s many national and regional team relay titles on both the country and road. Produced a stellar performance to win the Charnwood Hiils (Bowline) race at the weekend.
Clare Mensley (Charnwood AC)

Age 20 - Another product of Charnwood’s amazing production line of top female athletes. Currently studying at Birmingham University, Mensley is the reigning Leicestershire 1500m champion. Performed very well for both club and university teams in the domestic road-relay championships and on the American Ivy League Tour last summer. Represented Great Britain at the Marathon for a United Europe back in September in Greece.
Gemma Steel (Charnwood AC)

Age 23 - The ‘new kid on the block’ in county athletics last year, bubbles with enthusiasm and pure natural talent, now having moved to the powerhouse club Charnwood she enjoyed a stellar breakthrough 2008 winning the Leicestershire road league individual title and the Derby Runner Cross Country League championship crown, plus in the Autumn stormed to victory in the Leicester Half Marathon.

In January she collected her first county cross-country title in the cold and frosty conditions of Melton and finished runner-up to Tara Krzywicki in the North Midlands campaign. She runs complete with a natty pair of green and gold spikes to match the Charnwood vest.
Debbie Marsden (Charnwood AC)

Age 31 - Has improved significantly over the past six months with excellent performances and individual victories on both the cross-country and the road. Originally from Kettering the Leicester University graduate athlete came into the sport quite late in life in her mid-twenties compared to her contempories.

This selection could, however, be her only appearance in the colours of Leicestershire at the Inter-Counties as she plans to relocate to the West Country, so will be ineligible from next year. She is also the reigning county 10,000m track champion.
Sarah Haines (Harborough AC)

Age 33 - The Harborough AC athlete won the East Midlands 10km road-racing title at Moulton back in August of last year and is another of the counties most experienced athletes finishing third behind Gemma Steel and Tara Krzywicki at the Leicestershire cross-country championships.
Helen Rollins (Kettering Town Harriers)

Age 20 - Brilliant academically gifted athlete, speaks many languages and currently represents the light blues of Cambridge University. She finished runner-up in the recent varsity cross-country match against arch-rivals Oxford, an event where she triumphed over 5,000m last summer in the track varsity match and also at the Leicestershire county championships.
Reserves:
Beverley Gray (Charnwood AC), Laura Johnson (Charnwood AC), Julie Lamb (OWLS), Katie Lomas (Charnwood AC), Katie North (Charnwood AC), Claire Wilson (Charnwood AC)
Under-20 Team:
Zoe Hawkins (Charnwood AC)
Amber-Sian Magee (Charnwood AC)
Bessie Rollins (Kettering Town Harriers)
Jennifer Warner (Charnwood AC)
Senior Men’s Team:
Tim Hartley (Notts AC)

Age 40 - One of the most successful club athletes to emerge from the sport in Leicestershire over the past decade both on the road and the cross-country. A former footballer, Hartley, moved up to international Masters level last year and made an immediate impact by winning the British & Irish cross-country title in Swansea back in October.

His greatest successes, however, have come on the road with high profile victories at the Experian Robin Hood Marathon and the Silverstone adidas London Half Marathon. Multiple winner of the Leicestershire domestic county championship titles when representing his second claim club Barrow Runners and regained the cross-country crown ahead of rival Mark Powell in January.
Mark Powell (OWLS)

Age 30 - Terrific talent and determined competitor, Powell is the multiple holder of Leicestershire titles on both the road, track and cross-country underlining his versatility. His finest performance came at the Birmingham Cross Country League in 2008 when he won the overall individual title in what is regarded by many as the toughest domestic campaign in the United Kingdom taking on the best of the British universities talent and prevailing with a set of top performances.

Spearheads coach Wayne Walkers ‘Band of Brothers’ at the OWLS and will line-up alongside Hartley as one of the counties leading athletes in Nottingham. Finished runner-up to British international Olympic triathlete Will Clarke at the recent Charnwood Hills race.
Paul Miles (OWLS)

Age 24 - Track specialist and Leicestershire county 1500m champion with an impressive lifetime best of 3:41.63. As with club mate Rory Fraser he is a graduate of the Leeds Metropolitan University.

Miles has struggled over the past couple of years with injury and form, but looks to be firmly on the road to recovery having produced a solid set of results on the track in the outdoor campaign in 2008 at the (BMC) British Milers meetings including a fine victory over the metric mile at the Stretford Grand Prix in Manchester.

Won the (BUSA) British short course cross-country championships title back in 2005 and finished third at the Leicestershire county championships in January. His best performances, however, have been reserved for the track where in 2006 he made the final of 1500m at the AAA championships in Manchester.
Nigel Stirk (Tipton Harriers)

Age 36 - Very experienced athlete who represents the powerhouse Birmingham club of Tipton Harriers – works for Nottinghamshire Fire Service by profession and finished third in the 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2008 World Firefighter Games in Liverpool.

Winner of the overall title in the East Midlands Road Running Grand Prix last summer and made a superb debut over the marathon distance in Florence at the end of November - clocking a time of 2:30.15 to claim 14th place overall. Won the UK Fire & Rescue cross-country title in the autumn.
Peter Swaine (Harborough AC)

Age 30 - Finished fourth at the county championships in January and represented Leicestershire last year at the Inter-Counties in Nottingham. A very consistent athlete for his club Harborough, won the Bluecoat 10km at Wollaton Park last summer so is well acquainted with the venue. Ran well at the Prague International Half Marathon in 2008 and finished third in the Charnwood Hills race - the toughest event on the Leicestershire racing calendar.
Phil Chritchlow (Beaumont Running Club)

Age 41 - An excellent all round competitor, winner of the Derby Runner Cross Country League title this winter for the second time in his career having won in 2007 - the Beaumont athlete also represented the Royal Mail Letters team at the JPMorgan Chase event in New York City that same year when the British squad won the event. Collected the 2008 overall title in the Leicestershire Road Running League campaign and won the Holme Pierrepont Heritage Grand Prix Series.

As with Tim Hartley he also competes well at both senior and Masters level and represented Leicestershire at the Inter-Counties twelve months ago. Gains selection by winning the Masters title at the county championships in January.
Jason Williams (OWLS)

Age 36 - Williams has really began to show form and consistence over the past twelve months securing his first breakthrough victory at the Derby Runner Cross Country League fixture in Hinckley last year and claimed the runners-up position at the Rothley 10km on the road in the summer. A good solid performer for the OWLS in the road-relays and this will be his debut for Leicestershire in front of the Sky TV cameras at the high profile Inter-Counties.
Steve Mears (Charnwood AC)

Age 23 - The Loughborough University athlete had a very quiet year in 2008 with one notable performance winning the Team Bath 5km in March plus represented their squad at the BUSA championships in Swansea. Won the Leicestershire 1500m title in 2005 and gains his selection for the Nottingham event having finished in 7th place at the county championships in January.
Steve Platts (OWLS)

Age 42 - The oldest member of the Leicestershire squad, however, as with fellow forty-something’s Tim Hartley and Phil Chritchlow, with age comes experience, racing knowledge and endurance strength. Platts is a very consistent athlete with consistent top-ten finishes and victories at Masters level in both road races and on the country, having finished runner-up to Chritchlow at the county championships in the Vet40 category.
Reserves:
Ben Lacey (OWLS), Tom Meakin (OWLS), Alastair Watson (Hermitage Harriers), Mark Couldwell (Charnwood)
Under-20 Team:
Josh Norman (OWLS)
Tom Mahon (OWLS)
Michael Brind (Charnwood)
Tom Nutt (OWLS)
Andrew Lomas (Charnwood)
Jonny Pegg (Rutland AC)
Scott Baxter (Charnwood AC)
Junior Teams:
Boys
Under 13
Z Tansey, J Hatton, L Mathers, C Stevenson, S Moore, S Elliot, W Rawlinson, B Craig
Reserves
S Mabley, P Maddocks, G Jones
Under 15
J Kench, J Nutt, D Freeman, R Radley, S Ashman, C Parkes-Bowen, H Mullen, J Monk
Reserves
H Buttery, J Cox, P Mills
Under 17
D Hallam, S Stabler, G Buttery, A Chambers, J Harrison, E Hart, P Radley, L Smart
Reserves
L Phelan, S Densham, D Callow, S Maddocks
Girls
Under 13
Amy Griffiths, Mari Smith, Georgia Gartside, Rachel Borrows, Chloe Tillin, Livvy Tansey, Jemima Green, Hannah Cox
Reserves
India Mitchell-Jarvis, Emily Hollis, Jasmine Southam, Lucy Golland
Under 15
Freya Vincent, Georgie Brookes, Emily Sales, Megan Fairbrother, April Beeby, Tilly Abraham, Emily Orton,
Lizzie Mellor (Subject to availability.)
Joni Ashford (Subject to availability.)
Reserves
Kim Jalland, Zoe DeRijk, Lizzie Golland
Under 17
Lucy Crookes, Louisa Monk, Emma Brown, Briony Bendle, Amy Danaher, Catherine Robertson, Katya Blackledge, Jenny Smith
Reserves
Charlotte Wilkinson-Burnett, Sarah Ward, Jessica Edge, Tania White
Event Timetable:

11.05am U20 Men 8km 

11.33am U13 Boys 3km 

11.51am Senior Women 8km

12.23pm U15 Boys 4.5km 

12.42pm U17 Women 5km 

13.06pm U20 Women 6km 

13.32pm U13 Girls 3km 

13.52pm U17 Men 6km 

14.15pm U15 Girls 4km 

14.36pm Senior Men 12km

Profiles compiled by Mark Woolley.

The 2008/09 McCain UK Cross Challenge Final incorporating the UK Inter-Counties Championships and the IAAF World Cross Country Trials will be shown live on Sky Sports 3 from 11.00-15.30pm. www.uka.org.uk/competitions/uk-cross-challenge/cross-challenge-final/

2009 Saucony English National Cross Country Championships

Parliament Hill Fields, London

Saturday 21st February 2009

CHARNWOOD AC successfully won the women’s senior team title for the second time in their illustrious history at the 2009 Saucony English National Cross Country Championships to repeat their success at the same London venue three years previous.

The team of Jane Potter, Hannah Whitmore, Juliet Doyle and Gemma Steel claimed overall victory ahead of Bristol & West and the Hallamshire Sheffield squad.

Under bright blue skies and the early spring sunshine at Parliament Hill Fields race victory over the muddy undulating challenging senior women’s 8km course went to the former British steeplechase record-holder and Beijing Olympian Hatti Dean (Hallamshire) as the 27-year-old Sheffield athlete competed victory by a margin of 12 seconds ahead of Kendal’s mountain running specialist Sarah Tunstall crossing the line in a time 29mins 34secs. Loughborough University graduate Sonia Samuels (Sale Manchester) claimed third in 30:00.

The gold medal team scoring quartet for Charnwood were led by fourth placer Jane Potter (30:07), former Midlands champion Hannah Whitmore (13th in 31:10), Jane’s twin sister Juliet Doyle (15th in 31:18) and the reigning Leicestershire county champion Gemma Steel (17th in 31:28) as the Loughborough-based club comfortably claimed the title with a combined points total of 49 well ahead of their West Country rivals on 115 with Hallamshire Sheffield taking third on 142.

Former British Universities 10,000m track champion Sarah Maude also claimed a top twenty finish for Charnwood clocking a time of 31:39, whilst, team mate Tara Krzywicki, winner of the individual title in Millennium year, clocked 32:25 to claim 31st place.

East Midlands 10km road racing title-holder Sarah Haines (Harborough) and the Charnwood duo of Beverley Gray and Laura Johnson who will all line-up for Team Leicestershire at next month’s McCain UK Cross Challenge Inter-Counties Championships in Nottingham finished 50th, 78th and 136th respectively.

Charnwood team manager Sarah Whitmore was delighted with the performance commenting: "We had a good team out and everyone ran really well, It was great to win both the National X/C team title and the National X/C relays championships back in November completing the domestic double."

Team GB international Frank Tickner, the second Brit home behind Mo Farah at the Brussels SPAR European Cross Country Championships in December, was the winner of the men’s senior 12km title as the 25-year-old Wells City Harrier held off the challenge of Stockport’s British Universities champion and European Under-23 silver medalist Steve Vernon to cross the line in a time of 38mins 10secs, with Andy Vernon (Aldershot) taking third in 38:29.

Highest placed for Leicestershire in the senior event was Paul Miles (OWLS) in 25th place with 40:35 followed by the British & Irish Masters champion Tim Hartley (Notts AC) 32nd in 40:53. County champion Mark Powell (OWLS) clocked 41:19 to secure 43rd place as the OWLS finished in 20th place overall in the team standings where Somali-born Moumin Geele, in the absence of former European cross-country champion Mo Farah, away competing in record-breaking form over 3,000m at the AVIVA Indoor Grand Prix meeting in Birmingham, led Newham & Essex Beagles to the title.

The destination of the junior women’s title was never really in doubt as Great Britain’s superb three-times and reigning European champion Steph Twell was simply a class apart, the 19-year-old St Mary’s student representing Aldershot, Farnham & District completed a 15 second victory ahead of a strong plucky challenge from Lauren Howarth (Leigh Harriers) in a time of 18:09. Loughborough student Stevie Stockton (Vale Royal) finished in fourth place in 18:55.

Belgrave Harrier Nick Goolab won the men’s junior race in 34:09 as the Leicester OWLS team completed a top ten finish led by Tom Mahon in 45th place with 37:43 combined with Eddie Highton (71st in 38:36), Josh Norman (80th in 39:07) and Tom Bell (115th in 40:47).

Sam Stabler (OWLS) produced a strong performance to claim a well-deserved 4th place finish in the men’s Under-17 race clocking a time of 20:28, narrowly missing out on a bronze medal following a close finish as Aldershot’s all-conquering junior squad claimed further success when Southern area champion Jonny Hay won the individual title over the 6km course in 19:55 ahead of Shaftesbury Barnet Harrier Richard Goodman (20:27). The OWLS squad was unfortunately depleted due to illness and injuries leading up to the event.

Where Charnwood’s women have dominated the senior team competitions over the past decade the next generation of success for the county looks to be emerging from the Leicester Coritanian junior squads and that was clearly underlined in the Under-13 girls 3km race where once again the powerful Aldershot team look to be their and the rest of the United Kingdom’s main rivals over the next few year’s as they claimed a further team victory in the event won by Carlisle’s Abbie Hetherington in 12:37.

Midlands champion Amy Griffiths led the way for the Coritanians with a fine fifth place finish in 12:58 as she combined with team mates Mari Smith, the English schools bronze medallist (15th in 13:11), Alice Murfitt (26th in 13:29) and India Mitchell-Jarvis (115th in 14:27) to win a well-deserved set of silver medals for the city-based club.

Lucy Crookes was the top finisher for Leicestershire in the Under-17 race won by Aldershot’s Louise Small in 18:30 - the Coritanian clocked 20:53 over the 5km course to secure 13th place overall.

Aldershot also dominated the 4km Under-15 girls race as the very impressive Emelia Gorecka, the reigning Inter-Counties and English schools champion, successfully retain her title with a time of 13:57 to lead the Hampshire club to further team success. Leicester Coritanians finished in fifth place over with Freya Vincent claiming their highest placed finish in 33rd (16:02) backed by Georgie Brooks in 55th place, Emily Orton, 61st and Tilly Abraham in 87th position.

Xander Tansey led the Coritanians to a top twenty team finish in the 3km Under-13 boys race finishing in 17th place overall in 12:25 as James Knox representing Helm Hill Runners won the title in 11:46. Charnwood AC finished in 26th place overall.

Report by Mark Woolley - Copyright Athletics-leics.com

Above photo: Charnwood AC senior women's squad - left to right back row:
Gemma Steel, Laura Johnson, Hannah Whitmore, Juliet Doyle, Jane Potter. Front row: Tara Krzywicki, Sarah Maude. Inset: Beverley Gray

Full results are available on the following link: www.englishcrosscountry.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=39&Itemid=48

Next stop on the domestic cross-country calendar for 2009 is the final fixture in the McCain UK Cross Challenge Series incorporating the UK Inter-Counties Championships and the IAAF World Cross Country Trials that take place on Saturday 7th March 2009 at Wollaton Park, Nottingham, which will be shown live on Sky Sports. www.uka.org.uk/competitions/uk-cross-challenge/cross-challenge-final/

2008/09 Derby Runner Cross Country League - Race 5

Foremark Reservoir, Ticknall, Derbyshire

Sunday 15th February 2009

KATE RAMSEY completed her fourth victory in five races to secure the overall women's individual title at this season's Derby Runner Cross Country League campaign.

The 40-year-old British Masters international representing Barrow Runners clocked a time of 37mins 12secs over the two-lap course surrounding the Foremark Reservoir in Derbyshire to take victory ahead of former champion Sally Newman (Wreake), with Laura Johnson (Ivanhoe), winner of the previous race at Grace Dieu, taking third.

The men's race, however, finished in confusion as Beaumont's long-time leader Phil Chritchlow, chasing the overall title he won back in 2007, went off course at a point where there was no marshalls or directional arrows with 400 metres remaining in the race to drop back into tenth place leaving Barrow's Geoff Beetham to take a surprise victory in 32:52.

Chris Nicholl of Derby Tri secured the runners-up postion in 33:19 ahead of team mate Dave Bishop (33:45).

Above photo – Kate Ramsey on her way to victory.

Photo by Jason Addison.

Editors Comment:

It's always unfortunate when this happens in races where an athlete goes off course through no fault of his or her own, and this is not just reserved to local events, back in 1994 at the New York City Marathon race winner German Silva of Mexico went off course following the TV camera motorbike rather than the lead vehicle, however, he did recover to eventually win the race.

Re-running the race would be impossible, however, one solution is to let the result stand but also award Phil Chritchlow the points for winning in the interest of fair play as he did have a clear lead on the chasing field.

Full individual results are available on the following link: www.derbyrunnerleague.co.uk/XC05.html

Team Results:
Men
1-Hatton-280;2-Derby Tri-323;3-Wreake-325;4-Hinckley-422;5-Shepshed-439;6-Hermitage-519;7-Birstall-564;8-South Derbys-642;9-Harborough-661;10-Barrow-666;11-West End-694;12-Shelton-745;13-Owls-747;14-Ivanhoe-857;15-Desford-858;16-Rolls Royce-870
Women
1-Wreake-36;2-Shepshed-61;3-Hatton-67;4-Birstall-85;5-West End-112;6-Derby Tri-121;7-Ivanhoe-134;8-Shelton-145;9-Huncote-153;10-Desford-173;11-Barrow-173;12-Hinckley-221;13-Harborough-241;14-Roadhoggs-253;15-South Derbys-305
Combined
1-Hatton-271;2-Wreake-308;3-Derby Tri-346;4-Shepshed-362;5-Huncote-449;6-Birstall-471;7-Barrow-539;8-West End-618;9-Harborough-634;10-Shelton-666;11-South Derbys-732;12-Desford-782;13-Ivanhoe-784

Wednesday 11th February 2009

THE Leicestershire & Rutland Senior & U20 Men’s teams to compete at the 2008/09 McCain UK Cross Challenge Inter-Counties Championship incorporating the IAAF World Cross Country Trials that will be staged at Nottingham’s Wollaton Park on Saturday 7th March have been announced.

The team manager for the event is Wayne Walker - teams are not necessarily listed in pen order for the race start.
Senior Team:
Tim Hartley (Notts AC)

Age 40 - One of the most successful club athletes to emerge from the sport in Leicestershire over the past decade both on the road and the cross-country. A former footballer, Hartley, moved up to international Masters level last year and made an immediate impact by winning the British & Irish cross-country title in Swansea back in October.

His greatest successes, however, have come on the road with high profile victories at the Experian Robin Hood Marathon and the Silverstone adidas London Half Marathon. Multiple winner of the Leicestershire domestic county championship titles when representing his second claim club Barrow Runners and regained the cross-country crown ahead of rival Mark Powell in January.
Mark Powell (OWLS)

Age 30 - Terrific talent and determined competitor, Powell is the multiple holder of Leicestershire titles on both the road, track and cross-country underlining his versatility. His finest performance came at the Birmingham Cross Country League in 2008 when he won the overall individual title in what is regarded by many as the toughest domestic campaign in the United Kingdom taking on the best of the British universities talent and prevailing with a set of top performances.

Spearheads coach Wayne Walkers ‘Band of Brothers’ at the OWLS and will line-up alongside Hartley as one of the counties leading athletes in Nottingham. Finished runner-up to British international Olympic triathlete Will Clarke at the recent Charnwood Hills race.
Paul Miles (OWLS)

Age 24 - Track specialist and Leicestershire county 1500m champion with an impressive lifetime best of 3:41.63. As with club mate Rory Fraser he is a graduate of the Leeds Metropolitan University.

Miles has struggled over the past couple of years with injury and form, but looks to be firmly on the road to recovery having produced a solid set of results on the track in the outdoor campaign in 2008 at the (BMC) British Milers meetings including a fine victory over the metric mile at the Stretford Grand Prix in Manchester.

Won the (BUSA) British short course cross-country championships title back in 2005 and finished third at the Leicestershire county championships in January. His best performances, however, have been reserved for the track where in 2006 he made the final of 1500m at the AAA championships in Manchester.
Nigel Stirk (Tipton Harriers)

Age 36 - Very experienced athlete who represents the powerhouse Birmingham club of Tipton Harriers – works for Nottinghamshire Fire Service by profession and finished third in the 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2008 World Firefighter Games in Liverpool.

Winner of the overall title in the East Midlands Road Running Grand Prix last summer and made a superb debut over the marathon distance in Florence at the end of November - clocking a time of 2:30.15 to claim 14th place overall. Won the UK Fire & Rescue cross-country title in the autumn.
Peter Swaine (Harborough AC)

Age 30 - Finished fourth at the county championships in January and represented Leicestershire last year at the Inter-Counties in Nottingham. A very consistent athlete for his club Harborough, won the Bluecoat 10km at Wollaton Park last summer so is well acquainted with the venue. Ran well at the Prague International Half Marathon in 2008 and finished third in the Charnwood Hills race - the toughest event on the Leicestershire racing calendar.
Phil Chritchlow (Beaumont Running Club)

Age 41 - An excellent all round competitor, winner of the Derby Runner Cross Country League title in 2007 - the Beaumont athlete also represented the Royal Mail Letters team at the JPMorgan Chase event in New York City that same year when the British squad won the event. Collected the 2008 overall title in the Leicestershire Road Running League campaign and won the Holme Pierrepont Heritage Grand Prix Series.

As with Tim Hartley he also competes well at both senior and Masters level and represented Leicestershire at the Inter-Counties twelve months ago. Gains selection by winning the Masters title at the county championships in January.
Jason Williams (OWLS)

Age 36 - Williams has really began to show form and consistence over the past twelve months securing his first breakthrough victory at the Derby Runner Cross Country League fixture in Hinckley last year and claimed the runners-up position at the Rothley 10km on the road in the summer. A good solid performer for the OWLS in the road-relays and this will be his debut for Leicestershire in front of the Sky TV cameras at the high profile Inter-Counties.
Steve Mears (Charnwood AC)

Age 23 - The Loughborough University athlete had a very quiet year in 2008 with one notable performance winning the Team Bath 5km in March plus represented their squad at the BUSA championships in Swansea. Won the Leicestershire 1500m title in 2005 and gains his selection for the Nottingham event having finished in 7th place at the county championships in January.
Steve Platts (OWLS)

Age 42 - The oldest member of the Leicestershire squad, however, as with fellow forty-something’s Tim Hartley and Phil Chritchlow, with age comes experience, racing knowledge and endurance strength. Platts is a very consistent athlete with consistent top-ten finishes and victories at Masters level in both road races and on the country, having finished runner-up to Chritchlow at the county championships in the Vet40 category.
Reserves:
Ben Lacey (OWLS)
Tom Meakin (OWLS)
Alastair Watson (Hermitage Harriers)
Mark Couldwell (Charnwood)
Under-20 Team:
Josh Norman (OWLS)
Tom Mahon (OWLS)
Michael Brind (Charnwood)
Tom Nutt (OWLS)
Andrew Lomas (Charnwood)
Jonny Pegg (Rutland AC)
Scott Baxter (Charnwood AC)

Can all those athletes listed (including reserves) please outline your availability ASAP to Wayne Walker e-mail: waynejwalker@hotmail.com or Tel: 07973824638.

Profiles compiled by Mark Woolley.

The 2008/09 McCain UK Cross Challenge incorporating the UK Inter-Counties Championships and the IAAF World Cross Country Trials take place on Saturday 7th March 2009 at Wollaton Park, Nottingham, and will be shown live on Sky Sports. www.uka.org.uk/competitions/uk-cross-challenge/cross-challenge-final/

Tuesday 3rd February 2009

BEIJING Olympian Will Clarke used his all round ability and international triathlon class to outpace the field following a terrific tussle with Mark Powell at the 23rd edition of the Charnwood Hills Race (The Bowline) in the event where England international Clare McKittrick also claimed a fine victory in the women’s race.

Loughborough graduate, Clarke, the 2006 World and European U23 Triathlon champion who claimed 14th place at last summers Beijing Olympic Games, lined-up at the start against six-time and defending champion Tim Hartley and the reigning Birmingham & District League champion Mark Powell at in what is regarded as the toughest race on the Leicestershire calendar.

On the course that is also by far the most picturesque held over the beautiful landscape of the Charnwood National Forest taking in both the surrounding area of Bradgate Park and Beacon Hill where the out and back route winds it’s way across the challenging terrain, Clarke, a day after turning 24, and Powell from the Leicester Owls club broke away over the opening miles with Hartley settling into third place.

That break away group was ultimately the story of this race as the duo of Clarke and Powell fought a very close and competitive battle with Clarke using his strength to narrowly edge victory by a margin of just four-seconds at the finish crossing the line in a time of 1hr 22mins 12secs to follow in the footsteps of fellow Team GB triathlete and previous winner Martin Yelling.

Powell secured second in 1:22.16 with the British & Irish Masters champion Hartley having to settle for third place this year two minutes adrift in 1:24.51.

In the women’s race Charnwood’s Clare McKittrick continued her remarkable return to racing following the birth of her first child, the 37-year-old international was in a class of her own in the race using the strength and experience gained from fell running to complete a comprehensive victory in a time of 1:38.44, to add the Bowline title to the Midlands Masters championships crown she collected in Birmingham last month.

Wootton Road Runner Kirsty Gallagher claimed second place in 1:40.25 ahead of the former world mounting running champion and previous winner of the Bowline Sally Newman (1:41.47) with Birstall’s Zoe Fleming representing the hosts Bowline Climbing Club taking fourth in 1:43.44.

Above photo - Mark Powell and Will Clarke challenge for victory over Beacon Hill.

Photo by Dave Lodwick.

Full results are available on the results page: www.athletics-leics.com/results.html

Tuesday 3rd February 2009

THE Leicestershire & Rutland Senior & U20 Women’s teams to compete at the 2008/09 McCain UK Cross Challenge Inter-Counties Championship incorporating the IAAF World Cross Country Trials that will be staged at Nottingham’s Wollaton Park on Saturday 7th March have been announced.

The team manager for the event is Ian Wilson - teams are not necessarily listed in pen order for the race start.

For the seniors the county can enter 15, 9 run and 6 score. The County has stipulated that the first 4 in the County Championship are selected to run automatically, they were Gemma Steel, Tara Krzywicki, Sarah Haines and Kate Ramsey.

So 4 are selected now and the remaining 5 places will be selected after the 2009 Saucony English National Cross Country Championships that take place at Parliament Hills, London, on Saturday 21st February.
Senior Team:
Hannah Whitmore (Charnwood AC)

Age 24 - One of the most outstanding naturally gifted talents to emerge from Leicestershire athletics in the past decade, an 800/1500m-track specialist with superb cross-country pedigree. Won Under-23 team gold for Great Britain at the 2006 European Championships in Milan and was part of the Kelly Holmes mentoring programme.

Three-time and youngest ever winner of the Leicestershire domestic cross-country title in 2005, the Leicester University graduate, coached by Phil Banning, collected the Midlands title in 2008 - now happily relocated to Surrey with partner and fellow athlete Tim Doran, she has struggled with a long-term ankle injury that curtailed her outdoor campaign last summer, however, having finished 16th in the BUPA Great Edinburgh race in January and secured third place at the Midlands championships Whitmore looks to be on the road to recovery and will spearhead the county challenge in Nottingham.
Tara Krzywicki (Charnwood AC)

Age 34 - Talismanic leader of Charnwood’s glorious golden team successes since the mid-nineties, a former international footballer for Wales turned to athletics whilst at university in Loughborough gaining instant success making use of her natural sporting ability.

The Yorkshire-born athlete won the UK Cross Challenge individual title back in Millennium year and went on to be a pioneer in the steeplechase for women not only in this country but also around the world - breaking the British record and representing Great Britain over the distance at the 2002 European Cup in the searing heat of Annecy. Has recovered successfully from foot surgery in 2008 to win this season’s North Midlands cross country title.
Kate Ramsey (Barrow Runners)

Age 40 - Evergreen and ever-consistent, Ramsey has enjoyed a glittering career at both Senior and Masters level over the past two decades. Successfully dividing her time between life as an international runner and a busy mother of two the Barrow athlete has dominated the Leicestershire domestic scene this winter both over the country and on the road.

Represented Team GB alongside superstar Paula Radcliffe at the Chiba Ekiden Relays in 2005, and despite having to compete over recent years with a worn disc in her spine, which has resulted in a change to her training and racing programme under the guidance of coach Roger Francks, Ramsey continues to defy time easily capable of competing successfully with athletes half her age - a terrific role model for any young athlete coming into the sport.
Clare McKittrick (Charnwood AC)

Age 37 - The Charnwood athlete has returned successfully to the sport following the birth of her first child to win the Midlands Masters title in January. An England international whom as with Tara Krzywicki has enjoyed a long and successfully career as part of Charnwood’s many national and regional team relay titles on both the country and road. Produced a stellar performance to win the Charnwood Hiils (Bowline) race at the weekend.
Clare Mensley (Charnwood AC)

Age 20 - Another product of Charnwood’s amazing production line of top female athletes. Currently studying at Birmingham University, Mensley is the reigning Leicestershire 1500m champion. Performed very well for both club and university teams in the domestic road-relay championships and on the American Ivy League Tour last summer. Represented Great Britain at the Marathon for a United Europe back in September in Greece.
Gemma Steel (Charnwood AC)

Age 23 - The ‘new kid on the block’ in county athletics last year, bubbles with enthusiasm and pure natural talent, now having moved to the powerhouse club Charnwood she enjoyed a stellar breakthrough 2008 winning the Leicestershire road league individual title and the Derby Runner Cross Country League championship crown, plus in the Autumn stormed to victory in the Leicester Half Marathon.

In January she collected her first county cross-country title in the cold and frosty conditions of Melton and finished runner-up to Tara Krzywicki in the North Midlands campaign. She runs complete with a natty pair of green and gold spikes to match the Charnwood vest.
Debbie Marsden (Charnwood AC)

Age 31 - Has improved significantly over the past six months with excellent performances and individual victories on both the cross-country and the road. Originally from Kettering the Leicester University graduate athlete came into the sport quite late in life in her mid-twenties compared to her contempories.

This selection could, however, be her only appearance in the colours of Leicestershire at the Inter-Counties as she plans to relocate to the West Country, so will be ineligible from next year. She is also the reigning county 10,000m track champion.
Beverley Gray (Charnwood AC)

Age 31 – Very consistent athlete who competes equally as well on the road and the cross country - enjoyed a fine individual victory back in October at the Daventry 6 mile and has produced a very solid set of results over the North Midlands campaign this winter as Charnwood dominated the team events.
Sarah Haines (Harborough AC)

Age 33 - The Harborough AC athlete won the East Midlands 10km road-racing title at Moulton back in August of last year and is another of the counties most experienced athletes finishing third behind Gemma Steel and Tara Krzywicki at the Leicestershire cross-country championships.
Laura Johnson (Charnwood AC)

Age 25 – Enjoyed her first major breakthrough victory at the end of January with victory at the Derby Runner Cross Country event held on tough course at Grace Dieu. Very consistent competitor for Charnwood especially in the relays and competes on the (BMC) British Milers circuit over 800m and 1500m. She is the reigning county 800m champion.
Julie Lamb (OWLS)

Age 42 – The oldest competitor in the team for 2009, however, as with Kate Ramsey she belies her age and brings to the squad her vast experience and racing knowledge. Has competed over all distances including twice last year in the marathon in London and Leicester.
Katie Lomas (Charnwood AC)

Age 21 - Benefits from being a part of the powerhouse university team at Loughborough and the training groups and facilities on offer at Europe’s largest campus which incorporates the UK Athletics High Performance Centre of Excellence as she prepares to represent the African Violets at the upcoming 2009 BUCS Cross Country Championships in Aberdeen.

As with club mate Clare Mensley she also represented Great Britain in Athens at the Marathon for a United Europe in Greece having guided Charnwood’s junior team to victory at the Livingston Relays last Easter which awarded the club the trip to the Greek capital city.
Katie North (Charnwood AC)

Age 20 - Youngest member of the team for the 2009 Inter-Counties, however, with youth comes enthusiasm and having competed well in only her second full season she was part of the very successful team performance for Charnwood at the North Midlands League and will gain great experience running in such a big event in front of the Sky TV cameras at Wollaton Park.
Helen Rollins (Kettering Town Harriers)

Age 20 - Brilliant academically gifted athlete, speaks many languages and currently represents the light blues of Cambridge University. She finished runner-up in the recent varsity cross-country match against arch-rivals Oxford, an event where she triumphed over 5,000m last summer in the track varsity match and also at the Leicestershire county championships.
Claire Wilson (Charnwood AC)

Age 31 – Very talented competitor on both the road and the country, will line-up for Leicestershire at Wollaton Park for the second consecutive year at the Inter-Counties having also been part of Charnwood’s winning squad at the North Midlands League campaign this season.
Under-20 Team:
Zoe Hawkins (Charnwood AC)
Amber-Sian Magee (Charnwood AC)
Bessie Rollins (Kettering Town Harriers)
Jennifer Warner (Charnwood AC)

For the U20's the county can enter 12, 8 run and 4 score. You will notice they have entered just 4, so there is no selection to complete. The pen order will be decided after team selection.

NB: Katie North (Charnwood AC), who was 4th in the County, is too old for the Inter-counties which is run under IAAF and not UKA age groups, therefore she is included in the senior entry.

Profiles compiled by Mark Woolley.

The 2008/09 McCain UK Cross Challenge incorporating the UK Inter-Counties Championships and the IAAF World Cross Country Trials take place on Saturday 7th March 2009 at Wollaton Park, Nottingham, and will be shown live on Sky Sports. www.uka.org.uk/competitions/uk-cross-challenge/cross-challenge-final/

77th Cinque Mulini IAAF Permit Meeting

San Vittore Olona, Italy

Sunday 1st February 2009

ANIKO KALOVICS from Hungary scored her second win in San Vittore Olona defeating three-time European junior cross country champion Steph Twell of Great Britain after a hard-fought women’s race at the 77th edition of the Cinque Mulini in San Vittore Olona, the seventh of ten IAAF Cross Country Permit Meetings this season where Loughborough graduate Sonia Samuels secured fifth place overall.

Kalovics used her familiar tactic going to the front from the very beginning of the race, while British teenager Stephanie Twell chose to run more conservatively in the chasing pack during the first of two laps.

Twell gradually closed the gap on Kalovics who led with 10:29 on the clock at the end of the first lap with a six-second gap over the Briton. During the second lap Kalovics stumbled but quickly recovered well, although Twell seemed to reduce the gap on the Hungarian.

Twell caught up with Kalovics inside the famous Mulino Meraviglia. Twell went to the front and seemed certain to prevail over the Hungarian with 800 metres to go but shortly before they entered the old cross country stadium Kalovics launched a devastating winning kick which eventually edged out Twell by four seconds. Kalovics crossed the finish-line in 19:34 to Twell’s 19:38.

Freya Murray from Great Britain took third place holding off Sweden’s Ida Nilson by six seconds as compatriot Sonia Samuels (pictured above) clocked 20:09 to finish fifth.

“I tried to drop Twell in the early part of the race because I knew that she has a strong finish”, said Kalovics. “I was tired because I am training for the Rak Half Marathon in Ras al Khaimah (United Arab Emirates) scheduled on 20th February.”

Twell ran a solid competition in her third senior race after her third European junior cross country title in Brussels. “I ran a brilliant race. When I caught up with Kalovics inside the mill, I hoped to win but she responded by launching her kick. It was an exciting race run over a challenging course”, said Twell.

In the Men’s race World 3,000m Steeplechase record holder Saif Saaeed Shaheen showed that he has fully recovered from last year’s knee surgery with a convincing nine-second win over Ukraine’s eight-time European champion Sergiy Lebid. Following a conservative start in which no one took the early initiative, Shaheen and Lebid eventually went into the lead during the first lap forming the front of the race with Italian cross country specialist Gianmarco Buttazzo as the leading trio.

When Shaheen made his first breakaway attempt, Lebid was the only man who managed to follow him, and it was another Italian distance-running hope Daniele Meucci who overtook Buttazzo to head the chasing group. Meucci ran a good race in the early part and tried to close the gap on Shaheen and Lebid but after going across the Mulino Meraviglia he lost ground again.

Meanwhile Lebid and Shaheen ran in the front while European Under-23 silver medallist Andy Vernon from Great Britain caught up with Meucci.

With two laps and a half to go Shaheen broke away from Lebid with a decisive attack carving out a solid lead which he increased in the last lap. Shaheen crossed the finish-line in 31:37 beating Lebid by nine seconds. Franck Tickner from Great Britain finished third in 31:53 ahead of Andy Vernon, who finished fourth 13 seconds adrift.

“The race was ok. I was out for two years”, said Shaheen. “I underwent surgery on my knee in Germany last year. I am excited about this win because I felt that my body responded well to the effort. It was amazing.”

“I have great respect for Lebid who won eight European titles. Now I feel that I can run at the same level as before the injury or even faster. I will run at the World Cross Country Championships in Amman. If I finish in the top ten, it will be fine.”

Leading Results:
Men

1 Saif Saeed Shaheen (Qatar) 31:37;
2 Sergiy Lebid (Ukraine) 31:46;
3 Frank Tickner (Great Britain) 31:53;
4 Andy Vernon (Great Britain) 32:06;
5 Steve Vernon (Great Britain) 32:11;
6 Gian Marco Buttazzo (Italy) 32:18;
7 Lee Merrien (Great Britain) 32:30;
8 Daniele Meucci (Italy) 32:40;
9 Rachid Jarmouni (Italy) 32:40;
10 Philipp Bandi (Switzerland) 32:52;
11 Michel Butter (Netherlands) 32:59;
12 Tom Lancashire (Great Britain) 33:01
Women

1 Aniko Kalovics (Hungary) 19:34;
2 Stephanie Twell (Great Britain) 19:38;
3 Freya Murray (Great Britain) 19:59;
4 Ida Nilsson (Sweden) 20:05;
5 Sonia Samuels (Great Britain) 20:09;
6 Kathryn Avery (Great Britain) 20:20;
7 Susie Hignett (Great Britain) 20:23;
8 Renate Rungger (Italy) 20:26;
9 Victoria Wilkinson (Great Britain) 20:37;
10 Simona Santini (Italy) 20:40

2009 Midlands Territorial Cross Country Championships

Berry Hill Park, Mansfield

Saturday 24th January 2009

JANE POTTER produced her own special brand of magic to produce a sparkling performance to win the Midlands territorial senior women’s title as Charnwood AC dominated the race with four athletes finishing in the top five places at Berry Hill Park.

Potter, having successfully retained the Nottinghamshire title over the same Mansfield venue at the beginning of the month, led a breakaway pack of five athletes as a wave of green and gold battled with the heavy conditions where twin sister Juliet (Doyle), Hannah Whitmore, the defending champion, and rising star Gemma Steel were joined by Telford’s Claire Martin to decide the destination of this year’s title.

With conditions underfoot becoming increasingly more difficult having already staged seven events prior to the start of the senior races it was the vastly experienced Potter who found the extra strength to pull clear of the field as the 27-year-old British international built an unassailable ten second gap ahead of Martin by the end of the final circuit of the two long-laps over the 7.5km course to cross the line in a time of 28mins 10secs to secure a well-deserved win following a highly competitive race.

Martin produced a fine performance to improve on her 10th place in Leamington twelve months ago to take the silver medal in 28:21, whilst, the reigning title-holder Hannah Whitmore had to settle for third place five seconds adrift in 28:26, however, the 24-year-old, a European Under-23 Team GB gold medallist back in 2006, has been struggling for form and fitness over recent months with a niggling long-term ankle injury and will look to build on this performance having claimed a well-deserved 16th place at the IAAF BUPA Great Edinburgh event earlier in the month.

Juliet Doyle finished in fourth place in 28:39, with the newly crowned Leicestershire county champion Gemma Steel, overall runner-up the previous weekend at the at the season-ending North Midlands Cross Country League and sporting a natty pair of green and yellow spikes to match her Charnwood vest clocking 29:09 to finish 5th as the Loughborough-based club completely dominated the team event finishing ahead of Bristol & West and Telford by a huge margin of 41 points.

Loughborough student Jo Callaway representing Royal Sutton Coldfield ran a solid race to secure a top ten place finishing in 9th with a time of 30:03.

The Men’s 11.3km race held over four long-laps at Berry Hill Park witnessed Tipton Harrier Phil Nicholls prevail ahead of a high quality field as the 25-year-old held off the challenge of Coventry’s Matt Lole and club mate Ryan McLoed to take the title in a time of 36:26.

Nicholls, a Team GB representative at the Mombasa 2007 IAAF World Cross Country Championships and winner over 5,000m at the Accenture Loughborough International last year, came into the race showing good form having won the latest round of the Birmingham & District League the previous weekend and produced a powerful performance over the testing course to finish ten seconds clear of the field where Lole claimed the silver medal twenty seconds clear of Loughborough graduate McLoed as Tipton comfortably won the team title ahead of Bristol & West and third placed Notts AC.

British Masters cross-country champion Tim Hartley representing Notts, having won the Leicestershire title at Melton at the beginning of January produced his usual solid performance to finish in 7th place overall to win the M40 category as the 40-year-old clocked a time of 37:41. Reigning Birmingham & District champion Mark Powell (Owls) also claimed a top twenty finishing in 13th place in 38:03.

Report by Mark Woolley – Copyright athletics-leics.com

Full results are available on the following link: www.midlandathletics.org.uk/PDFS/2009_RES_090124_MCCAXCHAMPSRESULTS.pdf

Tuesday 20th January 2009

CHARNWOOD’S England international Clare McKittrick celebrated her birthday in some style by retaining her Vet35 title at the 2009 Midland Masters Cross-Country Championships held at Birmingham's Perry Park on Sunday 18th January.

Having won the Leicestershire Masters county silver medal the previous weekend in Melton when finishing runner-up to Kate Ramsey, McKittrick, who turned 37th birthday, crossed the line to win the Women’s 6km race outright clocking a time of 23mins 59secs ahead of the Coventry Godiva Harriers duo of Helen Taranowski (24:20) and Susan Wint (24:57) by a margin of 21 seconds.

In the Men’s 8km event Leicestershire athletes were also on top form as Welsh Masters international Rob Sheen (M45) representing Leicester Coritanian finished in second place with a time of 30:23 as Tipton’s Phil Clamp claimed gold in 29:27, whilst, Northern Ireland’s Des Martin from the Leicester Owls claimed M55 silver in 33:26 finishing 14th overall and Hinckley's remarkable Geoff Oliver (M75) secured a well-deserved gold finishing 10th in 30:12 over the 6km course combined with the Women’s race.
Full Results:
Men 8km
1-0:29:27- Philip-Clamp-Tipton Harriers-MV35- 2-0:30:22- Rob-Sheen-Leicester Coritanians-MV45- 3-0:30:27- Andrew-Wetherill-Redhill Road Runners-MV50- 4-0:30:38- Paul-Rogers-Tipton Harriers-MV40- 5-0:30:44- Aaron-Keene-Tipton Harriers-MV40- 6-0:30:51- Mark-Hall-Tipton Harriers-MV45- 7-0:31:17- Mark-Yates-Redhill Road Runners-MV40- 8-0:31:22- Peter-Parker-Birchfield Harriers-MV55- 9-0:31:28- Christopher-Flavell-Tipton Harriers-MV40- 10-0:31:32- Paul-Newton-Redhill Road Runners-MV40- 11-0:31:46- Steve-Ward-Tipton Harriers-MV40- 12-0:32:32- Lawrence-Heathcock-Tipton Harriers-MV35- 13-0:32:55- Kevin-Spare-Derby AC-MV50- 14-0:33:26- Des-Martin-Oadby & Wigston Legionaires-MV55- 15-0:33:28- Martyn-McHale-Redhill Road Runners-MV45- 16-0:33:47- Mark-Gallimore-Dudley Kingswinford RC-MV45- 17-0:34:00- Ray-Stanier-Tipton Harriers-MV50- 18-0:34:31- Martin-Ford-Cheltenham Harriers-MV65- 19-0:34:46- Phillip-Bullock-Worcester AC-MV35- 20-0:34:52- Richard-Brittain-Tipton Harriers-MV40- 21-0:34:54- David-Norman-Dudley Kingswinford RC-MV35- 22-0:34:56- Gary-Bonner-Dudley Kingswinford RC-MV45- 23-0:35:04- Mick-Smedley-Derby AC-MV60- 24-0:35:31- Robin-Bereza-Wye Valley RC-MV55- 25-0:35:49- Stuart-Tromans-Dudley Kingswinford RC-MV40- 26-0:35:55- Bob-Statham-Coventry Godiva Harriers-MV60- 27-0:36:07- Gordon-Orme-Birchfield Harriers-MV65- 28-0:36:22- Glen-Cox-Tipton Harriers-MV50- 29-0:36:49- Mick-Monaghan-Worcester AC-MV60- 30-0:38:00- Roy-Humpherson-Royal Sutton Coldfield AC-MV65- 31-0:38:09- Paul-Southall-Tipton Harriers-MV40- 32-0:38:51- Mervyn-Thomas-Wye Valley RC-MV55- 33-0:39:20- Dave-Bouldstridge-Birchfield Harriers-MV65- 34-0:39:56- Adrian-Lloyd-Serpentine RC-MV60- 35-0:40:02- Keith-Best-Tipton Harriers-MV55- 36-0:40:25- Brian-Worthington-Birchfield Harriers-MV50- 37-0:40:44- Alexander-Davidson-Elliott-Birchfield Harriers-MV65- 38-0:42:19- John-Haden-Tipton Harriers-MV55- 39-0:42:36- Anthony-Molloy-Birchfield Harriers-MV50- 40-0:42:39- Gavin-Kidman-Sparkhill Harriers-MV65-41-0:44:10- Michael-Elwell-Cobra RC-MV55- 42-0:46:22- David-Cowley-Stafford Harriers-MV65- 43-0:47:26- Peter-Estick-Massey Ferguson RC-MV65- 44-0:48:17- Derek-Burns-Massey Ferguson RC-MV60- 45-0:49:02- Graham-Smith-Tipton Harriers-MV60- 46-0:49:48- John-Butler-Stratford on Avon AC-MV60- 47-0:51:38- David-Phillips-Massey Ferguson RC-MV60
Women & Men’s 70+ 6km
1-0:23:59- Clare-McKittrick-Charnwood AC-FV35- 2-0:24:20- Helen-Taranowski-Coventry Godiva Harriers-FV35- 3-0:24:57- Susan-Wint-Coventry Godiva Harriers-FV40- 4-0:25:37- Angela-Copson-Rugby & Northampton AC-FV60- 5-0:26:10- Lesley-Pymm-Centurion RC-FV55- 6-0:26:40- Christine-Kilkenny-Cannock & Stafford AC-FV55- 7-0:27:40- Joan-Clarke-Stourbridge RC-FV50- 8-0:27:50- Harry-Franklin-Wye Valley RC-MV70- 9-0:28:44- Dot-Fellows-Cannock & Stafford AC-FV60- 10-0:30:12- Geoffrey-Oliver-100k Association-MV75- 11-0:30:14- Kate-Williams-Rugby & Northampton AC-FV45- 12-0:31:01- Barbara-Parkinson-Rugby & Northampton AC-FV60- 13-0:31:53- Chris-Rollason-Cannock & Stafford AC-FV55- 14-0:32:26- Carol-Blower-Leamington C & AC-FV45- 15-0:32:58- June-Johnson-Leamington C & AC-FV60- 16-0:33:53- Magdalene-Sloan-Solihull & Small Heath AC -FV70- 17-0:34:23- Wilfred-Morgan-Birchfield Harriers-MV70- 18-0:34:56- Bill-Aston-Halesowen A & CC-MV75- 19-0:34:59- Charlie-Sloan-Solihull & Small Heath AC -MV75- 20-0:34:59- Lindsay-Pulley-Dudley Kingswinford RC-MV70- 21-0:35:40- Brian-Dawson-Birchfield Harriers-MV75- 22-0:36:01- Michael-Butterly-Derby AC-MV70- 23-0:37:30- Debbie-Bradley-Centurion RC-FV35- 24-0:42:24- John-Summerton-Birchfield Harriers-MV70- 25-0:43:21- Ken-Parry-Birchfield Harriers-MV75- 26-0:45:37- Les-Green-Cannock & Stafford AC-MV70- 27-0:53:30- James-Haden-Midland Masters AC-MV80

2008/09 Derby Runner Cross Country League - Race 4

Grace Dieu Manor, Leicestershire

Sunday 18th January 2009

LAURA JOHNSON produced a determined and hard-fought victory over a challenging course at Grace Dieu Manor to secure her first major breakthrough victory of her career.

Having finished fifth in the opening two races and sixth in the previous Derby Runner Cross Country League fixture at Bagworth Heath and with series leader Kate Ramsey absent with sore back muscles having raced at the final North Midlands meeting the previous day in Nottingham, Johnson, the 25-year-old Charnwood athlete here representing Ivanhoe Runners took her opportunity in fine style to sparkle in the bright winter sunshine that had replaced the heavy over night rain storms.

looking confident and strong she out paced the chasing field over the tough terrain of the two-lap course set in the beautiful surroundings of the Grace Dieu Manor School to secure an excellent first domestic county/area league victory clocking a time of 39mins 43secs at the finish.

Shepshed’s vastly experienced Leslie Nutt claimed second in 41:01 for the hosts with Hatton’s Naomi Warr third (41:06).

Former champion in 2007, Phil Chritchlow, in his first league appearance of the season prevailed in the men’s race, the 41-year-old racing in the colours of Beaumont Running Club having won the Masters title for the first time in his career at the Leicestershire championships in the freezing frost covered conditions of Melton the previous weekend, was the clear winner ahead of the field by a margin of 24 seconds crossing the line with a time of 33:17 with Hinckley’s Richard Whitelegg second in 33:41 and Gary Burnett of Shepshed third (33:53).

Report by Mark Woolley.

Above photo – Laura Johnson on her way to victory.

Photo by Jason Addison.

Full individual results are available on the following link: www.derbyrunnerleague.co.uk/XC04.html

Team Results:
Men
1-Hatton Darts (181),2-Wreake (298),3-Shepshed (412),4-Barrow (414),5-Hinckley (416),6-South Derbys (496),7-Owls (587),8-Hermitage (591),9-Harborough (685),10-Derby Tri (746),11-West End (758),12-Ivanhoe (779),13-Desford (804),14-Shelton (835),15-Birstall (922),16-Huncote (992),17-Beaumont (1093)
Women
1-Shepshed (29),2-Hatton Darts (65),3-Wreake (78),4-Hinckley (101),5-Barrow (112),6-Desford (113),7-Shelton (131),8-Ivanhoe (149),9-Huncote (182),10-West End (187),11-Roadhoggs (201),12-Birstall (212),13-Owls (218),14-Hermitage (290),15-Harborough (302),16-Sth Derbys (347)
Combined
1-Hatton Darts (185),2-Wreake (260),3-Shepshed (334),4-Barrow (343),5-Hinckley (350),6-Owls (589),7-Sth Derbys (651),8-Hermitage (656),9-Desford (684),10-Derby Tri (710),11-West End (729),12-Harborough (731),13-Ivanhoe (736),14-Shelton (743),15-Birstall (860),16-Huncote (934)

2008/09 North Midlands Cross Country League

Wollaton Park, Nottingham

Saturday 17th January 2009

TARA KRZYWICKI showed all her international class and knowledge to edge out club mate and title hopeful Gemma Steel to secure the women’s overall title at the final North Midlands Cross Country League fixture held in the winter sunshine of Nottingham’s Wollaton Park.

Gemma Steel having defeated Krzywicki in their previous two encounters at the penultimate North Midlands fixture in Mansfield at the beginning of December, and most notably seven days ago when winning her first Leicestershire county title over a frost covered course in Melton, the 23-year-old came into this race buoyant and brimming with confidence, however, this exuberance was ultimately to become her undoing as from the start she raced away from the assembled field straight from the gun building a ten metre lead ahead of her more experienced rival by the end of the opening short lap.

Steel’s early enthusiasm began to evaporate on the long climb over the first of the two long-laps leading up to the majestic Wollaton Hall as Kryzwicki’s experience began to show when the 34-year-old, running over the same beautiful Nottingham venue that witnessed the former British steeplechase record-holder win the Inter-Counties title at the start of the decade, began to make her decisive move to take the lead with Stoke’s Emma Jackson for company.

Jackson, the 2007 European junior 800m silver medallist, gave notice of her superb track ability over the final lap as the 20-year-old Keele University student powered past Krzywicki to take a fine and controlled victory crossing the line in a time of 20mins 58secs with the Charnwood duo second third respectively with 21:03 and 21:28.

However, with victories at the two opening meetings in Derby and Corby - plus a runners-up place at Mansfield Krzywicki secured the overall senior title.

Kryzwicki reflecting on her series victory afterwards commented on her current form - and the downside of wearing stilettos heels:

“I’m pleased to win the title, Gemma’s flying at the moment but she went off from the start far too fast and paid for this later in the race, but it’s all a learning curve and it’s great to have her as a member of Charnwood which will bodes well for the National Relays and the Inter-Counties for Leicestershire here (Wollaton Park) in March, and especially with Hannah (Whitmore) also in good form last week in Edinburgh.

“Emma ran really well its great to see such a talented athlete on the way back, I know from my own injuries it’s a long road back.”

Krzywicki underwent foot surgery a year ago but has been troubled by tight calves over recent months which has restricted her race appearances to just the cross-country rather than the hard road surfaces.

“Tight calves has been a real problem, at Christmas I wore a pair of stilettos at the staff party and did a little too much walking in them so the high heels aggravated my ankles and made them tight as well, so that was a hard lesson learned (young athletes take note!), but looking ahead after this race I’m targeting the Midlands next week and then Inter-Counties for Leicestershire followed by the road-relays for Charnwood plus the National championships, I really like the course at Parliament Hills I have good memories there.”

Steel claimed third place and should be happy with her runners-up position in the overall standings in what has been a terrific breakthrough season for the young blossoming talent winning the county championship crown the previous week and the Leicestershire road running league title in 2008.

Despite suffering from stiff back muscles coming into the race, British Masters international Kate Ramsey representing Barrow Runners, preferring to compete here in Nottingham rather than the Midland Masters the following day, produced her usual strong determined performance to win the Vet40 women’s title finishing in 5th place in 22:34.

Charnwood comfortably lifted the overall team prize with strong performances from Beverley Gray (8th in 22:57), Claire Wilson (14th in 23:55) and Katie North (21st in 24:43) completing their line-up.

In the Men's Under-17 category Leicester Owls Daniel Hallam secured a fine overall series victory crossing the finish line five seconds clear of his nearest rival Chris Wright of Nene Valley Harriers to take the win in a time of 19:18.

Derby AC’s domination of the Men’s Senior league this season was clearly evident as Colin Hawkins completed victory in 35:18, the 24-year-old, runner-up at the Derbyshire cross-country championships the previous week, combined with team mates Richard Weir and Alex Pilcher filled the top-four places to ensure their overall team victory.

Hermitage Harrier Alistair Watson ran a fine race to secure a top-ten place finishing in 6th position with a time of 37:04, followed by the Owls Tom Bell in 8th (37:17).

Leicester Coritanian Derek Guess completed victory in the M45 class finishing in 42nd place with a time of 41:21.

Report by Mark Woolley – Copyright Athletics-leics.com

Above photo: Tara Krzywicki on her way to overall title success at Wollaton Park.

Full Results:
Senior Men
1-C-Hawkins-s-Derby-35.18;2-R-Weir-s-Derby-35.33;3-A-Tarry-s-Redhill-35.47;4-A-Pilcher-s-Derby-36.33;5-P-Mitchell-s-Heanor-36.50;6-A-Watson-s-Hermitage-37.04;7-Z-Stegner-s-Notts University-37.08;8-T-Bell-u20-OWLS-37.17;9-D-Connor-v40-Ripley-37.59;10-S-King-s-Mansfield-38.09;11-D-Carr-s-Kettering-38.11;12-C-Curtis-s-Corby-38.14;13-D-Bishop-u20-Derby-38.21;14-S-Gregory-v40-H P P -38.28;15-T-Lawrence-u20-Derby-38.46;16-A-Wetherall-v50-Redhill-38.48;17-J-Knibb-v40-Derby-38.58;18-T-Toseland-s-Kettering-39.12;19-N-Grimer-s-Nene Valley-39.23;20-T-Offord-s-Derby-39.34;21-I-Stevens-s-Derby-39.43;22-M-Benford-s-Notts A C-39.47;23-J-Gorringe-u20-Kettering-39.54;24-M-Stratford-s-Redhill-40.00;25-C-Sommer-s-Huncote-40.06;26-D-Keating-v40-Corby-40.14;27-P-Hodkinson-u20-Notts A C-40.16;28-S-Owen-v55-Nene Valley-40.21;29-W-Clapp-v40-Harborough-40.25;30-S-Dunn-v40-Derby-40.31;31-J-Ward-v40-Derby-40.36;32-M-Romanienko-s-Notts A C-40.41;33-S-Medhurst-v40-Nene Valley-40.47;34-G-North-v45-Charnwood-40.49;35-P-Newton-v40-Redhill-41.06;36-A-Whittaker-v45-Matlock-41.07;37-D-Brazener-v40-Notts A C-41.09;38-O-Mason-s-Peterborough-41.11;39-N-Lever-s-Redhill-41.15;40-A-Dickenson-v45-Long Eaton-41.17;41-D-Oxland-v55-Notts A C-41.19;42-D-Guess-v45-Leics Coritanian-41.21;43-B-Swindell-v50-Derby-41.26;44-C-Medley-v40-Nene Valley-41.28;45-M-Jenkins-s-Mansfield-41.29;46-C-Greyson-v40-Redhill-41.30;47-J-Nash-s-Nene Valley-41.33;48-M-Moore-s-Notts University-41.34;49-H-Leek-s-Newark -41.35;50-A-Colgate-s-Long Eaton-41.36;51-D-Ross-v45-Mansfield-41.39;52-G-Watson-s-Long Eaton-41.40;53-M-Barnsdale-v50-Nene Valley-41.42;54-J-Robertson-v45-Derby-41.43;55-S-Leverton-v50-North Derbyshire-41.45;56-R-Parkin-v45-Derby-41.58;57-H-Partridge-v50-H P P -42.03;58-S-Nash-v40-Redhill-42.12;59-J-Ferreira-s-Boston-42.14;60-M-McHale-v40-Redhill-42.22;61-N-Luke-v45-Sutton Harriers-42.28;62-R-Fox-v40-Long Eaton-42.35;63-S-Reid-v45-Nene Valley-42.41;64-P-Wharton-s-Charnwood-42.42;65-M-Jones-s-Ripley-42.52;66-P-Stafford-v50-Mansfield-42.54;67-F-Fehy-s-Mansfield-42.57;68-M-Fowell-v45-Rolls Royce-43.06;69-C-Morrison-v50-Sinfin-43.11;70-M-Kirk-v40-Siemens-43.15;71-R-Hyde-v40-Erewash-43.27;72-S-Bennett-v50-North Derbyshire-43.38;73-A-Parkin-s-Ripley-43.39;74-R-Wilkinson-v40-Long Eaton-43.41;75-A-Hunter-s-Siemens-43.46;76-I-Page-v50-Rolls Royce-44.08;77-K-Lomas-v50-Charnwood-44.12;78-J-Hurley-v50-Matlock-44.15;79-T-Ashmore-v50-Mansfield-44.17;80-S-Davies-v50-Mansfield-44.17;81-K-Brown-s-Redhill-44.19;82-I-Abbott-s-Redhill-44.32;83-S-Perkins-u20-Rushcliffe -44.43;84-M-Moorhouse-v55-Matlock-44.44;85-D-Rainbow-v40-Boston-44.50;86-G-McMahon-v50-Redhill-44.54;87-T-Hiscox-v45-Mansfield-45.05;88-D-Peet-v40-Mansfield-45.07;89-J-Pitts-v40-Ilkeston-45.11;90-G-Wilkinson-v40-Mansfield-45.15;91-M-Smedley-v60-Derby-45.18;92-P-Abbott-s-Long Eaton-45.26;93-J-Barron-s-Derby-45.35;94-D-Hessian-v45-Notts 95-M-Tomlinson-v40-Redhill-46.00;96-A-Clawson-v40-Kettering-46.08;97-T-Chambers-v50-Redhill-46.09;98-T-Chambers-v50-Redhill-46.20;99-B-Belshaw-s-Erewash-46.24;100-P-Barratt-v40-Redhill-46.30;101-G-Fallon-v50-Derby-46.34;102-C-Russell-v65-Matlock-46.35;103-S-Campbell-s-H P P -46.43;104-G-Saxton-s-Mansfield-46.45;105-J-Nijak-s-Nene Valley-46.49;106-J-Ogilvie-v40-Rolls Royce-46.54;107-C-Russell-v55-Mansfield-46.56;108-J-Bateman-v50-Ripley-47.00;109-D-Teaser-s-Redhill-47.12;110-S-Bennett-s-Erewash-47.16;111-M-Attenborough-v40-Redhill-47.17;112-R-Wilson-s-Peterborough-47.30;113-B-Bailey-v40-Sutton Harriers-47.33;115-M-Tomlinson-s-Ripley-47.41;116-B-Jobe-v40-Long Eaton-47.45;117-R-Jackson-v45-Long Eaton-47.50;118-A-Swift-v40-Rolls Royce-47.51;119-P-Cregg-v50-Southwell R C-47.54;120-P-Walters-v40-Long Eaton-48.00;121-A-Rain-s-Kettering-48.12;122-M-Goodson-s-Long Eaton-48.12;123-C-Hallam-s-H P P -48.20;124-A-Coombie-s-Newark -48.22;125-R-Orgill-v40-Newark -48.24;126-B-Goodall-v50-Erewash-48.31;127-N-Chapman-v45-Burton-48.50;128-D-Ford-s-Burton-48.55;129-L-Chambers-v50-Mansfield-48.56;130-D-Risdon-s-Notts University-48.58;131-J-Wood-v45-Mansfield-48.59;132-P-Knox-v50-H P P -49.08;133-C-Robson-v55-Long Eaton-49.15;134-K-Clarkson-v45-Burton-49.20;135-A-Illsley-s-Derby-49.27;136-K-Allen-v60-Notts A C-49.35;137-M-Hughes-v45-Harborough-49.46;138-M-Finch-v40-Notts A C-49.50;139-S-Shipley-v50-Chesapeake-49.55;140-R-Softley-s-Chesapeake-50.00;141-S-Smith-v45-Kettering-50.02;142-R-Sharratt-v50-Burton-50.10;143-S-Geldeld-v40-Redhill-50.17;144-J-Compton-v55-Newark -50.23;145-T-Jolly-v50-Amber Valley-50.27;146-G-Dunn-v45-Nene Valley-50.39;147-P-Thompson-s-Long Eaton-50.43;148-P-Young-v50-Kettering-50.48;149-B-Southgate-v60-Rolls Royce-50.49;150-P-Watts-v60-Huncote-50.54;151-S-Burton-v40-Long Eaton-50.56;152-K-Palmer-v40-Redhill-51.00;153-I-Golledge-v40-Notts A C-51.04;154-R-Hawksworth-v40-Burton-51.08;155-C-Bones-v50-Redhill-51.14;156-R-Gibb-v40-Kimberley-51.28;157-J-Combie-v40-Newark -51.45;158-J-Foster-s-Mansfield-51.52;159-M-Haines-Eynon-s-Peterborough-52.16;160-C-Sinnott-v55-North Derbyshire-52.28;161-J-Hay-v40-Long Eaton-52.35;162-P-Goringe-v45-Kettering-52.52;163-D-Cowlishaw-v40-Long Eaton-52.53;164-D-Rose-v50-Mansfield-52.54;165-C-Lewis-v50-Erewash-53.26;166-G-Jackson-v50-Redhill-53.31;167-J-Carrier-v40-Siemens-53.43;168-T-Pope-v45-Sinfin-54.00;169-P-Shaw-v50-Ripley-54.07;170-D-Reeson-v50-Redhill-54.48;171-R-Beadle-v40-Southwell R C-55.50;172-J-Eccles-u20-Rushcliffe -56.00;173-N-Starr-v50-Erewash-56.06;174-T-Bagguley-s-Newark -56.07;175-W-Scott-v60-H P P -56.29;176-G-Bagguley-v55-Newark -56.48;177-N-Daniels-v60-Redhill-57.00;178-E-Robinson-v60-Charnwood-57.55;179-A-Mitchell-v50-Sutton Harriers-58.04;180-R-Weatley-v40-Redhill-58.24;181-S-Saunders-v55-Ripley-58.41;182-A-Marsh-v55-Notts A C-58.54;183-A-Smith-v40-Mansfield-58.59;184-B-Wilson-s-Rolls Royce-59.42;185-P-Sturgess-v45-Long Eaton-60.53;186-D-Beresford-v55-Charnwood-62.42;187-D-Oram-v65-Harborough-64.48;188-D-Wilde-v45-Derby-71.24;189-C-Smith-s-Newark -73.54;190-M-Woolerton-s-Hermitage-75.56
Overall Teams:
1-Derby A-259
2-Notts A C-502
3-Nene Valley-681
4-Mansfield a-967
5-Derby B-1006
6-Kettering-1217
7-Redhill a-1233
8-Long Eaton-1638
9-Charnwood-1684
10-Ripley a-1722
11-Rolls Royce a-2135
12-Newark A C-2145
13-Mansfield b-2242
Under-17 Men
1-D-Hallam--OWLS-19.18;2-C-Wright--Nene Valley-19.23;3-B-Connor--Derby-19.28;4-N-MaGuire--Derby-20.13;5-J-Wisbey--Peterborough-20.24;6-C-Ramsey--Nene Valley-20.56;7-P-Radley--OWLS-20.58;8-E-Hewitt--Nene Valley-21.01;9-D-Winter--Mansfield -21.07;10-R-Talbot--Mansfield -21.11;11-H-Dunn--Nene Valley-21.44;12-D-Newton--Nene Valley-22.12;13-C-Chambers--Derby-22.19;14-J-Boat--OWLS-22.27;15-J-Lunn--Nene Valley-22.28;16-S-Brockett--Boston-22.59;17-J-Brittain--Boston-23.20;18-D-Ward--Mansfield -23.26;19-J-Longstaff--Mansfield -23.42;20--Unknown---24.53
Overall Teams:
1-Nene Valley a-16
2-Derby-20
3-OWLS-22
4-Mansfield a-37
5-Nene Valley b-38
6-Boston-54
Under-15 Boys
1-J-Selvey--Chesterfield-14.30;2-R-Saxton--Mansfield-14.32;3-N-Stone--Peterborough-15.25;4-H-Foster--Notts A C-15.31;5-J-Wilkinson--Derby-15.34;6-T-Wragg--Mansfield-15.37;7-F-Hessian--Notts A C-15.45;8-M-Williams--Notts A C-15.49;9-M-Bosworth--Amber Valley-15.58;10-T-O'Mara--Mansfield-16.08;11-D-Narborough--Amber Valley-16.09;12-G-Dunn--Nene Valley-16.10;13-D-Musson--Notts A C-16.12;14-H-Partridge--Mansfield-16.13;15-R-Huskisson--Nene Valley-16.24;16-J-Moore--Nene Valley-16.25;17-A-Fenwick--Amber Valley-16.33;18-T-Schaaning--Chesterfield-16.47;19-L-Kempson--Nene Valley-16.50;20-R-Keighery--Notts A C-17.18;21-R-Strong--Nene Valley-17.22;22-J-Potter--Sutton Harriers-17.23;23-A-Skidmore--Notts A C-17.27;24-R-Bradley--Nene Valley-17.52;25-S-Fury--Corby-17.55;26-L-Golledge--Notts A C-18.08;27-S-Ibeggazene--Notts A C-18.12;28-B-Abbott--Notts A C-18.13;29-P-Waring--Notts A C-19.17;30-J-Latham--Burton-20.01;31-J-Owen--Derby-22.02
Overall Teams:
1-Mansfield a-18
2-Notts A C a-19
3-Amber Valley-37
4-Nene Valley-43
5-Chesterfield-51
6-Notts A C b-56
7-Derby-69
Under-13 Boys
1-P-Clark--Notts A C-13.51;2-A-Benfield--Burton-14.04;3-S-Johnson--Mansfield-14.06;4-G-Tighe--Matlock-14.18;5-J-Shaw--Sutton Harriers-14.19;6-D-Chambers--Derby-14.36;7-B-Wardle--Mansfield-14.39;8-J-Lancaster--Mansfield-14.50;9-B-Johnson--Notts A C-14.57;10-C-Menzies--Chesterfield-14.57;11-L-Ashmore--Mansfield-15.14;12-B-Wills--Derby-15.22;13-J-Richards--Amber Valley-15.51;14-B-Robertson--Derby-15.53;15-T-Lawrence--Derby-16.08;16-J-Townsend--Derby-16.16;17-A-Hedley--Nene Valley-16.22;18-J-McGraw--Amber Valley-16.25;19-A-Capes--Nene Valley-16.46;20-C-McCorry--Chesterfield-16.47;21-J-Boam--Mansfield-16.54;22-C-Binns--Nene Valley-16.58;23-H-Wilkinson--Derby-17.03;24-K-Chambers--Derby-17.11;25-J-Hart--Nene Valley-17.23;26-J-Paisty--Amber Valley-17.25;27-A-McCarthy--Notts A C-17.35
Overall Teams:
1-Mansfield a-18
2-Derby-32
3-Notts A C-37
4-Amber Valley-57
5-Chesterfield-58
6-Nene Valley-58
7-Mansfield b-61
Senior Women
1-E-Jackson-s-Stoke A C-20.58;2-T-Kryzwicki-s-Charnwood-21.03;3-G-Steel-s-Charnwood-21.28;4-N-De La Salle-s-Notts-22.12;5-K-Ramsey-v40-Barrow R C-22.34;6-S-Smith-v35-Redhill-22.55;7-H-Holt-u20-Stoke A C-22.56;8-B-Gray-s-Charnwood-22.57;9-P-Veazey_f-s-Matlock-23.00;10-C-Howard-v35-Matlock-23.23;11-S-Caskey-u20-Peterborough-23.32;12-F-Meakin-s-Sutton-23.33;13-S-Roddis-s-North Derby-23.38;14-C-Wilson-s-Charnwood-23.55;15-C-Foley-s-Nene Valley-23.59;16-M-Hooton-v35-Notts-24.01;17-J-Reed-u20-Matlock-24.14;18-C-Booker-s-Stoke A C-24.18;19-S-Spencer-v35-Matlock-24.29;20-F-Palmer-v40-Notts-24.32;21-K-North-u20-Charnwood-24.43;22-J-Bertwhistle-s-Amber Valley-24.53;23-A-Ford-v55-Redhill-24.59;24-R-McCuaig-v40-Newark-25.01;25-R-Hall-s-Kettering-25.10;26-R-Olivant-v40-Derby-25.33;27-J-Burke-V40-Peterborough-25.49;28-A-Page-s-Nene Valley-25.52;29-C-Scott-v35-Sinfin-25.55;30-K-Anderson-u20-Stoke A C-25.58;31-K-Else-v45-Newark-26.15;32-J-Lambourne-s-Notts-26.22;33-E-Williams-v40-Mansfield-26.27;34-L-Holmes-s-Ripley-26.29;35-H-Scott-s-Mansfield-26.37;36-N-Fryer-s-Long Eaton-26.47;37-R-Nixon-s-Nene Valley-26.53;38-T-Lazenby-v40-Nene Valley-26.55;39-M-Mills-v45-H P P-27.23;40-A-Hardy-v45-Mansfield-27.24;41-L-Burton-v40-Nene Valley-27.43;42-J-Inglis-v40-H P P-27.51;43-M-Fee-s-Long Eaton-28.00;44-C-Coombs-v35-Mansfield-28.03;45-E-Robinson-v60-Ripley-28.06;46-L-Butterfield-v40-H P P-28.17;47-J-Poole-v50-Amber Valley-28.22;48-H-North-v45-Charnwood-28.23;49-H-Cook-v40-Ripley-28.35;50-T-Pyke-v35-Corby-28.36;51-A-Kitchen-s-Newark-28.37;52-H-Josephs-s-North Derby-28.39;53-J-Forrester-v55-Matlock-28.44;54-T-Green-v45-Mansfield-28.55;55-M-Butler-v50-Burton-28.57;56-C-Morley-s-Derby-28.59;57-L-Armoush-u20-Amber Valley-29.10;58-A-English-v40-Redhill-29.17;59-M-Collinge-v55-Mansfield-29.20;60-M-Yates-v35-Redhill-29.31;61-L-Cliff-v60-H P P-29.40;62-B-Barnes-v45-Redhill-29.53;63-C-Hartin-v45-Mansfield-30.19;64-H-Ripley-v45-Sinfin-30.23;65-C-Wickham-v35-Erewash Valley-30.38;66-S-Dodsley-v35-Redhill-30.41;67-S-Smith-v40-Mansfield-30.54;68-M-Kerr-s-Erewash Valley-31.00;69-S-Poole-v60-H P P-31.35;70-C-Sharratt-v50-Ilkeston-31.43;71-M-Peet-v45-Mansfield-32.02;72-D-Coleman-s-Long Eaton-32.13;73-P-Allen-v60-Notts-32.14;74-S-Armitage-v35-Mansfield-32.30;75-S-Paschke-s-Notts University-32.41;76-J-Wheatley-v35-Redhill-33.04;77-L-Greenwood-s-Peterborough-33.06;78-C-Cregg-s-Southwell-33.41;79-G-Bennett-s-Erewash Valley-33.58;80-C-Ward-v55-H P P-34.12;81-L-Boultby-s-Notts-36.17;82-C-Pegg-s-Chesapeake-37.16
Overall Teams:
1-Charnwood-105
2-Notts A C a-172
3-Matlock-294
4-Nene Valley-300
5-Stoke A C-341
6-Newark-399
7-Peterborough-475
8-Mansfield a-494
9-Redhill-653
10-Notts A C b-773
Under-17 Girls
1-K-Holt--Stoke A C-15.09;2-T-Armoush--Amber Valley-15.20;3-C-Hinch--Nene Valley-16.47;4-H-Wragg--Mansfield-16.59;5-S-Zerdazi--Rushcliffe-17.23;6-G-Milton--Mansfield-17.31;7-J-Evans--Notts A C-18.03;8-G-Bays--Peterborough-18.10;9-C-Childs--Mansfield-18.39;10-C-Kenny--Peterborough-18.46;11-K-Raynor--Mansfield-20.02;12-C-Saunders--Notts A C-20.43;13-G-Radford--Mansfield-22.14
Overall Teams:
1-Mansfield a-72
2-Mansfield b-166
3-Peterborough-193
Under-15 Girls
1-C-Talbot--Mansfield-14.44;2-E-Erskine--Chesterfield-14.48;3-G-Freeman--Peterborough-15.09;4-R-Brandham--Mansfield-15.16;5-E-Randle--Nene Valley-15.22;6-D-Jakymelen--Mansfield-15.34;7-H-Hardy--Mansfield-15.39;8-L-Arnold--Peterborough-15.42;9-S-Daley-Davis--Stoke A C-15.46;10-L-Hayes--Stoke A C-15.49;11-S-Lovewell--Stoke A C-15.52;12-P-Ford--Peterborough-16.00;13-J-Turner--Amber Valley-16.03;14-A-Haines-Eynon-Peterborough-16.05;15-R-Miller--Derby-16.07;16-K-Potter--Peterborough-16.12;17-A-Mortiboy--Mansfield-16.26;18-A-Keogh--Mansfield-16.37;19-E-D'Aguiar--Mansfield-16.48;20-L-Farrell--Stoke A C-16.58;21-E-Chan--Nene Valley-17.03;22-J-Heath--Stoke A C-17.20;23-E-Przbyl--Nene Valley-17.32;24-J-Griffiths--Stoke A C-17.40;25-E-Winning--Mansfield-17.50;26-G-Foster--Notts A C-18.11;27-F-Wilson--Notts A C-18.58;28-G-Igoe--Nene Valley-29-N-Van--Nene Valley-19.27
Overall Teams:
1-Mansfield a-45
2-Peterborough-104
3-Mansfield b-148
4-Stoke A C a-155
5-Nene Valley-224
Under-13 Girls
1-B-Haywood--Lincoln Wellington-12.25;2-L-Holt--Stoke A C-12.45;3-C-Baxter--Mansfield-12.51;4-S-Burton--Nene Valley-13.03;5-V-Wills--Derby-13.19;6-T-Smith--Mansfield-13.25;7-P-Lambert--Nene Valley-13.31;8-M-Mee--Amber valley-13.35;9-C-Norris--Mansfield-13.39;10-I-Hasnip--Notts A C-13.46;11-S-Griffiths--Stoke A C-13.59;12-N-Clowes--Stoke A C-14.09;13-A-Kinane--Derby-14.10;14-J-Griffiths--Stoke A C-14.11;15-H-Codd--Mansfield-14.12;16-R-Foster--Mansfield-14.13;17-M-Greenwood--Peterborough-14.22;18-A-Mitchell--Mansfield-14.36;19-H-Blount--Mansfield-14.39;20-F-Bailey--Sutton Harriers-14.42;21-K-Hutchinson--Peterborough-14.47;22-R-Norris--Mansfield-14.49;23-M-Haines-Eynon-Peterborough-14.59;24-S-Lambert--Peterborough-15.03;25-E-Reid--Nene Valley-15.10;26-S-Chan--Nene Valley-15.18;27-A-Dolan--Nene Valley-15.31;28-G-Clarke--Nene Valley-15.37;29-H-Smith--Mansfield-16.25;30-L-Phillips--Nene Valley-17.41
Overall Teams:
1-Mansfield-72
2-Nene Valley-113
3-Stoke A C-178
4-Mansfield-198
5-Derby-208
6-Peterborough-305
7-Nene Valley-322

BUPA Great Edinburgh International Cross Country Races

Holyrood Park, Edinburgh

Saturday 10th January 2009

GREAT BRITAIN’S Steph Twell stepped-up in class and level to produce a solid and impressive performance to finish fourth and first European athlete behind fellow teenage talent, Kenya's Linet Masai, in the women's 5.6km event at the BUPA Great Edinburgh International Cross Country IAAF permit meeting held in cold windy conditions at Holyrood Park in the Scottish capital.

Having completed her third consecutive McCain UK Cross Challenge victory of the season in Antrim the previous week, 19-year-old Twell, the three-time junior European cross-country champion began the race with her usual cautious approach preferring to stay in the chasing pack as Portugal’s European senior silver medallist in Brussels last month, Jessica Domingo, set a fast early pace.

However, Twell, coached by Mick Woods at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, proved there is a wise head on her young shoulders when after Augusto set off at a fast pace she was confident enough to move through to join the leading pack.

Twell looked comfortable alongside her more experienced international rivals but neither they nor the Brit could respond when the tall, long-legged Masai, injected the pace to take the lead with just over a lap remaining as the winner of last year's IAAF World Cross Country Championships bronze medal at the same Edinburgh venue and a fourth place finisher over 10,000m at the Beijing Olympics, simply dominated the race moving to the front with an effortless display gliding over the ground to win by a margin of 11 seconds in a time of 19mins 02secs ahead of Ethiopia’s Mestawet Tufa.

Masai’s compatriot Viola Kibiwott, a three-time world junior title winner, finished third in 19:14 with Twell having briefly moved into third on the final hill, settling for a repeat of last year performance to finish fourth with 19:16.

Twell commented afterwards: “I’m really pleased with my performance, I think she's an effortless runner whose got an amazing amount of talent, she's someone who I'll be racing throughout my career - so the more we do the better."

Twell will now look towards the world championships in Amman, Jordan, in March, but will return to Scotland next month to defend her British Universities title in Aberdeen.

A delighted Masai reflected: "I'm pleased with the performance. It was not too hard and I felt comfortable."

Loughborough graduate Laura Kenney, a senior team silver medalist for Great Britain in Brussels last month finished with a top-ten place in 20:04, as fellow university alumni Sonia Samuels finished in 15th position with 20:19 just one second and one place ahead of Charnwood’s Hannah Whitmore, the 24-year-old reigning Midlands champion - preferring to race in the high profile IAAF permit event in Edinburgh rather than defend her domestic Leicestershire county title - clocking 20:20 to secure 16th place.

Louise Damen, as with Laura Kenney a past Loughborough student and European team silver medal runner-up for Great Britain finished 34th in 21:37.

Current Loughborough student Emily Pidgeon, a junior team gold medalist alongside Steph Twell last month, was forced to pull out due to feeling unwell prior to the race.

Andy Baddeley, the world’s fastest miler in 2008, successfully defended his 4km title as the 26-year-old preparing to run indoors at the high profile Milrose Games in New York at the end of the month followed by the Reebok Games in Boston in February before travelling to Australia for warm weather training ahead of the outdoor season, accelerated with just over one kilometre to go to comfortably defeat Steve Vernon in a time of 12:17, with Beijing Olympian Tom Lancashire taking third.

However, Baddeley, now fully fit again after an Achilles injury, did suffer a badly spiked ankle due to collision with training partner Mick Skinner.

Baddeley reflected afterwards: "I now know what it's like to sit in and run hard at the end it. Despite it being really windy I didn't want to back off my plan."

Loughborough graduates Ryan McLoed and Chris Warburton finished in 7th and 11th places with times of 12:38 and12:48 respectively, as fellow alumni Chris Parr having led the race in the early stages of the opening lap finished 18th in 13:12 one place clear of Frank Baddick (13:13) as Lewis Moses clocked 13:27 to secure 22nd place.

In the Men’s international 8.9km race Ethiopia's Abebe Dinkesa powered away to take a surprise victory crossing the line in a time of 26:51 with Mangata Ndiwa of Kenya finishing three seconds adrift as former world cross-country champion and pre-race favourite Zersenay Tadese, despite being urged on by enthusiastic Eritrean supporters had to settle for third, a second behind as he prepares for the Flora London Marathon in April.

In the absence of Ethiopia’s all-conquering Kenenisa Bekele, the three-time defending Edinburgh champion currently recovering from a stress fracture, the race proved to be an exciting and open affair dominated by the African contingent as Dinkesa broke clear at the beginning of the bell-lap and never looked to be challenged on his way to victory.

"I'm very, very happy to win," said Dinkesa. "The win was a little easier than expected."

Eliud Kipchoge, the inaugural race winner four years ago, fresh from defying a blizzard to claim superb success in Campaccio on Tuesday finished in fourth place in 26:58 as European champion Sergiy Lebid having finished just two seconds behind at the Italian venue, claimed 10th in 27:23.

Loughborough-based Nick McCormick, following his sixth place finish over 10km in Madrid on New Years Eve, finished in 17th in 28:37.

Report by Mark Woolley.

BBC highlights of the event are available on the following link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/7822181.stm

http://sdc.lboro.ac.uk/shownews.php?news_id=888&cat_id=16&level=1

Full Results:
Men 8.9km
1 Abebe Dinkesa ETH 26:51
2 Mangata Ndiwa KEN 26:54
3 Zersenay Tadese ERI 26:55
4 Eliud Kipchoge KEN 26:58
5 Boniface Kiprop UGA 26:59
6 Mike Kipyego KEN 27:06
7 Augustine Choge KEN 27:11
8 Bernard Kipyego KEN 27:18
9 Yonas Kifle ERI 27:23
10 Sergey Lebid UKR 27:23
11 Frank Tickner GBR/ THAMES VALLEY 27:41
12 Andrew Lemoncello GBR 27:53
13 Jorge Torres USA 28:05
14 Edwardo Torres USA 28:15
15 Derek Nakluski CAN 28:33
16 Alaistair Hay CENTRAL AC 28:33 EAST
17 Nick McCormick GBR/ MORPETH 28:37
18 Denis Mayaud FRA 28:39
19 Abdi Nageeye 28:44
20 Gary Murray IRE 28:47
21Tewoldeberhan Mengisteab SHETTLESTON H 28:48 WEST
22 Russell Desaix-Chin AUS 28:48
23 Erik Petersson GOTEBORG 28:52
24 Jean Ndayisenga 28:58
25 Ben Lindsay GBR/ AFD 29:03
26 Francisco Bachiller ESP 29:03
27 Tsegai Tewelde SHETTLESTON H 29:03 WEST
28 Moumin Geele SOM 29:17
29 Amanuel Hagus SHETTLESTON H 29:24 WEST
30 Scott Mcdonald CENTRAL AC 29:26 EAST
31 Pete Nowill AUS 29:27
32 Craig Ruddy GLAS. CALEDONIAN UNIV 29:27 SCOTTISH UNIV
33 Tsegezab Woldemichael SHETTLESTON H 29:40 WEST
34 Chris Mckay INVERCLYDE AC 29:46 WEST
35 Ben Livesy RAF 29:49
36 Paul Sorrie SHETTLESTON H 29:57 WEST
37 Dan Mulhare NAPIER UNIV 30:04 SCOTTISH UNIV
38 Richie Nicoll DUNDEE HAWKHILL
39 Jethro Lennox SHETTLESTON H 30:08 WEST
40 Derek Hawkins UNIV OF GLASGOW 30:08 SCOTTISH UNIV
41 Dan Eric Archer GOTEBORG 30:14
42 Sean Reilly CENTRAL AC 30:17 EAST
43 Raunos Palm EST 30:23
44 Matthew Gillespie UNIV OF GLASGOW 30:30 SCOTTISH UNIV
45 Steve Connor 30:39
46 Andrew Liston FIFE AC 30:43 EAST
47 Alasdair Anthony CENTRAL AC 30:44 EAST
48 Michael Gillespie UNIV OF EDINBURGH 30:45 SCOTTISH UNIV
49 Matthew Bell EDINBURGH AC 30:52 EAST
50 Ross Houston CENTRAL AC 30:57 EAST
51 Johan Strand GOTEBORG 31:12
52 Martin Graham UNIV OF STRATHCLYDE 31:15 SCOTTISH UNIV
53 David Rodgers LOCHABER AC 31:24 NORTH
54 Alex Hendry CENTRAL AC 31:29 EAST
55 Johan Hamrin GOTEBORG 31:32
56 Benjamin Hukins ABERDEEN AAC 31:41 EAST
57 Anders Soovik GOTEBORG 31:47
58 Lewis Millar CENTRAL AC 31:48 EAST
59 Ben Cole UNIV OF EDINBURGH 31:50 SCOTTISH UNIV
60 Paul Leck UNIV OF STRATHCLYDE 32:24 SCOTTISH UNIV
61 Ben Melby GARSCUBE H 32:32 WEST
62 Barney Phillips LASSWADE AAC 32:56 EAST
63 Joshua Morrison SHETLAND AAC 32:59 NORTH
64 Graeme Campbell HIGHLAND HILL R 33:04 NORTH
65 Yujiro Iida UNIV OF EDINBURGH 33:21 SCOTTISH UNIV
Team: (6 to score)
1 SCOTLAND WEST 33
2 SCOTLAND EAST 64
3 SCOTTISH UNIVERSITIES 83
Women 5.6km
1 Linet Masai KEN 19:02
2 Mestewat Tufa ETH 19:13
3 Viola Kibiwott KEN 19:14
4 Steph Twell GBR/ AFD 19:16
5 Kalkidan Gezahegn ETH 19:18
6 Vivian Cheruiyot KEN 19:32
7 Emily Brown USA 19:33
8 Jessica Augusto POR 19:34
9 Freya Murray EDINBURGH AC 19:59 EAST
10 Laura Kenny GBR/ SUTTON COALFIELD 20:04
11 Sarah Tunstall GBR/ KENDAL 20:09
12 Emma Pallant GBR/ AFD 20:12
13 Catherine Sparke GBR/ WGEL 20:15
14 Lauren Howath GBR/ LEIGH 20:16
15 Sonia Samuels GBR/SALE 20:19
16 Hannah Whitmore GBR/CHARNWOOD AC 20:20
17 Gemma Miles GBR/ KENDAL 20:21
18 Laura Park GBR/ ELLENBOROUGH AC 20:23
19 Louise Small GBR/ AFD 20:24
20 Katrina Wooton GBR/ BEDFORD 20:39
21 Simret Sultan ERI 20:42
22 Christiana Frumuz ROU 20:44
23 Cristina Cassandra UKR 20:50
24 Elle Baker GBR/ SOUTH LONDON 20:53
25 Vicki Gill GBR/AFD 20:59
26 Orla O'Mahoney IRELAND 21:03
27 Lyn Wilson CARNETHY HRC 21:09 EAST
28 Marilyn Arsenault CAN 21:11
29 Natasha Doel GBR/ AFD 21:20
30 Mary Alenbratt GOTEBORG 21:22
31 Nicola Hood VP-GLASGOW AC 21:24 WEST
32 Katie Knowles GBR/ BRISTOL & WEST 21:27
33 Josephine Moultrie UNIV OF STRATHCLYDE 21:28 SCOTTISH UNIV
34 Louise Damen GBR/ WINCHESTER 21:37
35 Rosie Smith HUNTERS BOG T 21:40 EAST
36 Niamh Devlin QUEEN MARGARET UNIV 21:41 SCOTTISH UNIV
37 Jennifer Maclean EDINBURGH AC 21:52 EAST
38 Christin Johansson GOTEBORG 21:55
39 Emma Waterhouse CENTRAL AC 22:02 EAST
40 Susan Ridley EDINBURGH AC 22:08 EAST
41 Alison Docherty CENTRAL AC 22:09 EAST
42 Maxine Czarnecka GBR/ CHESTER -LE - ST 22:17
43 Helen Sharpe UNIV OF ST. ANDREWS 22:17 SCOTTISH UNIV
44 Lovisa Lindh GOTEBORG 22:21
45 Annika Kihlstrom GOTEBORG 22:24
46 Nicola Meekin LOCHABER AC 22:31 NORTH
47 Dawn Scott LOCHABER AC 22:32 NORTH
48 Siobhan Coleman UNIV OF GLASGOW 22:42 SCOTTISH UNIV
49 Sarah Inglis UNIV OF EDINBURGH 22:52 SCOTTISH UNIV
50 Eilidh Mackenzie HERIOT-WATT UNIV 22:59 SCOTTISH UNIV
51 Dianne Lauder GALA HARRIERS 23:03 EAST
52 Sarah Hood UNIV OF EDINBURGH 23:19 SCOTTISH UNIV
53 Claire Gordon HUNTERS BOG T 23:20 EAST
54 Clare Gemmell SPRINGBURN H 23:27 WEST
55 Helena Wallin GOTEBORG 23:29
56 Louise Manson KILBARCHAN AAC 23:30 WEST
57 Natalie Sharp KILBARCHAN AAC 23:34 WEST
58 Cecila Lindstrom GOTEBORG 23:39
59 Emma Birnie BELLAHOUSTON RR 23:39 WEST
60 Julia Henderson HELENSBURGH AAC 23:40 WEST
61 Karin Svensson GOTEBORG 23:41
61 Karin Svensson GOTEBORG 23:41
62 Michelle Sandison SPRINGBURN H 23:43 WEST
63 Sarah Blake PENICUIK H 23:48 EAST
64 Ruth Joss GIFFNOCK NORTH AAC 24:03 WEST
65 Alison Winship GARSCUBE H 24:44 WEST
66 Roxanne Bannerman HIGHLAND HILL R 25:11 NORTH
67 Amanda Blackhall LOCHABER AC 25:19 NORTH
Team: (6 to score)
1 SCOTLAND EAST 32
2 SCOTTISH UNIVERSITIES 66
3 SCOTLAND WEST 113
Men 4km
1 Andy Baddeley HARROW 12:17
2 Steve Vernon STOCKPORT 12:20
3 Tom Lancashire BOLTON 12:23
4 Andy Vernon AFD 12:23
5 Mike Skinner BLCKHTH 12:28
6 Neil Gamester SHAFTSBURY 12:34
7 Ryan Mcleod TIPTON 12:38
8 Mitch Goose CITY OF NORWICH 12:40
9 Matt Barnes ALTRINCHAM 12:44
10 Mark Draper WSE & H 12:47
11 Chris Warburton NOTTS AC 12:48
12 Nick Goolab BELGRAVE 12:59
13 Gavin Massingham SUNDRLAND 13:01
14 Brian Farrell IRELAND 13:04
15 Simon Horsefield EAST CHESHIRE 13:05
16 Mark Pollard BELGRAVE 13:08
17 Chris O'Hare EDINBURGH AC 13:11
18 Chris Parr GATESHEAD 13:12
19 Frank Baddick LSAC 13:13
20 Lee Reynolds HERTS PHOENIX AC 13:18
21 Rob Whittle BASINGSTOKE 13:21
22 Lewis Moses DARLINGTON 13:27
23 Olly Laws NEB 13:32
24 Matt Carlisle HERTS PHOENIX AC 13:53
25 Dave Campbell IRELAND 13:58

2009 Nottinghamshire County Cross Country Championships

Berry Hill Park, Mansfield

Saturday 10th January 2009

JANE POTTER successfully retained the Nottinghamshire County Cross Country Championship title to lead a superb trio of Charnwood athletes over the finish line at Mansfield’s Berry Hill Park.

In the cold frosty conditions perfect for fast cross country running British international Potter completed victory following a close tussle with twin sister Juliet Doyle as the duo were only separated by just four-seconds at the finish of the 8km race as Jane crossed the line in a time of 28mins 54secs.

This performance underlines their current run of good form following the top-twenty places achieved by the girls at the McCain UK Cross Challenge event in Antrim the previous weekend.

The 2007 British Universities 10,000m champion Sarah Maude completed the podium places for the Loughborough-based club as the 27-year-old Team England international secured third place in 30:05 as the top three athletes over the line finished 35 seconds clear of the chasing field.

Full results are available on the following link: www.dcaa.org.uk/Notts%20XC%20Results%202009.htm

32nd Antrim IAAF International Cross Country

Incorp. 2008/09 McCain UK Cross Challenge

Greenmount College Campus, Antrim

Saturday 3rd January 2009

GREAT BRITAIN’s three-time European junior champion Stephanie Twell claimed victory in her first race as a senior athlete at the Antrim IAAF International Cross Country meeting, the penultimate round of the 2008/09 McCain UK Cross Challenge series.

Twell, who clinched her third European title three weeks ago in Brussels and won the opening two UK Cross Challenge races in Gateshead and Liverpool, seemed to have the race won when opening a gap of 20 metres over the field on the final lap of the 5.4-kilometre event staged at the Greenmount College Campus.

However, Ireland's Deidre Byrne, with the finish line in sight, made a late challenge to get back into contention, coming on to the world junior 1500m gold medallist's shoulder and fighting her determinedly to the line.

Twell, 19, kept her head to power away and win by a second in a time of 18mins 25secs with Freya Murray of Scotland finishing third in 18:32.

“She (Byrne) gave me a great race,” said Twell. “I had felt strong and I had a sprint left in me. I love racing. The important thing for me is to enjoy the sport.”

Team England’s athletes produced an excellent solid performance in Antrim led by World University Cross Country champion Faye Fullerton who finished 8th in 18:57 followed by twin sisters from Charnwood AC, Juliet Doyle 10th in 19:08, and Jane Potter 12th with 19:19.

Ethiopia's 20-year-old Jida Merga also won a close Men's 9km race, outpacing pre-race favourite Boniface Kiprop, who fell during the event, by a margin of just two seconds over the finish line with a time of 24 minutes 32 seconds.

Scotland's steeplechase specialist, USA-based Andrew Lemoncello claimed third position, clocking 24mins 49secs.
Full Results:
Senior Women (5.4km)
1-Stephanie Twell-GB-00:18:25; 2-Deirdre Byrne-Ireland-00:18:26; 3-Freya Murray-Scotland-00:18:32; 4-Emily Brown-USA-00:18:35; 5-Rosemary Ryan-Ireland-00:18:44; 6-Maria McCambridge-D.S.D-00:18:53; 7-Christine Bardelle-France-00:18:55; 8-Faye Fullerton-England-00:18:57; 9-Sarah Tunstall-Northern Athletics-00:19:07; 10-Juliet Doyle-England-00:19:08; 11-Linda Byrne-Ireland-00:19:09; 12-Jane Potter-England-00:19:19; 13-Sara Lousie Treacy-Ireland-00:19:29; 14-Maryline Pellen-France-00:19:34; 15-Pauline Curley-Ireland-00:19:42; 16-Andrea Woodvine-Northern Athletics-00:19:51; 17-Debbie Rees-Wales-00:20:01; 18-Victoria Wilkinson-Northern Athletics-00:20:08; 19-Gladys Ganiel-Northern Ireland-00:20:18; 20-Aileen Morrison-Northern Ireland-00:20:29; 21-Fiona Mahon-Donore Harriers-00:20:34; 22-Teresa Mc Gloin-Ireland-00:20:48; 23-Caryl Jones-Wales-00:20:52; 24-Kate O'Neill-Metro St.Brigids-00:20:55; 25-Jane Clarke (F45)-City of Norwich AC-00:20:59; 26-Judi Graham-Abbey AC-00:21:08; 27-Gemma Leahy-Wales-00:21:12; 28-Sharon Trimble-Northern Ireland-00:21:38; 29-Karen Alexander-Northern Ireland-00:21:56; 30-Dawn Nagazina-St. Albert AC-00:22:00; 31-Maria Walsh-Blackrock Athletic Club-00:22:03; 32-Heather McLarnon-City of Lisburn-00:22:09; 33-Karen Crossan-Inishowen AC-00:22:12; 34-Gemma Turley-Abbey AC-00:22:14; 35-Roberta Dornan-North Down-00:22:16; 36-Angela Speight-Omagh Harriers-00:22:32; 37-Sarah McGowan-Abbey AC-00:22:57; 38-Kerry Iveston-North Down A.C.-00:23:24; 39-Jenny O'Sullivan-Raheny Shamrock AC-00:23:42; 40-Ruth Magill-Lagan Valley AC-00:24:13; 41-Cheryl Caldwell (F35)-Sperrin Hrs-00:24:15; 42-Stephanie Hambling-North Down Athletics Club-00:24:35; 43-Christine Murray (V35)-County Antrim Harriers-00:25:00; 44-Hazel McLaughlin-Lagan Valley AC-00:25:25; 45-Marie Therese Speight (F50)-Omagh Hrs-00:25:27
Men (9km)
1-Jida Merga-Ethiopia-00:24:32; 2-Boniface Kiprop-Uganda-00:24:34; 3-Andrew Lemoncello-Scotland-00:24:49; 4-Jean Ndayasenga-Burundi-00:25:08; 5-Lakhal Irba-France-00:25:21; 6-Gareth Raven-England-00:25:24; 7-Matthew Janes-Wales-00:25:24; 8-Lewis Timmins-England-00:25:25; 9-Russell Dessaix-Chin-Australia-00:25:47; 10-Matt Bowser-England-00:25:58; 11-Sergio Ciobanu-Clonliffe Harriers AC-00:26:05; 12-Dave Norman-Northern Athletics-00:26:17; 13-Simon Ryan-Ireland-00:26:26; 14-Tom Ryan-Unattached-00:26:32; 15-Jason Fahy-Ireland-00:26:38; 16-Brian Campbell-Willowfield Harriers-00:26:46; 17-David Rooney-Ireland-00:26:46; 18-Tom Russell-Scotland-00:26:48; 19-Nathaniel Lane-Wales-00:27:04; 20-Robert Samuel-Wales-00:27:07; 21-Mark Hoey-Ireland-00:27:09; 22-Eddie McGinley-Annadale Striders-00:27:11; 23-Andrew Wiles-New Marske Harriers-00:27:13; 24-Jarlath Falls-Ballymena and Antrim Athletics-00:27:14; 25-Stephen Scullion-North Belfast Harriers-00:27:15; 26-Andrew Agnew-Abbey AC-00:27:16; 27-Conor Flanagan-North Belfast Harriers-00:28:03; 28-Gregory Roberts-City of Derry-00:28:08; 29-Dominic Shaw-New Marske Harriers-00:28:13; 30-Shane Kerr-Armagh AC-00:29:21; 31-Simon Taylor-Abbey AC-00:30:43; 32-David Marshall-Unattached-00:32:23; 33-Angus Mackey-Bangor University Wales-00:33:12; 34-Johnny Canning-Unatt-00:33:23

2008/09 Derby Runner Cross Country League - Race 3

Bagworth Heath, Leicestershire

Sunday 21st December 2008

BRITISH Masters international Kate Ramsey virtually guaranteed herself the women's individual title in this season's Derby Runner Cross-Country League by claiming her third consecutive victory at Bagworth Heath.

Having won the previous two fixtures at the Bosworth Country Park and Burton-upon-Trent's Sinai Park, Ramsey was made to work hard for the victory with both the men and women racing alongside each other in a combined field.

The 40-year-old representing Barrow Runners crossed the line in a time of 35mins 08secs to take the victory ahead of Birstall's Zoe Fleming (36:31), with Wreake's Sally Newman third in 37:26.

With the league now at the half-way point of the season - and the defending champion Gemma Steel yet to race in the series - Ramsey has a huge lead in the overall standings.

In the Men's race Mark Powell, 30, the reigning champion of the high profile Birmingham Cross Country League was the only athlete to break 30 minutes over the two-lap five-mile course.

Powell, the Leicestershire county champion at 10 miles and half-marathon on the road and 10,000 metres on the track, finished in a time of 29:52 to finish 18 seconds clear of Beaumont's former champion Phil Chritchlow, with Owls team-mate Jason Williams, the winner of the opening fixture at Bosworth, third in 31:51.

Full individual results are available on the following link: www.derbyrunnerleague.co.uk/XC03.html

Team Results:
Men
1-Wreake-303, 2-Hatton-318, 3-Hinckley-319, 4-Derby Tri-338, 5-Hermitage-539, 6-Owls-549, 7-Birstall-562, 8-Shepshed-603, 9-Barrow-629,10-Desford-651
Women
1-Wreake-39, 2-Birstall-70, 3-Desford-84, 4-Shepshed-95, 5-Barrow-105, 6-Hatton-115, 7-West End-138, 8-Derby Tri-151, 9-Shelton-164, 10-Ivanhoe-166, 11-Huncote-180, 11-Hinckley-180, 13-Owls-193, 14-Hermitage-292
Combined
1-Wreake-267, 2-Derby Tri-291, 3-Hatton-297, 4-Hinckley-368, 5-Birstall-483, 6-Shepshed-536, 7-Barrow-539, 8-Desford-545, 9-Owls-614, 10-Hermitage-653, 11-Ivanhoe-841, 12-West End-863, 13-Huncote-892

2008 SPAR European Cross Country Championships

Senior Races

Parc de Laeken

Brussels, Belgium

Sunday 14th December 2008

GREAT BRITAIN’s Mo Farah witnessed his chance of reigning the European cross-country title simply blown away as the Ukraine’s Sergiy Lebid sprinted clear with a devastating burst of acceleration to power to a remarkable eighth success in the mud of Brussels’ Parc de Laeken.

Farah went clear of the field with around 3km of the race remaining, however, Lebid responded in some style to blast clear of the 2006 champion over the final lap to take a commanding victory in a time of 30mins 49secs.

Farah's second place, however, guided Team GB to podium position as they finished third to claim the bronze medal - their first for four years as Spain and France filled the top two places.

A delighted Lebid commented afterwards: “This is the title that I had to work the hardest for. Already I worked really, really hard in training to be prepared for this championship. But his year the competition was surely the toughest that I have ever seen. Mo Farah really made it very difficult for me.

“But I like to run cross country and maybe it is my experience that has helped me today. These European cross-country championships are ''my'' championships. I feel at home at this tournament in which I started to compete 19 years ago. Yes, maybe I come back next year, who knows!”

The outcome of the Senior women’s 8km race was less dramatic as the Netherland’s Kenyan-born Hilda Kibet dominated with a gun-to-tape performance completing a comprehensive victory in a time of 27:45 ahead of the Portuguese duo of Jessica Augusto (28:02) and Ines Monteiro (28:02) with Ireland’s big medal hope Mary Cullen having to settle for fourth place.

Kibet, cousin of Lornah Kiplagat, who won the European title in Tilburg three years ago, reflecting on her victory said: “I made this race very hard for myself. With two laps to go I decided to accelerate. I still felt comfortable with the pace at that time. I didn't want to take these steeple chasers to the finish line, because they are the better sprinters. When I crossed the line I realised that the gap was big. I couldn't train very hard for this race because of an operation I had in the month of September.”

For Great Britain, Sheffield’s Hattie Dean placed eighth to lead the team to second position overall for the fifth successive championships behind winners Portugal, with France securing third. This ensured that for the first time in history all competing Team GB athletes at a major championship came home with a medal.

Hayley Yelling, the 2004 European champion struggled to find her form and finished a disappointing 19th in 28:45 as the Loughborough University graduates Louise Damen claimed ninth in 28:33 and Laura Kenney, the reigning European Under-23 5,000m champion, finished 13th in 28:40.

Damen commented afterwards: "I kept it to myself, but I was quietly aiming for top-ten, I loved every minute of it. I’m slowly but surely getting to where I want to be. No disrespect to the other girls, but I thought the team might find it a little difficult with a Liz (Yelling) or Jo (Pavey) providing the quality at the top end. But we fought well and packed in really well. What a inspiration the junior girls were this morning!”

British 3,000m Steeplechase record-holder Helen Clitheroe, coached by John Nuttall at Loughborough, clocked 28:58 to claim 22nd place with Kendal's Gemma Miles completing the line-up in 34th place with 29:24.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Leading Results:
Senior Men 10km
1 Sergiy Lebid (UKR) 30:49; 2 Mo Farah (GBR) 30:57; 10 Frank Tickner (GBR) 31:39; 20 Michael Skinner (GBR) 31:50; 22 Lee Merrien (GBR) 31:55; 39 Scott Overall (GBR) 32:20; 45 Phil Wicks (GBR) 32:31
Team:
1 Spain 39pts, 2 France 49pts, 3 Great Britain 54pts
Senior Women 8km
1 Hilda Kibet (NED) 27:45; 8 Hatti Dean (GBR) 28:30; 9 Louise Damen (GBR) 28:33; 13 Laura Kenney (GBR) 28:40; 19 Hayley Yelling (GBR) 28:45; 22 Helen Clitheroe (GBR) 28:58; 34 Gemma Miles (GBR) 29:24
Team:
1 Portugal 29pts, 2 Great Britain 49pts; 3 France 78pts

Full results are available on the following link: www.sportresult.com/sports/la/framework/eaa2.asp

http://sdc.lboro.ac.uk/shownews.php?news_id=878&cat_id=16&level=1