Derby Runner Cross Country League 2007/08 – Race No.1

Fosse Meadows, Sharnford, Leicestershire

Sunday 18th November 2007

JASON WILLIAMS and Gemma Steel were the individual winners of the opening round of this season’s Derby Runner Cross Country League campaign held in freezing cold wet conditions over a rain-sodden 5.5 mile course at the new venue of Fosse Meadows at Sharnford in Leicestershire.

Williams, (33) representing the Leicester Owls, in the absence of the two-time and defending league champion Phil Chritchlow, preferring to run at the Heanor 10km, moved ahead of Stilton’s Chris Southam after the two-mile point to pull clear of the chasing field to record his first major breakthrough victory at county level crossing the line in a time of 31mins 05secs. Hinckley’s Chris Jordan moved through to take second place in 31:33, with Southam third (31:38).

In the Women’s race Gemma Steel produced a stellar performance to out pace British international Beth Eburne, as the Hermitage Harrier also completed the first league victory of her blossoming career clocking a time of 34:39.

Eburne, running in the colours of Hinckley and returning to action having pulled out of the adidas Dublin City Marathon last month had to settle for second place in 34:56. Steel's team mate at Hermitage, Claire Wilson, was third in 35:20.

In the team events Hatton Darts completed an impressive clean sweep to take victory in the Men’s, Women’s and Combined categories.

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

The next Derby Runner Cross Country League 2007/08 fixture takes place on Sunday 2nd December at Bagworth Heath.

British & Irish Masters Cross Country International

Stormont Castle Estate, Belfast

Saturday 17th November 2007

KATE RAMSEY representing England finished in third place at the 19th British & Irish Masters Cross Country International held in the grounds of the picturesque Stormont Castle Estate in the city of Belfast.

Ramsey, the 39-year-old from the Barrow Runners club has been in superb form over recent weeks, currently leading the North Midlands Cross Country League with consecutive victories at the opening two fixtures and having smashed the course record at the Shepshed 7, the Loughborough athlete crossed the line over the UK Cross Challenge course in Belfast with a time of 23mins 13secs in the 6km event with victory going to England team mate Wendy Nichols from Cirencester AC with 22:54 finishing ahead of Ireland’s Pauline Curley (23:02).

Defending two-time champion Niamh O’Sullivan, winner of the corresponding fixture in Falkirk, Scotland, twelve months ago was fourth in 23:21, however, as she has now moved up to the W45 category she comfortably secured the age-group victory.

This gave O’Sullivan a unique hat-trick of victories in the premier Masters international event to be staged in the United Kingdom. At the Gala dinner held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dublin in the evening she was also named Irish Masters athlete of the year.

In the team standings England won both the individual race and the combined international ahead of the host nation Ireland.

In the Men’s 39-49 age-group 8km event Leicester Coritanian Rob Sheen representing Wales clocked 29:58 to finish in 44th place in the race won by Scotland’s Robert Quinn in 27:52.

Des Martin from the Leicester Owls running in the colours of Ireland recorded 32:49 to finish in 40th place in the M50-64 category 8km race won by Mike Hager of England with a time of 29:39.
Nicki Nealon forced to miss Belfast International

Due to a freak training accident, Nicki Nealon to chip a piece of bone off her left elbow, which has put her out for 5 - 8 weeks. She was out on a training run when taking a tight corner hit her elbow on a street sign. Due to the break being right on the elbow joint she is currently having to wear a sling, as it cannot be plastered.

On a move positive note Nealon has been awarded the title of Hinckley & Bosworth Sporting Alliance Sportswomen of the Year. At a presentation last night at the Marston Stadium, Hinckley, Nealon collected the inaugural title on a night when the local sporting talent was being recognised.

Full results are available on the following link: www.athleticsireland.ie/content/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/2007MastersResults.pdf

North Midlands Cross Country League 2007/08 – Race No.2

Markeaton Park, Derby

Saturday 10th November 2007

SOUNDS like one of the many headlines that have been circulating around the world over the past seven days in the wake of Paula Radcliffe’s stunning New York victory, however, Britain’s global superstar and world marathon record-holder isn’t the only ‘Super Mum’ who is currently on top form.

Barrow’s British Masters international Kate Ramsey has been in scintillating form over the last few weeks beginning with a fine victory at the opening fixture of the North Midlands League in Kettering, followed by a fourth place finish at the high quality Birmingham Cross meeting, and culminating in a stunning course record-breaking performance at the Shepshed 7 on the same day as Radcliffe triumphed in the Big Apple – all this and the 39-year-old Loughborough athlete is a mum of two!

Therefore it was no surprise that Ramsey completed another comfortable victory at the second fixture of the North Midlands campaign held in good conditions for cross country running at Derby’s Markeaton Park.

Wearing her now familiar red vest of Barrow Runners, Ramsey, having opted out of taking the long (or should that be epic!) journey north to Gateshead for the UK Challenge, preferring to run in Derby ahead of her appearance at the British Masters International in Belfast next weekend, crossed the line in a time of 23mins 46secs to take victory well over half-a-minute ahead of the chasing field, with fellow Leicestershire runner Gemma Steel of Charnwood taking second in 24:21 and Long Eaton’s Sharon Orridge securing third (24:47).

Three other Leicestershire athletes also achieved top twenty finishes with Harborough's Sarah Haines, 5th in 25:01, Bev Gray of Charnwood, 7th in 25:21, and Beaumont’s Debbie Marsden representing Kettering Harriers, 19th in 26:30.

In the Under-17 race Vanessa Rollins, the younger sister of Leicestershire’s county cross country champion Helen, won in a time of 15:49 ahead of Harborough’s Megan Booler (17:06).

In the Senior Men’s race Alex Pilcher representing host club Derby AC and winner of the cities 10km event back in April held off the challenge of Notts Bruce Raeside to win by a margin of 13 seconds in a time of 30:44, with team mate Colin Hawkins third in 31:25.

Two of the Leicester Owls leading young athletes secured top twenty places with Geraint Davies finishing 5th in 31:40 and Callum Cullen 9th in 32:18. Senior Tom Meakin was 18th in 33:41 one place behind Notts Ashley Sabin (33:23), whilst, Harborough’s Peter Swaine claimed 19th position in 33:44.

The Owls junior squad members also acquitted themselves well in the age-group races at Markeaton Park; Stefan Ashman won the Under-13 Boys race in 11:52, Ashley Chambers was narrowly edged out into second place by just one second in the Under-15 Boys event where victory went to Mark Thompson of Notts AC, and Josh Norman also gained a runners-up place in the Under-17 race with a time of 22:05, five seconds adrift of Lincoln Wellington’s Tom Straw.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full results are available on the following link: http://www.northmidsxcleague.co.uk/0708results_markeaton.xls

Photo courtesy of Brian Smith www.dk10k.co.uk

UK Cross Challenge Gateshead International

Riverside Bowl

Gateshead, Tyneside

Saturday 10th November 2007

HAYLEY YELLING and Jean Ndayisenga were the major individual winners at the Gateshead International, the opening meeting of the 2007/08 UK Cross Challenge.

Yelling, having decided to compete only yesterday was a class apart as the 33-year-old former European champion completely dominated the Women’s race claiming victory by a huge margin of 25 seconds ahead of reigning junior European Gold medallist Steph Twell crossing the line in a time of 25mins 43secs, and all this following losing a shoe on the second of the 7.3km five-lap course surrounding Gateshead’s Riverside Bowl.

Yelling reflecting on her fine victory commented: "I'm glad that I did decide to start this was a great beginning to my season, I took a quick look back and realised I had time to put the shoe back on.”

Twell, held off the strong challenge British 3,000 metres Steeplechase record-holder and defending UK Cross Challenge champion Hatti Dean to take second place.

Leicestershire’s British Universities champion Felicity Milton finished in fourth place in 26:19 one place ahead of Helen Clitheroe (26:28) and Loughborough graduate Louise Damen (26:34).

Twin sisters Juliet and Jane Potter representing Charnwood AC crossed the line in 10th (27:05) and 13th (27:15) places respectively.

Burundi-born Birchfield Harrier Jean Ndayisenga, winner of the Birmingham Cross Country two-weeks ago, prevailed in the Senior Men’s 8.7km race breaking clear over the final lap to take victory ahead of Cannock’s Tom Humphries in a time of 27min 31secs.

Wells City Harrier Frank Tickner, the reigning English national and British Universities cross country champion, was third in 27:38.

Leicestershire’s county champion Mark Powell, who celebrated his 29th Birthday on Friday, finished in 21st position in 29:24 one place behind Owls team mate Rory Fraser, the 20-year-old Leeds Metropolitan student clocking 29:23.

Loughborough University graduate Chris Parr produced a superb performance to win the Men’s One-Mile International support race, the 23-year-old representing the host club Gateshead Harriers finished in a time of 4:37 ahead of fellow North East athlete Gavin Massingham of Sunderland with Cardiff’s Chris Moss securing third place.

"I always felt I had the strength to hold off Gavin and deliberately picked up the pace on an uphill stretch just before the last turn into the finish," said Parr afterwards.

Jessica Coulson representing Stockport Harriers was an impressive winner of the Junior Women's event finishing ahead of Birmingham University student Sara Treacy by a margin of 16 seconds in a time of 16:10, with Leicestershire junior cross country champion Helen Rollins of Kettering Town Harriers third in 16:33.

Full results are available on the following link: www.ukathletics.net/press-centre/news-archive/november-2007/article-12/

Saucony English National Cross Country Relays Championships 2007

Berry Hill Park, Mansfield

Saturday 3rd November 2007

BELGRAVE HARRIERS and Havering Mayesbrook were the major winners of the 2007 Saucony English National Cross Country Relays Championships held at Mansfield’s Berry Hill Park.

In the Senior Men’s 4x3.3 miles race Belgrave recorded a combined time of 1hr 00mins 04secs as their team of Steve Sharp (15:05.30), Mark Pollard (15:08.45), Mark Miles (15:04.55) and Phil Wicks on the anchor leg (14:45.80) finished ahead of the European Clubs Championships representatives Leeds City (1:00.22) with Bedford & County taking the Bronze medals in 1:00.29, this following a tight finish that witnessed the top five teams separated by just 10 seconds.

Frank Tickner representing Wells City was fastest overall individual athlete with a time of 14:25.80 ahead of Mike Skinner of Blackheath & Bromley and Leeds Dave Webb with 14:33.85 and 14:39.65 respectively. Leicestershire’s Tim Hartley recorded 15:07.30 on the second stage as Notts AC finished in 5th place overall.

Leicester Coritanian second claimer Moumin Geele ran 14:48.10, the eighth fastest individual leg of the day representing the defending champions Newham and Essex Beagles, who, in the absence of European Gold medallist Mo Farah currently away training in South Africa ahead of the defence of his title in Toro, Spain, next month, finished in 6th place.

The Leicester Owls squad of Steve Platts (16:10.65), Paul Miles (15:50.05), Rory Fraser (15:37.85) and Mark Powell (15:28.00) finished in 20th place overall in a time of 1:03.06.55.

Charnwood’s ‘A’ squad finished in 85th place with their team of Mark Cauldwell (16:58.25) on the opening leg followed by Richard Lee (17:40.30), Kevin Pye (20:00.20) and Tom Whitmore with 18:14.90 bringing them home in 1:12.53.65.

Leicester Coritanian AC had two teams in action in Mansfield, the ‘A’ squad of John Grindley (18:46.45), Phil Hands (19:05.65), S Smith (17:49.85) and Chris Bugh (18:39.10) finished in 97th place overall in a time of 1:14.21.05. Their ‘B’ team finished in 139th place in 1:26.12.25.

Scott Speller anchored home the Harborough ‘A’ team in a time of 1:13.49.75, with the quartet of Peter Swaine (16:32.80), Martin Gore (18:22.35), William Clapp (18:39.00) and Speller (20:15.60). Their ‘B’ squad finished in 135th place in 1:24.40.85.

Wreake Runners clocked 1:21.20.30 to finished in 122nd place with the team of Mark Bush (18:25.75), Kieran Naylor (22:17.00), Andrew Steel (20:19.70) and James Ketteringham (20:17.85).

In the Senior Women's 3x3.3 miles race, Loughborough University graduate Alexa Joel (10:01.95) combined with Harriet Scott (9:51.80) and the impressive Team GB international Faye Fullerton on the anchor leg recording the fastest overall individual leg of 9:44.55 combined to take the Essex based Havering Mayesbrook team to an impressive victory in a time of 29:38.30, finishing 40 seconds clear of Silver medallists and three-time defending champions Charnwood AC (30:18.60), with Aldershot Farnham and District taking Bronze in 30:24.90.

The line-up for the Charnwood ‘A’ team was changed shortly before the start with Hannah Whitmore replacing Tara Krzywicki, suffering with illness, on the opening leg as the 23-year-old reigning Leicestershire county champion recorded 10:15.05 to hand over to the Potter twins Jane (9:59.55) and Juliet (10:04.00) to complete their team.

The Loughborough based club also had a ‘B’ team in action with Catherine Tomaney recording (10:55.80) on the opening leg, a rejuvenated Krzywicki (10:02.20) on stage two followed by Kim Looms clocking 11:01.20 to bring them home in 13th place with a time of 31:59.20.

Leicestershire’s BUSA cross country champion and Team GB representative at the IAAF World Championships in Mombassa back in March, Felicity Milton, running in the colours of Durham University clocked 9:52.05 on the opening leg to record the 7th fastest stage of the day as they finished in 41st place in 35:20.95.

Harborough ‘A’ were represented by Sarah Haines (11:08.15), Karen Brooks (12:14.00) and Maria Kilby (15:06.45) as they finished in 60th place in 38:28.60.

In the Junior events the Leicester Owls produced a fine performance to finish fourth in the Men’s race with Geraint Davies (8:55.65), Edward Highton (9:07.55) and Callum Cullen (9:08.20) clocking 27:11.40 as the City of Norwich team led by the impressive Mitch Goose won the title in 27:00.15.

In the Junior Women’s race the Charnwood team comprizing of university students Gemma Hiller (Loughborough, 8:53.65), Katie Lomas (Loughborough, 9:00.30) and Clare Mensley (Birmingham, 8:39.45) finished in 5th place overall in a combined time of 26:33.40 as the very impressive Aldershot, Farnham & District club completed the double of road and cross country national titles following their superb performance at Birmingham’s Sutton Park last month.

Full results are available at: www.englishcrosscountry.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=39

Birmingham Cross Challenge 2007

Senneleys Park, Birmingham

Saturday 27th October 2007

JEAN NDAYISENGA and Rachel Felton were the major winners at the Birmingham Cross Challenge held at Senneleys Park.

In the Men’s 10km race Birchfield Harrier Jean Ndayisenga held off the challenge of Telford’s flying postman Chris Davies as the Burundi athlete, winner of the Great East Anglian Run back in May of this year, won in a time of 29mins 41secs. Darren Reed representing Bedford & County was third in 20:34.

Defending Birmingham & District League champion Mark Powell representing the Leicester Owls finished in 6th place in 31:08 with Tipton Harriers taking top spot.

The Loughborough Students team finished in 8th place with Blackheath Harrier James Poole leading the way for Loughborough in eighth place overall with a time of 31:37, followed by Dan Ryan 12th (31:54), Adam Peer 13th (32:05). Shane Kerr 27th (33:06), Martin Lewis 48th (34:15) and Ed Womsley 71st (35:05).

Shaftesbury Barnet Harrier Rachel Felton prevailed in the Women’s race, the 28-year-old British Athletics League Golden Jubilee Cup Final 800m Gold medallist clocked 22:57 to finish ahead of the Telford duo of Claire Martin (23:11) and Kim Fawke (23:12).

There was a superb performance from Barrow’s British Masters international Kate Ramsey to take fourth place in 23:15, the 39-year-old mum of two finishing ahead of fellow Leicestershire athlete Hannah Whitmore (23:21) and Notts AC's Nicola Bamford (23:29).

In the team event Telford AC finished ahead of the Loughborough Students squad of Jo Maddick (23:48), Laura Brenton (25:08) and Jessica Dunn (25:30).

Clare Mensley representing Charnwood AC finished third in the Under-20 race in a time of 13:50 won by fellow Birmingham University student Sarah Waldron (13:06) as they dominated the team event.

Full results are available on the following links:

Birmingham District League Senior Men

www.race-results.co.uk/results/2007/birminghammleague.htm

Midland League Senior Women

www.race-results.co.uk/results/2007/birminghamwleague.htm

Photo courtesy of Brian Smith www.dk10k.co.uk

North Midlands Cross Country League 2007/08 – Race No. 1

Wicksteed Park, Kettering

Saturday 13th October 2007

BRITISH Masters international Kate Ramsey powered to victory at the opening fixture of the North Midlands Cross Country League campaign at Kettering’s Wicksteed Park.

Ramsey (39), representing Barrow Runners crossed the line to take her first ever league victory over the challenging 6km course in a time of 22mins 46secs to finish 19 seconds clear of the reigning Leicestershire Under-20 cross country champion Helen Rollins running in the colours of the host team of Kettering Harriers who finished runner-up in 23:04, with Toni Minitti of Redhill Runners third (24:05) as they claimed the overall team victory.

Beverley Gray was the highest placed finisher for Charnwood as the 20-year-old clocked 24:43 to take 6th place. Leicestershire 10,000m track champion Debbie Marsden representing Kettering finished in 13th place in 26:06.

In the Under-15 Girls event the Charnwood team of Iman Barlow (12:28), Lizi Mellor (12:57) and Briony Bendle (13:20) finished in second place in the overall standings.

Former Great Britain Junior cross country international Matt Bowser of Lincoln Wellington won the Men’s 10km in a time of 30:49, 29 seconds clear of his nearest rival, steeplechaser Alex Pilcher representing Derby AC.

Sean Fenwick of Harborough AC, winner of the recent Great Kibworth Half Marathon finished in fourth place in 32:51, whilst, British Masters international Rob Sheen representing Leicester Coritainian’s finished in 10th place in 34:13.

Two of the Leicester Owls squad, Tom Meakin (34:58) and Jason Williams (35:05), also secured top twenty positions in 15th and 16th places respectively.

In the junior races Ashley Chambers representing the Leicester Owls produced a superb performance to win the Under-15 Boys event in a time of 15:16.

Full results are available on the following link: www.northmidsxcleague.co.uk/0708results_kettering.xls

Ron Hill Great Whernside Race

Great Whernside, North Yorkshire

Saturday 6th October 2007

SALLY NEWMAN finished in 13th place overall at the final round of the English Fell Running Championships held at Ron Hill Great Whernside race held in the beautiful surroundings of the North Yorkshire Dales, a position good enough to collect the Vets 40 title for the sixth time in the 46-year-old Wreake athlete’s career.

Over the four mile course that consisted of 1,555 feet of ascent, Newman, running in the colours of Calder Valley crossed the line in a time of 39mins 31secs to take 13th place behind winner Candice Leah of Clayton Le Moors Harriers who claimed victory in 33:10.

Midland Cross Country Relays 2007

Bramcote Park, Nottingham

Saturday 6th October 2007

JANE and JULIET POTTER inspired another excellent team relay performance as the all-conquering Charnwood team comfortably won the 2007 Midland Cross Country Relays held at Nottingham’s Bramcote Park.

Having last month guided Charnwood to their seventh Midland four-stage road relay title, the British international duo combined with top junior Clare Mensley to continued the Loughborough based clubs exception relay reputation completing victory over the 6km Bramcote Park course in a combined time of 58mins 10secs, with Jane recording the fastest overall individual leg of 18:27, followed by Clare in 20:16 and Juliet (pictured above) clocking 19:27 on the anchor leg to bring the team home ahead of Birchfield Harriers (63:58).

This victory once again underlines Charnwood’s overwhelming position as the finest female relay team in the United Kingdom as they now hold all of the domestic national and territorial championship titles on both the cross country and the roads, plus they also represented Great Britain at the European Clubs Championships in Istanbul back in March when finishing in 7th place.

Such is their depth of talent that the ‘B’ team of Katie Lomas (21:27), Beverley Gray (22:11) and Amber Magee (22:56) finished in the Bronze medal position with a time of 66:34. British Masters international Nicola Thompson also ran solo for the Charnwood ‘C’ team clocking 22:17.

Harborough AC finished in 10th place overall with their team of Karen Brooks (24:36), Nicola James (26:59) and Lianne Brooks (27:07) recording a combined time of 78:42.

In the Men’s four-stage event victory went to the powerful Tipton Harriers squad as the Birmingham based team finished ahead of Mansfield Harriers in a combined time of 69:27. Mark Dalkins ran the fastest overall individual leg as the 37-year-old recorded 16:49 to set them on their way to victory with Dan Beier (17:10), Leicestershire based Nigel Stirk (17:51) and Matt Lockett (17:37) completing the team. Telford AC finished third to take the Bronze medals in 72:25.

Harborough AC finished in 13th place overall with the squad of Sean Fenwick, winner of the Great Kibworth Half Marathon the previous week recording their fastest leg in 17:41, combined with Jason Pitcher (19:53), Richard Brown (22:52) and Tony Harrison (22:45) as they clocked a time of 83:11.

Leicester Coritanian AC recorded 87:28 to finish in 20th place overall with their team consisting of John Grindley (20:14), Phil Hands (20:14), Bill Winter (24:59) and L Berridge (22:01).

Wreake Runners were also in action in Nottingham, the team of Andrew Steel (22:04), Shane Godrich (24:38), Kevin Cope (24:47) and James Ketteringham (21:43) recorded an overall time of 94:28 to finish in 24th place.

Harborough AC ‘B’ team finished in 25th place in 94:28, with Scott Speller (23:07), Peter Leach (25:29), Stuart Avins (24:56) and Kyle Barber (20:56) completing their squad.

Full results are available on the following link: www.midlandathletics.org.uk/Results_CC_relays_2007.pdf

2007 Buzz Fitness Crossdale 10K Trail Race

Keyworth, Nottingham

Sunday 23rd September 2007

BRITISH international Felicity Milton and Beaumont’s Phil Chritchlow were the impressive individual winners of the 2007 Buzz Fitness Crossdale 10K Trail Race held at Keyworth in Nottinghamshire.

Durham University student Felicity Milton from Exton in Rutland has been in scintillating form over the summer months with impressive victories in the Peterborough Grand Prix Series and at the recent inaugural Hermitage 10km and the 20-year-old Team GB representative at last year’s European Cross Country Championships in Milan continued this rich vein by completed another impressive win clocking a time of 36mins 14secs to finish in third place overall.

With the new cross country season due to start in the next few weeks Milton will now target a place on the Great Britain team for the 2007 European’s that take place in the Spanish town of Toro on the outskirts of Madrid on 9th December.

Leicestershire based Kettering Harrier Helen Rollins finished second in 40:19 this after having also ran at the Midland 4-Stage event in Birmingham the previous day. Beaumont’s Wendy Joy finished first female Veteran in a time of 42:57.

Reigning Derby Runner Cross Country League champion Phil Chritchlow representing Beaumont won the Men’s race in style as the 39-year-old finished sixteen seconds ahead of the field in a time of 34:37 ahead of Redhill’s Matthew Clapp and third placed Alan Seamer of Long Eaton.

Jake Harrison of Barrow Runners produced a fine performance to win the Junior Men’s category in 44:58.

Full results are available on the following link: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ruthildavies/Crossdale10k/2007%20Results/all10k2007.htm

Race the Train

Tywyn, Wales

Saturday 18th August 2007

TARA KRZYWICKI claimed her third consecutive event victory at the 24th annual ‘Race the Train’ multi-terrain races held in the Welsh town of Tywyn.

Krzywicki, the 33-year-old Charnwood AC athlete has been in scintillating form over the summer on the roads and used her strength gained from being a top class British international cross country runner to great effect as she battled constant rain and windy conditions to win the 10km race in some style in a time of 42 minutes having taken victory in the full 14 mile event in 2005 and 2006. Gemma Steel representing Hermitage Harriers finished runner-up over five-minutes adrift.

Gareth Raven of Manchester's Sale club who opened a gap of over six and a half minutes by the finish to complete his third victory in the main race in a time of 1.23.02 and beat the train over the course that follows the route taken by the Talyllyn Railway on the journey to Abergynolwyn and back. The course used a mixture of public roads, lanes, un-metalled roads, tracks, agricultural land, and rough grazing pastures.

Raven of Sale Harriers, a previous winner of the Ashby 20 smashed the course record in 2005 with a time of 1:09.23 to claim victory, having finished second the previous year, however, the difficult weather conditions slowed his pace.

Leicestershire club athletes were well represented with Beaumont’s Derby Runner Cross Country League champion Phil Chritchlow finished third ahead of the train in the main race with team mate Debbie Marsden finishing in 6th place (second senior) in her debut in the event narrowly missing the train, Birstall’s Sue Black claimed 11th place.

Full results are available on the following link: www.racethetrain.co.uk

Oaks in Charnwood, Leicestershire

Monday 28th May 2007

THE full results of the Oaks in Charnwood Cross Country Challenge Race 2007 held on Spring Bank Holiday Monday 28th May are listed below:
Full Results:
Mixed
1 RICHARD BROWN 49.10 2 IAN PARAMORE 49.12; 3 TINO VALENTINO 50.18; 4 MARK MORGAN 50.28; 5 DAVE RUTHERFORD 51.05; 6 SHANE GOLDRICK 51.12; 7 ROB SALT 51.22; 8 JOHN REES 51.57; 9 LEON FAIRBROTHER 52.17; 10 ADRIAN HALL 52.25; 11 DAVE WALKER 52.52; 12 ALFONSO JIMINEZ 53.35; 13 ZOE HAWKINS 53.54; 14 NICKI THOMPSON 54.02; 15 PAUL HANNAH 54.33; 16 STEWART OWEN 56.18; 17 JOHN HEAP 56.39; 18 PETER WHITEHEAD 56.42; 19 ANDY STEEL 56.48; 20 DAVE LODWICK 56.52; 21 JOHN UPTON 56.58; 22 MICK YEOMAN 57.08; 23 MICK DAVIES 57.12; 24 MARK JELLEY 57.18; 25 KEVAN NAYLOR 57.50; 26 JAMES DEWICK 58.26; 27 ANDY BLACKFORD 58.40; 28 PAT CHRISTOPHER 58.42; 29 BORIS MORGAN 58.43; 30 JENNI MUSTON 58.45; 31 JAMES CARRUTHERS 58.50; 32 MALCOLM HARRIS 58.51; 33 MARK JAMES 59.11; 34 DAVE MANN 59.48; 35 TONY KING 60.07; 36 MONIQUE RAAJMAKERS 60.24; 37 PAUL ZURAWLIN 60.24; 38 JENNI NEWTON 61.53; 39 BRIAN BARNETT 62.24; 40 RON BARDSLEY 68.48; 41 PAUL GARRETT 68.56; 42 CHARITY KING 69.00; 43 JOHN STARBUCK 70.05; 44 DAVID HALL 70.35; 45 GEORGE HUDSON 71.05; 46 KEVIN SANDERS 71.08; 47 PAUL UPTON 71.34; 48 AMANDA HANNAH 72.00; 49 STEPHEN HAWKINS 74.17; 50 JANE DANVERS 81.25; 51 STEVE HIBBEN 96.30

UK Athletics –Press Release

Thursday 19th April 2007

The UK Cross Challenge Series is being trimmed next winter to make it more attractive to leading endurance athletes.

The series, which had been credited with playing a huge part in the increasing number of medals won by Norwich Union Great Britain and Northern Ireland teams at European Cross Country Championships over the last decade, is without a title sponsor.

This means it is being financed by UK Athletics. But entry figures, particularly in the senior races, over the last two winters have given a strong message that prize levels must be moved up to match those of road races if standards are to be maintained.

So the UKA Endurance Event Management Group has decided to stage four meetings for Seniors, Under 20s, Under 17s, Under 15s and Under 13s next winter:

Beginning at the Gateshead International, which returns to the calendar on 10th November; when the European Trials are staged in Sefton Park, Liverpool, on 24th November; with the IAAF Permit meeting at Stormont, Belfast, on 5th January; the finals incorporated into the UK Inter-Counties Championships in Wollaton Park, Nottingham, on 15th March.

UKA Senior Coordinator for Endurance Spencer Barden said: “In an ideal world, there would also be a meeting in February to maintain the momentum. We attempted to move the Cardiff meeting, but it would have clashed with the Wales v Scotland and we would have not been able to find accommodation.

“We were also extremely conscious that the fixture list during that period is packed with championships and the Edinburgh International.

“But the most important aspect is the UK Cross Challenge prize structure, which is key to attracting more of our leading senior athletes. After all, the purpose of the series is to encourage our best and most ambitious athletes to improve by racing against each other frequently.

“This has not been happening because non-Lottery funded athletes have found it more lucrative to race abroad or on the roads over the past couple of years. We will now be able to increase Cross Challenge rewards by sharing the budget among fewer meetings. The prize structure will be announced in a few weeks.”

The first Cross Challenge series, 10 years ago, contained four meetings. Since then it has fluctuated between four and six. And Barden said: “No doubt there will be changes in the future – in venues and quantity – as we continue to react to the needs of the athletes.”

Notts Easter 10km

Wollaton Park, Nottingham

Monday 9th April 2007 - Updated

JULIET POTTER secured a fine Bank Holiday victory at the Notts Easter 10km race, an event that attracted an entry of over four hundred runners to the beautiful surroundings of Nottingham’s Wollaton Park, venue for the UK Cross Challenge and Inter-Counties race.

Potter, the 23-year-old British international and current Nottinghamshire County 1500m champion from West Bridgeford, who alongside twin sister Jane is part of the current hugely talented ‘golden generation’ of athletes that make up the impressive female squad at Charnwood AC, was the clear winner over the two-lap undulating course around the imposing Wollaton Hall, now fully open following the extensive £9m restoration, crossing the line in a time of 35mins 49secs, ahead of Mansfield’s Liz Lilley, second in 38:38, with Gemma Steel representing Hermitage Harriers third in 40:12.

Billy Farquharson claimed a home win for the host club in the Men’s race as the 31-year-old former English cross country champion warmed-up for next weekends Nike National 12-Stage Relays at Sutton Park, where he hopes to guide Notts AC to the domestic double having won the Midland Territorial Championships at the same Birmingham venue at beginning of the month. Farquharson winning in 33:19, ahead of Beaumont’s Phil Chritchlow, second in 33:37.

Full results are available on the following link: www.nottsac.co.uk

British Masters Cross Country Championships 2007

Berry Hill Park, Mansfield

Saturday 24th March 2007

THE defending and two-time champion Kate Ramsey produced a brave performance to secure a Silver medal at the British Masters Cross Country Championships held at one of the United Kingdom's favourite venues, Mansfield’s Berry Hill Park, home of the autumn AAA relays.

Ramsey (38) running in the Vet 35 category representing Barrow Runners suffered a slight relapse with her long-term disc problem, combined with a cold that hampered her race preparations in the week leading up to the event, nevertheless the Loughborough athlete is always a very determined and focused athlete and despite her problems made the start line in Mansfield to put in a spirited run in the race won by Sinfin’s former England international Claire Woolis in a time of 22mins 15secs.

Woolis, who by her own admission feels more at home on the roads, led for virtually the whole of the 6km two-lap race building a ten-metre advantage by the end of the opening half with Long Eaton’s Vet 40 Sharon Orridge and Jane Clark of Windsor, Slough and Eaton, combined with Ramsey, making up the chasing pack. Woolis continued to apply the pressure throughout the second lap to come home and take the title, finishing ahead of Orridge (22:22), with Ramsey holding off Cirencester’s Jane Wassell to take third place overall to secure second Vet 35 in 22:37.

Ramsey was philosophical afterwards reflecting on her performance, commenting: “My hip was quite bad after a training session the previous week and then I got a cold and haven’t run since.”

Fellow British international and former team mate at Charnwood, Nicola Thompson, finished in 16th place overall, 10th Vet 35, as the 39-year-old crossed the line in a time of 24:12.

Full results available on the British Masters official web-site at: www.bmaf.org.uk

2007 IAAF World Cross Country Championships

Mombasa, Kenya - Women's Race

Saturday 24th March 2007

LORNAH KIPLAGAT, the Kenyan-born athlete representing the Netherlands, upset the pre-race favourite Tirunesh Dibaba to win the Women's title at the World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa.

Kiplagat, who won Silver in Japan last year, became the first European to win the world title since Britain's Paula Radcliffe in Dublin back in 2002.

The 32-year-old who is married to her Dutch manager Pieter Langerhorst crossed the line a time of 26mins 23secs over the 8km course with Ethiopian's Dibaba and Meselech Melkamu second and third just one second separating them.

Britain's Hattie Dean and Hayley Yelling were 15th and 16th in 28:53 and 28:48 respectively, Rutland’s Felicity Milton appearing in her first major world championship event secured a top-fifty finish in 49th place as the 20-year-old Durham University student recorded a time of 30:26. Brunel's Ellie Baker finished in 60th place in 30:59, whilst Bristol’s Kate Reed failed to finish.

Ethiopia won the team event ahead of the host nation of Kenya with Morocco third. The Great Britain & Northern Ireland team finished in 5th place.

Kiplagat commented afterwards: "I think it’s also about a bit of experience. Last year I surprised myself being second, so this time I knew what I could do and I became a winner. "Anything today for me today less than second, meant I was loser. "I realised they were not so close to me and it could be too hot for them, so I just concentrated and thought 'This will be my last cross country anyway so let's give it a try’."

Linet Chepkwemoi Barasa won the Junior 6km race in controversial style with a time of 20:52 as the Kenyan miss-read the course and appeared to stop with a lap remaining, compatriots Mercy Jelimo Kosgei finished second in 20:59 with Veronica Nyaruai Wanjiru taking Bronze in 21:10.

Charlotte Purdue (Aldershot, Farnham and District AC) led the way for Great Britain as the 15-year-old UK Inter-Counties champion finished in a well-deserved 15th place in a time of 22:00, this after lying in 33rd place at the end of the opening 2km lap.

Purdue was following over the line by Emily Pidgeon (Gloucester AC) who was 17th in 22:07, Jessica Coulson (Stockport Harriers) 26th in 22:38, Olivia Kenney (Royal Sutton Coldfield) 38th in 23:22, Sian Edwards (Kettering Town Harriers) 40th in 23:41 and Stevie Stockton (Vale Royal) on her debut finished 52nd in 24:21.

The British team were the highest placed European nation finishing fifth with 96 points behind Kenya (13), Eritrea (33), Ethiopia (36) and Japan (61).

Full results are available on the following link:
www.iaaf.org/WXC07/results/byEvent.html

2007 IAAF World Cross Country Championships

Mombasa, Kenya - Men's Race

Saturday 24th March 2007

ERITREA'S Zersenay Tadesse took full advantage as the pre-race favourite Kenenisa Bekele's representing Ethiopia pulled-out on the final fourth lap of the 12km race to win the Men’s IAAF World Cross Country title in the heat of Mombasa.

Bekele, was heavily favoured to collect his sixth straight title, and was leading comfortably on the final lap but dramatically slowed down and stepped off the course leaving the 25-year-old Tadesse, the current IAAF World Road Running champion, to sprint past to cross the line in a winning time of 35mins 49secs to take the title ahead of Kenyan’s Moses Mosop and Bernard Kipyego.

Bekele sighted his withdrawal from the race due to stomach pains caused by intense heat and humidity.

Britain's European champion Mo Farah recovered from a slow start to finish in a fine 10th place with a time of 37:31 as Team GB finished 8th overall. Kenya were the emphatic team champions with a total score of 28 points, with Morocco second (146) and Uganda third (185).

Tadesse, who trains part of the year in Spain, said that preparation there last year helped him for the conditions here. “I trained quite a bit in heat similar to this,” he said. Tadesse said he didn’t feel surprised when he caught up and passed Bekele, and didn’t realize that he had dropped out. “I just didn’t see him.”

Britain’s other entrants Michael Skinner (Blackheath Harriers and Bromley AC) was 62nd in 39:40, Jason Ward (Altrincham AC) 70th in 39:58, Phil Nicholls (Tipton Harriers) 74th in 40:11, Alan Buckley (Gateshead Harriers) 79th in 40:20, Phil Wicks (Belgrave Harriers) 82nd in 40:25, Ben Noad (Highgate Harriers) 101st in 41:21 and Steve Vernon (Stockport Harriers) 113th in 42:00.

In the Junior 8km race Great Britain & Northern Ireland finished in 13th place, one place behind the other highest scoring European squad, Germany – in an event dominated by the African nations with Kenya producing a home victory ahead of Eritrea and Ethiopia with Asbel Kiprop taking the Gold.

Nuneaton Harrier Lee Carey led the way for Team GB finishing in 58th place in 27:17, as he was followed by Andrew Livingstone (Thurrock Harriers) 72nd in 27:47, Conor McNulty (Kilbarchan AAC) 77th in 28:00, Ben Lindsay (Pendle AC) 87th in 28:31 and David Forrester (St Helens Sutton AC) 89th in 28:33. Southend's Adam Hickey dropped out with a sore calf.

Full results are available on the following link:
www.iaaf.org/WXC07/results/byEvent.html

Rhayader Round The Lakes 20

Rhayader, Powys

Sunday 18th March 2007

PHIL CHRITCHLOW claimed an impressive victory at the very challenging Rhayader Round The Lakes 20 mile race that was held in the Elan Valley in Powys, mid-Wales.

Chritchlow, the 39-year-old representing Beaumont Running Club, who last month successfully defended his Derby Runner Cross Country Championship title, crossed the line over a minute clear of the field in a time of 2hrs 44secs, finishing ahead of the Welsh duo of Cardiff’s Matthew Collins (2:01.55) and third placed Andrew Jones of Neath (2:06.15).

The event took place over a stunningly beautiful course around the Elan Valley on a single lap starting from the Leisure Centre in Rhayader, and consisted of two small laps in Toen before heading out of town along the Old Aberystwyth Road before following an undulating course surrounding the rest of the Dams in the area.

Saucony English National Cross Country Championships 2007

Herrington Country Park, Sunderland

Saturday 10th March 2007

FRANK TICKNER and Liz Yelling comfortably won the Senior titles at the Saucony English National Cross Country Championships held in windy conditions at the Herrington Country Park in Sunderland.

Tickner completed an impressive domestic grand slam as the 23-year-old Birmingham University student added the national crown to the UK Cross Challenge, and BUSA World Trials titles he won last month at Nottingham and Bath respectively, this after having already won the European Trials at Liverpool back in November.

In the muddy conditions of Sunderland the Wells City Harrier crossed the line 40 seconds clear of the field in the Men’s Senior 15km race in a time of 37mins 31secs to hold off the challenge of Bedford’s international marathon specialist Huw Lobb and third placed Sale Harrier Gavin Raven.

Tickner said: "I didn't start off too quickly and just felt really good. It was one of those rare occasions when you feel fine right through the race.

"I managed to push it up the hills and into the wind. Hugh Lobb kept up with me for the first lap but once I shook him off and I knew I was clear, I could push on."

Leicestershire County cross country champion Mark Powell representing the Leicester Owls finished in 21st place in a time of 39:25 with Tim Hartley running in the colours of Notts AC finishing 27th in 39:29.

In the Men’s Junior 10km race Loughborough student Kevin Deighton won the title as the 19-year-old Bridlington athlete crossed the line in a time of 32:12, Leicester Owls Rory Fraser, who as with Deighton represented Great Britain at last year’s European Championships in San Giorgio su Legnano, Milan, finished in fifth place in 32:44 as the Wigston based team claimed fourth place overall

Loughborough based Liz Yelling currently in training for next months Flora London Marathon finished well ahead of her sister-in-law Hayley, who will represent Great Britain at the forthcoming IAAF World Championships Mombasa, Kenya, the 32-year-old Commonwealth Bronze medallist recording a winning time of 28:56 in the Women’s Senior 8km event to secure her third national title having previously won in 2001 and 2002.

Yelling commented afterwards: "It was a real cross-country course - it's fantastic to run in such a big parkland."

Loughborough University graduate Louise Damen was third for Winchester in 29:40 as they won the team title.

Hannah Whitmore, the Leicestershire County champion, representing Charnwood finished in 12th place in 31:06, the 23-year-old who secured team Gold for Great Britain at the European's in Milan commented afterwards: “It was a bit of an adventure having to travel to Sunderland, it actually took us 5 hours to travel up here on Friday because of bad traffic! It was a nightmare, but was well worth it when I was there though, I was very pleased with my run and although it was one place further down to my position at the Inter Counties I actually felt as though this was a slightly better run.”

Leicester Coritanian’s fine young squad secured a well-deserved team Bronze in the Under-13 Girl’s race, with Freya Vincent in 20th place, April Beeby 26th, Sarah Dias 27th and Georgie Brookes in 32nd position completing their team. Victory went to East Cheshire with Aldershot Farnham & District second.
Leicestershire athletes and Loughborough University students individual and club results:
Men
Senior Men (15km):
1 F Tickner (Wells City) 37:31; 2 H Lobb (Bed) 38:11; 3 G Raven (Sale) 38:14; 21 M Powell (Owls) 39:25; 27 T Hartley (Notts) 39:29; 82 S Platts (Owls) 41:00; 90 C O’Neill (Owls) 41:19; 94 J Boxell (Owls) 41:24; 109 R Falkner (Owls) 41:47; 141 T Meakin (Owls) 42:42; 173 T Doran (Owls) 43:27; 292 S Coastall (Harb) 46:04; 516 N Wilson (Nun) 50:30; 541 J Rees (Barr) 51:02
Team:
1 Leeds City 162pts, 2 Bedford and County 226pts, 3 Sale Harriers Manchester 287pts, 4 Notts AC 290pts, 10 Leicester Owls 537pts
Junior Men (10km):
1 K Deighton (Bridlington/LSAC) 32:12; 5 R Fraser (Owls/Leeds Met) 32:44; 32 C Cullen (Owls) 34:32; 41 E Highton (Owls) 34:32; 44 G Davies (Owls) 34:59; 96 S May (Owls) 37:25
Team:
1 Liverpool Harriers 87pts, 2 Morpeth Harriers 109pts, 3 Aldershot Farnham & District 116pts, 4 Leicester Owls 122pts
Under-17 Men (6km):
1 D Forrester (St Helens) 20:38; 12 T Bell (Owls) 21:35; 41 T Mahon (Owls) 22:27; 64 M Brind (Charn) 23:02; 65 B Lacey (Charn) 23:02; 69 S Baxter (Charn) 23:08; 110 E Glaister (Leics Cor) 23:58; 151 A Lomas (Charn) 25:11; 160 D Nutt (Leics Cor) 25:53
Team:
1 Aldershot Farnham & District 125pts, 2 Warrington 125pts, 3 Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers 136pts, 9 Charnwood 349pts
Under-15 Boys (4.5km):
1 N Young (Mendip) 15:01; 52 S Stabler (Owls) 16:15; 54 G Buttery (Charn) 16:17; 84 D Hallam (Owls) 16:41; 103 L Smart (Owls) 17:00; 211 L Baxter (Charn) 18:27; 238 N Rees (Charn) 19:37; 252 J Wilson (Nun) 20:17; 260 S Milodowski (Charn) 20:41
Team:
1 Tonbridge 41pts, 2 Aldershot Farnham & District 61pts, 3 Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton Harriers 162pts; 24 Charnwood 763pts
Under-13 Boys (3km):
1 T Purnell (Stroud) 10:22; 108 R Radley (Owls) 11:56; 117 C Brooks (Leics Cor) 11:59; 130 J McTighe (Owls) 12:08; 141 S Ashman (Owls) 12:12; 155 J Nutt (Leics Cor) 12:22; 178 T Preston (Owls) 12:42; 181 X Tansey (Leics Cor) 12:46; 186 H Buttery (Charn) 12:49; 193 J Monk (Leics Cor) 12:53; 195 S Moore (Charn) 12:53
Team:
1 Tonbridge 117pts, 2 Aldershot Farnham & District 132pts, 3 Bedford & County 145pts, 20 Leicester Owls 557pts, 22 Leicester Coritanian 646pts
Women
Senior Women (8km):
1 L Yelling (Bed) 28:56; 2 H Yelling (Windsor S E H) 29:35; 3 L Damen (Winchester/LSAC) 29:40; 12 H Whitmore (Charn) 31:06; 30 S Young (Highgate/Beau) 32:31; 61 L Brenton (Team Southampton/LSAC) 33:54; 69 S Richards (Bristol/LSAC) 34:21; 85 N Thompson (Charn) 34:54; 90 S Haines (Harb) 35:07; 226 S Wilson (Nun) 41:47; 273 L Farrow (Harb) 46:54
Team:
1 Winchester & District 41pts, 2 Telford 123pts, 3 Bingley Harriers 145pts
Junior Women (5km):
1 J Sparke (Woodford) 17:03; 5 R Senior (Norwich/LSAC)) 14:49; 12 J Maddick (Kingston/LSAC) 18:13; 14 G Hillier (Charn/LSAC) 18:19; 18 C Foley (Nene/LSAC) 18:27; 27 H Rollins (Kettering) 18:44; 39 K Lomas (Charn/LSAC) 19:34
Team:
1 Bristol & West 73pts, 2 Woodford Green with Essex Ladies 76pts, 3 Vale Royal 119pts
Under-17 Girls (5km):
1 C Purdue (Aldershot) 19:34; 31 J Gurney (Charn) 19:51; 38 A Magee (Charn) 19:34; 87 E Milodowski (Charn) 21:10
Team:
1 Rotherham 55pts, 2 Royal Sutton Coldfield 88pts, 3 Aldershot Farnham & District 155pts
Under-15 Girls (4km):
1 L Park (Ellenborough) 16:33; 21 L Crookes (Leics Cor) 18:06; 47 I Al Rabiah (Charn) 18:40; 74 L Monk (Leics Cor) 19:27; 144 J Smith (Wreake) 20:23; 185 C Robertson (Leics Cor) 21:10; 222 K Oakes (Charn) 22:24
Team:
1 Aldershot Farnham & District 68pts, 2 Bedford & County 184pts, 3 Royal Sutton Coldfield 203pts
Under-13 Girls (3km):
1 E Goreka (Aldershot) 10:44; 20 F Vincent (Leics Cor) 11:53; 26 A Beeby (Leics Cor) 11:59; 27 S Dias (Leics Cor) 12:01; 32 G Brookes (Leics Cor) 12:06; 46 M Fairbrother (Leics Cor) 12:17; 67 E Orton (Leics Cor) 12:37; 81 L Botham (Charn) 12:44; 87 J Mellor (Leics Cor) 12:44; 103 L Arkinstall (Charn) 12:56; 146 E Jones (Charn) 13:18; 166 H Smith (Leics Cor) 13:30; 182 O Tansey (Leics Cor) 13:40; 191 H Connolly (Charn) 13:44
Team:
1 East Cheshire 47pts, 2 Aldershot Farnham & District 64pts, 3 Leicester Coritanian 105pts, 14 Charnwood 446pts

Full results available on the following link: www.race-results.co.uk/results/2007/natxc07.htm

UK Cross Challenge 2006/07

(incorp. Inter-Counties Championships)

Wollaton Park, Nottingham

Saturday 24th February 2007 - Updated with results

FRANK TICKNER and Hayley Yelling both produced superb performances as they showed their international class to dominate the Senior races at the UK Cross Challenge final held over a very muddy and demanding course at Nottingham’s Wollaton Park.

The Men’s Senior race had a surprise guest runner with a streaker amongst the leaders, taking advantage of live television coverage on Sky to make himself look an even bigger idiot, fortunately for all he was left well behind by ‘real’ athletes with defending champion Dominic Banister moving quickly into his stride making the early running to create a big lead a head of a group that included the UKA Trials winner and British Universities champion Frank Tickner, who will miss the World Championships to concentrate on his exams at Birmingham University, Ben Noad and Tickner’s brother Ben making up the chasing pack. They were also joined by Notts AC’s Alan Buckley, as Bannister, looking confident and flying the flag for the over-thirties made the brave but ultimately floored attempt to win from the front.

With 7km to go the chasing pack began to make serious inroads into the lead with Tickner and Noad working well together to close the gap on the hilly section to power past Bannister, who will miss the World’s as he wants to concentrate on his lowering his half marathon and road times. The race pattern from that point was then set as the final result came down to a straight battle between the Avon and Somerset team mates Noad and Tickner, with both looking strong and confident. Leicestershire’s Tim Hartley producing a solid performance running well was lying in sixth place behind Notts team mate Buckley and steeplechaser Jermaine Mays.

As the race entered the final two-kilometre Tickner’s class began to show through as he began to make a decisive move producing a slight gap separating he Noad, a margin that was to increased dramatically over the next kilometre as Tickner looked more confident, running in a straight line through the mud rather than looking for the clean grass along the taped edges, Bannister in third maintained his composure to consolidate his position.

Tickner, coached by Bud Baldaro at Birmingham, over the final 1,000m really under-lined his pre-race favourite tag by pulling away from Noad, who will marry his fiancée in New Jersey two-weeks after the World Championships, resigning himself to the Silver medal position as Tickner at just 23 years of age became the youngest winner of the Inter-Counties Championships since Christen Stevenson ten-years earlier crossing the line in a time of 39mins 25secs to produce a brilliant winning performance. Noad ever-determined to the end finished second in 39:35, with defending champion Bannister holding off the challenge of Mays to take third place in 39:46.

A delighted Tickner commented afterwards: “It’s been a good winter, not as expected with my finals exams, it’s my third domestic victory of the season having won the trials and the next target is the Nationals in two-weeks time,” he continued: “It was very hard today the second lap was tough.” Reflecting on his decision to miss the World’s he said: “I made the decision to concentrate on my studies, it’s a little annoying but that’s how it goes.”

Loughborough University student Kevin Deighton moved through the field to finish in 6th place in a time of 40:29 representing Humberside. Tim Hartley running the colours of Leicestershire and Rutland held on to finish with a well-deserved top ten place in 9th position as the 38-year-old recorded a time of 40:48. Leicestershire County champion Mark Powell finished in 15th place in 41:30.

In the Senior Women’s 8km race former European champion Hayley Yelling simply blew the field apart as the Middlesex athlete stormed to victory with a gun-to-tape demolition to secure a remarkable 19th individual UK Cross Challenge win.

With World trial winner Kate Reed absent, defending champion Hatti Dean was expected to go head to head with Yelling, however it was the Windsor, Slough and Eaton athlete who surprised the field by making a storming start race powering away from the field with a strong opening kilometre making light work of the heavy conditions to build up an amazing and unassailable lead of ten seconds on the chasing pack led by Dean, with Leicestershire’s Tara Krzywicki, the 2000 UK Cross Challenge champion sporting a pair of Paula Radcliffe style socks, lying in fourth place.

As Yelling continued to increase the lead Loughborough University graduate Louise Damen representing Hampshire moved into second place with Hertfordshire’s steeplechaser Lizzie Hall, the 2006 BUSA champion in third. Damen who has returned to the sport following a long injury lay-off picked her way through the course to try and stay in contention as the 32-year-old Yelling, who as with Dean has been pre-selected for Mombasa, turned the event into a demonstration race with producing a real class performance even lapping the back markers as she came into the finish to take the championship victory and Gold medal in front of the large appreciative crowd with a winning time of 29:33, Damen was second with a fine run in 29:54 and Oxford’s Dean third in 30:11.

A smiling Yelling commenting on her fine victory said: “I really enjoyed this, I wanted a good run before I went out to Kenya, I thought I’d gone to fast in the opening stretch out on my own.” Reflecting on the upcoming World Championships she said, “It’s going to be difficult, but were going out to South Africa first so it should be good fun.”

Tara Krzywicki finished in 10th place in 31:06, with Charnwood team mate and county champion Hannah Whitmore, celebrating her 23rd Birthday, just one place behind in 11th with 31:12 leading the way for Leicestershire in the absence of British Universities champion Felicity Milton, already pre-selected for the World’s and the marathon specialist Beth Eburne opting to miss the event. Kate Ramsey, who controversially missed out on selection for the Japan World’s last year finished in 54th place in 33:06 as Leicestershire claimed 10th place in the team event.

Whitmore will join Phil Banning’s group next month for warm weather training in Portugal in preparation for the outdoor season, commenting on her performance she said: "I was really pleased with my run, although it was much muddier than normal which made it quite heavy going. I think I was only just inside the top 30 on the first lap so was quite pleased that I managed to work my way through the field as much as I did."

Next year the UK Cross Challenge final will take on an even greater importance as it will be held two weeks before the 2008 IAAF World Cross Country Championships that take place in Edinburgh, and will feature the trials for Team GB with the squads selected on their performances in Nottingham.

Here’s how the action unfolded in each race over a busy afternoon at Wollaton Park.
Men
Senior Men’s (12km)

The Men’s Senior race had a surprise guest runner with a streaker amongst the leaders, taking advantage of live television coverage on Sky to make himself look an even bigger idiot, fortunately for all he was left well behind by ‘real’ athletes with defending champion Dominic Banister moving quickly into his stride making the early running to create a big lead a head of a group that included the UKA Trials winner and British Universities champion Frank Tickner, who will miss the World Championships to concentrate on his exams at Birmingham University, Ben Noad and Tickner’s brother Ben making up the chasing pack. They were also joined by Notts AC’s Alan Buckley, as Bannister, looking confident and flying the flag for the over-thirties made the brave but ultimately floored attempt to win from the front.

With 7km to go the chasing pack began to make serious inroads into the lead with Tickner and Noad working well together to close the gap on the hilly section to power past Bannister, who will miss the World’s as he wants to concentrate on his lowering his half marathon and road times. The race pattern from that point was then set as the final result came down to a straight battle between the Avon and Somerset team mates Noad and Tickner, with both looking strong and confident. Leicestershire’s Tim Hartley producing a solid performance running well was lying in sixth place behind Notts team mate Buckley and steeplechaser Jermaine Mays.

As the race entered the final two-kilometre Tickner’s class began to show through as he began to make a decisive move producing a slight gap separating he Noad, a margin that was to increased dramatically over the next kilometre as Tickner looked more confident, running in a straight line through the mud rather than looking for the clean grass along the taped edges, Bannister in third maintained his composure to consolidate his position.

Tickner, coached by Bud Baldaro at Birmingham, over the final 1,000m really under-lined his pre-race favourite tag by pulling away from Noad, who will marry his fiancée in New Jersey two-weeks after the World Championships, resigning himself to the Silver medal position as Tickner at just 23 years of age became the youngest winner of the Inter-Counties Championships since Christen Stevenson ten-years earlier crossing the line in a time of 39mins 25secs to produce a brilliant winning performance. Noad ever-determined to the end finished second in 39:35, with defending champion Bannister holding off the challenge of Mays to take third place in 39:46.

A delighted Tickner commented afterwards: “It’s been a good winter, not as expected with my finals exams, it’s my third domestic victory of the season having won the trials and the next target is the Nationals in two-weeks time,” he continued: “It was very hard today the second lap was tough.” Reflecting on his decision to miss the World’s he said: “I made the decision to concentrate on my studies, it’s a little annoying but that’s how it goes.”

Loughborough University student Kevin Deighton moved through the field to finish in 6th place in a time of 40:29 representing Humberside. Tim Hartley running the colours of Leicestershire and Rutland held on to finish with a well-deserved top ten place in 9th position as the 38-year-old recorded a time of 40:48. Leicestershire County champion Mark Powell finished in 15th place in 41:30.
Results:
1 F Tickner (Avon) 39:25; 2 B Noad (Avon) 39:35; 3 D Bannister (North East) 39:46; 9 T Hartley (Leics) 40:48; 15 M Powell (Leics) 41:30; 54 S Platts (Leics) 42:50; 97 C O’Neill (Leics) 43:56; 110 R Lee (Leics) 44:20
Team:
1 Avon & Somerset 162pts, 2 Kent 182pts, 3 Yorkshire 241pts
Junior Men (8km)

Nuneaton’s Lee Carey chasing a hat-trick of victories went out with the pace on the opening lap in the first race of the day, with all the athletes making good use of being first out on the course, made softer from over night rain. Carey representing Warwickshire, who made his debut for Team GB at the 2006 IAAF World Championships in Fukuoko, Japan, faced a strong battle from Hertfordshire’s Jon Pepper and Adam Hickey of Essex over the opening 2km, over the hilly section a group of five made the break from the field that was then whittled down to four running side-by-side exchanging the lead with the impressive Pepper applying the pressure to take on the mantle that stretched out the group with 3k to go.

From that point forward Pepper was the strongest of the leaders pulling away from Hickey, with Carey in third beginning to fade slightly. However, the race was Pepper’s as he powered onto victory with a final kilometre surge to take the title in a time of 27:04, finishing ahead of Scotland’s Connor McNulty, second in 27:07, with Adam Hickey third in 27:13, with all three qualifying for the Mombasa World Championships, Carey finishing in fifth place in 27:27, but with six being selected for Team GB he will almost certainly make the team.
Results:
1 J Pepper (Hert) 27:04; 2 C McNulty (Scot W) 27:07; 3 A Hickey (Essex) 27:13; 5 L Carey (Warks) 27:27; 22 E Highton (Leics) 28:30; 49 G Davies (Leics) 29:36; 67 C Cullen (Leics) 30:08; 118 S May (Leics) 31:37; 143 M Godrich (Leics) 32:42
Team:
1 Scotland West 84pts, 2 North East 103pts, 3 Merseyside 110pts, 12 Leicestershire & Rutland 256pts
Under-17 Men (6km)

As with the trend of the day an athlete went out from the start well ahead of the field in the shape of Essex’s Ben Hunter, although he was soon pulled in as was predictable in such a competitive race over the ever-increasingly difficult conditions, this left Ross Murray representing the North East Counties to stamp his class on the race with a confident relaxed style of running to ease his way to victory by a margin of a country mile in a time of 21:33, the most competitive part of this race was for the minor places with a trio of athletes battling all the way to the line with Dominic Easter of Hertfordshire holding off the challenge of Scotland’s Scott Hawkins to prevail in second place in 21:47.

A very confident Murray commented: “This season’s been very different, I haven’t raced much but trainings gone well, the start was slow so I wanted to take it out and win the race from the front, I’m confident with my ability.”
Results:
1 R Murray (North East) 21:33; 2 D Easter (Herts) 21:46; 3 S Hawkins (Scot W) 21:47; 4 J Brownlee (York) 22:00; 5 G Divall (Warks) 22:05; 81 T Mahon (Leics) 23:33; 112 T Bell (Leics) 24:01; 119 M Brind (Leics) 24:07; 128 J Norman (Leics) 24:14; 136 S Baxter (Leics) 24:22; 175 B Lacey (Leics) 24:58
Team:
1 Yorkshire 58pts, 2 Hertfordshire 65pts, 3 Cheshire 81pts, 27 Leicestershire & Rutland 440pts
Under-15 Boys (4.5km)

A big field for this race lined-up and was led by a trio of blue vested Kent athletes combined with Scotland’s Callum Hawkins, an athlete who had to endure a nine hour coach journey to Nottingham the previous day, and it was he who made the early pace opening up a gap on the first hill over the two-lap 4.5km course. And the young Scot full of determination never looked back, holding on for victory to take the Gold in 16:14, this despite a superb final sprint finish battle with Liverpool’s David Forrester.

“I just came down here (Nottingham) for a run, so it was a surprise to win, I thought I was going to be caught at the end.” Hawkins said afterwards.
Results:
1 C Hawkins (Scot W) 16:14; 2 D Forrester (Merseyside) 16:15; 3 S Harding (Kent) 16:18; 4 A Combs (Kent) 16:24; 5 M Mason (Kent) 16:34; 107 G Buttery (Leics) 17:52; 128 S Stabler (Leics) 18:02; 162 D Hallam (Leics) 18:19; 168 A Kavanagh (Leics) 18:24; 191 L Phelan (Leics) 18:42
Team:
1 Kent 37pts, 2 Yorkshire 102pts, 3 Scotland West 108pts, 28 Leicestershire & Rutland 565pts
Under-13 Boys (3km)

In the Under-13 Boy’s race that also witnessed a huge entry supported by the London Marathon Initiative, Mark Shaw representing the North East, unbeaten all season and currently on the books of Premiership football club Middlesborough FC was the firm favourite for gold, but he was upstaged by the wild-card duo of Andrew and Paul Monaghan from Northern Ireland who stormed to a surprise victory with Andrew taking first place in 12:58, this despite stumbling over the line. The pre-race favourite Shaw having to settle for a fourth place finish in13:22.
Results:
1 A Monaghan (N Ireland) 12:58; 2 P Monaghan (N Ireland) 12:58; 3 Z Seddon (Berk) 13:13; 4 M Shaw (North East) 13:22; 209 P Hills (Leics) 15:30; 223 A Roberts (Leics) 15:36; J McTighe (Leics) 15:38; 247 R Radley (Leics) 15:53; 266 J Nutt (Leics) 16:13; 267 C Brookes (Leics) 16:14
Team:
1 Yorkshire 63pts, 2 Sussex 100pts, 3 Surrey 121pts, 38 Leicestershire & Rutland 909pts
Women
Senior Women (8km)

In the Senior Women’s 8km race former European champion Hayley Yelling simply blew the field apart as the Middlesex athlete stormed to victory with a gun-to-tape demolition to secure a remarkable 19th individual UK Cross Challenge win.

With World trial winner Kate Reed absent, defending champion Hatti Dean was expected to go head to head with Yelling, however it was the Windsor, Slough and Eaton athlete who surprised the field by making a storming start race powering away from the field with a strong opening kilometre making light work of the heavy conditions to build up an amazing and unassailable lead of ten seconds on the chasing pack led by Dean, with Leicestershire’s Tara Krzywicki, the 2000 UK Cross Challenge champion sporting a pair of Paula Radcliffe style socks, lying in fourth place.

As Yelling continued to increase the lead Loughborough University graduate Louise Damen representing Hampshire moved into second place with Hertfordshire’s steeplechaser Lizzie Hall, the 2006 BUSA champion in third. Damen who has returned to the sport following a long injury lay-off picked her way through the course to try and stay in contention as the 32-year-old Yelling, who as with Dean has been pre-selected for Mombasa, turned the event into a demonstration race with producing a real class performance even lapping the back markers as she came into the finish to take the championship victory and Gold medal in front of the large appreciative crowd with a winning time of 29:33, Damen was second with a fine run in 29:54 and Oxford’s Dean third in 30:11.

A smiling Yelling commenting on her fine victory said: “I really enjoyed this, I wanted a good run before I went out to Kenya, I thought I’d gone to fast in the opening stretch out on my own.” Reflecting on the upcoming World Championships she said, “It’s going to be difficult, but were going out to South Africa first so it should be good fun.”

Tara Krzywicki finished in 10th place in 31:06, with Charnwood team mate and county champion Hannah Whitmore, celebrating her 23rd Birthday, just one place behind in 11th with 31:12 leading the way for Leicestershire in the absence of British Universities champion Felicity Milton, already pre-selected for the World’s and the marathon specialist Beth Eburne opting to miss the event. Kate Ramsey, who controversially missed out on selection for the Japan World’s last year finished in 54th place in 33:06 as Leicestershire claimed 10th place in the team event.

Whitmore will join Phil Banning’s group next month for warm weather training in Portugal in preparation for the outdoor season, commenting on her performance she said: "I was really pleased with my run, although it was much muddier than normal which made it quite heavy going. I think I was only just inside the top 30 on the first lap so was quite pleased that I managed to work my way through the field as much as I did."
Results:
1 H Yelling (Midd) 29:33; 2 L Damen (Hamp) 29:54; 3 H Dean (Oxford) 30:11; 4 J Wilkinson (Essex) 30:31; 5 V Webster (Hert) 30:47; 10 T Krzywicki (Leics) 31:06; 11 H Whitmore (Leics) 31:12; 54 K Ramsey (Leics) 33:06; 93 C Hutton (Leics) 34:01; 123 S Wells (Leics) 34:44; 141 G Steel (Leics)35:08
Team:
1 Hampshire 231pts, 2 Essex 240pts, 3 Yorkshire 264pts, 10 Leicestershire & Rutland 432pts
Under-20 Women (6km)

British junior international Olivia Kenney, sister of Loughborough University’s Laura, representing Warwickshire led a large group from the start alongside Hampshire’s Charlotte Purdue, training partner of 2006 European champion Steph Twell, as both produced one of the most competitive races of the day over the muddy course that was becoming even more difficult as the afternoon progressed.

Purdue began to inject the pace with Kenney, the 18-year-old Birmingham University student, who finished in 18th place at the European Championships in Milan back in December, tracking her move to break away from the field on the long straight section with the Hampshire athlete making the pace using her strength to increase the gap over the final two-kilometres to take a fine victory in a time 24:04. Kenney was second with a solid performance in 24:23, and Cheshire’s Stevie Stockton was third in 24:32, both of whom should make selection for the World Championships.

I’m really pleased, last year, I was injured so this makes up for this, I’ve been training for this and I’m looking forward to Kenya,” a delighted Purdue commented afterwards.
Results:
1 C Purdue (Hamp) 24:04; 2 O Kenney (Warks) 24:23; 3 S Stockton (Ches) 24:32; 15 G Hillier (Leics) 25:59; 31 H Rollins (Leics) 27:18; 99 P Hicks (Leics) 31:37; 120 A Duffin (Leics) 33:43
Team:
1 Hampshire 64pts, 2 North East 79pts, 3 Greater Manchester 122pts, 13 Leicestershire & Rutland 265pts
Under-17 Women (5km)

One of the smaller field of around 200 lined-up for the Under-15 Women’s category event over the two-lap 5km course with track specialist Heather Timmins representing Warrington AC replicating Hayley Yelling’s earlier performance to take on the field building a huge lead from the start to produce a comfortable victory for Cheshire with a confident performance to win the Inter-Counties Gold medal to add to the North of East title she won last month.
Results:
1 H Timmins (Ches) 19:45; 2 H Knowles (Corn) 19:51; 3 A Smith (Kent) 19:54; 4 R Gough (Hamp) 20:10; 5 H Batson (Lanc) 20:19; 31 A Magee (Leics) 21:18; 61 Z Hawkins (Leics) 21:59; 155 V Rollins (Leics) 23:39; 194 E Milodowski (Leics) 24:28; 205 F Wright (Leics) 24:45; 258 J Battern (Leics) 29:02
Team:
1 Hampshire 55pts, 2 Scotland West 89pts, 3 Greater Manchester 103pts, 24 Leicestershire & Rutland 441pts
Under-15 Girls (4km)

Beth Potter was another Scottish athlete full of exuberance as she too blasted away from the field in the Under-15 Girl’s 4km race, having ran well in last summer’s Celtic Cup, the East Kilbride Harrier nearly paid for her early enthusiasm as over the final kilometre pre-race favourites Melissa Hawtin representing Oxford began to run her down, but with true Scottish grit Potter gathered her strength to win what was arguably the most competitive race of the afternoon in a time of 16:00.

Potter speaking afterwards in her delightful Scottish accent said: “I was expecting a medal but not to win, with 400m to go I turned round and thought ‘Oh god’ when I saw the other runners, and then I pushed on.”
Results:
1 B Potter (Scot W) 16:00; 2 M Hawtin (Oxford) 16:03; 3 B Carter (Kent) 16:09; 4 L Park (Cumbria) 16:12; 5 K Avery (North East) 16:15; 49 L Crookes (Leics) 17:40; 104 I Al Rabiah (Leics) 18:17; 118 M Booler (Leics) 18:33; 119 L Monk (Leics) 18:33; 191 E Brown (Leics) 19:23; 218 C Wilkinson-Burnett (Leics) 19:43; 259 J Edge (Leics) 20:40; 275 J Smith (Leics) 21:43
Team:
1 Surrey 82pts, 2 Lancashire 101pts, 3 Hampshire 113pts, 20 Leicestershire & Rutland 390pts
Under-13 Girl’s (3km)

Emelia Gorecka, the pre-race favourite and winner in the Birmingham and Liverpool races under-lined that accolade as she took on the field from the start to gain a comprehensive victory and complete a hat-trick of UK Cross Challenge wins in a time of 14:18, she was tracked by team mate Ruth Haines, second in 14:24, as Surrey dominated the race. Rebecca Weston representing Kent was third in 14:32.

“It’s amazing, the conditions were really hard, very muddy,” Gorecka said afterwards.
Results:
1 E Gorecka (Surrey) 14:18; 2 R Haines (Surrey) 14:24; 3 R Weston (Kent) 14:32; 16 G Brookes (Leics) 15:21; 41 M Fairbrother (Leics) 15:46; 72 S Dias (Leics) 16:05; 73 F Vincent (Leics) 16:05; 121 A Beeby (Leics) 16:33; 122 E Sales (Leics) 16:34; 185 J Mellor (Leics) 17:09
Team:
1 Surrey 34pts, 2 Greater Manchester 107pts, 3 Kent 153pts, 10 Leicestershire & Rutland 202pts

Full results are available on the following link: www.ukathletics.net/press-centre/news-archive/february-2007/article-42/