Derby Runner Cross Country League 2006/07

Swithland, Leicestershire

Sunday 26th November 2006

MICK MUNDAY representing Road Hoggs AC and Birstall’s Liz Cocks won the second fixture of this season’s Derby Runner Cross Country League, this despite having to endure a re-start to the race after the leading runners went off course after a mile-and-a-half into the event at Swithland that witnessed a record-breaking entry of 342 runners.

Over a very wet and demanding Swithland course made even more difficult after incessant rain over the 48 hours leading up to the race, Mick Munday, the 2005 Men’s league champion, led home the field after the unscheduled restart to cross the finish line in a time of 35mins 26secs to take victory ahead of marathon specialist Chris Southam representing Stilton Striders who had to settle for the runners-up position in 35:42, with Chris Jordan of Hinckley taking third in 36:02.

With the winner of the opening race at Ullesthorpe Sally Newman absent victory in the Women’s race went to Birstall’s Liz Cocks as she recorded a time of 40:13 to take a comfortable win clear of the chasing field with Emma Marvin representing Desford Striders repeating her performance of the opening race by finishing in second place as the 26-year-old crossed the line in 41:09.

The experienced Dawn Pearson running in the colours of Ashby Ivanhoe claimed third place in 41:21. Defending champion Zoe Fleming finished in sixth place in 42:19.

In the team events Hatton Darts won the Men’s race ahead of the winners at the opening event at Ullesthorpe, Wreake Runners. Sara Wells fifth placed finish helped the Leicester Owls consolidate their standings in the Women’s section, and the Wigston based club also packed their runners in well overall in the race to take the combined team victory.
Leading Results:
Men
1 M Munday (Road, M40) 35:26; 2 C Southam (Stilt, M40) 35:42; 3 C Jordan (Hinck) 36:02; 4 T Caulton (Hatt, M40) 36:19; 5 J Maddock (Wreake) 36:22
Team:
1 Hatton, 246pts, 2 Wreake 256pts, 3 Leics Owls 280pts
Women
1 L Cocks (Birst) 40:13; 2 E Marvin (Des) 41:09; 3 D Pearson (Ivan, W40) 41:21; 4 G Steel (Herm) 41:54; 5 S Wells (Leics Owls) 42:05
Team:
1 Leicester Owls 36pts, 2 Birstall 37pts, Shelton 68pts
Combined Teams:
1 Leicester Owls 211pts, 2 Hatton 250pts, 3 Wreake 275pts

Full results are available on the following link: www.hattondarts.co.uk
The next fixture in the series takes place at Bagworth Heath on Sunday 17th December 2006.

Tuesday 28th November 2006 - Updated

ENGLISH cross country champions Charnwood AC and Leeds City AC have won the right to represent the UK at the European Champion Clubs Cross Country Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, on 4th February 2007.

They saw off the challenges of Scottish champions Ronhill Cambuslang Harriers and City of Glasgow AC during the UK Cross Challenge meeting at Liverpool on Saturday. The clubs trials were run as part of the senior races; the reigning champions of Northern Ireland and Wales were invited but did not compete.

Charnwood won the Women’s match with 9 points to Glasgow’s 12. Charnwood’s scorers were Tara Krzywicki 12th in 24:53; Hannah Whitmore 19th in 25:20; Jane Potter 32nd in 25:56; and Catherine Hutton 60th in 27:37. Glasgow’s scorers were Susan Partridge 9th in 24:39; Pamela Nicholson 44th in 26:42; Susan Finch 67th in 27:53; and Jacqui Thomson 76th in 28:24.

Tara Krzywicki reflecting on Charnwood's excellent performance commented: "It was a great performance by the team as it was always going to be close with Glasgow as they are a strong team and everyone performed really well, some despite having problems during the race."

She continued: "It shows how much everyone wants to run well for the team, not just themselves. It is great for Charnwood to be able to represent Britain in Turkey next year and a fitting result for such a great couple of seasons where Charnwood teams have won road and XC team honours at regional and national level consistently. "Unfortunately, the race does clash with the trials for the World Championships in February, therefore some key members of the team may not be available for selection but I am sure we will still be able to put out a strong team."

Leeds won the Men’s match with 12 points to Cambuslang’s 30. Leeds scorers were Alistaire Davy 17th in the Men’s 10km in 32 minutes 39 seconds; Sean Dirrane 22nd in 32:46; Martin Hilton 35th in 33:22; and Martin Gostling 45th in 33:49. Cambuslang’s scorers were Steve Wylie 42nd in 33:39; Jamie Reed 59th in 34:19; Joe Kealey 79th in 35:10; and Jack Brown 81st in 35:15.

UK Cross Challenge (Inc. European Trials)

Sefton Park, Liverpool

Saturday 25th November 2006

JO PAVEY and Frank Tickner were the major winners of the second round of the UK Cross Challenge held in the muddy conditions of Liverpool’s Sefton Park, a meeting that also incorporated the trials for the SPAR European Cross Country Championships that take place on December 10th in San Giorgio su Legnano, Italy.
Senior / Under 23 Men’s 10km

Frank Tickner of Wells City Harriers ran a virtually solo race to take victory in a time of 31mins 18secs to hold off a strong challenge by Blackheath’s Mike Skinner in the difficult home straight, Andy Vernon, a Silver medallist in the Junior Men’s race at last winter’s Europeans in the Netherlands, powered through from 12th at halfway to 6th by the finish to lead home the Under 23 candidates for the demonstration race that will be included for the first time in this year’s European Championships in Italy.

Loughborough Student Chris Thompson as with Jo Pavey has recently returned from a spell of warm weather training in South Africa finished in 5th place in 31:47. Leicester’s Moumin Geele representing Newham & Essex Beagles finished in 7th place in 32:01, the very consistent Mark Powell finished in 15th place for Leicester Owls as the 28-year-old edged ahead of the 2006 Commonwealth Marathon Bronze medallist Dan Robinson to cross the line in a time of 32:37.
Leading Results:
1 F Tickner (Wells City Harriers) 31:18; 2 M Skinner (Blackheath and Bromley) 31:22; 3 Gavin Thompson (Crawley) 31:29; 4 Steve Vernon (Stockport) 31:36; 5 Chris Thompson (Aldershot, Farnham and District/LSAC) 31:47; 6 Andy Vernon (U23, Aldershot, Farnham and District) 31:50; 7 Moumin Geele (U23, Newham and Essex Beagles) 32:01; 8 Ben Noad (Highgate Harriers) 32:08; 9 Angus Maclean (Team Southampton) 32:11; 10 Rob Whalley (Bristol and West) 32:20; 11 Andrew Baddeley (Harrow) 32:26; 12 Neil Burton (Tipton) 32:28; 13 Dominic Bannister (Shaftesbury Barnet) 32:32; 14 Phil Hinch (Tipton) 32:35; 15 Mark Powell (Leics Owls) 32:37; 16 Dan Robinson (Stroud) 32:38; 17 Alistair Davy (Leeds City) 32:39; 18 Tom Humphries (U23, Cannock and Stafford) 32:40; 19 Rob Bugden (U23, Bristol and West) 32:40; 20 Andrew Baker (U23, LSAC) 32:44
Senior / Under 23 Women’s 6.5km

Jo Pavey was a class apart in the senior Women’s 6.5km, the 33-year-old international is one of Britain’s most consistent athletes fresh from her training trip to South Africa the Exeter Harrier produced an impressive victory, finishing almost 100m clear of Rutland’s running sensation Felicity Milton, the 19-year-old Durham University student taking second in 23:53, and Bristol’s Kate Reed, who helped the Norwich Union GB win the Team Silver medals at last year’s Europeans finishing third in 23:54.

Pavey commented afterwards: "Beforehand I was worried about how I would cope as there had been bad weather and gales which made the course very muddy conditions I don't like. "It was really bad going underfoot and on the first lap I was really struggling in the deep mud and losing ground, it was almost hopeless trying to get a rhythm.

"So I decided when hitting the drier patches of the course to put in as much effort as possible which allowed me to break away - I was very tired, almost at a standstill on the final circuit. "But it was a good run-out, a solid preparation for the Eurocross and I'm assured the course there is flat, which is good and will suit me. I just hope it comes at the end of a sunny week."

Loughborough based Liz Yelling always a consistent performer over the country over her long career finished in fourth place in 23:59. Tara Krzywicki led the charge for Charnwood AC, the 32-year-old former UK Cross Challenge champion finished in 12th place in 24:53, fellow British international Hannah Whitmore followed her to secure a top twenty place finishing in 19th position with a time of 25:20. Loughborough’s Sonia Thomas also produced a solid performance to finish in 14th place in 25:00.
Leading Results:
1 J Pavey (Exeter Harriers) 23:28; 2 F Milton (U23, Durham University) 23:53; 3 K Reed (Bristol and West) 23:54; 4 Liz Yelling (Bedford and County) 23:59; 5 Natalie Harvey (South London) 24:00; 6 Eleanor Baker (South London) 24:05; 7 Hatti Dean (Hallamshire Harriers Sheffield) 24:18; 8 Gemma Phillips (Kendal) 24:27; 9 Susan Partridge (City of Glasgow) 24:39; 10 Claire Martin (Telford) 24:19; 11 Victoria Wilkinson (Bingley) 24:52; 12 Tara Krzywicki (Charn/LSAC) 24:53; 13 Vicky Gill (Chorley) 25:00; 14 Sonia Thomas (Sale/LSAC) 25:00; 15 Sophie Morris (Army) 25:09; 16 Michelle Ross-Cope (Stoke) 25:13; 17 Morag McDonnell (Chester le Street) 25:15; 18 Susie Bush (Aldershot, Farnham and District) 25:17; 19 Hannah Whitmore (U23, Charn) 25:20; 20 Catherine Dugdale (Swansea) 23 A Joel (Basildon/LSAC) 25:30; 29 Lucy O’Gorman (U23, Wakefield/LSAC) 25:39; 32 Jane Potter (Charn) 25:56; 60 Catherine Hutton (Charn) 27:37; 64 Sarah Maude (Charn/LSAC) 27:37; 71 Rachael Thompson (Liv/LSAC) 27:59; 72 Bev Gray (Charn) 28:00; 85 Laura Johnson (Charn) 29:04
Junior Men’s 6.5km

Tom Minshull claimed victory in a time of 21:51 as the Trafford AC athlete finished clear of Gosforth’s Lewis Timmins (21:57) and the hugely talented Loughborough student Kevin Deighton (22:10).

Leicester Owls Rory Fraser has been in terrific form over recent months, and just a week after he recorded the fastest leg at the Birmingham University Relays the 19-year-old Leeds Metropolitan student finished in a fine fourth place in a time of 22:17, to put himself in a strong position for selection for the European Championships Junior Team GB bound for Italy next month.
Leading Results:
1 Tom Minshull (Trafford) 21:51; 2 Lewis Timmins (Gosforth) 21:57; 3 Kevin Deighton (Bridlington RR) 22:10; 4 Rory Fraser (Leics Owls/Leeds Met) 22:17; 5 Jon Pepper (Enfield and Haringey) 22:21; 6 Ricky Stevenson (New Marske) 22:23; 7 Conor McNulty (Scotland) 22:26; 8 Adrian Holliday (Trafford) 22:33; 9 Ross Millington (Stockport) 22:34; 10 Craig Ruddy (Inverclyde) 22:38; 15 Lee Carey (Nun) 22:49; 39 Lewis Moses (LSAC) 23:35; 99 Dean Manassib (LSAC) 26:10
Junior / Under 17 Women’s 4.8km

Steph Twell won an superb head-to-head with the European Junior 5000m Champion Emily Pidgeon who also won the Silver medal in the Junior Women’s race at last year’s European Cross Country Championships in Tilburg.

Twell made all of the pace but looked to be beaten when Pidgeon moved ahead with 400m to go. However, the Aldershot athlete came back with a strong final sprint to take victory in a time of 17:48. Loughborough student Abby Westley finished in 5th place as the 19-year-old Sheffield Hallamshire athlete crossed the line in a time of 18:31.
Leading Results:
1 S Twell (Aldershot) 17:48; 2 E Pidgeon (Gloucester) 17:57; 3 C Purdue (Aldershot) 18:23; 4 Olivia Kenney (Royal Sutton Coldfield) 18:26; 5 Abby Westley (LSAC) 18:31; 6 Jessica Coulson (Stockport) 18:41; 7 Sarah Waldron (Gloucester) 18:42; 8 Lucy Mayho (Bingley) 18:43; 9 Linzi Snow (Woodford Green with Essex Ladies) 18:44; 10 Emma Pallant (Aldershot) 18:47; 29 Gemma Hillier (Charn/LSAC) 19:34; 70 Johanna Gurney (Charn) 20:39
Under 17 Men’s 5km

Chris Harvey, second at Birmingham last month, won with a well-judged sprint finish, Tom Mahon representing Leicester Owls finished in 15th place in 18:08 followed by team mate Tom Bell in 19th with 18:12.
Leading Results:
1 Chris Harvey (Cannock) 17:23; 2 David Forrester (Wigan) 17:24; 3 Scott Hawkins (Kilbarchan AAC) 17:33; 4 Andrew Doherty (North Belfast) 17:41; 5 Nathan Bibby (Preston) 17:43; 15 Tom Mahon (Leics Owls) 18:08; 19 Tom Bell (Leics Owls) 18:12; 54 Michael Brind (Charn) 19:11.
Under 15 Girls’ 3km

Sarah Barker scored her second successive UK Challenge victory, finishing well clear of the field in 10:07. Iman Al-Rabiah representing Charnwood AC finished in 31st place in 11:17.
Leading Results:
1 Sarah Barker (Sale) 10:07; 2 Katie Holt (Stoke) 10:18; 3 Beth Potter (Glasgow) 10:19; 4 Melissa Hawtin (Oxford) 10:28; 5 Laura Park (Ellenborough) 10:34; 31 Iman Al-Rabiah (Charn) 11:17
Under 11 Girls’ 2km

Amy Griffiths representing Leicester Coritanians ran a brilliant race to take second place in a time of 8:00 as she finished ahead of Lincoln Wellington’s Bo Haywood who beat her at the Uttoxeter races back in September.

Victory went to Scotland’s Kathryn Gillespie of Central AC in 7:46 with Haywood having to settle for third in 8:10.

Full results are available on the following link: www.joelee.co.uk/cgi-local/raceresults.cgi?event=../2006/livukchallenge/race10.html
The next UK Cross Challenge event takes place on Saturday 6th January 2007 at the Stormont Estate in Belfast.

Hartshill Heartbreaker 10

Nuneaton, Warwickshire

Sunday 19th November 2006

NICOLA CLAY continued her very impressive run of form over the autumn months with a brilliant virtually solo victory at the Hartshill Heartbreaker 10 mile race held in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

The 34-year-old Stilton Strider who announced her arrival on the national scene with a stunning victory at the Experian Robin Hood Marathon in September simply blew the field away over the multi-terrain course as she crossed the line in a time of 66mins 02secs to finish more than nine minutes clear of second placed Eleanor Greenfield representing the host team of Nuneaton Harriers.

Clay’s fine performance follows her course record-breaking victory at the Shepshed 7 earlier in the month.

Keniworth Half Marathon winner, Paul Andrew of Northbrook AC, won the Men’s race in a time of 59:30, as the 24-year-old retained his title finishing almost a minute clear of the Shoe Zone Leicester Marathon champion Mike Johnson representing Keniworth Runners.

Full results available on the following link: www.sphinx.org.uk/files/Hartshill%202006%20Results.xls

Midland 7 & 5 Mile Championships 2006

Bramcote Park, Nottingham

Saturday 18th November 2006

THE former Norwich Union Great Britain cross country international Billy Farquharson returned to winning ways at the Midland 7 Mile Championships held at Bramcote Park near Nottingham.

Finally over knee problems that have hampered him for the best part of two years, the 31-year-old led home a Notts AC cleansweep of the medals ahead of Nick Talbot and Leicestershire County cross country champion Tim Hartley.

To underline Notts’ domination of the event, Sheffield Hallamshire University student Nicola Bamford won the Women’s 5-mile race by more than a minute.

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

British & Irish Masters International Cross Country

Calendar Park, Falkirk

Saturday 18th November 2006

NICKI NEALON claimed a superb Gold in the W35 category as Kate Ramsey and Nicki Thompson completed a trio of Leicestershire’s top athletes who in combination with Angela Allen from Horwich RMI Harriers led team England to victory at the British & Irish Masters International Cross Country meeting at Falkirk’s Calendar Park.

In the Women’s race overall victory went to Ireland’s impressive Niamh O' Sullivan (W40) from the An Riocht club in Kilkeel, County Down, who has competed at the last two IAAF Senior World Cross Country Championships, as she completed her third consecutive win at the event crossing the line in a time of 23mins 11secs.

As the race unfolded over the two-lap 6km course that consisted of a combination of flat stoney tracks and parkland that incorporated several climbs a group of five athletes had broken away from the field with O' Sullivan and previous winner and team mate Noleen Porter, alongside a posse of England athletes Margaret Deasy, Nicki Nealon and Kate Ramsey all vying for positions

However, by the second lap O' Sullivan had pulled clear as her class began to show through with only Deasy and Nealon for company. As the group entered the final kilometres and with England team mate Jane Clarke closing rapidly Nealon put in a strong final sprint over the last 100m metres to pip Deasy on the line and hold off the challenge of Clarke to take a well-deserved Gold medal for the 38-year-old Huncote Harrier in a time of 23:46.

For Kate Ramsey this was another welcome return to form for the Charnwood athlete, having suffered over the second half of 2006 with a neurological virus the Leicestershire County cross country champion finished strongly to hold off Carmel Parmer to take fifth place in 24:03.

With Ramsey taking the Silver and Angela Allen claiming Bronze, the England squad won the team Gold with Nicki Thompson of Charnwood finishing in 14th place in the W35 category in 26:40 to qualify as the fourth counting athlete and qualify for a medal.

In the Men’s race Leicester Coritanians Rob Sheen finished in 11th place in the Vet 45 category, 27th overall in a time of 28:58, as he helped Team Wales to fourth position in their age group, Sheen finished in second place for the Welsh squad as Richie Bullen with 28:55 just edged ahead over the line.

Northern Ireland’s Des Martin unable to get a place in his own age group filled in at Vet 45 category and finished 80th overall as they finished in 5th position.
Leading Results (Overall Positions):
Women 6km
1 Niamh O'Sullivan (IRE, W40) 23:11
2 Nicki Nealon (ENG, W35) 23:46
3 Margaret Deasy (ENG, W40) 23:47
4 Jane Clarke (ENG, W40) 23:49
5 Kate Ramsey (ENG, W35) 24:03
6 Carmel Parnel (IRE, W50) 24:04
8 Angela Allen (ENG, W35) 24:30
49 Nicola Thompson (ENG, W35) 26:40

Full results will be available on the official British Masters Athletics Federation web-site at: www.bvaf.org.uk/

Friday 17th November 2006

BRITISH international Tara Krzywicki broke the individual stage record at the 17th annual High Peak Relays in Cromford, Derbyshire.

The 32-year-old former British record-holder for the Steeplechase clocked 14mins 2secs over the second 2.5-mile stage as the Charnwood athlete was making a guest apperence for Barrow Runners as they finished runners-up to the Sheffield Hallamshire team, finishing in a combined time of 4:08.37, the Yorkshire club won with 3:52.49.

Krzywicki will now look to take this good form into next weekend’s UK Cross Challenge meeting at Liverpool’s Sefton Park, an event that also includes the trials for the Norwich Union Great Britain team to compete at the 2006 European Championships that take place in San Giorgio Legnano, Italy, on December 10th.

Barrow also finished second in the Men's race in 3:24.39, with victory also going to Hallamshire in 3:17.49, the Leicestershire club were making their debut in the event with the team of Tim Hartley and guests from Charnwood Richard Brown and Derek Guess.

In other events Matt Adcock representing the Leicester Owls club finished in second place at the Poppy Run 5 held in Boston, Lincolnshire. The 29-year-old recorded a time of 26mins 37secs to finish runner-up to Michael Jagger of Lincoln Wellington who won in 26:16.

Sally Newman finished in second place at the Roaches Fell Race in Meerbrook, nr Leek, Staffordshire, the 44-year-old Wreake athlete here representing Calder Valley recorded a time of 2:23.46 over the challenging and demanding 15mile course that included 3,700 feet of ascent. Catherine Howard of Matlock claimed victory in 2:22.46 as Calder won the team competition.

North Midlands Cross Country League 2006/07

Markeaton Park, Derby

Saturday 11th November 2006

IN the second fixture of the North Midlands Cross Country League held at Derby's Markeaton Park Tom Bell representing the defending champions Leicester Owls continued his fine start to the campaign by securing his second consecutive victory in the Under-17 race.

Bell, the 17-year-old 2006 Leicestershire County 800m champion crossed the line well clear of the chasing field out on his own in a time of 21mins 54secs to finish 21 seconds ahead of Rob Love of Amber Valley who had previously finished third at the opening round at Heanor's Shipley Park. Andrew Bates of Derby AC was third in 22:16.

Charnwood’s Richard Lee was the leading county runner in the Men’s Senior race finishing in a well-deserved sixth place in a time of 31:58 in the Senior Men’s event where victory went to the experienced Rob Birchall of Notts AC in 30:46.

Sean Fenwick of Harborough AC and Tom Meakin representing the Leicester Owls also secured top twenty places finishing in 17th and 19th places with times of 33:19 and 33:28 respectively.

Alex Pilcher finishing in third place in 31:24 moved Derby AC to the top of the overall standings after the opening two fixtures.

In the Senior Women’s race Catherine Hutton representing the defending champions Charnwood was as with the previous fixture at Heanor the highest placed Leicestershire competitor as the 24-year-old led in a trio of Charnwood athletes over the line in 9th place with a time of 25:28.

Hutton was followed closely by Catherine Tomaney in 10th place with 25:32, and Beverley Gray 11th in 25:32. Overall individual victory went to the 2006 AAA’s 800m indoor champion Karen Harewood representing Corby AC in a time of 24:21 as the 31-year-old British international middle-distance specialist finished ten seconds clear of Helen Rollins of Kettering Harriers, with Catherine Foley of Nene Valley third in 24:34. Sarah Haines representing Harborough AC finished in 18th place in 26:18.

In the team standings Charnwood finished in second place with 30pts, just one point behind winners Redhill, a result that consolidates the Nottinghamshire’s club’s position at the top overall, Charnwood by having three top twenty finishers in the race move up ten places in the league to fourth position overall, Harborough are in 11th place.

Highlights in the junior races came from Megan Booler running in the colours of Harborough AC finishing in 6th place in the Under-15 Girls race with a time of 12:51, and Lewis Smart representing the Leicester Owls claiming a fine third place finish in the Under-15 Boys event with 14:53.

Full results available on the following link: www.northmidsxcleague.co.uk/0607_results_2.xls
Photo by Steve Hillman.

Saucony English National Cross Country Championships 2006

Berry Hill Park, Mansfield

Saturday 4th November 2006 - Updated

HANNAH WHITMORE powered Charnwood AC to their third straight title as the Loughborough based club claimed Gold at the Saucony English National Cross Country Championships at Mansfield’s Berry Hill Park.

The team of Tara Krzywicki (9:55), Sarah Maude (10:18) and Hannah Whitmore (10:07) crossed the line in a combined time of 30mins 20secs to complete an impressive hat-trick of victories.

Chester-le-Street finished second in 30:49 with their team of Alyson Dixon (10:16), Diane Henaghan (10:22) and Morag McDonnell (10:12). Loughborough based Liz Yelling returning to racing following her sixth place at the ING Amsterdam Marathon last month and recent shoulder operation anchored Bedford & County to the Bronze medal position in 30:58 through Rachel Gibbs (10:44), Sharon Morris (10:27) and Yelling (9:48).

The race also had UK Cross Challenge winner Hayley Yelling representing Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow running on two legs and she/they actually crossed the line in first place but were disqualified as the rules state that three different athletes have to take part in a team.

Charnwood’s ‘B’ team produced a fine performance to finish in 15th place overall as the team of Catherine Hutton (11:11), Jane Potter (10:05) and Laura Johnson (11:20) recorded a time of 32:37.

Hannah Whitmore speaking for her team mates at Charnwood commented: "Everyone was so pleased with today’s result - everyone ran well and we also achieved first B team just to put the icing on the cake. It's the first year I have made the A Team in this event so it was nice to get gold at first attempt but as you said it is a hat trick for the club which made it even better."

The Loughborough Students team of Ashley Gibson (11:01), Emma-Leigh Heighway (11:05) and Sara Bailey (11:08) finished in 19th place in a time of 33:15, and Harborough AC finished in 63rd place in 38:45.

In the Men’s senior race Newham & Essex Beagles as with the recent Nike National Six-Stage Relays in Birmingham were simply in a class of their own, even without the absent European 5,000m Silver medallist Mohammed Farah and the 2002 Commonwealth 1,500m Gold medallist Michael East, the London based club were too strong as Leicester’s Moumin Geele (15:00) combined with Steve Hepples (15:26), Keith Gerrard (15:32) and Mark Warmby (14:44) to guide them to victory in a time of 60:43, just five seconds ahead of Aldershot, Farnham & District led by the fastest leg runner of the day Steve Vernon (14:43).

Leicester Owls finished in 9th place in a combined time of 1:02 with their team of Paul Miles (15:31), Paul Richardson (15:21), Gordon Lee (15:44) and Mark Powell (15:23). Their ‘B’ team of Ryan Falkner (16:15), Tom Meakins (16:12), Nick Mapp (17:12) and Neil Carter (18:19) finished in 56th place in 1:08.00.

The Notts AC team that included Leicestershire County cross country champion Tim Hartley and Loughborough University student Chris Warburton in their team finished in 18th place in 16:22. The Loughborough Students also entered a team as they finished in 29th place in 1:04.56 with Lewis Moses (15:56), Ryan McLeod (15:18), Ben Green (17:01) and Andrew Welch (16:40) completing their line-up.

Charnwood finished in 71st place with Mark Couldwell (17:01), Derek Guess (19:03), Nigel Scoggins (17:16) and Edward Johnson (17:49) crossing the line in a time of 1:11.10. Harborough’s ‘A’ team of Steve Costall (18:01), Peter Swaine (17:02), Martin Hughes (18:10) and Chris Webb (18:18) finished in 77th place in 1:11.33. Their ‘B’ team finished in 125th place with 1:22.39. Wreake Runners finished in 134th place in 1:28.18.

In the Men’s Under-20 race Rory Fraser showed his potential and class as he anchored home the Leicester Owls team with a brilliant third leg performance making up eight places to gain a well-deserved Silver medal, as the trio of Geraint Davies (9:16), Callum Cullen (9:17) and Fraser (8:49) finished second in a time of 27:24 behind champions Bristol and West who won in 27:13.
Leading Results:
Senior Men
1 Newham & Essex Beagles 60:43 (M Geele, S Hepples, K Gerrard, M Warmby); 2 Aldershot, Farnham & District 60:48 (B Stopher, M Ashton, B Moreau, A Vernon); 3 Tipton H 60:55 (I Mitchell, M Williams, P Nicholls, P Hinch)
Fastest Legs:
1 Steve Vernon 14:43; 2 Mark Warmby 14:45; 3= Mike Skinner/Andy Vernon 14:46; 5 Nick McCormick 14:50; 6 Nick Goodliffe 14:51
Junior Men
1 Bristol & West 27:12; 2 Leicester Owls 27:24 (G Davies, C Cullen, Fraser)
Senior Women
1 Charnwood 30:20 (T Krzywicki, S Maude, H Whitmore); 2 Chester-le-Street 30:49 (A Dixon, D Henaghan, M McDonnell); 3 Bedford & County 30:58 (R Gibbs, S Morris, L Yelling)
Fastest Legs:
1 Hayley Yelling 9:46 (incomplete team); 2 Liz Yelling 9:48; 3 Felicity Milton 9:50; 4 Tara Krzywicki 9:54; 5 Hatti Dean 9:56; 6 Victoria Wilkinson 9:58

Full results are available at: www.ukathletics.net/press-centre/news-archive/september/article-110/

Derby Runner Cross Country League 2006/07

Manor Farm, Ullesthorpe

Sunday 29th October 2006

DEFENDING champion Phil Critchlow made an excellent winning start to the new Derby Runner Cross Country League campaign that began over a challenging course at Manor Farm, Ullesthorpe, as Wreake's Sally Newman in the absence of title holder Zoe Fleming, away competing in the Snowdonia Marathon, was equally dominant claiming a fine first place in the Women's race.

Critichlow, the 39-year-old Beaumont athlete ran virtually solo producing a strong race to finish clear of the field over a traditional and challenging six-mile course that also included the added obsticle of running through a stream in a time of 36mins 18secs.

His margin of victory was almost two-minutes as he finished ahead of second placed Leicester Owls Mark Bridges who recorded 38:12. Neil Wright representing Birstall was third in 28:16 just four seconds adrift of Bridges. Wreake Runners packed their athletes in well as they won the team competition ahead of Hatton Darts and third placed Hinckley.

Sally Newman, who won the individual title back in 2005, was equally dominant in the Women’s race as the British Vets Fell Running Champion claimed victory in a time of 41:28, finishing 50 seconds clear of Emma Marvin making a successful return to racing after struggling with persistent Achilles problems over the past two seasons. The 26-year-old Desford runner, winner of the 2003 Leicester Half Marathon, taking second place in 42:18, with the ever-consistent Debbie Naiper finishing third for Leicester Owls in 42:31 as they lifted the team prize. The Staffordshire based Hatton Darts won the combined team competition.

In the Junior races James Hatton won the Years 1-6 age group and Emily Hollis of Wreake won the girls event. In the Years 7-12 category Sam Stabler claimed victory in the boys event and Lizzie Hall won the girls race.
Leading Results:
Men
1 P Critchlow (Beau) 36:18; 2 M Bridges (Owls) 38:12; 3 N Wright (Birst) 38:16
Team:
1 Wreake 226pts, 2 Hatton 232pts, 3 Hinckley 277pts
Women
1 S Newman (Wreake, W40) 41:28; 2 E Marvin (Des) 42:18; 3 D Napier (Owls) 42:31
Team:
1 Leicester Owls 51pts, 2 Desford 56pts, 3 Birstall 64pts
Combined Teams:
1 Hatton 235pts, 2 Wreake 251pts, 3 Leicester Owls 261pts

Full results of the Senior and Junior races are available on the following link: www.hattondarts.co.uk
The next fixture in the series takes place at Swithland on Sunday 26th November 2006.

UK Cross Challenge Series 2006/07

Senneleys Park, Birmingham

Saturday 28th October 2006

REIGNING AAA National Champion Pete Riley and former European Gold medallist Hayley Yelling made brilliant winning starts to the new UK Cross Challenge Series that began over the demanding Senneley’s Park course in Birmingham, as 18-year-old Loughborough University student Kevin Deighton announced his arrival with a stunning victory in the Men’s Under-20 race.

Pete Riley shrugged off a below-par performance at last weekend's BUPA Great South Run to romp home first in the Men's 10 kilometre race in a time of 30mins 20secs, finishing 18 seconds clear of the runner-up, Steve Vernon, his training partner at Stockport.

Last year's European junior silver medallist Andy Vernon from the Aldershot, Farnham & District club was a surprise third in his first ever-major senior race in 30:52.

Mark Powell was the highest placed Leicestershire athlete as the 27-year-old Owls runner finished in 12th place with a fine run in a time of 31:34. Ryan McLeod from Elswick Harriers in 10th place with 31:31 and Gateshead Harrier Chris Parr finishing in 26th place with 32:38 led the way for the Loughborough students team.

In the Women's 6km race Hayley Yelling shrugged off a cold to complete her fifth victory at the Birmingham event, crossing the line in a time of 22:22.

Yelling, the 32-year-old school teacher from the Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow club dominated the event taking the win by a margin of 12 seconds ahead of Scotland’s fast finishing Susan Partridge, with Jo Wilkinson third, the 33-year-old Bedford & County athlete who will represent the Norwich Union Great Britain team at the Chiba Ekiden Relays in Japan on 23rd November.

The reigning UK Cross Challenge Series Champion Hatti Dean from Hallamshire Harriers Sheffield was fourth with another member of the Team GB Japan squad Wendy Jones representing Cirencester fifth.

Loughborough University graduate Louise Damen representing Poole Runners, who has only recently returned to the sport after a lengthy absence, finished in 8th place in 23:15. Jane Potter led the way for Charnwood AC as the 23-year-old British international finished in 14th place in 23:33, she was followed by Loughborough student Laura Kenny in 18th position with 23:46 as she too prepares for her senior debut for Team GB in Japan next month.

Other Loughborough students in action were Alexa Joel finishing in 23rd place with 24:00 and Lucy O’Gorum 26th with 24:13.

Laura Finucane made her season debut as the 20-year-old Pendle athlete, a member of the Kelly Holmes training squad, finished in 42nd place in 25:35. Fellow Loughborough team mates Suzie Richards, 44th with 25:40, and Charlotte Whickham in 49th place with 26:10, followed her. Charnwood’s Laura Johnson finished in 56th place with 26:36.

Kevin Deighton representing Bridlington Road Runners who has recently begun life at Loughborough University completed the biggest surprise victory of the day.

Having struggled for the past year with injuries and a stress fracture and coming into the Under-20 race on the back of only nine weeks of training the 18-year-old Yorkshire man stunned Nuneaton’s British junior international and reigning UK Cross Challenge Champion Lee Carey to take a superb victory by a huge margin of 26 seconds. This fine performance from this highly talented athlete placed him in 18th place overall in the main race.

Sian Edwards of Kettering Town Harriers was a class apart in the combined Women’s Under-20 and Under-17 Women’s 4km race producing a stunning gun-to-tape victory in a time of 12:36 ahead of Royal Sutton Coldfield’s Oliva Kenney (sister of Laura) who finished second in 13:23 with Ellie Sprake of Ipswich Harriers third in 13:29.

Charnwood’s Gemma Hiller produced a strong performance to finish inside the top twenty in 19th place with a time of 14:16, a fine run from the 18-year-old in a very high quality field.

Other Loughborough students in action in this race were Sarah Bailey who finished in 23rd place with 14:22, Sarah Parkinson 30th in 15:01, Linsey Fairweather, 39th with 15:58, and Rebecca Roberts in 45th place in 16:52.

Irishman Craig Murphy from Cork won the Under-17 Men’s 6km as he sprinted clear over the last 400m to take victory with an 11 seconds margin ahead of Chris Harvey of Cannock and Stafford, with Andrew Rooke of Ipswich in third.

Leicester Owls Tom Bell gained a solid top ten finish as the 17-year-old crossed the line in 9th place in 18:13. Rutland's Jonny Pegg finished in a fine 23rd position with 18:46. Scott Baxter representing Charnwood finished in 33rd place in 19:11 and team mate Michael Brind was 46th in 19:40.

Zac Randall of Wycombe Phoenix won the Under-15 Boys 3km after a sprint finish with the pre-race favourite Nathan Young representing Mendip. Randell taking the victory by just one second in a time of 10:13. Charnwood’s Alex Kavanagh finished in 38th place in 11:29.

Full results are available on the following link: www.ukathletics.net/press-centre/news-archive/september/article-100/

North Midlands Cross Country League 2006/07

Shipley Hall Cricket Club Park, Heanor

Saturday 14th October 2006

TOM BELL representing the defending U17 Champions Leicester Owls made a winning start to the North Midlands Cross Country League at Shipley Hall Cricket Club Park in Heanor, as the 17-year-old finished nineteen seconds clear of the field to take a fine and well-deserved victory in a time of 24mins.

Bell, the 2006 Leicestershire County 800m Champion finished comfortably ahead of Boston & District’s James Munn, second in 24:19, and third placed Rob Love of Amber Valley (24:34).

Sean Fenwick of Harborough AC and Charnwood’s Richard Lee were the leading county runners in the Men’s Senior race finishing in 12th and 15th places with times of 35:34 and 35:55 respectively. Race victory went to 23-year-old Matt Bowser of Lincoln Wellington AC in 32:24.

In the Senior Women’s race Renee Heath was the highest placed Leicestershire competitor as the Charnwood athlete finished in 14th position in a time of 26:18, with Catherine Howard of Matlock claiming victory in 23:19. Race-walker Toni Boa running in the colours of Harborough AC finished in 16th place in 26:41.

Defending Champions Charnwood had to settle for 14th place overall in the team standings as their top stars were missing in preparation for the Nike AAA National Relays next Saturday at Birmingham’s Sutton Park, and the opening race of the UK Cross Challenge Series in two-weeks time at Senneley’s Park. However, Harborough AC placed fourth behind the early season leaders Sutton-in-Ashfield.

Full results available on the following link: www.northmidsxcleague.co.uk/event1_2006.xls

British Fell Relay Championships 2006

Castle Carr Estate, West Yorkshire

Saturday 14th October 2006

SALLY NEWMAN was part of a successful Calder Valley team that won the Senior Women’s race at the British Fell Relay Championships held on the Castle Carr Estate in West Yorkshire.

Newman, the 45-year-old Wreake athlete who earlier this month collected the English Vet 45 title ran as part of the six-strong team that crossed the line in first place in a combined time of 4hrs 44mins 09secs on a day that began with mist over the fells that cleared as the race finished under clear blue skies and bright sunshine.

World Triathlon and European Duathlon junior English Schools Cross Country Champion Alistair Brownlee anchored Bingley Harriers to victory in the Senior Men’s race in a time of 3:44.53.
Leading Results:
Men
1 Bingley (M Peace / A Peace, M Whitfield / I Holmes, R Jebb / A Brownlee) 3:44:53; 2 Mercia (T Davies / T Werrett, T Owens / P Vale, R Stafford / S Bailey) 3:48:19; 3 Horwich (J Kevan / D Kay, B Bolland / J Logue, C Heys / R Maddams) 3:49:11.
Women
1 Calder Valley (J Buckley / J Waites, S Newman / J Scarf, C Mills / C Kenny) 4:44:09; 2 Bingley (N White / S Becconsall, B Whitfield / H Jackson, C Sanderson / S Taylor 4:49:15); 3 Dark Peak (D Smith / K Davison, J McIvor / K B Jones, J Johnson / L Batt) 4:50:37.