Wednesday 11th February 2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Profiles compiled by Mark Woolley.

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

Tuesday 3rd February 2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tuesday 3rd February 2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Profiles compiled by Mark Woolley.

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

77th Cinque Mulini IAAF Permit Meeting

San Vittore Olona, Italy

Sunday 1st February 2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Leading Results:
Men

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

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

2009 Midlands Territorial Cross Country Championships

Berry Hill Park, Mansfield

Saturday 24th January 2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Report by Mark Woolley – Copyright athletics-leics.com

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

Tuesday 20th January 2009

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

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

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

2008/09 Derby Runner Cross Country League - Race 4

Grace Dieu Manor, Leicestershire

Sunday 18th January 2009

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

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

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

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

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

Report by Mark Woolley.

Above photo – Laura Johnson on her way to victory.

Photo by Jason Addison.

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

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

2008/09 North Midlands Cross Country League

Wollaton Park, Nottingham

Saturday 17th January 2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Report by Mark Woolley – Copyright Athletics-leics.com

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

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

BUPA Great Edinburgh International Cross Country Races

Holyrood Park, Edinburgh

Saturday 10th January 2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Report by Mark Woolley.

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

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

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

2009 Nottinghamshire County Cross Country Championships

Berry Hill Park, Mansfield

Saturday 10th January 2009

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

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

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

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

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

32nd Antrim IAAF International Cross Country

Incorp. 2008/09 McCain UK Cross Challenge

Greenmount College Campus, Antrim

Saturday 3rd January 2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2008/09 Derby Runner Cross Country League - Race 3

Bagworth Heath, Leicestershire

Sunday 21st December 2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2008 SPAR European Cross Country Championships

Senior Races

Parc de Laeken

Brussels, Belgium

Sunday 14th December 2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Report by Mark Woolley.

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

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

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

2008 SPAR European Cross Country Championships

Junior & Under-23 Races

Parc de Laeken

Brussels, Belgium

Sunday 14th December 2008

STEPH TWELL claimed her third consecutive junior SPAR European Cross Country Championships title following a superb solo performance as the Great Britain’s athletes filled the top six places over the finish line in Brussels to completely dominate the event and claim a superb team gold.

In perfect conditions over the challenging Parc de Laeken course that sits in the shadow of the land-mark Atomium, world junior 1500m gold medalist and two-time defending champion Steph Twell in her final year as a junior was simply a class apart as the 19-year-old St Mary's University student, coached by Team GB manager Mick Woods, pulled away from the field with two-laps to go over the 4km race with only team mate Charlotte Purdue for company crossing the line in a time of 13mins 28secs to compete her third straight championship victory to follow her success in San Giorgio su Legnano and Toro in 2006 and 2007 respectively.

British athletes dominated the leading positions from the start as Twell led a train of all six team members over the line with Aldershot club mate Purdue claiming silver in 13:39 and Wigan's Lauren Howarth taking bronze in 13:55.

A delighted Twell commented afterwards: "It was very competitive in the start. Everybody went out very fast. I was very happy with the shape I was in today. I did everything to be well prepared for these championships. This is a very special and awarding victory for me."

Loughborough student Emily Pidgeon - a former European silver medallist - finished fourth in 14:00 with Emma Pallant, 5th in 14:05 and Laura Park, 6th in 14:08, to complete one of the most successful performances for Team GB in the history of the event, a result which bodes well for the future of female distance running in this country in the run-up to the 2012 London Olympics.

Team GB also won excellent team gold's in the Men's and Women's Under-23 races.

Kendal's mountain running specialist Sarah Tunstall timed her challenge well over the 6km course to finish second in a time of 21:10, as NCAA silver medallist, Florida State University student Susan Kuijken of the Netherlands look very comfortable claiming an impressive victory by a margin of eight seconds.

Scotland's Morag MacLarty just missed out on the bronze to Russian Yuliya Zarudneva in a sprint to the line as both were given the same time of 21:24.

However, the Great Britain squad, which also included Katherine Sparke (7th in 21:47) , Stacey Johnson (11th in 22:02), NCAA 1500m champion Hannah England (16th in 22:10) and Susie Hignett (37th in 22:49), comfortably defeated Russia and Germany to take gold in the team event.

Tunstall commented: "I m very pleased with this second place and I dedicate it to my dad and all my family. In the beginning I thought the Turkish girl was going to win easily.

"But the course was very hard with the mud and the sharp bends. But this suits me because I m a real mountain runner. At the end of the 3rd lap, I still hoped to catch up with the Dutch girl, but I didn t manage to close the gap."

In the Men's Under-23 event, Andy Vernon, club mate of Steph Twell at Aldershot finished second in 25:04, with Ben Lindsay (4th in 25:18), John Beattie (6th in 25:18), and Keith Gerrard (7th in 25:21) completing the team.

Vernon reflected: Of course I would have like to do better and to win. I was not at my very best today. In the 4th and the 5th lap I suffered from stiches in my stomach. Right at that moment Lalli broke away. At the bell I cought new hope to finish second, because I felt better again. I thought I was come 3rd, but I managed to catch up with him."

Britain also won bronze in the junior men's team category, where David Forrester, 19, finished fifth in 18:58.

He was backed up Ross Murray, Mitch Goose, Philip Bernsten, Chris O'Hare and Nick Goolab as Team GB finished behind France and Norway.

France's Florian Carvalho, runner-up last year claimed the individual gold medal over the final 800 metres in a time of 18:42 over the 6km course.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Leading Results:
Junior Women 4km
1 Steph Twell (GBR) 13:28; 2 Charlotte Purdue (GBR) 13:39; 3 Lauren Howarth (GBR) 13:55; 4 Emily Pidgeon (GBR) 14:00; 5 Emma Pallant (GBR) 14:05; 6 Laura Park (GBR) 14:08
Team:
1 Great Britain 10pts, 2 Ukraine 58pts, Russia 62pts
Junior Men 6km
1 Florian Carvalho (FRA) 18:42; 5 David Forrester (GBR) 18:58; 14 Ross Murray (GBR) 19:19; 15 Mitch Goose (GBR) 19:19; 18 Philip Berntsen (19:22); 28 Chris O’Hare (GBR) 19:33; 65 Nick Goolab (GBR) 20:09
Team:
1 France 50pts, 2 Norway 51pts, 3 Great Britain 52pts
Under-23 Women 6km
1 Susan Kuijken (NED) 21:02; 2 Sarah Tunstall (GBR) 21:10; 7 Katherine Sparke (GBR) 21:47; 11 Stacey Johnson (GBR) 22:02; 16 Hannah England (GBR) 22:10; 37 Susie Hignett (GBR) 22:49
Team:
1 Great Britain 24pts, 2 Russia 44pts, 3 Germany 57pts
Under-23 Men 8km
1 Andre Lalli (ITA) 24:56; 2 Andy Vernon (GBR) 25:04; 4 Ben Lindsay (GBR) 25:18; 6 John Beattie (GBR) 25:18; 7 Keith Gerrard (GBR) 25:21; 13 Tom Russell (GBR) 25:29; 39 Alex Derricott (GBR) 26:20
Team:
1 Great Britain 19pts, 2 Italy 42pts, 3 France 62pts

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

Friday 12th December 2008

LEICESTERSHIRE’s 5,000m track champion Helen Rollins representing the light blues of Cambridge University finished runner-up to American international Michelle Sikes following a very close run race at the annual Inter-Varsity match against Oxford University held at Roehampton Vale on Saturday 6th December.

Rollins, the 20-year-old from Kettering Harriers, the reigning Inter-Varsity 5,000m champion, clocked a time of 24mins 39secs to take second place in the Blues Match in the race won by Oxford’s Michelle Sikes by a margin of just three-seconds over the line.

Track specialist Sikes, 23, from Atlanta, Georgia, who represented the USA over 5,000m at the 2007 IAAF World Championships in Osaka but missed out on a place at the Beijing Olympics due to a foot injury, pulled clear in the race with 300 metres to go holding off the strong challenge from the early leader Rollins to take the individual victory as Oxford won the women’s match by 15pts to 24.

The Inter-‘Varsity Cross-Country Race is one of the oldest inter-club matches still in existence and has a rich history. Barring the war years, it has been held annually since 1880.

The first race was hosted by Oxford and run over a 7½ mile course which started from the Royal Oak pub and covered the Woodstock Road, Cherwell, Water Eaton and Canal areas to the north and east of the city.

Oxford won by 22 points to 33 with Arthur Hernaman of Keble coming home first. However, it was an unsatisfactory result as “Malicious boys tampered with the trail”, causing two Cambridge runners to trail home a long way behind the field.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Leading Results:
1 Michelle Sikes Oxford 24:36; 2 Helen Rollins Cambridge 24:39; 3 Cathy Ansell Oxford 24:55; 4 Naomi Taschimowitz Cambridge 24:59; 5 Carolyn R Plateau Oxford 25:07; 6 Jessica R Leitch Oxford 25:25; 7 Charlotte M W Bates Oxford 25:35; 8 Anna M Anderson Cambridge 25:39; 9 Rachel S Deegan Oxford 25:45; 10 Polly H R Keen Cambridge 26:01; 11 Emma L Figures Cambridge 27:20; 12 Laura K Barklie Cambridge 27:47

Full results are available on the following link: http://users.ox.ac.uk/~ouccc/competitions/results/mt08/blues/index.shtml

2008/09 Derby Runner Cross Country League

Sinai Park, Burton-upon-Trent

Sunday 30th November 2008

BRITISH Masters international's Tim Hartley and Kate Ramsey completed a well-deserved double victory for Barrow Runners at the second of this season's 2008/09 Derby Runner Cross Country League races held in difficult and challenging conditions at Burton-upon-Trent's Sinai Park.

Hartley, having won the British and Irish Masters Championships title early in the month in Swansea, claimed a fine individual win finishing ahead of team mate Geoff Beetham in a time of 30mins 46secs, with Hermitage's Alistair Watson securing third.

Kate Ramsey secured her second successive consecutive victory to follow her win at Bosworth Water Park producing a fine solo performance to cross the line in 36:45 - this after competing at the North Midlands League race in Mansfield the previous day.

The 40-year-old finished almost two minutes ahead of Wreake's former champion Sally Newman, with Desford's Emma Marvin taking third.

This was another positive performance for Ramsey who has been improving in recent months after a serious back injury curtailed her race appearances.

Full individual results are available on the following link: www.derbyrunnerleague.co.uk/XC02.html

Team Results:
Men
1-Barrow-321, 2-Hermitage-380, 3-Hinckley-398, 4-Hatton-454, 5-Shelton-485, 6-South Derbyshire-570, 7-Shepshed-612, 8-Birstall-631, 9-West End-633, 10-Owls-646, 11-Derby Tri-679, 12-Market Harborough-712, 13-Desford-733
Women
1-Shepshed-41, 2-West End-64, 3-Hatton-73, 4-Wreake-76, 5-Desford-84, 6-Shelton-100, 7-Barrow-110, 8-Ivanhoe-130, 9-Owls-154, 10-Huncote-165, 11-Hinckley-191, 12-Derby Tri-211, 13-South Derbyshire-315
Combined
1-Barrow-270, 2-Hatton-388, 3-Hinckley-423, 4-Shelton-424, 5-Shepshed-427, 6-Wreake-465, 7-West End-561, 8-Owls-598, 9-Desford-602, 10-Derby Tri-604, 11-South Derbyshire-690, 12-Ivanhoe-764, 13-Market Harborough-779, 14-Huncote-1125, 15-Roadhoggs-1134

The next race takes place at Bagworth Heath on Sunday 21st December.

2008/09 North Midlands Cross Country League

Berry Hill Park, Mansfield

Saturday 29th November 2008

GEMMA STEEL broke Tara Kryzwicki’s 100% winning record at this season’s North Midlands Cross Country League following a thrilling race at Mansfield Berry Hill Park where the Leicestershire duo crossed the line together following a hard fought and competitive tussle given the same time with Steel edging the victory by the width of a vest.

On the same day that the UK Cross Challenge and European Championship Trials race was taking place in Liverpool a fair selection of the East Midlands leading cross-country exponents took the decision to contest the third race of the series held in damp cold conditions at Berry Hill Park - the venue for the Saucony national relays earlier in the month.

The highlight and race of the day was produced in the Senior Women’s event where Hermitage Harrier Gemma Steel, the 23-year-old reigning Leicester Half Marathon champion, went head-to-head with former British Steeplechase record-holder and winner of the opening two races in Derby and Corby, Charnwood’s Tara Krzywicki.

Despite a decade separating the two athletes in age, Krzywicki, continuing her successful return to action following foot surgery in January used her vast experience and strength to battle all the way to the line with her younger and emerging opponent as the duo ran shoulder-to-shoulder crossing the line in a joint time of 22mins 31secs with Steel given the victory by the narrowest of margins.

With Steel breaking Krzywicki’s domination of the league with this victory they are now just separated by one-point at the top of the overall standings – a result which should provide an exciting and intriguing final race that takes place at Nottingham’s Wollaton Park in January.

Stoke’s former British junior international, Brunel University student Emma Jackson, finished third some twenty seconds adrift of the leaders in 22:51.

In sixth place British Masters international Kate Ramsey (23:32) representing Barrow Runners completed a solid performance to confirm her position at the top of the Vet40 category.

Also making a fine return to racing in 8th place was Clare Matchett (23:52) as Charnwood increased their position at the top of the team standings ahead of Notts AC with Beverley Gray (13th in 24:22) and Katie North (23rd in 25:49) completing their team.

With both Steel and Krzywicki in this form and with the Midlands cross-country champion Hannah Whitmore returning to racing in Liverpool on the same day, the Leicestershire team will hopefully field a full strength squad to make a strong challenge at the UK Inter-Counties event in March.

In the Men’s Senior race Colin Hawkins (Derby AC) completed his second victory of the season having won at the opening race at Markeaton Park the 24-year-old completed an excellent solo victory to finish ahead of the Owls inform Mark Powell in a time of 29:43.

As with the women’s series the top two are only separated by one-point with Hawkins holding the slight advantage, whilst, in the team event Derby AC have an unassailable lead ahead of Notts as they filled four of the top five places in Mansfield to take a comfortable win.

Peter Swaine (Harborough) and Jason Williams (Owls) also secured well-deserved top-ten finishes with times of 30:51 and 31:22 respectively.

In the Men’s Under-17 race the Owls Daniel Hallam completed his second consecutive individual league victory running solo for the Wigston-based club, with the rest of their squad competing in Liverpool he crossed the line in a time of 20:33 to take a fine win ahead of Derby’s Ben Connor by a margin of ten seconds.

Hallam showing the sort of form that witnessed him finish third at the BMC Championships in Bristol the previous week.

Report by Mark Woolley – Copyright Athletics-leics.com

Full results are available on the following link: www.northmidsxcleague.co.uk/results.html

The final race in the 2008/09 North Midlands Cross Country League is at Nottingham’s Wollaton Park on Saturday 17th January www.northmidsxcleague.co.uk/

McCain UK Cross Challenge 2008/09

Incorp. SPAR European Cross Country Championship Trials

Sefton Park, Liverpool

Saturday 29th November 2008

ANDY VERNON and Steph Twell were the individual winners of the SPAR European Championship trials held at a cold and fog-bound Sefton Park in Liverpool – an event that also incorporated the second round of the 2008/09 McCain UK Cross Challenge.

The Aldershot, Farnham & District duo replicated their British Universities championships performances earlier in the year when they triumphed for St Mary’s College, Twickenham in equally difficult conditions in Swansea.

Steph Twell, already pre-selected to chase a third successive Euro junior title in Brussels, opted to contest the Senior Women's 8.1km event where the 19-year-old world junior 1500m gold medallist outpaced seasoned GB internationals Hayley Yelling, Louise Damen and Hatti Dean to take her second victory in the UK Cross Challenge having won the opening race in Gateshead earlier in the month crossing the line in a time of 27mins 09secs.

Yelling finished runner-up eleven seconds adrift after making the early pace as Loughborough graduate Louise Damen representing Winchester secured third in 27:29 with fellow university alumni, Scottish international Laura Kenney, gaining a top ten finish in 8th with 27:42 - one place behind the British Steeplechase record-holder Helen Clitheroe (27:35).

"I didn't look up too many times in the first part of the race, I wasn't concerned with what others were doing," said Twell.

"I just wanted to execute a good race – as close to what I did at Gateshead as possible. My coach is often saying it's not where you are at the start, it's where you are at the finish. Now I'm in the senior ranks I'm starting to look at how to position myself in races that will allow me to win."

Leicestershire athletes were represented by the Charnwood duo of Juliet Doyle - the 27-year-old showing no signs of jet-lag after running for Team GB over 5,000m at the Chiba Ekiden Relays in Japan on the Monday leading up to the race - finishing 13th in 28:12 with the reigning Midlands champion Hannah Whitmore returning to racing following a niggling ankle injury that affected her summer campaign taking a solid 24th place in 28:26, one place behind Loughborough graduate Katie Ingram.

Cambridge University student and Leicestershire 5,000m track champion Helen Rollins finished in 40th place representing Kettering Harriers with a time of 30:27 as Charnwood’s Laura Johnson clocked 33:04 to take 72nd position.

Andy Vernon produced a strong sprint finish to win a dramatic Men’s Senior 9.8km race in a time of 29:34 with just three seconds separating the top-four athletes as Frank Tickner (Wells) claimed the runners-up position ahead of Guernsey’s Lee Merrien and Keith Gerrard of Newham.

Former Leicester athlete Moumin Geele also representing Newham finished in 5th place with 29:43 as Loughborough-based GB international Nick McCormick clocked 30:06 to take 9th position and fellow resident Ryan McLeod (Tipton) 31:22 for 36th position overall.

Paul Miles was the highest placed Leicestershire runner securing a fine 15th place for the Owls in 30:31, this following his excellent performance at the BMC Championships in Bristol the previous weekend.

Loughborough student Emily Pidgeon finished runner-up in the Women’s Junior 4.4km race to the impressive Emma Pallant to gain automatic selection for the Team GB squad that will compete in Brussels at the European Championships in two weeks time.

Pallant, team mate of Steph Twell at Aldershot, completed victory in a time of 14:40 with Pidgeon taking second in 14:50 and Lauren Howarth of Leigh third in 14:57.

David Forrester (St Helens Sutton) dominated the Junior Men’s 6.7km race out-pacing Mitch Goose (City of Norwich) and Belgrave’s Nick Goolab to take another impressive victory with a time of 20:29.

A quartet of Owls were in action in Liverpool led by Edward Highton (14th in 21:13), Tom Mahon (44th in 22:05), Tom Bell (59th in 22:26) and Josh Norman (66th in 22:35).

Report by Mark Woolley.

2008 Midlands 7 & 5 Mile Cross Country Championships

Braunstone Park, Leicester

Saturday 22nd November 2008

KATE RAMSEY produced a fine individual solo victory as Barrrow Runners collected a well-deserved team title at the 2008 Midlands 7 & 5 Mile Cross Country Championships held in cold conditions at Leicester's Braunstone Park.

Ramsey, (40) continued her recent run of good form having won the opening round of the Derby Runner League the previous weekend in Hinckley by completing an excellent solo victory out pacing Lucy Woodyatt (Severn AC) by a margin of 45 seconds to win the Women's 5 mile race crossing the line in a time of 32mins 13secs.

The British Masters international win combined with team mates Monique Raaijmakers (10th in 36:51), Kath Eastwood (18th in 41:15) and Lisa Rees (27th in 46:00) gave the Leicestershire club the team title.

In the Men's 7 mile race Notts AC's Jonathan Thewlis was equally dominant as the 23-year-old Yorkshire athlete led home the field of almost 100 runners to take a comprehensive victory in time of 38:57, with Josh Lilly (Severn AC) finishing second in 39:59.

Nigel Stirk representing Tipton Harriers was the highest placed Leicestershire athlete clocking 40:35 to secure fourth place.

As with Kate Ramsey in the women's event Thewlis's impressive victory guided Notts to a dominant team win.
Full Results:
Men 7 Mile
1 Joanthan Thewlis Notts AC 38.57s
2 Josh Lilly Severn AC 39.59s
3 Stephen Emery Rugby & Northampton AC 40.10s
4 Nigel Stirk Tipton H 40.35s
5 Andrius Ramonas Notts AC 40.53s
6 Colin Palmer Notts AC 41.09s
7 Philip Chritchlow Beaumont RC 41.15s
8 Dave Kesterton Halesowen C & AC 41.34s
9 Rob Nixon Notts AC 41.39s
10 Nigel Marley Rugby & Northampton AC 41.46s
11 Gary Hope Severn AC 41.59s
12 Leigh Stubbs Redhill RR 42.02s
13 Tom Kenderdine Halesowen C & AC 42.10s
14 Woijech Gajny Notts AC 42.19s
15 Nick Hazelwood Halesowen C & AC 42.54s
16 Mark Tillotson Notts AC 43.00s
17 Dom Morton Halesowen C & AC 43.09s
18 Thomas Meakin Owls AC 43.11s
19 William Nock Halesowen C & AC 43.19s
20 Jamie Sewell Rugby & Northampton AC 43.33s
21 Paul Thompson Sparkhill H 43.52s
22 Paul Newton Redhill RR 44.26s
23 Ian Murdey Beaumont RC 44.28s
24 Brendan Moen Rugby & Northampton AC 44.30s
25 Alex Morgan Halesowen C & AC 44.31s
26 Mike Benford Notts AC 44.39s
27 Mark Yates Redhill RR 44.49s
28 David Battersby Barrow RC 44.55s
29 Nathan Holmes Northbrook AC 45.14s
30 James Rose Severn AC 45.18s
31 Nigel Lever Redhill RR 45.20s
32 Steve Hale Severn AC 45.21s
33 Kingsley Cook Huncote H 45.27s
34 Simon Fortnam Severn AC 45.30s
35 Stewart Lynas Severn AC 45.37s
36 Mike Romanenko Notts AC 45.42s
37 Ken Hope Notts AC 45.53s
38 Martin Brunt Northbrook AC 45.59s
39 Paul Archer Notts AC 46.21s
40 Ian Paramore Barrow RC 46.32s
41 Gareth Watson Long Eaton RC 46.44s
42 Richard Wilkinson Long Eaton RC 46.48s
43 Jamie Hutchinson Notts AC 46.52s
44 Gareth Howells Severn AC 46.55s
45 Vince Carroll Rugby & Northampton AC 46.59s
46 Scott Rischer Notts AC 47.10s
47 Dave Eggington Huncote H 47.20s
48 Mark Restell Barrow RC 47.36s
49 Patrick Finnegan Sparkhill H 47.53s
50 Nigel Cobb Redhill RR 48.10s
51 Mark Bush Wreake Runners 48.18s
52 Rob Fox Long Eaton RC 48.51s
53 Ian Parker Beaumont RC 49.26s
54 Andrew Nock Halesowen C & AC 49.31s
55 Pete Austin Northbrook AC 49.35s
56 Mark Attenborough Redhill RR 49.44s
57 John Noble Notts AC 50.06s
58 Rahim Madarbux Beaumont RC 50.11s
59 Derek Gothard Sparkhill H 50.15s
60 John Saw Rugby & Northampton AC 50.29s
61 Craig Hinks Sparkhill H 50.38s
62 Richard Scott Beaumont RC 50.49s
63 Pete Fellows Northbrook AC 51.05s
64 Joe O'Flynn Huncote H 52.03s
65 John Rees Barrow RC 52.31s
66 Rob Mills Sparkhill H 52.45s
67 Andy Carroll Sparkhill H 52.49s
68 James Ketteringham Wreake Runners 52.52s
69 Andrew Woolley Huncote H 53.00s
70 Harry Thompson Halesowen C & AC 53.21s
71 Dave Lawson Huncote H 53.28s
72 Ken Allen Notts AC 53.34s
73 Brian Harris Wreake Runners 53.48s
74 John Heywood Huncote H 53.57s
75 Peter Ashford Wreake Runners 53.59s
76 Martin Slip Huncote H 54.39s
77 Peter Hickenbotham Beaumont RC 54.43s
78 Daniel Anderson Beaumont RC 54.51s
79 Phil Walters Long Eaton RC 54.59s
80 Darren Newton Huncote H 55.05s
81 Andrew Johnson Leamington C & AC 55.14s
82 Richard Darling Notts AC 55.25s
83 Andrew Tramaseur Wreake Runners 55.34s
84 Mark Ritchie Beaumont RC 55.37s
85 Anthony Siddon Huncote H 55.56s
86 Stephen Dewick Stilton Striders 56.29s
87 Chris Rischer Notts AC 56.32s
88 Colin Bostock Long Eaton RC 57.27s
89 Roger Moon Beaumont RC 57.40s
90 Dave Blower Leamington C & AC 57.52s
91 Shane Goodridge Wreake Runners 57.57s
92 Mick Robinson Notts AC 58.04s
93 Philip Watts Huncote H 58.05s
94 Ken Farrow Notts AC 58.35s
95 Jack Langman Northbrook AC 59.02s
96 Jonathan Vardy Long Eaton RC 59.42s
97 John Goulding Sparkhill H 60.18s
98 Nigel Starr Erewash Valley (Individual) 60.51s
99 Noel Butler Leamington C & AC 66.17s
Teams:
1 Notts AC 51pts (1, 5, 6, 9, 14, 16)
2 Halesowen A & CC 97 pts (8, 13, 15, 17, 19, 25)
3 Severn AC 144pts (2,11, 30, 32, 34, 35)
4 Rugby & Northampton AC 162pts (3,10, 20, 24, 45, 60)
5 Redhill RR 198pts (12, 22, 27, 31, 50, 56)
6 Beaumont RC 280pts (7, 23, 53, 58, 62, 77)
7 Sparkhill H 323pts (21, 49, 59, 61, 66, 67)
8 Huncote H 358pts (33, 47, 64, 69, 71, 74)
9 Long Eaton RC 398pts (41, 42, 52, 79, 88, 96)
10 Wreake Runners 441pts (51, 58, 73, 75, 83, 91)
Women 5 Mile
1 Kate Ramsey Barrow Runners 32.13s
2 Lucy Woodyatt Severn AC 32.58s
3 Rebecca Smith Northbrook AC 34.00s
4 Monica Williamson Leamington C & AC 34.35s
5 Clare McKittrick Charnwood AC 34.48s
6 Julie Lamb Owls AC 35.01s
7 Catherine O'Carroll Leamington C & AC 35.08s
8 Jacqui Phillips Kidderminster & Stourport AC 35.25s
9 Fiona Palmer Notts AC 35.28s
10 Monique Raaijmakers Barrow Runners 36.51s
11 Jayne Mumford Coventry Godiva H 37.15s
12 Tracey Hallam Notts AC 37.19s
13 Annette Carlin Rugby & Northampton AC 37.43s
14 Julie Lambourne Notts AC 37.46s
15 Michelle Leach Rugby & Northampton AC 37.59s
16 Charlotte Whorton Kidderminster & Stourport AC 38.50s
17 Kate Lundy Rugby & Northampton AC 39.12s
18 Kath Eastwood Barrow Runners 41.15s
19 Ann Rollings Rugby & Northampton AC 41.35s
20 Corinna O'Connor Northbrook AC 42.16s
21 Anna Woulters Leamington C & AC 42.32s
22 Krissie Newton Sparkhill H 42.38s
23 Manisha Parmar Sparkhill H 42.47s
24 Wendy Kane Notts AC 43.24s
25 Carol Blower Leamington C & AC 44.46s
26 June Johnson Leamington C & AC 45.23s
27 Lisa Rees Barrow Runners 46.00s
28 Laura Boultby Notts AC 51.33s
Teams:
1 Barrow Runners 56pts (1,10, 18,27)
2 Leamington C & AC 57pts (4, 7, 21, 25)
3 Notts AC 59pts (9, 12, 14, 24)
4 Rugby & Northampton AC 64pts (13, 15, 17 19)

2008 BMC Cross Country Championships

Incorp. the Mike Sully and Gemma Butler Memorial Races

The Downs, Bristol

Sunday 23rd November 2008

PAUL MILES led the way for Leicestershire athletes competing at the 2008 BMC Cross Country Championships held on the Bristol Downs as the 24-year-old county 1500m record-holder finished in 5th place in the Mike Sully Memorial Senior 4km race where Tom Russell and Rob Whalley secured a fine 1-2 victory over the line for the host club Bristol & West.

Russell, the 22-year-old Bristol University student - winner of the Midlands 1500m and 3,000m track championships, completed victory by a margin of eight seconds ahead of club mate Whalley in a time of 12mins 08secs with Paul Miles taking 5th in 12:29 followed by fellow Owl Tom Mahon (18th in 13:04) and Tom Nutt representing Leicester Coritanians finishing in 39th place with 14:07.

In the Gemma Butler Memorial Senior Women’s 4km race Kate Goodhead completed a double victory for Bristol as the 23-year-old out paced Stockport’s Jess Coulson to take victory in 14:16.

Daniel Hallam also representing the Owls ran a strong race to take third place in the Under-17 Men’s 3,000m race crossing the line in a time of 9:37 as Tom Curr of Stroud won in 9:24.

In the Girl’s Under-15 3,000m race the impressive duo of Freya Vincent and Georgie Brookes in the colours of the Leicester Coritanians produced solid performances as they finished in third and 10th places respectively.

Vincent clocked 11:14 to secure third as Westbury Harrier Floren Scrafton claimed victory in 10:52 with Brookes taking a top ten place with a time of 12:01.

Full results are available on the following link: www.britishmilersclub.com/results/2008/XC_2008.htm