Edinburgh 2008 - IAAF World Cross Country Championships

Holyrood Park, Edinburgh

Sunday 30th March 2008 – Men’s Races

KENENISA BEKELE recovered from losing a shoe in the early part of the Men’s Senior 12km race to easily win a record sixth long course title at the 36th IAAF World Cross-Country Championship in Edinburgh.

In front of over 20,000 spectators assembled at the foot of Arthur’s seat on the course that wound its way around Holyrood Park, Bekele, the World record-holder at 5,000 and 10,000 metres, recovered from a terrible satrt having stopped to readjust his shoe and gather himself mentally to quickly get himself back into contention in the race finally unleashed a long solo run to the finishing line to claim a three-second victory in a time of 34mins 38secs.

By halfway he was alongside Eritrea's defending champion Zersenay Tadese and the Kenyan duo of Komon and Joseph Ebuya as runners dropped off when the pace picked up over the hilly course made very muddy by a morning downpour.

As pace-setter Tadese faded, Bekele came into his own, his beautiful, relaxed running action taking him out in front of the chasing trio to secure his sixth title.

The Ethiopian's superb display witnessed him push Leonard Komon into second place with Tadese having to settle for third.

Bekele had lost the opportunity of moving ahead of the Kenyan duo of John Ngugi and Paul Tergat who clocked up five wins before the 2000, when dropping out of last year's race with a stomach upset caused by the heat and humidity at the Mombasa venue.

Bekele said following his victory: "I was worried about it when you lose a shoe you cannot run. But it was at the beginning of the race and I was not so tired, so I decided to stop and put it back on. That was the sensible thing to do."

Komon led Kenya to an astounding 21st team title success ahead of Ethiopia with Qatar placing third. Great Britain finished 11th, led home by the English national champion Tom Humphries in 62nd place with a time of 37:27.

In the Junior 8km race the next generation of Ethiopian runners were in fine fettle as 18-year-old Ibrahinm Jeilan (22:38) and Ayele Abshero (22:40) combined to complete an impressive 1-2 over the line ahead of Kenya’s Lucas Kimeli Rotich.

"I'm delighted to win having qualified for these World Cross Country Championships, so I had a dream that I would win gold for my club and for my country," Jeilan said afterwards.

David Forrester in 24th place headed the Great Britain team as they finished in 9th place behind champions Kenya.
Leading Results:
Senior (12km)
1 Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 34:38; 2 Leonard Patrick Komon (KEN) 34:41; 3 Zersenay Tadese (ERI) 34:43; 63 Tom Humphries (GBR) 37:27; 66 Michael Skinner (GBR) 37:35; 73 Frank Tickner (GBR) 37:49; 79 Andrew Lemoncello (GBR) 37:57; 80 Andrew Jones (GBR) 37:57; 83 Phillip Wicks (GBR) 38:02; 115 Andrew Vernon (GBR) 38:43; 126 James Walsh (GBR) 39:01; 137 John Beattie (GBR) 39:21
Team:
1 Kenya 39pts, 2 Ethiopia 105pts, 3 Qatar 144pts, 11 Great Britain 444pts
Junior (8km)
1 Ibrahinm Jeilan (ETH) 22:38; 2 Ayele Abshero (ETH) 22:40; 3 Lucas Kimeli Rotich (KEN) 22:42; 24 David Forrester (GBR) 24:14; 55 Mitch Goose (GBR) 25:06; 56 Ross Murray (GBR) 25:10; 67 Dewi Griffiths (GBR) 25:29; 81 Simon Horsfield (GBR) 25:45; 93 Phillip Bernsten (GBR) 26:06
Team:
1 Kenya 21pts, 2 Ethiopia 28pts, 3 Uganda 37pts, 9 Great Britain 202pts

Full results are available on the following link: www.iaaf.org/wxc08/index.html

Edinburgh 2008 - IAAF World Cross Country Championships

Holyrood Park, Edinburgh

Sunday 30th March 2008 – Women’s Races

ETHIOPIAN superstar Tirunesh Dibaba used her formidable track speed to sprint away from the field over the final kilometre to win a third IAAF World Cross-Country Championship title in a wind and rain-swept Edinburgh where Britain’s Liz Yelling finished as the leading European athlete in 15th place to lead Team GB to sixth in the team standings behind the all-conquering Ethiopian squad.

Dibaba, the 22-year-old reigning double World 10,000m track gold medallist regained the title she surrendered to the Netherlands Lornah Kiplagat in the searing heat of Mombasa a year ago, after timing her finish superbly to pull away down Haggis Knowe Hill over the final 400 metres of the strength sapping muddy eight-kilometre course at Holyrood Park.

Her super-fast finish pulled her five seconds clear of fellow Ethiopian Mestawet Tufa with Linet Masai of Kenya, last year's junior champion, finishing third.

With World 5,000m record-holder Meseret Defar in their squad Ethiopia comfortably completed a seventh successive team victory ahead of their arch-rivals Kenya, with former champion Benita Johnson guiding Australia to third.

"Last year as a team as individuals we did not do well, and disappointed the country but this is redemption," said Dibaba. "I thought I could catch up with the leading three. I saw there were Ethiopians and I knew I could do it."

The inform National cross country champion Liz Yelling preparing for an attempt on the qualifying time for the Beijing Olympics at the Flora London Marathon in two-weeks time produced a solid performance to finish as the leading European athlete in 15th place after setting the early pace, the 32-year-old Bedford athlete clocking 26:13 as Great Britain finished in sixth position in the team event. Sister-in-law Hayley (Yelling) clocked 26:39 to take 21st place.

Liz Yelling commented afterwards: "I knew it would be tough this year, combining this race and the marathon. I felt really comfortable, so just wanted to get up there and give it a go. I know I’m in the best shape I have ever been in. The support was awesome, every step of the race someone was shouting out your name."

Loughborough graduate and Inter-Counties champion Laura Kenney having declared for Scotland in the week leading up to the edinburgh event finished in 38th place in 27:15.

Earlier in the day in the opening race of the afternoon’s action younger sister Gezebe Dibaba was equally impressive winning the Junior 6k title by a margin of five-seconds ahead of Kenya’s Irine Chepet Cheptai as Ethiopia completed a clean-sweep of the individual titles in Edinburgh, the first time that feat has been achieved by any nation. Compatriot Emteb Etea claimed the bronze medal in 20:16.

“I expected to get a medal but I didn’t expect to win,” said the delighted 17-year-old after adding a fifth World Cross gold medal to the Dibaba family’s growing collection.

“My sister gave me good advice before the race,” she said of Tirunesh, who just one hour later regained the senior title she’d won in 2005 and 2006.

Aldershot, Farnham & District’s European Junior bronze medallist Charlotte Purdue with a fine 16th place (20:52) headed the British challenge as the team was edged out of the bronze position by Japan. Loughborough student Emily Pidgeon returning from warm-weather training in South Africa finished in 41st place in 21:49.
Leading Results:
Senior (8km)
1 Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) 25:10; 2 Mestawet Tufa (ETH) 25:15; 3 Linet Chepkwemoi Masai (KEN) 25:18; 15 Liz Yelling (GBR) 26:13; 21 Hayley Yelling (GBR) 26:39; 38 Laura Kenney (GBR) 27:15; 42 Rachel Townend (GBR) 27:24; 45 Faye Fullerton (GBR) 27:32; 53 Jo Wilkinson (GBR) 27:54
Team:
1 Ethiopia 18pts, 2 Kenya 22pts, 3 Australia 84pts, 6 Great Britain 116pts
Junior (6km)
1 Gezebe Dibaba (ETH) 19:59; 2 Irine Chepet Cheptai (KEN) 20:04; 3 Emteb Etea (ETH) 20:06; 16 Charlotte Purdue (GBR) 20:52; 17 Laura Park (GBR) 20:58; 27 Emma Pallant (GBR) 21:17; 35 Joanne Harvey (GBR) 21:32; 41 Emily Pidgeon (GBR) 21:49; 43 Lillian Partridge (GBR) 21:53
Team:
1 Ethiopia 16pts, 2 Kenya 20pts, 3 Japan 57pts, 4 Great Britain 95pts

Full results are available on the following link: www.iaaf.org/wxc08/index.html

Holyrood Park, Edinburgh

Saturday 29th March 2008

TEAM England led by Tom Lancashire and Gemma Miles secured fine victories at the Home Countries International Cross Country meeting in the Scottish capital Edinburgh.

In a build-up event to Sunday's IAAF World Cross Country Championships at the Holyrood Park venue, despite the bitter cold and windswept conditions the English duo were always in command of their races - first contested in Scotland’s Hamilton Park in 1903 and now returning to the domestic United Kingdom fixture list for the first time since 1990.

Miles won the Women’s 6km race by a margin of 17 seconds in a time of 20mins 30secs ahead of team-mate Victoria Wilkinson, with Scotland's Freya Murray taking third in 20:53.

The top three dominated the race from the start, accompanied by Durham University student Felicity Milton who eventually finished fourth for England in 21:10, setting a tough pace and showing incredible end of season form.

Overall, England took the team honours with 14 points, from Scotland with 27. Wales finished third with 58 points on count back from Northern Ireland who also finished with a total of 58.

Lancashire followed her fine display with a much closer win in the Men’s 8km race, out sprinting Scotland's Tom Russell to take victory by just three seconds in a time of 24:39 with England teammate David Webb third in 25:14.

In the team competition, England finished on top of the podium with a point’s score of 14, ahead of Scotland with 34 points. Wales were third with 37 points ahead of Northern Ireland who scored 68.
Leading Results:
Women 6km
1 Gemma Miles (ENG) 20:30
2 Victoria Wilkinson (ENG) 20:47
3 Freya Murray (SCO) 20:53
4 Felicity Milton (ENG) 21:10
Men 8km
1 Tom Lancashire (ENG) 24:39
2 Tom Russell (SCO) 24:42
3 David Webb (ENG) 25:14
4 Steve Vernon (ENG) 25:19

Saturday 29th March 2008

NICKI NEALON collected her second major title in a space of 8 days. Having won the World Masters W40 Half Marathon last weekend in Clermont Ferrand, France, Nealon (40), representing Huncote Harriers excelled herself by winning the British Masters Cross Country individual title at Banbury.

As with the race in France, Nealon, not only won her age-category but the 6km race outright by crossing the line in first place overall.

After pre-race favourite Debbie Walters (W35) from Birchfield Harriers set the pace over the opening 600 metres over the playing fields of Banbury’s Warriner School, Nealon moved alongside with W40 favourite Clare Elms in close pursuit.

Nealon unintentionally took on the race very early prior to completion of the first of the 3-laps around with a group of seven athletes in contention Nealon inserted a burst of pace in order to break up the pack, expecting the top names to go with her she was left surprised that going into the second lap she clear out on her own.

From that point Nealon pulled away setting a strong pace considering the very strong winds and driving rain unperturbed by the conditions and using all her endurance experience she moved comfortably into a winning position at the start of the final lap.

Nealon crossed the line in a time of 25mins 37secs to win by a margin of 24 seconds from a fast finishing Sarah Gee (W40) of Reading Road Runners (26:01) with Debbie Walters third and Clare Elms fourth.

www.bvaf.org.uk/

UK Cross Challenge Series 2007/08

(incorp. Inter-Counties Championships & World Trials)

Wollaton Park, Nottingham

Saturday 15th March 2008

TOM HUMPHRIES and Laura Kenney stormed to superb individual victories at the UK Cross Challenge Inter-Counties meeting at Nottingham’s Wollaton Park to gain automatic selection for the Norwich Union Great Britain team to compete at the IAAF World cross Country Championships that take place in Edinburgh on March 30th.

In the Men’s Senior 12km race defending champion Frank Tickner, returning from a recent knee injury and the American-based Steeplechase specialist Andrew Lemoncello lined-up as the main contenders for the title in the blue ribbon event of the domestic cross country season in the United Kingdom.

Over the opening kilometre no athlete was prepared to take on the pace with such high stakes up for grabs with the qualification for Edinburgh. Tickner, lacking in training following his injury having graduated from Birmingham University and now working as a logistics manager for News International began to drop off the pace as Mike Skinner representing Kent and the impressive national champion Tom Humphries of Staffordshire began to move through with Lemoncello tracking.

The impressive Humphries by half-way had made a significant break to stretch out the field with Phil Wicks second ahead of Skinner, as Lemoncello, having represented Great Britain in Osaka last summer, was dropping away. Those two continued to press creating more day light between themselves and third placed Skinner with Lemoncello now in fourth as they moved into pole position for selection for Great Britain.

With 5km to go as the rain began to fall Humphries and Wicks were away with the destination of the tile decided as Humphries simply applied the pressure to complete the domestic double for the 23-year-old Cannock & Staffs athlete looking full of confidence maintaining his form to take victory in a time of 37mins 03secs.

Wicks maintained the gap never letting Humphries fully relax settled for the runners-up spot in 37:12 having achieved mission accomplished for the athlete with GB selection. Skinner sprinted clear of Lemoncello to take third in 37:20.

A delighted Humphries commented afterwards: “I felt really comfortable throughout the race - I increased the pace, felt relaxed being left on my out own to keep same pace to the finish, I’m really pleased.”

Interestingly none of the leading athletes are performance funded by UK Athletics as that does not cover cross country which is under-lined by Hayley and Liz Yelling, two of GB’s leading female athletes on the country - both not funded.

From the start of the Senior Women’s 8km surprisingly Canadian based Scottish international Kathy Butler returning from altitude in Colorado, who was to later drop out, set the pace with Scotalnd’s Wendy Nicol and Jo Wilkinson of Essex for company over the opening stages as Fiona Fullerton (Essex) and Leicestershire’s Felicity Milton tracked behind. Midland champion Hannah Whitmore kept in touch placed at the back of the chasing pack.

The second kilometre set the pattern for the race with Butler dropping back beginning to struggle with the early pace Hatti Dean came to the fore, the reigning British Steeplechase record-holder moved ahead with a breakaway group of six athletics that included Loughborough graduate Laura Kenney, the reigning European Under-23 5,000m track champion in the all blue of Royal Sutton Coldfield beginning to move into contention with the group headed by Gemma Miles. Durham University student Felicity Milton, the Max Coleby coached athlete, also began to struggle to keep in touch a this point.

By four-kilometres the pack contained just five athletes with Wilkinson still applying the pressure at the half-way point stretching out their lead over the rest of the field with Kenney holding a close second and Townend and Fullerton vying for third.

With 3k to go the race came down to a two-athlete battle between Wilkinson and Kenney as they moved clear with Fullerton coming through to third as Wilkinson showed her strength on the steep hill reflecting her road racing experience.

However, it was 22-year-old Kenney who showed the greater strength after the 7km point over the flat part of the course showing a fine tactical brain judging her push for victory correctly to produce an excellent performance securing her first senior British title for the George Gandy coached athlete.

Kenney sprinting clear to cross the line in a time of 27mins 55secs to gain automatic selection for the British team, this having finished in 10th place at Alton Towers at the Saucony National Cross Country Championships at the end of last month.

A smiling and slightly surprised Kenney commented: “I can really believe it - I felt so good, I said to myself I to keep going, and I won - this was not really in my plans - I was going warm weather training to South Africa next Saturday so I will have to sit down with my coach (George Gandy) and talk about the world’s.”

Wilkinson held on for second place sprinting ahead of Wilkinson with Fullerton securing fourth, the Leicestershire duo of Felicity Milton and Hannah Whitmore finished in 6th (28:27) and 9th (28:35) places respectively to guide the county to team Bronze.

Paula Radcliffe heads the list of leading British distance runners who will be absent for the World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh. Mo Farah, the 2006 European Cross Country champion, Radcliffe, Jo Pavey and Mara Yamauchi have all declared themselves unavailable for the Great Britain squad.

Their absence will be a big disappointment to British fans given the championships are taking place on home soil for the first time since Belfast hosted them in 1999.

Radcliffe, a two-time champion, is currently sidelined with a toe injury, which has forced her withdrawal from next month's Flora London Marathon. The remaining athletes have decided they must concentrate on preparing for the Olympic Games, although it is understood they will test the benefits of their winter training programmes with spring road races.

Pavey is already committed to the BUPA Great Ireland Run over 10 kilometres on April 6th and Farah is shortly expected to announce his participation in the Carlsbad road race in the United States on the same day in California.

Yamauchi, a superb winner of the Osaka Women’s Marathon in January, is expected back from her base in Tokyo in May to compete in a series of races in Japan head of Beijing.

At Junior level two-time European junior champion Stephanie Twell is injured with a back problem, although the 18-year-old Aldershot athlete's major ambition is to challenge for a medal when London hosts the 2012 Olympic Games.
Here’s how the rest of the afternoon’s action unfolded at Wollaton Park:
National Express Under-20 Men (8km) Incorp. IAAF World Trial

The opening race of the day witnessed David Forrester, the impressive winner of the ESAA English schools title last weekend in Liverpool and fourth place finisher at last year’s European’s in Toro representing Merseyside, leading the field up the hill over the opening first kilometre with fellow pretenders, Norfolk’s Mitch Goose and track specialist Simon Horsfield for company.

However, by the start of the second lap Forrester began to show his form and class stretching the field out – making good use of being the first athlete to cover the firm under-foot ground at Wollaton Park building an unassailable lead looking focused and in control the 19-year-old pulled clear with an 100 metre lead. From that point on there was only one winner as Forrester cruised to a very impressive victory in a time of 25:36.

The real race was a battle royal for the remaining places for the Great Britain team with a final sprint finish for the line between Horsfield and Hampshire’s Philip Bernsten as they finished second and third with Welshman Dewi Griffiths narrowly edged out of selection in fourth place.

“Definitely one of my best race so far, I really enjoyed running here in Nottingham, I’d like to be the first European n Edinburgh, now I’ve concentrated on athletics having played football and swimming before,” Forrester said.
Leading Results:
1 David Forrester (Merseyside) 25:36; 2 Simon Horsfield (Great Manc) 25:47; 3 Philip Bernsten (Hamp) 25:47; 4 Dewi Griffiths (West Wales) 25:51; 5 Ross Murray (North East) 25:55; 13 Tom Bell (Leics) 26:38; 76 Kriss Axon (Leics) 28:53; 118 Andrew Lomas (Leics) 29:57; 155 Ben Lacey (Leics) 31:02; 181 James Paramore (Leics) 32:32
Team:
1 Greater Manchester, 2 Merseyside, 3 Norfolk, 18 Leicestershire & Rutland
London Marathon Initiative Under-13 Boys (3km)

A huge field lined up for the Under-13 race supported by the London Marathon Initiative held over the one-lap shorter 3km distance and from the start as in the previous race there was only going to be one winner with Fergus Roberts, the national champion, storming to another brilliant solo victory following a massive breakaway in the early stages - powerfully built for his age with a quick stride he claimed a comfortable victory in a time of 12mins 10secs. Leon Gregory running in the colours of Greater Manchester claimed the runners-up place in 12:18.

A delighted Roberts commented afterwards: “Amazing and happy to win, I’ve won most the events I’ve ran in this season.”
Leading Results:
1 Fergus Roberts (Yorkshire) 12:10; 2 Leon Gregory (Greater Manc) 12:18; 3 Finlay Rae (Scot West) 12:21; 4 Stephen Knuckey (Surrey) 12:24; 55 Stefan Ashman (Leics) 13:10; 143 James Nutt (Leics) 13:44; 152 James Hatton (Leics) 13:47; 184 Xander Tansley (Leics) 13:57; 196 Jonathan Monk (Leics) 14:02; 197 Josh McTighe (Leics) 14:03; 229 Harry Buttery (Leics) 14:20; 283 Christopher Parkes-Bowen (Leics) 15:12
Team:
1 Kent, 2 Greater Manchester, 3 Surrey, 32 Leicestershire & Rutland
Senior Women’s (8km) Incorp. World Trial

From the start of the Senior Women’s 8km surprisingly Canadian based Scottish international Kathy Butler returning from altitude in Colorado, who was to later drop out, set the pace with Scotalnd’s Wendy Nicol and Jo Wilkinson of Essex for company over the opening stages as Fiona Fullerton (Essex) and Leicestershire’s Felicity Milton tracked behind. Midland champion Hannah Whitmore kept in touch placed at the back of the chasing pack.

The second kilometre set the pattern for the race with Butler dropping back beginning to struggle with the early pace Hatti Dean came to the fore, the reigning British Steeplechase record-holder moved ahead with a breakaway group of six athletics that included Loughborough graduate Laura Kenney, the reigning European Under-23 5,000m track champion in the all blue of Royal Sutton Coldfield beginning to move into contention with the group headed by Gemma Miles. Durham University student Felicity Milton, the Max Coleby coached athlete, also began to struggle to keep in touch a this point.

By four-kilometres the pack contained just five athletes with Wilkinson still applying the pressure at the half-way point stretching out their lead over the rest of the field with Kenney holding a close second and Townend and Fullerton vying for third.

With 3k to go the race came down to a two-athlete battle between Wilkinson and Kenney as they moved clear with Fullerton coming through to third as Wilkinson showed her strength on the steep hill reflecting her road racing experience.

However, it was 22-year-old Kenney who showed the greater strength after the 7km point over the flat part of the course showing a fine tactical brain judging her push for victory correctly to produce an excellent performance securing her first senior British title for the George Gandy coached athlete.

Kenney sprinting clear to cross the line in a time of 27mins 55secs to gain automatic selection for the British team, this having finished in 10th place at Alton Towers at the Saucony National Cross Country Championships at the end of last month.

A smiling and slightly surprised Kenney commented: “I can really believe it - I felt so good, I said to myself I to keep going, and I won - this was not really in my plans - I was going warm weather training to South Africa next Saturday so I will have to sit down with my coach (George Gandy) and talk about the world’s.”

Wilkinson held on for second place sprinting ahead of Wilkinson with Fullerton securing fourth, the Leicestershire duo of Felicity Milton and Hannah Whitmore finished in 6th (28:27) and 9th (28:35) places respectively to guide the county to team Bronze.
Leading Results:
1 Laura Kenney (Warks) 27:57; 2 Jo Wilkinson (Essex) 28:10; 3 Rachel Townend (Hampshire) 28:11; 4 Faye Fullerton (Essex) 28:20; 5 Gemma Miles (Cumbria) 28:23; 6 Felicity Milton (Leics) 28:27; 9 Hannah Whitmore (Leics) 28:35; 10 Jane Potter (Notts) 28:41; 12 Juliet Potter (Notts) 28:46; 56 Clare Mensley (Leics) 31:00; 61 Helen Rollins (Leics) 31:09; 71 Gemma Steel (Leics) 31:27; 74 Katie Lomas (Leics) 81 Sarah Haines (Leics) 31:44; 105 Claire Wilson (Leics) 32:14; 192 Hollie Williams (Leics) 34:42
Team:
1 Yorkshire, 2 Essex, 3 Leicestershire & Rutland
London Marathon Initiative Under-15 Boys (4.5km)

In one of the toughest age group races to compete in another solo victory was on the cards as Tom Curr set the early pace only be to reeled by Suffolk’s Shaun Webb, from that point the race came down to a duel between Suffolk and Gloucestershire for the individual victory as the track specialists ensured the race went to form and as with a track race the outcome was decided by a sprint finish as Kerr - looking like a young Steve Cram who’s son Marcus was also competing - running a fine tactical race pulled clear looking confident and full of running,, even taking time to look over his shoulder, to cross the finish line in a time of 14:56 ahead of the national title holder Webb, with Scotland’s David Vernon third in 15:08.

A confident Curr reflecting on his first national title said: “Yes its great it’s good to prove that I’m good enough, Chris Blackwell told my to run from the front, I’ve never won any thing like this at national level it just great.”
Leading Results:
1 Tom Curr (Glouc) 14:58; 2 Shaun Webb (Suffolk) 15:04; 3 David Vernon (Scot West) 15:08; 4 Daniel Mills (Wark) 15:09; 52 Ashley Chambers (Leics) 16:03; 90 Jacob Kench (Leics) 16:23; 192 Harry Mullen (Leics) 17:12; 241 Ben Salt (Leics) 18:02; 250 Rowan Hargreaves (Leics) 18:15; 261 Josh Slingsby (Leics) 18:33
Team:
1 Scotland West, 2 Middlesex, 3 Yorkshire, 32 Leicestershire & Rutland
Under-17 Women (5km)

A highly competitive race unfolded in the Under-17 race with England junior international Kettering Harrier Vanessa Rollins representing Leicestershire, 5th in the nationals’, moving to the fore in the early stages with Jess Burns of Devon and Lancashire’s Hannah Bateson for company in an even paced race.

Burns began to make the break over the flat section with Annika Jarman representing Lancashire on her shoulder as Rollins dropped to fourth, those two kept in formation ready for a sprint finish with 400 metres to go. Burns began to move with the finish gantry in sight, again looking confident and comfortable Burns eased to victory with a well-timed run in 18:06.

A smiling Burns commented: “I did expect the race to come down to a sprint finish, I kept digging in and held on to win.”
Leading Results:
1 Jessica Burns (Devon) 18:06; 2 Annika Jarman (Lancashire) 18:09; 3 Isabel Brinsden (Surrey) 18:15; 4 Hannah Bateson (Lancashire) 18:27; 6 Vanessa Rollins (Leics) 18:31; 58 Johanna Gerney (Leics) 20:00; 80 Megan Booler (Leics) 20:29; 99 Louisa Monk (Leics) 20:47; 163 Emma Brown (Leics) 22:07; 222 Jessica Edge (Leics) 23:56
Team:
1 Lancashire, 2 Hampshire, 3 Surrey, 12 Leicestershire & Rutland
Great Run Under-20 Women’s (6km) Incorp. IAAF World Trial

With reigning European champion Steph Twell missing due to a back injury which means she will not compete in Edinburgh and current Loughborough student Emily Pidgeon away training in South Africa with John Nuttall’s squad, the Under-20 6km race was a very open event with places available for Team GB as Blue Haywood of Lincoln moving up in age-group lined-up against Laura Park, an impressive winner of English Schools championships the previous week.

Running full of confidence in her now trade-mark hat and long socks, 16-year-old Park, representing Cumbria went to the front to set the early pace over the opening laps in what was one of the most competitive and tight races of the day.

Brunel University student Emma Pallant of Hampshire having spent most of the winter running indoors made the decisive and telling break with a powerful burst after biding her time over the course that really favoured the track runners with two-laps to go placing significant day light between her and second placed Park with Lilly Partridge third.

However, over the final 200 metres there was drama to follow as Pallant ran out of steam to allow the express train Park to blast past to win in a time of 22:29 with Pallant just holding onto second in 22:35 as Partridge finished third in 22:37 to secure her place for Edinburgh.

Park was very matter of fact afterwards commenting: “I was saving energy for the final finish, I’ve put in the hard work and it’s paid off. I’m only 16 so to be going to Edinburgh will be a great experience.”
Leading Results:
1 Laura Park (Cumbria) 22:30; 2 Emma Pallant (Hamp) 22:35; 3 Lily Partridge (Surrey) 22:37; 4 Hollie Anvil (Northamptonshire) 22:42; 55 Amber-Sian Magee (Leics) 26:18; 68 Becky Krych (Leics) 26:56; 116 Pippa Hicks (Leics) 29:48; 132 Joanna Gibson (Leics) 36:19
Team:
1 Hampshire; 2 Greater Manchester, 3 Scotland West, 18 Leicestershire & Rutland
London Marathon Initiative Under-13 Girls

Pre-race favourite and national champion Jessica Judd underlined her position as favourite in the Under-13 Girls race by sprinting clear of the field in emphatic style to give herself a significant lead over the 3km course giving her no chance of being caught to produce the most comfortable and dominant race victory of the day coming home in a time of 13mins 17secs.

A smiling Judd representing Essex following her victory said: “I’m really chuffed, it was really hard because of the mud, I thought they were right behind me so I’m really pleased.”

Emily Sales was the highest placed finisher for the Leicestershire & Rutland in 10th place with a time of 13:49 to spearhead the squad to team Bronze.
Leading Results:
1 Jessica Judd (Essex) 13:19; 2 Loren Bleaken (Wiltshire) 13:23; 3 Rebecca Knapton (Hampshire) 13:24; 4 Lauren Bell (West Wales) 13:31; 10 Emily Sales (Leics) 13:49; 24 Amy Griffiths (Leics) 13:58; 37 Megan Fairbrother (Leics) 14:09; 48 Tilly Abraham (Leics) 14:17; 69 Joni Ashford (Leics) 14:27; 90 April Beeby (Leics) 14:43; 172 Rachel Burrows (Leics) 15:12; 176 Emily Orton (Leics) 15:14
Team:
1 Hampshire, 2 Surrey, 3 Leicestershire & Rutland
Great Run Under-17 Men (6km)

Bedfordshire’s Daniel Clorley, the national champion Under-17, found himself in a large pack of over ten athletes with no one prepared to take on the pace in the large field in the perfect conditions in the spectacular surroundings of Wollaton Park. The pattern of the race continued through the middle phase with the snake of runners winding there way through to half-way as Scotland’s Chris O’Hare and Yorkshire’s English Schools 3,000m champion Ahmed Abdirisak began pressing the pace creating a significant gap ahead of the third and fourth placed athletes.

This continued with the two protagonists shoulder-to-shoulder until with 600m to go Abdirisak made the decisive break to sprint clear with some speed taking victory in a time of 20:04 following a tough, competitive and highly entertaining race. O’Hare secured second in 20:07 with Norfolk’s James Robinson third in 20:14.

Abdirisak commented: “I’m feeling good especially after last year when I lost my shoe, it’s great to win - I knew I had the strength, I thought ‘kick it’ towards the end. I’ve added the mileage this year and that’s made a difference.”
Leading Results:
1 Ahmed Abdirisak (Yorkshire) 20:04; 2 Chris O’Hare (Scot West); 20:07; 3 James Robinson (Norfolk) 20:14; 4 Jonny Hay (Surrey) 20:15; 5 Daniel Clorley (Bedfordshire) 20:32; 48 Scott Baxter (Leics) 21:40; 52 Lewis Smart (Leics) 21:43; 65 Josh Norman (Leics) 21:55; 93 Sam Stabler (Leics) 22:13; 107 Danny Hallam (Leics) 22:22; 176 Jonny Pegg (Leics) 23:08; 184 Liam Phelan (Leics) 23:18
Team:
1 Yorkshire, 2 Cheshire, 3 Scotland East, 12 Leicestershire & Rutland
London Marathon Initiative Under-15 Girls (4km)

Emily Corecke representing Surrey, the overwhelming pre-race favourite moving up in age-group this year was a class apart storming into the lead over the opening kilometre with a dominant performance full of running having destroyed the field at the nationals and under the guidance of Steph Twell’s coach Mick Woods, the Aldershot, Farnham & District athlete claimed a very comfortable victory in a time of 14:25 to continue her remarkable unbeaten run this season. Team mate Ruth Haines secured second in 14:47 with Bedfordshire’s Emily Walbank third in 14:50.

“I felt really strong the race went to plan, Steph Twell really inspires me at my club (Aldershot) with advice and help,” said a pleased Gorecke afterwards.
Leading Results:
1 Emilia Gorecke (Surrey) 14:25; 2 Ruth Haines (Surrey) 14:25; 3 Emily Walbank (Bedfordshire) 14:50; 4 Melissa Courtney (Dorset) 14:59; 5 Naomi Speake (Avon & Somerset) 15:03; 87 Freya Vincent (Leics) 16:41; 129 Georgie Brookes (Leics) 17:03; 137 Briony Bendle (Leics) 17:08; 257 Natasha Timson (Leics) 18:43; 258 Catherine Robertson (Leics) 18:44
Team:
1 Surrey, 2 Yorkshire, 3 Scotland East, 35 Leicestershire & Rutland
Senior Men’s (12km)

In the Men’s Senior 12km race defending champion Frank Tickner, returning from a recent knee injury and the American-based Steeplechase specialist Andrew Lemoncello lined-up as the main contenders for the title in the blue ribbon event of the domestic cross country season in the United Kingdom.

Over the opening kilometre no athlete was prepared to take on the pace with such high stakes up for grabs with the qualification for Edinburgh. Tickner, lacking in training following his injury having graduated from Birmingham University and now working as a logistics manager for News International began to drop off the pace as Mike Skinner representing Kent and the impressive national champion Tom Humphries of Staffordshire began to move through with Lemoncello tracking.

The impressive Humphries by half-way had made a significant break to stretch out the field with Phil Wicks second ahead of Skinner, as Lemoncello, having represented Great Britain in Osaka last summer, was dropping away. Those two continued to press creating more day light between themselves and third placed Skinner with Lemoncello now in fourth as they moved into pole position for selection for Great Britain.

With 5km to go as the rain began to fall Humphries and Wicks were away with the destination of the tile decided as Humphries simply applied the pressure to complete the domestic double for the 23-year-old Cannock & Staffs athlete looking full of confidence maintaining his form to take victory in a time of 37mins 03secs.

Wicks maintained the gap never letting Humphries fully relax settled for the runners-up spot in 37:12 having achieved mission accomplished for the athlete with GB selection. Skinner sprinted clear of Lemoncello to take third in 37:20.

A delighted Humphries commented afterwards: “I felt really comfortable throughout the race - I increased the pace, felt relaxed being left on my out own to keep same pace to the finish, I’m really pleased.”

Interestingly none of the leading athletes are performance funded by UK Athletics as that does not cover cross country which is under-lined by Hayley and Liz Yelling, two of GB’s leading female athletes on the country - both not funded.
Leading Results:
1 Tom Humphries (Staffs) 37:03; 2 Phil Wicks (Surrey) 37:12; 3 Michael Skinner (Kent) 37:20; 4 Andrew Lemoncello (Scot West) 37:23; 5 Andrew Vernon (Hampshire) 37:42; 6 James Walsh (Warks) 37:44; 14 Rory Fraser (Leics) 38:14; 35 Mark Powell (Leics) 39:00; 43 Tim Hartley (Leics) 39:25; 60 Nigel Stirk (Leics) 40:03; 90 Phil Chritchlow (Leics) 41:04; 111 Peter Swaine (Leics) 41:30; 121 Mark Cauldwell (Leics) 41:45; 174 Sean Fenwick (Leics) 43:02
Team:
1 North East, 2 Hampshire; 3 Greater Manchester; 7 Leicestershire & Rutland

Report by Mark Woolley.

Photo courtesy of Mick Hall www.mickhall-photos.com/

Full results are available on the following link: www.ukathletics.net/press-centre/news-archive/march-2008/15-03-08-xc-trials/

2008 Saucony English National Cross Country Championships

Alton Towers, Staffordshire

Saturday 23rd February 2008

LIZ YELLING, the 2006 Commonwealth Marathon Bronze medallist produced a superb performance to win her fourth Saucony English National Cross-Country title at Alton Towers, Staffordshire, following a brilliant and dominant individual gun-to-tape victory.

Yelling, the 33-year-old former Loughborough resident has been in scintillating form of late in preparation for April’s Flora London Marathon, having broken the course record when winning the Wokingham Half Marathon earlier this month, and in the absence of her sister-in-law and fellow Team GB international Hayley, she covered the seven kilometre course crossing the line in a time of 23mins 44secs out on her own to win by a massive margin of 41 seconds ahead of runner-up Gemma Miles representing Kendal.

South of England territorial champion Rachel Townend was third in 24:29 leading Winchester AC to the team title for the second successive year.

Loughborough-based Sonia Thomas finished in 8th place for Sale Harriers in a time of 24:59, with fellow university graduates Laura Kenney of Royal Sutton Coldfield, the reigning European Under-23 5,000m champion, 10th in 25:04, and Havering’s Alexa Joel in 15th position in 25:22.

Charnwood AC were represented by a quartet comprising of Jane and Juliet Potter, 13th and 17th respectively in 25:19 and 25:24, as the new Midlands territorial champion Hannah Whitmore clocked 25:37 to finish in 22nd place one position ahead of Loughborough graduate Louise Damen (25:44). Kim Looms (67th in 27:51) was Charnwood’s other team counter as they finished in fourth place overall.

In the Men's Senior 12 kilometre event pre-race favourite Tom Humphries representing the host club of Staffordshire Moorlands AC secured an equally impressive ‘home win’.

The 23-year-old from Cannock took the lead at the halfway point and finished 13 seconds ahead of runner-up Phil Wicks with Steve Vernon third. Leeds City completed a hat-trick of titles in the team event for the third successive year.

Humphries victory underlined his progressive improvement throughout this winter. After finishing 16th at the European Cross Country Championships pre-Christmas, he had a great run into second in the Belgian CrossCup final a fortnight ago.

Leeds Metroplitan student Rory Fraser spearheaded the Leicester Owls challenge, the British Under-23 international clocked 33:39 to finish in 19th place as the reigning two-time Birmingham & District League champion, Mark Powell, came home in 29th position in 34:06.

Their performances combined with Paul Richardson (38th in 34:25), Gordon Lee (66th in 35:20), James Boxell (101st in 35:59) and Paul Miles (114th in 36:11) guided the Wigston-based club to fourth place overall in the team standings.

Leicestershire's Tim Hartley representing Notts AC finished in 39th place in 34:27 as they finished runners-up to Leeds in the team standings, with Loughborough-based Team GB international Chris Warburton clocking 34:07 to finish 30th.
Silver lining for Coritanian young stars

The highly successful Leicester Coritanian Under-13 Girls squad were in fine form at Alton Towers as they continued their impressive medal haul in both national and territorial team competitions.

Led by Amy Griffiths in 14th place (12:09), the team of Megan Fairbrother (22nd in 12:18), Tilly Abrahams (25th in 12:20) and April Beeby (29th in 12:24) combined to cross the line taking the Silver medal position behind champions Aldershot, District & Farnham, with Bedford & County securing third.

The Owls were also in medal winning form as their Junior Men’s team of Tom Bell (30th in 30:17), Geraint Davies (33rd in 30:21), Edward Highton (37th in 30:28) and Tom Mahon (63rd in 31:10) collected Bronze medals in the race won impressively by Nuneaton’s British international Lee Carey in a time of 27:19. Aldershot, District & Farnham won the Gold with the City of Norwich squad second.
Owls awarded Persil Trophy

The Leicester Owls were awarded the Persil Trophy for the lowest aggregate combined score in the Men's Under-17, Under-20 and Senior races.
Leading Results:
Senior Men: 1 Tom Humphries (Cannock and Stafford AC) 32:03; 2 Phil Wicks (Belgrave Harriers) 32:16; 3 Steve Vernon (Stockport Harriers) 32:32
Teams:
1 Leeds City 180; 2 Notts AC 190; 3 Bristol and West AC 300
Senior Women:
1 Liz Yelling (Bedford and County AC) 23:44; 2 Gemma Miles (Kendal AC) 24:25; 3 Rachel Townend (Winchester and District AC) 24:29. Teams: 1 Winchester and District AC 96; 2 Aldershot, Farnham and District AC) 112; 3 Havering Mayesbrook AC 118
Junior Men:
1 Lee Carey (Nuneaton Harriers) 27:19; 2 Alistair Brownlee (Bingley Harriers) 27:49; 3 David Forrester (St Helens Sutton AC) 28:06
Teams:
1 Aldershot, Farnham and District AC 86; 2 City of Norwich AC 139; 3 Leicester Owls 163
Junior Women:
1 Stephanie Twell (Aldershot, Farnham and District AC) 13:53; 2 Joanne Harvey (Exeter Harriers) 14:19; 3 Charlotte Roach (Vale Royal AC) 14:33
Teams:
1 Aldershot, Farnham and District AC 55; 2 Royal Sutton Coldfield AC 84; 3 Rotherham Harriers 114
Under 17 Men:
1 Daniel Clorley (Luton AC) 14:39; 2 Ross Murray (Gateshead Harriers) 14:43; 3 Ronnie Sparke (Woodford Green with Essex Ladies) 14:47
Teams:
1 Aldershot, Farnham and District AC 148; 2 Tonbridge AC 172; 3 Bedford and County AC 190
Under 17 Women:
1 Laura Park (Ellenborough AC) 14:24; 2 Charlotte Purdue (Aldershot, Farnham and District AC) 14:44; 3 Louise Small (Aldershot, Farnham and District AC) 14:48
Teams:
1 Aldershot, Farnham and District AC 34; 2 Royal Sutton Coldfield AC 210; 3 Kettering Town Harriers 225
Under 15 Boys:
1 Shaun Webb (Ipswich Harriers) 11:25; 2 Danny Mills (Nuneaton Harriers) 11:35; 3 Thomas Curr (Stroud and District AC) 11:41
Teams:
1 Bedford and County AC 131; 2 Aldershot, Farnham and District AC 170; 3 Tonbridge AC 211
Under 15 Girls:
1 Emelia Gorecka (Aldershot, Farnham and District AC) 12:27; 2 Ruth Haynes (Aldershot, Farnham and District AC) 12:37; 3 Naomi Speake (Bristol and West AC) 12:46
Teams:
1 Aldershot, Farnham and District AC 47; 2 Bedford and County AC 142; 3 Mansfield Harriers 153
Under 13 Boys:
1 Fergus Roberts (Richmond and Zetland Harriers) 10:21; 2 Leon Gregory (East Cheshire Harriers and Tameside AC) 10:39; 3 Alex Carter (Team Bath AC) 10:40
Teams:
1 Aldershot, Farnham and District AC 137; 2 East Cheshire Harriers and Tameside AC 157; 3 Chiltern Harriers 183
Under 13 Girls:
1 Jessica Judd (Thurrock Harriers) 11:22; 2 Grace Howie (Poole AC) 11:42; 3 Hannah Bethwaite (Ellenborough AC) 11:43
Teams:
1 Aldershot, Farnham and District AC 53; 2 Leicester Coritanian AC 90; 3 161 Bedford and County AC 161

Full results are available on the following link: www.englishcrosscountry.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=34&Itemid=42

Saturday 9th February 2008

LEICESTER OWLS secured their first major league championship title at senior level with an overall team victory in the 2007/08 Birmingham & District Cross Country League at the final fixture held at Gloucester’s Plock Court.

Paul Richardson led the way finishing in second place in a time of 34mins 05secs behind race winner, Coventry’s Ben Jones (33:57), with Loughborough student Kevin Deighton taking third in 34:16

Overall and defending champion Mark Powell crossed the line in 5th place in 34:40 combined with James Boxell (35:09) securing a top ten finish in 9th with leading junior talents Geraint Davies (13th in 35:36), Tom Bell (19th in 35:56) and the experienced Steve Platts (29th in 36:27) combining to take the Owls to the team success.

Head coach and team manager reflecting on the Owls victory and looking towards the future for his ‘Band of Brothers’ commented: “This is the first time we have won this league though we have been involved for 15 years. Its the summation of work by a loyal 'band of brothers' who all live within a few miles of each other, and who have developed over many years by working together as a 'real' team. We are quite proud of this-it means something to us.

He continued: “Excellent senior squad role models also means strong loyalties cascade through the age groups and we now have around 40 of the most team orientated young athletes you could hope to work with.”

"Now on to the National where we hope to get medals in a couple of age groups and see how we get on with an overall aggregate for the male age groups.

“I’m pretty sure there isn’t a trophy for this and if there isn’t our club is prepared to donate one for the following year to provide an incentive for other clubs who give credence to a strong youth policy that widens the base of the pyramid for subsequent international success.”

For George Gandy’s squad, the Loughborough Students, despite fielding weakened squads in two of the races due to international commitments at the UK Cross Challenge in Gateshead back in November and with the fixture clash at this weekend’s Norwich Union AAA Indoor Championships in Sheffield they finished in a creditable second place in the overall standings with Tipton Harriers taking third.
Overall Team Standings:
1 Leicester Owls 494pts
2 Loughborough Students 530pts
3 Tipton Harriers 660pts

Full results are available on the following link:
www.birminghamccleague.co.uk/images/Div1Results_09Feb2008.pdf

Wednesday 6th February 2008

TIM HARTLEY continued his superb run of victories securing the Charnwood Hills ‘Bowline’ title for a fifth consecutive year on Sunday (3rd February) – his sixth in seven years.

The race that takes place over what is arguably the toughest and most demanding cross country course in Leicestershire.

The course 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 as the out and back route winds it’s way across the challenging terrain.

For Hartley, the 39-year-old Notts AC athlete, here representing his second claim club Barrow this victory marked his sixth success in the event over the past seven years, the only previous time he failed to win was back in 2003 when he was beaten by British duathlon champion Martin Yelling, husband of fellow international Liz Yelling.

In difficult cold and windy conditions Hartley completed a virtually solo victory crossing the line in a time of 1hr 25mins 04secs to finish clear of the reigning Derby Runner Cross Country League champion and runner-up twelve months ago, Phil Chritchlow representing Beaumont (1:25.44), with Harborough’s Peter Swaine third (1:26.03).

In the Women's race, Hinckley's British marathon international Beth Eburne made a winning debut in the event. The 26-year-old is struggling to overcome an iron-deficiency problem that has hampered her progress in recent months, but she was delighted with her performance having won opening two LRRL road races this year in Barrow and Markfield

Eburne finished in 1:35.48, four-and-a-half minutes clear of the 2006 champion Zoe Fleming, representing the host Bowline club (1:40.15), with Wreake’s former British Fell Runner World champion Sally Newman, third in 1:44.22.

Full results are available on the following link: www.bowline.f9.co.uk/CharnwoodRace/CharnwoodRaceEntry2008.htm

Midland Cross Country Championships 2008

Newbold Comyn, Leamington Spa

Saturday 26th January 2008

HANNAH WHITMORE stormed to her first major territorial title with a stunning victory at the Midland Cross Country Championships in Leamington.

The 23-year-old British international representing Charnwood held off the strong challenge of Coventry’s steeplechase specialist Tina Brown and the imposing threat of Loughborough student Emily Pidgeon, the former European 5,000m champion having received special dispensation to contest the Senior race, to take the title following a terrific win in a time of 22mins 08secs.

Whitmore who collected her third Leicestershire County title earlier this month was extremely pleased with her performance afterwards commenting: “I was over the moon with the win it seemed to be a very strong field, I thought going into the race thinking anywhere better than eighth, which I’ve been in my other two Midland Senior races.”

In the Men’s race James Walsh won the battle of the British universities finest to edge out Leicester Owls Rory Fraser to claim the title in a time of 39:36, with World Cross representative Lee Carey third. They will now look forward to meeting again next weekend at the BUSA Championships at Swansea’s Singleton Park.

Leicestershire young athletes completed a superb double team success in the age-group races with the Owls Under-20 Men consisting of Geraint Davies, Edward Highton, Tom Bell and Callum Cullen completing victory ahead of Bristol and West.

Leicester Coritanian’s Under-13 Girl’s triumphed ahead of Royal Sutton Coldfield with April Beeby, Amy Griffiths, Tilly Abraham and Megan Fairbrother leading their success.

There was also individual medal success for Stefan Ashman winning Silver in the Under-13 Boy's race representing the Owls.

FREE photographs of the championship races to download are available on the following link: www.flickr.com/photos/baldeagle/sets/

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

Friday 25th January 2008

KEVIN DEIGHTON representing the Loughborough Students made a welcome return to racing to win the latest round of the Birmingham & District League held at Coundon Park in Coventry in the race where Leicester Owls Mark Powell successfully retained his overall individual title with a third place to lift their team to the top of the league standings.

Deighton, the 19-year-old Yorkshireman, currently in his second year as a Sport Science student, and an Olympic 2012 Scholar, ranks among the most promising endurance running prospects ever to come to Loughborough.

However, he was forced to withdraw from the Great Britain Under-23 Men’s team for the 2007 SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Madrid at the beginning of December, following an injury to his ankle during a track session prior to the event.

In what is considered by many to be the toughest domestic cross country league in the United Kingdom, Bridlington Harrier Deighton, came home in first place with a time of 28mins 18secs after a competitive battle with Coventry’s Tom Bark, second in 28:24, and the Owls third placed Mark Powell (28:39).

Owls placed themselves in pole position in the race for the team title for the first time in their history with a strong performance to place them on the verge of a first-ever triumph following a fine squad performance.

Led home by Powell as the 28-year-old retained his title in third place the Owls placed their top six athletes in the leading 30 to finish runners-up on the day to the Loughborough Students with19-year-old Geraint Davies underlined his improvement with a superb fifth position in the high calibre race.

The Wigston-based club successfully overhauled a massive 93-point deficit on Tipton Harriers, who led the league standings after the first two fixtures, to take top position.

They will now go into the final fixture at Gloucester on Saturday 9th February, boasting a 30-point lead on the Loughborough Students, with Tipton a further eight points adrift in third. A task that may well be made easier with several of the Loughborough squad absent contesting the Norwich Union AAA World Indoor Trials on the same weekend in Sheffield.

"We've got a great chance," commented the Owls team manager Wayne Walker. "We have the Midland Championships this coming Saturday (January 26th) and then the Nationals four weeks after that, so it may be a case of keeping our runners fit and healthy.

"But, given the situation we're in, I can't see that we wouldn't just go for it as far as the Birmingham League is concerned.

"It's the strongest league in the country and something we've not won before. If we can win that, and the Midland as well, we might go into the Nationals tired but inspired too!"

Full results are available on the following link:
www.birminghamccleague.co.uk/images/Div1Results_19Jan2008.pdf

Derby Runner Cross Country League 2007/08 – Race No.3

Grace Dieu, Shepshed, Leicestershire

Sunday 20th January 2008

TIM HARTLEY and Gemma Steel were the impressive individual winners of the third fixture of this season's Derby Runner Cross Country League held in challenging muddy conditions at Grace Dieu Manor School, Shepshed.

Over the 4.8-mile one-lap picturesque course surrounding the Charnwood Forest Hartley finished in fine style, the 39-year-old Notts AC athlete running in the colours of his second claim club Barrow, crossed the line in a time of 30mins 11secs to take the win by a margin of eight seconds ahead of reigning champion Phil Chritchlow representing Beaumont. Hartley's team-mate Geoff Beetham was third in 30:29.

In the Women's race, Gemma Steel completed a superb hat-trick of victories this season to virtually secure the individual title comfortably finishing ahead of Hermitage Harriers team-mate Claire Wilson.

Steel led from gun to finish to come home in a time of 33:42, just over a minute ahead of Wilson (34:43) with former league champion, Wreake's Sally Newman, third in 36.45 this after surviving a fall on the course.

Full results are available on the results page: www.athletics-leics.com/results.html
The next Derby Runner Cross Country League 2007/08 fixture takes place on Sunday 17th February at the Foremark Reservoir.

Thursday 17th January 2008

TARA KRZYWICKI returned to action a week after missing the Leicestershire County Championships with a long-standing foot injury, to win the Senior Women's race at the final North Midlands Cross-Country League event of the season held at Nottingham's Wollaton Park.

The 33-year-old British international moved clear of the chasing field to win in a time of 21mins 7secs, almost a half-a-minute ahead of Long Eaton Sharon Orridge, and led home a victorious Charnwood squad of Kim Looms, fifth in 22:18, and Bev Gray, 7th in 22:23.

Harborough's Sarah Haines was fourth in 21:57, this despite third-place finisher Gemma Steel, the Derby Runner Cross-Country League leader, being disqualified after finishing third in the colours of her first-claim club, Hermitage Harriers, who are not members of the league.

Krzywicki was delighted with her run but not so happy with her injury commenting afterwards:

"As far as the run was concerned, I felt great and I obviously haven't lost a huge amount in terms of fitness," she said.

"But, as for the injury, it wasn't so good the day after. I'm seeing a consultant on Thursday but it's definitely not right."

Krzywicki still hopes to be able to run in the Saucony National Cross Country Championships at Alton Towers on Saturday 23rd February, but admits that much rests on medical advice.

Whilst Krzywicki claimed the final race honours, Barrow's Kate Ramsey, an absentee because of illness, landed the women's league title following her victories at the first three meets. Haines was third overall.

Leicester Owls talented young athletes were also prominent in the overall medals. Callum Cullen, who was fourth in the Men's race at Nottingham, claimed Silver at Under-20 Men's level, as did Ashley Chambers at U15 Boys, whilst Stefan Ashman was the Bronze winner at U13.

Full results are available on the following link:
www.northmidsxcleague.co.uk/resources/Nottingham+12th+January+2008.xls

Saturday 12th January 2008

EUROPEAN Junior Champion, Steph Twell, put in a brave performance against the World's best.

Edinburgh's dress-rehearsal for the forthcoming IAAF World Cross Country Championships in March passed with flying colours, as the Scottish capital provided an exhilarating day's action with a plethora of first-class performances.

The historic Holyrood Park was the setting for race five of the eleven-event 2007/8 IAAF permit series; with plenty of traditional bagpipe music and Scotland's typically cold and wintry weather. The firm underfoot conditions and testing inclines around the capital's extinct volcano, ‘Arthur's Seat' on ‘Haggis Knowle' hill, failed to prevent the World's elite from exerting their usual aptitude and top of the class was star-attraction, Steph Twell (GBR) and compatriot, Frank Tickner who both produced inspired breakthroughs.

2012 hopeful, Twell flew through her master class of senior international competition, to scorch to an outstanding fourth-place overall; destroying her older, European counterparts. The 18 year-old that performed so brilliantly in Toro, Spain this December to win her second SPAR European Junior Cross Country title, made light work of the toughest race of her young life and even momentarily took the lead against an established world-class field.

"I really enjoyed the race! I thought it was superb. I got a lot of inspiration from the race, as I had visions of racing Championships on the track when I'm older," exclaimed the delighted youngster.

The confident teenager who is attracting numerous comparisons to Britain's Cross Country and Marathon super star, Paula Radcliffe, ran strongly to the line; missing the podium by inches, behind World 5,000m silver-medallist, Vivian Cheruiyot (20:34) of Kenya - with 2006 World Cross Country short-course Champion, Gelete Burka (Ethiopia-19:58) and World Junior Cross Country Champion, Linet Masai (Kenya-20:13) comfortably ahead.

"It was good to get the experience and learn from their tactics," explained the European Junior 1,500m runner-up, "It gave me a huge boost being so close to them!"

The ultra-consistent Aniko Kalovics of Hungary showed her arduous Marathon training was no barrier to the speed required in the 6.7km test, as she strode home in 20:38 to place fifth overall.

"It was a very undulating course. The field was very strong and I really wanted to be the first European; I really fought for it," recalled the 2003 European cross-country bronze-medallist from this Edinburgh course.

Liz and Hayley Yelling (GBR); the established marathon-runner and 2004 European Cross Country Champion, respectively, took the third and fourth European spots, ahead of France's Saadia Bourgalih Haddio.

"I'm quite pleased - I felt good," revealed Liz, "I'll have a break now before the Marathon training."

Hayley - an impressive winner of last weekend's IAAF permit event in Belfast admitted,

"I didn't feel at my best today but it was great to run the World Cross course."

In spite of finishing the men's 9.3km route just over a minute behind multiple World Cross Country Champion and king of the mud larks, Keninesa Bekele of Ethiopia (27:42) - who here, captured his third consecutive win for the IAAF event - Frank Tickner showed no fear around his African rivals to throw himself into the mix of such rare, high-calibre company; crossing the finish-line in ninth-place overall.

The 24 year-old was delighted to be celebrating the finest achievement of his career to date, following several domestic victories;

"I'm absolutely ecstatic! I executed the race well and had a great finish," said the reigning English Cross-Country Champion, "Top 10 - I'm very happy! I had a good passage of training over Christmas but now I'm back at work (in foreign logistics), so it's a different story. I'll do the World Cross trials and see how I go."

The European runner-up spot went to Spain's Ivan Galan (11th overall), with Brits, Anthony Ford and Andi Jones following suit in 12th and 13th, respectively.

The impressive home-nation stranglehold continued, as England U23 5,000m silver-medallist, Tom Russell (14th overall), made the European top-5, as Portugal's four-times European Cross Country Champion and World Cross Country long-course fourth-placer, Paulo Guerra completed the European top-10.

The men's 4.4km was an entirely British affair, with World Championship 1,500m finalist, Andy Baddeley taking the honours, ahead of European U23 Cross Country third-placer, Andy Vernon and track specialist, Tom Lancashire.

Baddeley secured victory with a powerful late burst, after stealing the march in the final furlong.

"The crowd was really good and I thought I ran well," the British metric mile Champion recalled. "The last hill was really treacherous and they almost got away from me but I managed to finish strong. Next, I'll do an indoor mile in New York, followed by a 3km in Boston before eight-week training in South Africa."

English U23 5,000m Champion, Vernon started conservatively and reacted diligently as the pace increased; "I got in a good position then just went for it! I knew Andy had a good kick so I sprinted as fast as I could. I hoped for top-5, so second's a surprise!"

Burbage Common, Hinckley

Saturday 5th January 2008

THE full results of the 2008 Leicestershire County Cross Country Championships held at Burbage Common, Hinckley, are listed below:
Full Results:
UNDER 17 WOMEN 5000M
-1-991-Zoe Hawkins-Charnwood AC- -21.50
-2-984-Lucy Hall-Lutterworth College- -22.02
-3-989-Louisa Monk-Leicester Coritanian- -22.54
-4-983-Emma Brown-Stilton Striders- -24.06
-5-992-Emily Milodowski-Charnwood AC- -24.28
-6-985-Jessica Edge-Lutterworth College- -27.02
-7-986-Rachel Finnigan-Lutterworth College- -28.18
-8-981-Alice Goodbourn-Wreake Runners- -29.40
-9-982-Jenny Smith-Wreake Runners- -29.55
Team
1 Lutterworth College- -(2,6,7=15)-
UNDER 20 WOMEN 5000M
-1-743-Amber - Sian McGee-Charnwood AC- -22.37
-2-740-Jessica Fletcher-Rugby RC- -25.12
-3-742-Pippa Hicks-Rutland AC- -25.44
-4-747-Abi Duffin-Huncote Harriers- -27.20
-5-746-Joanna Gibson-Charnwood AC- -33.31
UNDER 15 BOYS 4000M
-1-872-Rupert Radley-OWLS- -16.57
-2-881-Jack Hall-Lutterworth HS- -17.15
-3-873-Jacob Kench-Leicester Coritanian- -17.18
-4-862-Rowan Hargraves-Wreake Runners- -17.20
-5-866-Ben Salt-Charnwood AC- -17.51
-6-863-Harry Mullen-Brockington College- -18.09
-7-854-Josh Slingsby-Wreake Runners- -18.11
-8-871-Jake Boat-OWLS- -18.17
-9-856-Jim Payne-Wreake Runners- -18.20
-10-879-Sam Eaton-Lutterworth HS- -18.58
-11-882-Patrick Mills-Lutterworth HS- -19.57
-12-853-Greg Webb-Wreake Runners- -20.28
-13-858-Reece Dewick-Wreake Runners- -20.55
-14-876-James Humphrey-Lutterworth HS- -21.10
-15-864-Jonathan Hughes-Brockington College- -21.27
-16-857-David Freeman-Wreake Runners- -21.29
-17-859-Luke Elson-Wreake Runners- -22.05
-18-851-Spencer Lyon-Wreake Runners- -22.19
-19-852-Iain Simpson-Wreake Runners- -22.38
-20-878-Phil Simonds-Lutterworth HS- -22.42
-21-877-Matthew Hubbard-Lutterworth HS- -24.46
Team
1 Wreake Runners- -(4,7,9=20)-
2 Lutterworth HS- -(2,10,11=23)-
3 Wreake Runners- -(12,13,16=41)-
UNDER 15 GIRLS 4000M
-1-961-Freya Vincent-Leicester Coritanian- -17.45
-2-957-Georgie Brookes-Leicester Coritanian- -18.03
-3-966-Briony Bendle-Charnwood AC- -18.21
-4-972-Amie Taylor-Lutterworth HS- -19.23
-5-968-Lizi Mellor-Charnwood AC- -19.27
-6-958-Sarah Dias-Leicester Coritanian- -19.42
-7-960-Helena Smith-Leicester Coritanian- -20.11
-8-965-Katya Blackledge-Charnwood AC- -20.15
-9-977-Natasha Timpson-Nuneaton Harriers- -21.03
-10-969-Katie Oakes-Charnwood AC- -21.42
-11-970-Isabelle Perry-Charnwood AC- -21.43
-12-956-Rachel Maddock-OWLS- -24.02
-13-953-Lucy Bolton-Market Bosworth HS- -24.29
-14-952-Victoria Stafford-Market Bosworth HS- -25.14
-15-954-Elizabeth Bettsworth-Wreake Runners- -25.59
-16-976-Beth Chamberlaine-Lutterworth HS- -32.58
Team
1 Leicester Coritanian- -(1,2,6=9)-
2 Charnwood AC- -(3,5,8=16)-
SENIOR WOMEN 6000M
-1-753-Hannah Whitmore-Charnwood AC- -23.56
-2-750-Gemma Steel-Hermitage Harriers- -25.29
-3-759-Clare Mensley-Charnwood AC- -26.01
-4-751-Claire Wilson-Hermitage Harriers- -26.21
-5-755-Katie Lomas-Charnwood AC- -26.38
-6-767-Sarah Haynes-Harborough AC- -26.51
-7-756-Laura Johnson-Charnwood AC- -28.14
-8-764-Elizabeth Whitaker-OWLS- -28.20
-9-761-Louise Newcombe-Wreake Runners- -31.36
-10-760-Jane Mayes-Wreake Runners- -34.06
Team
1 Charnwood AC- -(1,3,5=8)-
MASTERS WOMEN 6000M
-1-119-Clare McKittrick-Charnwood AC- -26.32
-2-106-Sally Newman-Wreake Runners- -27.15
-3-116-Sara Wilson-Gallagher-OWLS- -27.22
-4-115-Julie Lamb-OWLS- -29.07
-5-121-Toni Boa-Harborough AC- -29.23
-6-128-Mary Hall-Nuneaton Harriers- -29.40
-7-127-Simone Wilson-Nuneaton Harriers- -29.46
-8-122-Karen Brooks-Harborough AC- -29.59
-9-117-Sam Winters-OWLS- -29.59
-10-109-Penny Masser-Hinckley RC- -30.18
-11-104-Fiona Dewick-Wreake Runners- -31.27
-12-130-Debbie Suffolk-Nuneaton Harriers- -31.42
-13-108-Linda Whitelegg-Hinckley RC- -31.58
-14-110-Jane Chilton-Hinckley RC- -32.00
-15-120-Nicola James-Harborough AC- -33.17
-16-126-Sandra Stevens-Huncote Harriers- -34.10
-17-111-Anne Robertson-Hinckley RC- -35.47
-18-102-Liz Goodbourn-Wreake Runners- -36.30
-19-113-Lisa Rees-Barrow Runners- -38.08
-20-100-Tracey Amor-Wreake Runners- -38.10
-21-112-Wendy Nicholson-Hinckley RC- -38.12
-22-101-Maria Payne-Wreake Runners- -38.46
-23-129-Cath O'Brien-Nuneaton Harriers- -39.30
-24-123-Lin Farrow-Harborough AC- -39.49
-25-124-Ruth Bingham-Harborough AC- -39.50
-26-105-Lyndsey Wilson-Wreake Runners- -41.54
Team
1 OWLS- -(3,4,9=16)-
2 Nuneaton Harriers- -(6,7,12=25)-
3 HarboroughAC- -(5,8,15=28)-
UNDER 13 BOYS 3000m
-1-928-Stefan Ashman-OWLS- -11.13
-2-912-Adam Moss-Lutterworth HS- -11.50
-3-919-Cameron Brookes-Leicester Coritanian- -12.01
-4-929-Joshua McTighe-OWLS- -12.04
-5-920-Jonathon Monk-Leicester Coritanian- -12.17
-6-913-Harry Buttery-Charnwood AC- -12.24
-7-931-Christopher Parkes-Bowen-OWLS- -12.29
-8-923-James Hatton-Wreake Runners- -12.45
-9-930-Conor Muldoon-OWLS- -12.56
-10-932-Jack Barber-OWLS- -12.57
-11-914-Samual Moore-Charnwood AC- -13.18
-12-906-Oliver Glasse-Lutterworth HS- -13.39
-13-917-Nathan Lawson-Leicester Coritanian- -13.52
-14-927-Mathew Kirby-Wreake Runners- -13.54
-15-908-Elliot Mitchell-Lutterworth HS- -13.55
-16-915-Alexander Dickie-Charnwood AC- -14.04
-17-900-Joseph Carnell-Stilton Striders- -14.14
-18-925-Thomas Johnson-Wreake Runners- -14.35
-19-933-Ryan Ashton-OWLS- -14.38
-20-903-Oliver Stringer-Lutterworth HS- -14.50
-21-926-Archie Lyon-Wreake Runners- -14.52
-22-909-Oliver Rivera-Lutterworth HS- -14.54
-23-921-George Bettsworth-Wreake Runners- -15.12
-24-901-Liam Humphrey-Lutterworth HS- -15.25
-25-902-Edward Duffin-Lutterworth HS- -15.44
-26-922-Will Goodbourn-Wreake Runners- -16.33
Team
1 OWLS- -(1,4,7=12)-
2 Leiceaster Coritanian- -(3,5,13=21)-
3 Lutterworth HS- -(2,12,15=29)-
UNDER 13 GIRLS 3000m
-1-818-Megan Fairbrother-Leicester Coritanian- -12.25
-2-846-Emily Sales-Nuneaton Harriers- -12.28
-3-814-Amy Griffiths-Leicester Coritanian- -12'29
-4-840-Tilly Abraham-Loughborough HS- -12.36
-5-839-Joni Ashford-Loughborough HS- -12.49
-6-815-April Beeby-Leicester Coritanian- -13.14
-7-821-Rachel Borrows-Leicester Coritanian- -13.17
-8-800-Jasmin Southam-Stilton Striders- -13.24
-9-820-Emily Orton-Leicester Coritanian- -13.39
-10-825-Kim Jalland-Charnwood AC- -13.50
-11-841-Zoe Derijk-Loughborough HS- -13.52
-12-817-Ella Voss-Leicester Coritanian- -13.57
-13-801-Lucy Golland-Stilton Striders- -14.18
-14-847-Chloe Tillin-Nuneaton Harriers- -14.22
-15-826-Veda Jalland-Charnwood AC- -14.35
-16-832-Ella McNeelance-Wreake Runners- -14.36
-17-836-Ellie Mae Wilson-Wreake Runners- -15.02
-18-844-Isobelle Smith-Loughborough HS- -15.09
-19-831-Emily Hollis-Wreake Runners- -15.10
-20-808-Lucy Harkins-Lutterworth H.S.- -15.15
-21-824-Megan Hughes-Charnwood AC- -15.18
-22-827-Bethan Ashman-Charnwood AC- -15.19
-23-805-Jordan Cross-Lutterworth H.S.- -15.24
-24-835-Laura Tailor-Wreake Runners- -15.31
-25-816-Catherine Jones-Leicester Coritanian- -15.44
-26-829-Cassie Amor-Wreake Runners- -15.48
-27-812-Rebecca Harkins-Lutterworth H.S.- -15.53
-28-811-Claire Seymour-Lutterworth H.S.- -16.14
-29-809-Chloe Morgan Webster-Lutterworth H.S.- -16.31
-30-837-Rebbeca Ketteringham-Wreake Runners- -16.44
-31-807-Shannon Pike-Lutterworth H.S.- -16.46
-32-828-Hayley White-Rutland AC- -16.55
-33-803-Guinevere Newton-Lutterworth H.S.- -17.00
-34-822-Hannah Perry-Leicester Coritanian- -17.07
-35-838-Crystal Henrickson-Wreake Runners- -18.36
-36-810-Megan Oliver-Lutterworth H.S.- -19.30
-37-806-Jaime Chamberlaine-Lutterworth H.S.- -20.45
Team
1 Leicester Coritanian- -(1,3,6=10)-
2 LoughboroughHS- -(4,5,11=20)-
3 Leicester Coritanian- -(7,9,12=28)-
UNDER 17 MEN 6000M
-1-779-Josh Norman-OWLS- -22.42
-2-777-Lewis Smart-OWLS- -23.00
-3-776-Sam Stabler-OWLS- -23.05
-4-786-Scott Baxter-Charnwood AC- -23.31
-5-782-George Buttery-Charnwood AC- -23.59
-6-700-Scott Speller-Harborough AC- -24.07
-7-775-David Hallam-OWLS- -24.11
-8-792-Liam Phelan-Groby CC- -24.13
-9-783-John Dosset-Charnwood AC- -24.44
-10-787-Michael Brind-Charnwood AC- -25.20
-11-789-Elliott Hart-Leicester Coritanian- -25.22
-12-778-Patrick Radley-OWLS- -25.54
-13-788-Jake Harrison-Barrow Runners- -26.06
-14-785-Scott Lacey-Charnwood AC- -26.08
-15-780-Simon Jones-Charnwood AC- -26.24
-16-793-Daniel Calow-Groby CC- -27.26
-17-794-Michael Vickers-Groby CC- -27.36
-18-798-Jared Wilson-Nuneaton Harriers- -28.08
-19-791-Billy Hicks-Rutland AC- -29.42
Team
1 OWLS- -(1,2,3=6)-
2 Charnwood AC- -(4,5,9=18)-
3 Charnwood AC- -(10,14,15=39)-
UNDER 20 MEN 6000M
-1-888-Tom Mahon-OWLS- -22.17
-2-895-Ben Lacey-Charnwood AC- -22.35
-3-889-Tom Bell-OWLS- -22.39
-4-891-Simon May-OWLS- -22.58
-5-894-Andrew Lomas-Charnwood AC- -24.09
-6-896-James Paramore-Charnwood AC- -27.06
Team
1 OWLS- -(1,3,4=8)-
2 Charnwood AC- -(2,5,6=13)-
SENIOR MEN 9500M
-1-727-Rory Fraser-OWLS- -34.00
-2-731-Mark Powell-OWLS- -34.55
-3-725-Durrant Davies-OWLS- -35.08
-4-701-Peter Swaine-Harborough AC- -36.05
-5-729-Tom Dovan-OWLS- -37.25
-6-728-Chris O'Neill-OWLS- -37.51
-7-720-Chris Jordan-Hinckley RC- -37.57
-8-730-Tom Meakin-OWLS- -38.23
-9-713-Mark Cauldwell-Charnwood AC- -38.27
-10-732-Jason Williams-OWLS- -38.37
-11-719-Richard Whitelegg-Hinckley RC- -40.07
-12-721-Dave Masser-Hinckley RC- -40.32
-13-733-Will Mason-OWLS- -40.58
-14-723-Rob Hall-McNair-Hinckley RC- -41.13
-15-735-David Battersby-Barrow Runners- -41.18
-16-706-Paul Gregory-Hermitage Harriers- -41.23
-17-709-Mark Bush-Wreake Runners- -41.56
-18-717-Darren Glover-Stilton Striders- -42.52
-19-714-Mark Townsend-Charnwood AC- -43.08
-20-726-Edy O'Connor-OWLS- -43.19
-21-724-Mark Frost-Hinckley RC- -43.30
-22-716-Christian Davidson-Stilton Striders- -45.20
-23-722-Christian Weikert-Picker-Hinckley RC- -46.03
-24-736-Mark Whitfield-Beaumont RC- -47.49
-25-737-Andy Machin-Beaumont RC- -50.03
-26-710-Oliver Hatton-Wreake Runners- -56.54
Team
1 OWLS- -(1,2,3,5=11)-
2 OWLS- -(6,8,10,13=37)-
3 Hinckley RC- - -
MASTERS MEN 9500M
-1-46-Tim Hartley-Notts AC- -34.31
-2-69-Steve Platts-OWLS- -36.02
-3-31-Sean Fenwick-Harborough AC- -36.36
-4-86-Phil Critchlow-Beaumont RC- -36.53
-5-47-Chris Southam-Stilton Striders- -38.00
-6-97-Chris Talbot-Nuneaton Harriers- -39.45
-7-42-Kingsley Cook-Huncote Harriers- -40.09
-8-72-Andy Hart-Leicester Coritanian- -40.13
-9-76-Dave Pearce-Leicester Coritanian- -40.43
-10-2-Richard Bettsworth-Wreake Runners- -40.50
-11-29-William Clapp-Harborough AC- -40.54
-12-24-Ashley Long-Hermitage Harriers- -40.56
-13-99-Stacey Voss-Fleckney & Kibworth- -41.09
-14-71-Phil Hands-Leicester Coritanian- -41.16
-15-48-Nick Brown-Stilton Striders- -41.32
-16-83-Eric Fowler-Nuneaton Harriers- -42.08
-17-79-Kevin Lomas-Charnwood AC- -42.13
-18-36-Jason Pitcher-Harborough AC- -42.24
-19-13-Ashley Hollis-Wreake Runners- -42.45
-20-78-Peter Mensley-Charnwood AC- -42.46
-21-45-David Waddington-Harborough AC- -42.50
-22-23-Dave Rutherford-West End Runners- -43.01
-23-49-Tim Hicks-Stilton Striders- -43.13
-24-7-Brian Harris-Wreake Runners- -43.19
-25-32-Martin Gore-Harborough AC- -43.34
-26-70-Robin Brookes-Leicester Coritanian- -44.09
-27-3-Brian Busby-Wreake Runners- -44.34
-28-98-Andy Ball-Huncote Harriers- -44.36
-29-73-Dave Saunders-Leicester Coritanian- -45.06
-30-81-Mark Whitmore-Charnwood AC- -45.38
-31-41-David Lawson-Huncote Harriers- -45.48
-32-28-Ian Chick-Harborough AC- -45.55
-33-19-Duncan Percy-Desford Striders- -46.31
-34-37-Hugh Delargy-Harborough AC- -46.34
-35-59-John Rees-Barrow Runners- -46.44
-36-50-Steve Dewick-Stilton Striders- -46.46
-37-66-Anthony Waterfield-OWLS- -47.00
-38-85-Steve Sayers-Beaumont RC- -47.07
-39-6-Mick Jelley-Wreake Runners- -47.19
-40-39-Chris Webb-Harborough AC- -47.35
-41-89-Mark Ritchie-Beaumont RC- -47.51
-42-68-Stuart Fry-OWLS- -47.57
-43-10-Jim Ketteringham-Wreake Runners- -47.59
-44-30-Shane Edge-Harborough AC- -48.03
-45-22-Richard McBean-Desford Striders- -48.20
-46-25-Colin Rimmer-Birstall RC- -48.21
-47-5-Mark Jelley-Wreake Runners- -48.46
-48-51-Shawn Wilebore-Hinckley RC- -48.48
-49-65-Robert Gregory-OWLS- -48.50
-50-14-Dave Rose-Wreake Runners- -48.51
-51-21-Paul Goodchild-Desford Striders- -48.52
-52-38-John Thompson-Harborough AC- -48.59
-53-60-Les Chesterton-OWLS- -49.09
-54-64-Clive Jones-OWLS- -49.37
-55-16-Andy Steel-Wreake Runners- -49.43
-56-87-Barry Coleman-Beaumont RC- -50.04
-57-43-Martin White-Huncote Harriers- -50.08
-58-35-Martin Hughes-Harborough AC- -50.10
-59-40-Graeme Rolfe-Harborough AC- -50.39
-60-67-Craig Baker-OWLS- -50.56
-61-54-Adrian Whalley-Hinckley RC- -50.58
-62-53-Garry Birch-Hinckley RC- -51.07
-63-8-Kevan Naylor-Wreake Runners- -51.27
-64-63-Tim Ferguson-OWLS- -51.32
-65-62-John Mason-OWLS- -52.00
-66-1-Mick Whalley-Wreake Runners- -52.31
-67-74-Bill Winter-Leicester Coritanian- -52.59
-68-52-Andy Lauder-Hinckley RC- -52.57
-69-57-William Adcock-Hinckley RC- -54.00
-70-9-Steve Garner-Wreake Runners- -55.50
-71-12-Jon Finnimore-Wreake Runners- -55.51
-72-61-Ray Draycott-OWLS- -56.14
-73-18-Carl Rutt-Desford Striders- -56.38
-74-20-Francis Breen-Desford Striders- -59.07
Team
1 Harborough AC- -(3,11,18,21=53)-
2 Leicester Coritanian- -(8,9,14,26=57)-
3 Stilton Striders- -(5,15,23,36=79)-

2007 SPAR European Cross Country Championships

Toro, Madrid, Spain

Sunday 9th December 2007

GREAT BRITAIN’S Stephanie Twell produced a superb performance to successfully defend her SPAR European Cross Country junior title with a brilliant solo win in Toro, Spain.

Twell, the 18-year-old St Mary’s Twickenham student became the first junior in the 14 year history of the championships to win the event twice, Mark Woolley reports.

On a bright clear morning under blue skies around the Monte La Reina course situated 10km outside of Toro’s city centre, Twell having taken the lead a kilometre into the 4.2k race then applied the pressure to complete a nine-seconds victory ahead of Poland’s Danuta Urbanik crossing the line in a time of 14mins 12secs.

With compatriot Charlotte Purdue taking third in 14:22 just a second behind the Pole, the Great Britain team of fourth placed Charlotte Roach in 14:27 combined with Loughborough University student and 2005 Silver-medallist Emily Pidgeon, 6th in 14:31, claimed a third successive title ahead of the Russian's and the Ukraine recording the lowest score ever in the Junior Women's category.

A delighted Twell commented afterwards: "Winning for the second time is a great accomplishment. Honestly, it has been a little easier win than last year’s and I’ll be still eligible for the next Championships.

"Some mates and my parents were here to support me and to recognise their voices throughout the race was really encouraging. Of course, I would like to follow in Paula Radcliffe’s footsteps, it’s a great honour for me to be compared with her".

Individual Bronze medallist Charlotte Purdue, whom as with Twell coached by Mick Woods, echoed her team mates remarks adding: "Despite being in fine form, I was not sure of getting a medal since this season is my first year in the category. I made a cautious start to push hard in the last lap. I’m also delighted for our undisputed team success. I’ll build up for the 5,000m event in the summer".

Leicestershire’s reigning British Universities champion Felicity Milton was the surprise star of last season’s domestic cross country campaign in the United Kingdom and the 20-year-old Durham student now fully recovered from an insect bite that curtailed her outdoor track ambitions lined-up in her third consecutive major championship for Great Britain, having previously ran in last year’s Europeans in Milan and the World’s in Mombassa back in March, his time in the Under-23 event where Romania's Ancuta Bobocel produced an inspired gun-to-tape victory to add to the junior title she won in Tilburg 2005.

Bobocel holding a six second lead after 2km of the 6,700m race had stretched her advantage to 12 seconds by the halfway point with Milton trying hard to stay in contention for the medal positions.

With 2km to go, Poland's Katarzyna Kowalska, began to chase down Bobocel and with 1,500m to the finish, Bobocel despite feeling the pace over the final 800 metres held on to cross the line in a time of 22:35 taking victory by a margin of just two-seconds.

Milton finished in a fine fifth place in 23:02 leading Great Britain to Gold for the second year in succession with a total of 47 points. Katrina Wootton finishing strongly moved up to 8th place with Katherine Sparke, 16th and Susie Hignett completing the squad.

In the Senior Women’s race Spain's reigning European 5,000m champion Marta Dominguez presented the home crowd with a very strong and impressive victory.

Praise must go to Britain’s Kate Reed for bravely taking on the early pace as the 25-year-old Bristol athlete produced her usual gutsy performance pushed by Russia's imposing Mariya Konovalova, the 2006 Silver medallist who stands head and shoulders above the relatively diminutive Dominguez, and with the injection of pace by 4km the leading pack of 11 athletes had broken away from the field.

By the second lap the leading group was down to seven consisting of Dominguez, fellow Spaniard Rosa Morato, Britain’s Reed, Hungary's Aniko Kalovics, Ireland's Fionnuala Britton and Julie Coulaud of France.

Reed and the Irish champion Britton were dropped over the next kilometre as Kalovics continued to try to shake off her opponents but in the end the powerful Dominguez proved too strong for her and the rest of the field.

Dominguez crossed the line in a time of 28:58, saluting the partisan crowd 150 metres from home to celebrate her very impressive victory on home soil.

Coulaud finished three seconds behind Dominguez to take Silver with Morato another three seconds further back in Bronze.

A delighted Dominguez commenting on Spain's performance reflected: "This has been the perfect result - Gold medal both individually and also by the teams.

"My tactic was to run tucked behind the leaders to avoid the annoyance of the wind. The favourites have pushed hard and that effort has finally be negative for them."

Dominguez and Morato's individual medals helped Spain lift the Women's team title for the first time with 33 points with Great Britain taking the Silver medals for the fourth year in succession on 47 points.

Team GB spearheaded by Reed in 6th place with a time of 27:11 were backed by former champion Hayley Yelling, 9th in 27:28, sister-in-law Liz, 10th in 27:31, as they all three finished in the top 10, plus Helen Clitheroe in 22nd place with 28:02 combined to give Great Britain second position.

Sergiy Lebid won his seventh European title with a superb run to hold off a determined challenge from Swedish steeplechaser Mustafa Mohamed.

The 32-year-old Ukrainian, who has competed in all 14 editions of the championship and who won his first title in 1998, sprinted clear on the final lap to leave Mohamed trailing in his wake and cross the line nine seconds ahead of his rival.

Portuguese 1,500 metre specialist Rui Silva claimed the Bronze medal ahead of another Swede Erik Sjoqvist, while Spaniards Chema Martinez and Jesus Espana finished fifth and sixth.

"It's a marvellous feeling to win again, I'm happy as well that I'm in good condition again after so many problems during the rest of the year," said Lebid.

"It wasn't easy to prepare for this race because there has been so much snow in the last weeks where I train in Kislovodsk in Russia. I had to go to the stadium and every day I had to run in the stadium, train in the stadium."

Britain’s Men had a mixed day in the race with UK trials winner Peter Riley dropping out as World Championships 1500m finalist Andy Baddeley led them home, taking 11th place.

In the Men’s Junior race France's Mourad Andouni added European Gold medal to the 5,000m title he achieved on the track in the summer as the Corsican sped away from his two nearest rivals, compatriot Florian Carvalho and the Ukraine's Dmytro Lashyn with 300m to go, to become the first Frenchman to win an individual Men's title at the championships.

Andouni commented: "I have to recognise that my win has surprised even me. I’m a 800 metre runner on the track but during the winter season I like to do endurance work which has paid off today. Maybe I’ll combine my specialist event with the 1500 next summer. I’m also pretty satisfied with our team Gold medal"

Great Britain, thanks in part to fine performances from David Forrester (20:21) and Nuneaton Harrier Lee Carey (20:22) who both held their nerve when Andouni drove the breakaway midway through the race, finished fourth and fifth respectively as Team GB claimed the Silver medal position with a total of 48 points behind the all-conquering French squad. Britain’s other counters were Ben Lindsay, 125th in 20:30 and Mitch Goose in 27th place with 20:55.

Kemal Koyuncu became the first Turkish man to win a European cross-country Gold when he won the Men’s Under-23 race.

Benefiting from the early cautious pace Koyuncu, a 5,000 metre specialist made his break for home just after six kilometres, which proved to be the decisive move.

Koyunca stretched his lead to 50 metres at the bell, and stopped the clock at 24:31 with Russia’s Yevgeniy Rybakov collecting the fourth individual medal of his career in second place with 24:33.

Britain’s Andy Vernon ran out of steam over the final 150 metres and finished two seconds further back in 24:35, however, he can take considerable pride in the fact that his efforts on the final lap brought Great Britain another set of team Gold’s.

Butler University student Andy Baker finishing in 12th place in 24:58, with Loughborough based Gateshead Harrier Ryan McLoed in 18th position in 25:07 and Tom Lancashire in 19th place in 25:08, combined with Keith Gerrard’s 41st position (25:25) completed the British teams scoring athletes.

Britain had 52 points and had all their four athletes home in the top 19 places, just edging out Poland who were level on the same points but a lower placed fourth scorer. Russia finished third with 65 points.

The overall team and individual performances was the finest achievement for Team GB in the European Cross Country Championships winning four Gold medals, two Silvers and two Bronze, the fifth successive year in which the country has finished as the most successful nation.

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

The 2008 SPAR European Cross Country Championships will take place in Oostende, Belgium, on Sunday 14th December. www.sport.be/oostende2008/eng/

Midland 7 & 5 Mile Cross Country Championships 2007

Plock Court, Gloucester

Saturday 8th December 2007

NOTTS AC led by Darren Fowlie and Richard Kay dominated the Midland 7 mile Cross Country Relay Championships at Plock Court in Gloucester as their Men’s team claimed victory with their athletes occupying five of the top six places.

Despite having to run in the appalling weather of driving rain and high winds that affected the whole of the United Kingdom, Fowlie (34) was in a class of his own completing victory by a margin of exactly a minute clear of team mate Richard Kay in a time of 34mins 18secs.

Birmingham University graduate, Kay, returning to form and fitness following a strong performance at the recent Birmingham Cross Challenge, also finished clear out on his own in 35:18 well ahead of the third placed Notts runner Martin Whitehouse (36:07).

With strong backing from Tom Bailey, 5th in 37:07, Leicestershire’s Ashley Sabin, a week after lowering his personal best at the Nene Valley 10, finishing 6th in 37:52, and Martyn Gibbons 11th in 39:27, Notts comfortably won the team title ahead of Halesowen and third placed Severn AC.

In the Women’s 5 mile race Severn’s Lucy Woodyatt, as with Fowlie in the Men’s race was equally dominated, the 25-year-old who is very at home over the Plock Court venue having won the recent Gloucester Chocolate Biscuit 5, ran virtually solo to cross the line in a time of 31:47, well ahead of second placed Rebecca Smith representing Northbrook (33:19). Coventry Godiva Harrier Jayne Mumford was third in 35:29.

The host team from Gloucester, Angels Running Club, led by Deborah Southgate in 5th place collected the team prize by virtue of fielding more runners than any other team.

Full results available on the following link: www.midlandathletics.org.uk/Midland7Mresults8Dec2007.pdf

North Midlands Cross Country League 2007/08 – Race No.3

Berry Hill Park, Mansfield

Saturday 1st December 2007

CHRIS WARBURTON and Blue Haywood were the major senior winners in the latest round of the North Midlands Cross Country League held at Mansfield’s Berry Hill Park.

In the Men’s race reigning AAA indoor 1500m champion and British international Chris Warburton edged out Notts team mate Bruce Raeside to take victory by a margin of just four-seconds as the 24-year-old Loughborough University graduate coached by George Gandy won in a time of 28mins 31secs.

Leicester Owls Gordon Lee, winner of the recent Shepshed 7, secured 6th place in 29:55 over his least favourite surface as team mate Callum Cullen finished in 10th position in 30:25. Harborough’s Peter Swaine finished in 12th place in 30:49.

Leicestershire’s Kate Ramsey virtually assured herself of winning the Women’s individual title with one race remaining, this despite having the opportunity of a third straight victory in the four-race series taken away from the Barrow Runner following a terrific performance from British Junior international Blue Haywood taking an impressive solo victory by a margin of over-half-a-minute.

The race really was a battle of the generations with 16-year-old Haywood representing Lincoln Wellington taking on Ramsey, the 39-year-old Masters international, and it was the younger athlete that prevailed over the course at the venue for the national relays completing victory by crossing the line in a time of 21:35 well ahead of the chasing field.

Ramsey headed a trio of Leicestershire athletes over the line taking second in 22:17, with Gemma Steel running in the colours of Charnwood, third in 22:38, and Harborough’s Sarah Haines 4th in 23:27.

Charnwood’s Laura Johnson (19th in 25:14) and Amber McGee (25:18) also produced notably performances as the Loughborough club secured third place in the team event with Lincoln, on the back of Haywood’s fine victory taking first place ahead of Peterborough.

In the Under-17 race Vanessa Rollins, the younger sister of Leicestershire’s junior county cross country champion Helen, representing Kettering continued her winning run in the league taking victory in a time of 14:41 with Harborough’s Megan Booler third in 16:16.

The Leicester Owls junior squad members also acquitted themselves well in the age-group races with Stefan Ashman completing his second consecutive league victory by winning the Under-13 Boys race in 11:01.

Ashley Chambers was narrowly edged out into second place by just one second in the Under-15 Boys race at the previous round at Derby’s Markeaton Park by Notts Mark Thompson, but here in Mansfield he gained his revenge by winning in a time of 13:57. This his league second victory having won the opening race in Kettering.

Lewis Smart completed a hat-trick of victories for the Wigston-based club with first place in the Under-17 race crossing the line in a time of 19:22 ahead of Lincoln Wellington’s Tom Straw.

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

The final race of the season takes place on Saturday 12th January 2008 at Sutton-in-Ashfield.

Derby Runner Cross Country League 2007/08 – Race No.2

Bagworth Heath, Leicestershire

Sunday 2nd December 2007

MARK COULDWELL and Gemma Steel defied wind, rain and mud to prevail victorious in the second race of the Derby Runner Cross Country League campaign over a challenging course at Bagworth Heath in northwest Leicestershire.

Couldwell (33), from Charnwood AC representing the Derby Triathlon club, is currently in fine form having finished in third place over the 26 mile distance at the recent Leicester Marathon in the City, held off the challenge of Hinckley’s Chris Jordan in a competitive race to take a well-deserved victory in a time of 33mins 17secs, with Jason Williams securing third place (33:28), this after running for the Owls in the Birmingham League fixture in Northampton the previous day.

In the Women’s race Hermitage Harrier Gemma Steel continued her fine start to the league season completing her second straight victory finshing in a time of 33:40 well over two-and-a-half minutes clear of ahead of former champion Sally Newman of Wreake. Desford's Jules Toone was third in 37:21.

Steel also completed a busy weekend having finished in third place at the North Midlands League the previous day in Mansfield.

In the team events Hatton Darts continued their success in the Men’s and Combined section, with Shepshed securing the Women’s victory.
Leading Results:
Men
1 M Couldwell (Derby Tri) 30:17; 2 C Jordan (Hinck) 30:24; 3 J Williams (Owls) 30:28; 4 R Whitelegg (Hinck) 31:18; 5 M Naunton (Hatton) 31:31; 6 M Munday (Road) 31:34
Team:
1 Hatton, 2 Hermitage, 3 Shepshed, 4 Hinckley, 5 Wreake, 6 Derby TRI, 7 Ivanhoe, 8 Desford, 9 Barrow, 10 South Derby, 11 Birstall, 12 West End, 13 Owls, 14 Market Harborough, 15 Roadhoggs, 16 Beaumont, 17 Shelton
Women
1 G Steel (Herm) 33:40; 2 S Newman (Wreake) 36:15; 3 J Toone (Des) 37:21; 4 L Nutt (Shep) 37:26, 5 J Muston (Shep) 38:29, 6 P Glover (Wreake) 38:30
Team:
1 Shepshed, 2 Wreake, 3 Hinckley, 4 Owls, 5 West End, 6 Desford, =Hatton, 8 Birstall, 9 Shelton, 10 Ivanhoe, 11 Huncote, 12 Hermitage, 13 Beaumont, 14 Derby TRI, 15 Market Harborough, 16 Barrow
Combined Team:
1 Hatton, 2 Shepshed, 3 Hermitage, 4 Hinckley, 5 Wreake, 6 Ivanhoe, 7 Desford, 8 Derby TRI, 9 Birstall, 11 West End, 12 Barrow, 13 Beaumont, 15 Market Harborough, 15 Shelton
Junior Races
Years 1-6
1 James Hatton (Wreake, 6 boy) 5:05; 2 Kieram Billington (Des, 5 boy) 5:31; 3 Josh Smith (Charn, 4 boy) 5:39
Years 7-12
1 Rowan Hargreaves (Wreake, 10 boy) 9:49; 2 Sam Barker (Shelt, 9 boy) 9:58; 3 Jim Payne (Wreake, 9 boy) 10:18

Full results are available on the results page: www.athletics-leics.com/results.html
The next Derby Runner Cross Country League 2007/08 fixture takes place on Sunday 20th January at Grace Dieu Manor, Shepshed.

Birmingham & District Cross Country League 2007/08- Race No.2

Abingdon Park, Northampton

Saturday 1st December 2007

MARK POWELL produced one of his best performances of the winter season to secure second place and top the overall individual standings at the latest round of the 2007/08 Birmingham & District Cross Country League campaign and lift the Leicester Owls into second position in the team competition.

Powell, the 29-year-old defending champion racing in what is regarded by many as the toughest domestic cross country league in the United Kingdom finished runner-up to Coventry Godiva Harrier Matt Lole over the fast undulating parkland course at Northampton’s Abingdon Park in a time of 33mins 09secs.

British international, Lole, the 24-year-old Coventry University Fine Arts graduate having returning to full fitness over recent months crossed the line in 32:44 to take a comfortable victory well over half-a-minute ahead of Powell and the chasing field.

Powell’s team mate Paul Miles also recorded his best run for quite a while to take third place as the 23-year-old 2005 British Universities champion having been dogged by persistent injuries over the past twelve months clocked 33:22.

Powell and Miles were backed by strong runs from James Boxell, (13th in 34:24), Edward Highton (17th in 34:43), Jason Williams (29th in 35:38) and Tom Meakin (42nd in 36:07) to complete the scoring team as the Wigston-based club now lie in second place after the opening two-races just one point behind the powerhouse Birmingham club Tipton Harriers in the league.

The Loughborough students were also in action in Northampton despite having a weakened squad with Ryan McLoed and Kevin Deighton resting ahead of next weekend’s European Championships in Toro, Spain, where they represent the Great Britain Under-23 team, plus with several key members deciding to take part in the Leeds University’s Relays being held on the same day, which also resulted in the Owls Rory Fraser missing the event.

Vale Royal’s Tom Settle led the way for George Gandy’s squad with a sixth place finish in 33:39 as cross-country team captain James Poole also secured a top ten position where the Blackheath Harrier clocked a time of 34:11 which places him in fourth overall in the individual standings.

The Loughborough team of Settle, Poole, combined with Tom Carter (36th in 35:52), Chris Rainsford (45th in 36:16), Alex Wall-Clarke (55th in 36:38) and Oli Williams (59th in 36:51) finished in fourth place overall.

Full results are available on the following link: www.birminghamccleague.co.uk/images/Div1Results_01Dec2007.pdf

The next race takes place on Saturday 19th January 2008 at Coundon Hall Park, Coventry.

UK Cross Challenge Series 2007/08

(Incorporating the European Cross Country Championships Trials)- Updated

Sefton Park, Liverpool

Saturday 24th November 2007

PETER RILEY and Hayley Yelling were the major winners at the Liverpool UK Cross Challenge event that incorporated the European Cross Country trials where Leicestershire’s British Universities champion Felicity Milton, the sensation of last year’s race, finished as the leading Under-23 runner in the freezing cold wintry and muddy conditions at Sefton Park.

Riley representing Leigh AC was a surprise winner ahead of pre-race favourite Frank Tickner of Wells City, winner of the 'grand slam' of UK titles last year, with Blackheath Harrier Michael Skinner third. Riley crossed the line in a time of 30:18 just two-seconds clear of Tickner.

Yorkshireman and Loughborough University student Kevin Deighton from the Bridlington Road Runners Club finished in a fine 12th place to qualify for the Under-23 team, this after recovering from long term injury problems, Fellow Loughborough team mate Ryan McLeod, son of Olympic Games 10,000m Silver medallist Mike McLeod, representing Elswick Harriers finished in 16th place in 31:19.

Moumin Geele was the winner of the Under-23 race with a time of 31:02 in 9th place overall, however, as a foreign national the 20-year-old Leicester athlete does not qualify for selection.

Reigning Leicestershire county and Birmingham & District League champion Mark Powell from the Owls clocked 32:28 to finish in 42nd place.

In the Women’s race Hayley Yelling was a comfortable winner in a time of 27:42, finishing sixteen seconds ahead of sister-in-law Liz Yelling (27:58) with Loughborough University graduate Louise Damen third in 28:04, as all three athletes booked their place on the plane for Team GB for the European Championships in Toro, Spain, on 9th December.

In the Under-23 race run within the senior event, Felicity Milton, the 20-year-old engineering student from Exton in Rutland representing Durham University has returned well to the sport having suffered a serious infection from an insect bite on the ankle while on a warm weather training break in early summer, wrecking her track season, finished in first place (fifth overall) in a time of 28:32 qualifying as of right for the Great Britain Under-23 team as the age-group is now an official event at the European’s in Madrid, this after last year’s successful exhibition race.

Charnwood’s Juliet Potter and Loughborough University graduates Sonia Thomas representing Sale Harriers and Havering’s Alexa Joel all secured top twenty places in 8th, 11th and 20th positions respectively with times of 28:50, 29:02 and 29:28.

Potter’s club mate and reigning Leicestershire county champion Hannah Whitmore, an Under-23 team Gold medallist for Great Britain in Milan last year, finished in 28th place in 29:43.

The full Norwich Union Great Britain & Northern Ireland squad of 36 for the European Championships will be announced on Tuesday 27th November.

Full results are available on the following link: www.ukathletics.net/competitions/uk-cross-challenge/liverpool/