PERIOD - Athletics Weekly

DECEMBER 13, 2018 | £3.95

T H E N O . 1 M A G A Z I N E F O R R U N N E R S A N D A T H L E T E S

EURO CROSSTRIUMPH

DOMESTICPOLITICS

Nine-page focuson the structure of athletics in the UK

FESTIVE PERIODTRAINING

How you can tackle Christmas

INSIDE: 15-PAGE COVERAGE SPECIAL FROM TILBURG

TOP GEARBest products of 2018

GOLDENGIRLSBritish athletes race to under-20 glory

Ingebrigtsens dominate

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SILENCE IS NOT GOLDENIT IS the end of a successful year for British athletes and, internationally, the country has never had a stronger foothold in global track and field given that the IAAF president and new chief executive are both English. Despite this, though, the main talking point for many is the ongoing leadership crisis at UK Athletics.

During this winter of political discontent, the situation could come to a head this week when the latest UK members’ council meeting and AGM takes place. Richard Bowker’s position as UKA chairman looks shaky to put it mildly, with rumbles of disgruntlement from the home countries and English area bodies.

“There is much disquiet out there,” says Northern Athletics chair Tony Wood, who is part of our nine-page news focus in this issue (p28-36). “They should support the clubs, the counties and the areas. We feel they are not doing that at present. There are huge amounts of money being spent by both UKA and England Athletics, in particular on wages and salaries.”

Elsewhere in our coverage, South of England chair Mike Winch describes UKA’s recent governance as “a muck up” – although he praises the elite athlete support services – while Scottish Athletics’ chairman Ian Beattie talks about a “bunker mentality”.

Certainly, the lack of information from the Birmingham bunker is a big part of the problem. So far this winter UKA has been reluctant to let us interview their key staff but on p28 they have offered a brief statement.

Dave Moorcroft’s leadership at UKA was open and communicative. When Ed Warner and Niels de Vos replaced him, both held introductory press conferences with Warner particularly in his element when dealing with the press. But news of Bowker’s appointment was made quietly just before Christmas two years ago with little fanfare and AW, which has always regarded itself as ‘an honest friend’ of the governing body, has had zero dialogue with him lately.

Silence breeds suspicion and speculation – and the sport has a simple right to know what’s going on.

ACTION6 EUROPEAN CROSS COUNTRY

CHAMPIONSHIPS Jakob and Filip Ingebrigtsen score victories

for Norway, while the highlight of the British performance was a team gold in the under-20 women’s race as we report from Tilburg in the Netherlands

PERFORMANCE46 Christmas training ideas from David Lowes

and John Shepherd48 Some of the best products of 2018 in our

‘gear of the year’ feature

NEWS24 Hansen backs cross country Olympic bid25 Piasecki urges athletes to target Aarhus26 South explore area affiliation fee27 Combined events rule change

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Above: athletes like Dina Asher-Smith have performed amid a backdrop of political turmoil (Mark Shearman)

Cover: Jakob Ingebrigtsen and, inset, the GB U20 team of (l to r) Anna Macfadyen, Grace Brock, Khai Mhlanga, Amelia Quirk, Cari Hughes, Tiffany Penfold (Mark Shearman)

chair Tony Wood, who is part of our nine-page news focus in this issue (p28-36). “They should support the

Beattie talks about a “bunker mentality”.Certainly, the lack of information from the Birmingham

ACTION6

Jakob and Filip Ingebrigtsen score victories

Above: athletes

Jason Henderson, editor

Dutch city Tilburg hosts the European Cross Country Championships – p6

4 A T H L E T I C S W E E K L Y

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NEWS FOCUS28 On the eve of an important UK members’ council

meeting, we hear from some of the national and area bodies on the problems in the sport

38 IAAF athletes of the year – picture special

STATISTICS42 COMPLETE GUIDE TO ... In the latest part of our statistical series Steve

Smythe looks at the marathon

RESULTS & FIXTURES50 Includes Telford 10km, South of England Inter-

Counties and Masters Championships and Scottish District Championships

59 What’s On fixtures guide

REGULARS62 DIP FINISH Semenya snub in athlete of the year contest

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A T H L E T I C S W E E K L Y 5

@athleticsweekly

Dr Joe Vigil:IAAF coaching

award – p38

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T ILBURG has hosted the European Cross Country

Championships before, back in 2005, but it wasn’t anything quite like this.

The 2018 edition, which was also the silver anniversary of this event, not only had three more races than its

previous incarnation but took place in the grounds of a resort which lies right next to a Safari Park.

While the athletes might not have been quite so close as to have to be wary of the lions, zebras and camels, they were still confronted by a course which would prove a difficult beast to tame.

There were twists and turns at almost every opportunity and though the thick, hefty rain showers which poured down throughout the afternoon brought the kind of mud which the European Cross has not been quite so accustomed to in the past, the racing was still fast and furious.

The going seemed nothing but smooth, however, for Filip and Jakob Ingebrigtsen whose calm and mature performances in winning senior and under-20 men’s gold respectively will only enhance their growing reputations.

It was Filip’s first individual European Cross title while

EUROPEAN CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS TILBURG, THE NETHERLANDS, DECEMBER 9ACTION

SAFARI SO GOOD

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EUROPEAN CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS TILBURG, THE NETHERLANDS, DECEMBER 9@athleticsweekly

A CHALLENGING BEEKSE BERGEN COURSE, THE ELEMENTS AND SOME FINE PERFORMANCES COMBINE TO PRODUCE MEMORABLE EUROPEAN CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS REPORT: EUAN CRUMLEY PICTURES: MARK SHEARMAN

The silver anniversary of the European Cross Country Championships produced plenty of excitement

Winners in TilburgMenSeniors: Filip Ingebrigtsen (NOR) 28:49Under-23: Jimmy Gressier (FRA) 23:37Under-20: Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) 18:00WomenSeniors: Yasemin Can (TUR) 26:05Under-23: Anna Emilie Møller (DEN) 20:34Under-20: Nadia Battocletti (ITA) 13:46Senior mixed relaySpain: 16:10

Jakob completed a hat-trick of junior titles.

The Kenyan-born Yasemin Can also made it three in a row when it came to the senior women’s race but it was noticeable, compared with the championships of recent years, that the African athletes who have created so much attention and

discussion under the transfer of allegiance rules, were not quite so dominant.

From the British perspective, there was the customary success, though perhaps not quite to the level that had been expected as the team finished fourth in the medals table, albeit first in the points table.

Every GB age group side took home a team medal, the only nation to do so.

The under-20 women successfully defended their team title, while both senior men and women landed team silver, as did the under-23 and under-20 men’s line-ups. The under-23 women collected bronze.

There were no individual British medals, while there was disappointment at the end of an eventful day when the mixed relay side finished fourth in defence of the crown they won in Samorin 12 months ago.

The baton now passes to the Portuguese capital of Lisbon for 2019.


Senior menSIBLING rivalry is a huge part of what drives the Ingebrigtsens to excel. It stands to reason, then, that Filip would also want something that elder and younger brothers Henrik and Jakob already had.

The 25-year-old had been the only one of the trio not to have laid his hands on an individual European Cross gold medal – Henrik having won the under-23 title in 2012 and Jakob completing a hat-trick of under-20 titles earlier in the day in Tilburg – but he set about rectifying that situation in what proved to be a compelling senior men’s race which ebbed and flowed.

It was no surprise to see Turkey’s African-born trio of Kaan Kigen Ozbilen, 2016

champion Aras Kaya and Polat Kemboi Arikan, runner-up two years ago, featuring heavily once again and certainly no-one was surorised they won team gold.

Yet perhaps not quite so readily expected was Ingebrigtsen’s controlled performance in holding them off, as well as the challenge of Kenyan-born Belgian Isaac Kimeli.

The Norwegian had been content to sit at the back of a large lead pack in the early stages and calmly waited until around the 3000m mark to move to the front of that group, ahead of Kaya and Spanish silver medallist last year, Adel Mechaal.

A number of athletes began to attempt to stake a claim but, as the race hurtled along and

the field started to stretch, it eventually became evident that the individual medal fight would come down to a bout between Ingebrigtsen, Kaya, Arikan, Ozbilen and Kimeli, who would simply not be shaken off.

Mechaal had been dropped and with Ozbilen, who had slipped earlier during the race but recovered, starting to tire, Kaya, Kimeli and Ingebrigtsen edged away as they took the bell.

The 2016 European 1500m champion, also a world bronze medallist over the distance last year, knows a thing or two about a strong finish however and made what would be a decisive move as he edged ahead in the tight wooded section of the course which is negotiated before the closing few hundred metres.

He came back out into the

open ahead of Kimeli and, as the line approached and with a glance behind to check his work was done, afforded himself a smile and a kiss of each bicep as he became the first Norwegian ever to win the senior men’s European Cross title.

Ingebrigtsen finished in 28:29,



FILIP ON FIREINGEBRIGTSEN CREATES HISTORY AS HE JOINS HIS BROTHERS IN TAKING EUROPEAN CROSS GOLD

Dewi Griffiths: back in form after injury

Ross Millington (above) gets to grips with the greasy Tilburg course

Filip Ingebrigtsen: battles with Aras Kaya for gold


three seconds ahead of the Belgian and seven clear of third-placed Kaya.

Ingebrigtsen, who made it to the 1500m European final won by his brother in Berlin this summer despite cracking a rib during his heat, was understandably thrilled with

his victory. “I wanted to run a decent race. I competed a couple of times at under-23 and under-20 and I never finished in the top 20.

“Every year you have to be well prepared and to have some luck. Unfortunately I didn’t have any luck in Berlin,” he said.

“I wanted to run a decent race (in Tilburg). I competed a couple of times at under-23 and under-20 and I never finished in the top 20.

“To come here and win the senior race with this level of athletes, is something I didn´t dream of before. I stayed with the first group and one after one they started to drop.”

As for his opposition, he added: “My mindset is to be the best in the world and to be that you have to beat a lot of Kenyans!”

Marc Scott produced a sprint finish to come home as leading Briton in ninth in 29:21, while

Kristian Jones impressed as he adapted to his late call-up in place of the injured Andy Vernon to finish 12th in 29:28.

Dewi Griffiths didn’t finish last year’s senior men’s race after tearing his hamstring and fared rather better this time around, providing a target for his team-mates to catch with his hard running.

With three to score in the team standings, his 13th spot in 29:31 secured the team silver. Cardiff Cross Challenge winner Charlie Hulson was 17th, one place ahead of Henrik Ingebrigtsen, while trials winner Ross Millington was 30th and Nick Goolab – fifth in the early stages – finished 47th.

“This is a world away from something like a British cross country,” said European Cross debutant Jones, also an orienteering international. “It was full of twists and turns and you never get a rhythm. But in that way I think it suited me really well because, with the orienteering you’re used to not being in a rhythm and grinding it out. I was trying to be efficient and this is way beyond what I expected. I’m absolutely chuffed.”



RESULTSSenior men: 1 F Ingebrigtsen (NOR) 28:49; 2 I Kimeli (BEL) 28:52; 3 A Kaya (TUR) 28:56; 4 K Özbilen (TUR) 29:04; 5 S Napoleon (SWE) 29:12; 6 Y Crippa (ITA) 29:14; 7 P Arikan (TUR) 29:14; 8 A Mechaal (ESP) 29:20; 9 MARC SCOTT 29:21; 10 S Tobin (IRL) 29:22; 11 D Meucci (ITA) 29:26; 12 KRISTIAN JONES 29:28; 13 DEWI GRIFFITHS 29:31; 14 A Abadía (ESP) 29:35; 15 R Hendrix (BEL) 29:36; 16 D Mateo (ESP) 29:40; 17 CHARLIE HULSON 29:43; 18 H Ingebrigtsen (NOR) 29:45; 19 O Hesselbjerg (DEN) 29:46; 20 N Crippa (ITA) 29:47; 21 D Tasama (BEL) 29:47; 22 M Somers (BEL) 29:49; 23 F Orth (GER) 29:49; 24 M Tsenov (BUL) 29:51; 25 H Chahdi (FRA) 29:51; 26 K Dooney (IRL) 29:53; 27 A Ulad (DEN) 29:53; 28 M Butter (NED) 29:54; 29 A El Mazoury (ITA) 29:54; 30 ROSS MILLINGTON 29:57; 31 J Guerra (ESP) 30:00; 32 F Bour (FRA) 30:02; 33 A Abraha (SWE) 30:03; 34 K Maunsell (IRL) 30:11; 35 R Pinto (POR) 30:13; 36 T Kårbo (NOR) 30:16; 37 J Pérez (ESP) 30:17; 38 K Choukoud (NED) 30:18; 39 V Koval (UKR) 30:19; 40 R Fsiha (SWE) 30:21; 41 H Andrésson (ISL) 30:25; 42 S Boch (GER) 30:25; 43 O Gronnevig (NOR) 30:26; 44 T Nijhuis (DEN) 30:27; 45 M Marques (POR) 30:28; 46 P Glans (DEN) 30:30; 47 NICK GOOLAB 30:31; 48 A Sanguinetti (ITA) 30:31; 49 A Pereira (POR) 30:34; 50 S Bertašius (LTU) 30:36; 51 F Carro (ESP) 30:37; 52 Y Nikolayev (ANA) 30:37; 53 M Belhadj (FRA) 30:39; 54 A Saddedine (FRA) 30:39; 55 K Batt (IRL) 30:41; 56 P Reinhardt (GER) 30:44; 57 D Gras (FRA) 30:46; 58 K Kivistik (EST) 30:50; 59 A Alekseyev (ANA) 30:51; 60 K Wedel (GER) 30:53; 61 J Homolac (CZE) 30:54; 62 A Silva (POR) 30:58; 63 R Savchuk (UKR) 31:03; 64 M Teferi (ISR) 31:05; 65 R Schröer (NED) 31:06; 66 A Vojta (AUT) 31:09; 67 M Clohisey (IRL) 31:11; 68 O Allase (EST) 31:14; 69 J Simonsen (DEN) 31:20; 70 C Ulus (TUR) 31:26; 71 R Hoornweg (NED) 31:26; 72 M Dahl-Jessen (DEN) 31:32; 73 D Nikolli (ALB) 31:42; 74 B Horodyskyy (UKR) 31:48; 75 T Theuer (AUT) 31:48; 76 M Kern (SUI) 31:54; 77 J BerZanskis (LTU) 31:55; 78 D Landers (IRL) 32:08; 79 T Sahajda (SVK) 32:12; 80 I Hernandez (SUI) 32:17; 81 K Hussar (EST) 32:34; 82 F Lussy (SUI) 32:38; 83 Y Zhukov (UKR) 32:58; 84 I Kellezi (ALB) 34:12; 85 Sonny Folcheri (MON) 36:03TEAM: 1 Turkey 14; 2 Great Britain & NI 34; 3 Italy 37; 4 Spain 38; 5 Belgium 38; 6 Norway 55; 7 Ireland 70; 8 Sweden 78; 9 Denmark 90; 10 France 110; 11 Germany 121; 12 Portugal 129; 13 Netherlands 131; 14 Ukraine 176; 15 Estonia 207; 16 Switzerland 238

Filip Ingebrigtsen: too strong for rivals

Great Britain team silver (left to right): Nick Goolab, Dewi Griffiths, Charlie

Hulson, top-placed Briton Marc Scott, Kristian Jones and Ross Millington


1 0 A T H L E T I C S W E E K L Y


Under-23 menJIMMY GRESSIER clearly knows what he’s doing when it comes to cross country running – after all he became the first man to retain the under-23 title. An area where the Frenchman does need to put in some work, however, is with celebrating.

A resounding front-running display in seeing off the

attentions of Germany’s Samuel Fitwi had given him enough of a time cushion to grab two French tricolore flags and begin to enjoy his golden moment as he came down the finishing straight.

Perhaps he had too much time to think but Gressier’s plan to slide through the muddy line on his knees came seriously unstuck as his momentum was

quickly halted and he instead confirmed victory with his face planted firmly in the muck.

He emerged from his fall with a wide grin, however, and the satisfaction of a job well done – when it came to the racing, anyway.

Gressier is a colourful character who runs with a baseball cap on back to front.

A sowester might have been more appropriate attire on this occasion, though, as the heavens opened mid-race and the course quickly began to change in character.

However, he barely broke stride at the head of proceedings for much of the 8.3km course and gradually turned the screw on Fitwi, an Eritrean refugee who came to Germany in 2014.

The winning margin was eight seconds in the end, Gressier clocking 23:37 while his fellow countryman Hugo Hay – silver medallist in Samorin last year - was third in 23:48 to ensure the French retained team gold. The 11 points they secured this time is the second-lowest winning European Cross under-23 team score, bettered only by their total of seven in claiming victory in Samorin.

Gressier said: “The biggest difference compared to last year is that I was the one chasing then and this year I was the one getting chased. I am just very

JIMMY’S NO FRENCH FLOPGRESSIER CELEBRATION FALTERS BUT HE HAS INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM GOLD TO SAVOUR AGAIN

Mahamed Mahamed (right): gets stuck into the twisty, testing course


happy to win for the second time. The conditions were difficult but the course was still really nice despite the weather.”

Team silver went to Britain, Patrick Dever’s growing European Cross experience proving to be beneficial as he came home in fifth (24:05), two seconds ahead of a frustrated Emile Cairess in eighth.

Mahamed Mahamed completed the scoring trio with 24:24 for 17th.

“I’m over the moon to get team silver,” said Dever. “I have done these Championships for the last two years and each time I have gradually improved;

two bronzes and now a silver. They are top guys, so it is so hard. It spread out so much and everything was running as individuals or in small groups.”

Cairess added: “I fell over at the beginning on the first turn so I was way back and I think I could have maybe got a medal so it is disappointing. I still managed to get into the top 10, but, after falling over on a course like this, it was basically impossible for me to get back to where I needed to be.”

It’s doubtful Oliver Fox has ever enjoyed a 19th-place finish so much. Being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease since his last

European Cross appearance in 2015 has not been easy, but his health struggles meant this medal-winning moment was savoured all the more.

“Two years ago, when I was diagnosed, I didn’t think I would be able to run again at all,” he said. “It is one of those diseases which is unpredictable and very difficult to treat. You have got to have a lot of hospital treatment, infusions in hospital to keep it under control and they also suppress your immune system, so you can’t fight infections.

“It was really nice to be able to come and actually just be on the start line. It has completely

A T H L E T I C S W E E K L Y 1 1


RESULTSU23 men: 1 J Gressier (FRA) 23:37; 2 S Fitwi (GER) 23:45; 3 H Hay (FRA) 23:48; 4 R Forsyth (IRL) 23:49; 5 PATRICK DEVER 24:05; 6 T Novales (ESP) 24:05; 7 F Palcau (FRA) 24:06; 8 EMILE CAIRESS 24:07; 9 L Gilavert (FRA) 24:11; 10 A Ben (ESP) 24:12; 11 S Niesten (NED) 24:13; 12 S Colombini (ITA) 24:13; 13 M Görger (GER) 24:17; 14 D Boulvin (BEL) 24:19; 15 A Gergis (SWE) 24:20; 16 T Getahon (ISR) 24:23; 17 MAHAMED MAHAMED 24:24; 18 Y Schrub (FRA) 24:25; 19 OLIVER FOX 24:25; 20 M Foppen (NED) 24:29; 21 D Kersten (BEL) 24:31; 22 J Gertsen (DEN) 24:36; 23 S Debognies (BEL) 24:41; 24 T Raitanen (FIN) 24:42; 25 C Deflandre (BEL) 24:43; 26 A Houkmi (ESP) 24:43; 27 PAULOS SURAFEL 24:46; 28 JOHN MILLAR 24:47; 29 B Fay (IRL) 24:47; 30 I Balabanov (BUL) 24:52; 31 E Danielsson (SWE) 24:54; 32 G Ayale (ISR) 24:55; 33 DBienenfeld (GER) 24:56; 34 J Seelhöfer (GER) 24:57; 35 V Šinagl (CZE) 24:58; 36 P O’Donnell (IRL) 24:58; 37 P Sanchez (ESP) 25:00; 38 L Eisele (GER) 25:01; 39 Y Abuhay (ISR) 25:02; 40 A Giacobazzi (ITA) 25:03; 41 J Mortier (BEL) 25:06; 42 L Sinn (AUT) 25:07; 43 O Aras (TUR) 25:08; 44 G Belachew (ISR) 25:08; 45 R Mugnosso (ITA) 25:10; 46 F Bozkurt (TUR) 25:10; 47 T Hendrikse (NED) 25:10; 48 J Pereira (POR) 25:11; 49 S Krauchenia (BLR) 25:14; 50 S Sundström (SWE) 25:16; 51 C Doyle (IRL) 25:17; 52 G Steffensen (SWE) 25:21; 53 B Malede (ISR) 25:23; 54 D Boratynski (POL) 25:27; 55 I Fontes (ESP) 25:29; 56 J O’Leary (IRL) 25:31; 57 R Ferreira (POR) 25:31; 58 A Ouhda (ITA) 25:33; 59 A Sushchenia (BLR) 25:34; 60 F Fialho (POR) 25:34; 61 W Sowik (POL) 25:36; 62 A Jimenez (ESP) 25:38; 63 M de Backer (NED) 25:45; 64 P Silva (POR) 25:45; 65 M Kaczmarek (POL) 25:46; 66 A Alfimov (UKR) 25:47; 67 V Skudny (BLR) 25:48; 68 J Kovar (CZE) 25:50; 69 J De Marchi (ITA) 25:55; 70 S Shevchenko (UKR) 25:55; 71 N Dworczak (POL) 25:59; 72 M Debski (POL) 26:00; 73 S Zeliankouski (BLR) 26:00; 74 O Günen (TUR) 26:03; 75 P Nebyt (BLR) 26:04; 76 K Stamoúlis (GRE) 26:04; 77 Y Khelaf (FRA) 26:04; 78 N Coman (ROU) 26:09; 79 A Aliksiychuk (UKR) 26:14; 80 G Campbell (IRL) 26:14; 81 K Jensen (DEN) 26:15; 82 D Ivanovski (MKD) 26:16; 83 T Chukan (UKR) 26:18; 84 R Karagöz (TUR) 26:19; 85 P Bratulic (CRO) 26:25; 86 L Latsepov (EST) 26:31; 87 M Abner (EST) 26:42; 88 L Chis (ROU) 26:49; 89 I Dragusin (ROU) 26:52; 90 J Kreutzer (AUT) 26:59; 91 A Amelchanka (BLR) 27:09; 92 Y Tassis (GRE) 27:15TEAM: 1 France 11; 2 Great Britain & NI 30; 3 Spain 42; 4 Germany 48; 5 Belgium 58; 6 Ireland 69; 7 Netherlands 78; 8 Israel 87; 9 Sweden 96; 10 Italy 97; 11 Turkey 163; 12 Portugal 165; 13 Belarus 175; 14 Poland 180; 15 Ukraine 215; 16 Romania 255

changed my perspective on the sport. It is one of the best feelings to go from hardly moving further than a mile to running in this again.”

Paulos Surafel was 27th, following immediately by debutant John Millar, to complete the British line-up.

Six of the best: Britain’s under-23 men’s squad take silver

Patrick Dever: Brit was a fine fifth with Paulos Surafel 27th

Jimmy Gressier: Frenchman pushed

the pace relentlessly




Under-20 menGIVEN half a chance, Jakob Ingebrigtsen would have been lining up with his brothers in the senior men’s race in Tilburg. For now, however, this remarkable 18-year-old is content to continue his total domination of the junior European Cross event.

As the man himself puts it: “I can do that (run with the seniors) in a couple of years’ time. I’m not in a hurry.”

JUBILANT JAKOBTEENAGE STAR FINISHES YEAR TO REMEMBER WITH THIRD JUNIOR MEN’S GOLD

Jake Heyward (centre): leads the GB challenge in the under-20 men’s race


podium is usually reserved for him, too. Following his victories in Chia two years ago and then Samorin last year, this was his third men’s under-20 title in a row, a feat which has not been achieved by anyone else.

For all that Serbian former 3000m European Youth Champion Elzan Bibic applied some pressure and Spain’s Ouassim Oumaiz made much of the running during the race, as well as playing to the crowd, urging them to roar him on and at one stage even exchanging a high five with Ingebrigtsen, the Norwegian’s quiet assurance came to the surface again and there was an inevitability about him finishing the day as champion once more.

In the end, it was clear who was pulling the strings and Ingebrigtsen ultimately secured a nine-second winning margin from Oumaiz, with 6.3km covered in 18:00 while Bibic was third in 18:11.

“It was a really tough race, but it was fun,” said the champion. “Myself and the other competitors had a really good fight so all in all it was a good race to be involved in.”

Norway took the team gold, just two points ahead of a British

side which was led home by GB trials winner and European under-20 1500m champion Jake Heyward. The Welshman clocked 18:16 for fourth spot as he narrowly missed out on an individual medal.

Isaac Akers also had a podium spot in mind until a slip proved costly. He had looked to be running well despite some pre-race illness and his 12th place, with Matt Willis following in 14th, meant silver.

Jack Meijer was next Brit to finish in 28th, while fast-starting Tom Mortimer was 32nd and Rory Leonard had, by his own admission, a ‘shocker’ as both his shoes came off in the Tilburg mud on his way to 71st place.

Heyward, fourth behind Ingebrigtsen in the 1500m at the world under-20 championships earlier this year, said: “Obviously it is really difficult missing out yet again, but, at the same time, I am a track runner. It was a proper cross country course this time – the European Champs in the past have been fast and suited to long distance runners.

“It was good to be able to come to the European Cross Country and show I’ve got that strength. It wasn’t quite enough, but I dug in deep for the team and I am glad we could come away with the team silver.”

Akers added: “I had what felt like a fever and then I was sick just before the race. It was more nerves than anything. I was happy to come through and score for the team and happy to be out here with the boys after missing two years with injury.”



RESULTSU20 men: 1 J Ingebrigtsen (NOR) 18:00; 2 O Oumaiz (ESP) 18:09; 3 E Bibic (SRB) 18:11; 4 JAKE HEYWARD 18:16; 5 A Haugen (NOR) 18:18; 6 M Mohumed (GER) 18:27; 7 M Kodad (FRA) 18:28; 8 A Aslanhan (TUR) 18:45; 9 N Jäger (GER) 18:47; 10 V Bresc (FRA) 18:47; 11 B Anderiessen (NED) 18:47; 12 ISAAC AKERS 18:48; 13 R Bastug (TUR) 18:48; 14 MATTHEW WILLIS 18:49; 15 T van de Velde (BEL) 18:53; 16 D Mcelhinney (IRL) 18:53; 17 M Anagnóstou (GRE) 18:54; 18 S O’Leary (IRL) 19:01; 19 R Oosting (NED) 19:02; 20 O Ismail (SWE) 19:02; 21 J Battle (IRL) 19:03; 22 H Stavik (NOR) 19:05; 23 D Müller (GER) 19:06; 24 A Gervais (FRA) 19:07; 25 A Garcea (ROU) 19:08; 26 T Verbaandert (NED) 19:09; 27 L Da Silva (BEL) 19:09; 28 JACK MEIJER 19:09; 29 M García (ESP) 19:12; 30 P Selvarolo (ITA) 19:12; 31 M Peris (ESP) 19:12; 32 TOM MORTIMER 19:13; 33 A Krakovetskyy (UKR) 19:13; 34 E Vecchi (ITA) 19:14; 35 M Gouyette (FRA) 19:14; 36 I Palkovits (HUN) 19:15; 37 J Weiss (GER) 19:15; 38 D Gomes (POR) 19:15; 39 P Arese (ITA) 19:15; 40 R Van Riel (NED) 19:17; 41 L Alfieri (ITA) 19:18; 42 E Schreml (GER) 19:19; 43 I Martens (NED) 19:19; 44 A Özdemir (TUR) 19:19; 45 L Keronen (FIN) 19:19; 46 M Kotiranta (FIN) 19:21; 47 E Herreros (ESP) 19:22; 48 A Rodriguez (ESP) 19:22; 49 A Cavagna (ITA) 19:23; 50 A Shustsik (BLR) 19:24; 51 T Lapouge (FRA) 19:24;

52 N Carabaña (AND) 19:26; 53 M Kjeldsen (DEN) 19:27; 54 A Ostdal (DEN) 19:27; 55 O Millan De La (SWE) 19:29; 56 L Maas (NED) 19:30; 57 J Stalhandske (SUI) 19:30; 58 M Czeronek (POL) 19:30; 59 J Vedvik (NOR) 19:31; 60 M Power (IRL) 19:32; 61 M Panteleyev (UKR) 19:33; 62 I Nader (POR) 19:35; 63 A Kokaly (AUT) 19:35; 64 G Valincius (LTU) 19:37; 65 A Mutlu (TUR) 19:37; 66 J Tapias (ESP) 19:39; 67 N Pereira (POR) 19:39; 68 B Kölle (SUI) 19:40; 69 B Jarczok (POL) 19:40; 70 M Hall (DEN) 19:41; 71 RORY LEONARD 19:46; 72 L Pellaz (SUI) 19:48; 73 K Ciban (CRO) 19:50; 74 S Steinshamn (NOR) 19:50; 75 F Stewart (IRL) 19:50; 76 I Balouma (FRA) 19:52; 77 N Amsellek (ITA) 19:52; 78 R Sasyn (CZE) 19:53; 79 A Medveds (LAT) 19:54; 80 M Christen (SUI) 19:56; 81 N Sakis (GRE) 19:59; 82 M Cimermancic (SLO) 20:02; 83 N Hagger (SUI) 20:04; 84 T Vanoppen (BEL) 20:05; 85 V Lonskyy (UKR) 20:06; 86 D Finn (IRL) 20:08; 87 M Ribeiro (POR) 20:09; 88 E Shifris (DEN) 20:11; 89 I Sosnytskyy (UKR) 20:11; 90 M Muuse (FIN) 20:17; 91 M Rizmal (SLO) 20:17; 92 Y Cornillie (SUI) 20:22; 93 Z Kozuhar (CRO) 20:57; 94 A Renko (SLO) 21:11; 95 L Nedeljkovic (CRO) 22:52TEAM: 1 Norway 28; 2 Great Britain & NI 30; 3 Germany 38; 4 France 41; 5 Ireland 55; 6 Netherlands 56; 7 Spain 62; 8 Turkey 65; 9 Italy 103; 10 Belgium 126; 11 Portugal 167; 12 Denmark 177; 13 Ukraine 179; 14 Finland 181; 15 Switzerland 197; 16 Croatia 261; 17 Slovenia 267

Indeed, for an athlete who is so quick over the ground, the Norwegian rarely looks rushed. As with most top sportspeople, he creates the impression of having extra time to play with and a way of making the difficult and testing appear rather easy.

This has of course been the year when Ingebrigtsen, a man accustomed to breaking records, has really made the athletics world sit up and take notice – his memorable 1500m and 5000m double in Berlin in the summer saw him become the youngest ever senior male European champion.

When it comes to the European Cross, top spot on the

Silver lining: Britain’s under-20 men’s team with their medals (from left to right)

Tom Mortimer, Rory Leonard, Jack Meijer, Matt Willis, Isaac Akers, Jake Heyward

Jakob Ingebrigtsen: Norwegian took every barrier in his stride as he stormed to a hat-trick of titles




Senior womenIN 2016 and 2017, Yasemin Can had set a template for how she wanted the European Cross senior women’s race to unfold. She would hit the front early before gradually upping the pace, moving away from the rest of the field and recording an emphatic win.

However, all has not necessarily been going to plan this year for the Kenyan-born Turk who could only manage third and fifth as she defended her European 5000m and 10,000m titles respectively on the track this summer.

In Tilburg, it soon became apparent that things would be different when it came to cross country in 2018, too.

As expected Can, wearing

a tracksuit top against the elements, moved to the head of affairs and was pursued by Norway’s European steeplechase bronze medallist Karoline Grovdal, European steeplechase silver medallist Fabienne Schlumpf of Switzerland, Britain’s Melissa Courtney and home favourite Susan Krumins, who had come

second in that 5000m in Berlin ahead of Can and was receiving the full backing of the Dutch fans on ‘Holland Hill’.

When the Turkish athlete began to establish a gap, there was the feeling that normal service was about to be resumed. Her pursuers would not be deterred, though, and Schlumpf began to narrow the gap, moving to within a second as the pair came through the 5.5km mark on the 8.3km course.

Showing vastly different running styles and with Schlumpf carefully picking her way through the mud to great effect, the duo were now locked into the race for gold, while Krumins and Grovdal followed in pursuit of the bronze medal.

Can is more used to a procession down the finishing straight, having won by 10 and 15 seconds on her previous victories, but there was still little to split the leaders as they entered the closing metres.

Can ultimately had just enough to outkick her opponent,

winning by a second in 26:05 and making history by becoming the first woman to win this title three times. Grovdal, meanwhile, had managed to add to the drama by closing right in on the leading duo but simply ran out of course, finishing in 26:07.

Krumins, under-23 champion when she last competed at the European Cross a decade ago, was nine seconds back in fourth but led the Netherlands to their first ever team gold, an impressive feat given the absence of Dutch star Sifan Hassan from proceedings through injury.

Their winning margin was four points from a British side defending their title and which had packed very well, filling the spots from seventh to 10th.

Charlotte Arter was first in the blanket British finish in 26:57, followed by Commonwealth 1500m bronze medallist Courtney in 26:59, while Pippa Woolven’s 27:02 was the last to score in the team standings.

Jess Piasecki was 10th in 27:03, with team captain Kate

CAN COMES THROUGHKENYAN-BORN TURK IS PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO COMPLETE HER HISTORIC TITLE HAT-TRICK

Flanked by sizeable crowds, the senior women’s race gets underway

Yasemin Can: Turkish runner pushes the pace ahead of home hope Susan Krumins


Avery – suffering from a very heavy cold but winning the ninth European Cross medal of her career – took 15th and Verity Ockenden, in her first senior appearance at this event, 20th.

“Great Britain has always had great success at these championships as a team, so you always want to get on the podium,” said Liverpool trials winner Arter. “Obviously, we are always striving for that gold medal, but silver as a team, in what I think is a really strong competition, I am really happy with that.”

Can celebrated her 22nd victory earlier this week and acknowledged just how tough a

test she had been given. “It was nice that I had a good

battle with Fabienne Schlumpf,” she said. “I wasn´t 100% this season, but now I think I´m coming back. And yes, I felt some kind of pressure as the defending champion.”

For Grovdal it was her fourth consecutive European Cross bronze medal – a cause for celebration, though she couldn’t hide a little frustration after crossing the finishing line.

“I had so much power in the end, so I actually hoped that we would have one more lap,” she said, “I felt I was getting stronger throughout the race, so when the bell rang I was disappointed,

I thought we would have two more laps to go. The course was very heavy, but it is fun because there is always something happening.”



RESULTSSenior women: 1 Y Can (TUR) 26:05; 2 F Schlumpf (SUI) 26:06; 3 K Grovdal (NOR) 26:07; 4 S Krumins (NED) 26:16; 5 J Vastenburg (NED) 26:45; 6 E Burkard (GER) 26:53; 7 CHARLOTTE ARTER 26:57; 8 MELISSA COURTNEY 26:59; 9 PIPPA WOOLVEN 27:02; 10 JESS PIASECKI 27:03; 11 M Koster (NED) 27:08; 12 T Gebre (ESP) 27:16; 13 C Fougberg (SWE) 27:17; 14 A Gosk (POL) 27:20; 15 KATE AVERY 27:20; 16 L Westphal (FRA) 27:20; 17 M Bouchard (FRA) 27:21; 18 M Alm (DEN) 27:22; 19 F Amrhein (GER) 27:26; 20 VERITY OCKENDEN 27:30; 21 J van Velthoven (NED) 27:30; 22 N Lauwaert (BEL) 27:34; 23 S Mengisteab (SWE) 27:39; 24 Ö Kaya (TUR) 27:41; 25 C Granz (GER) 27:43; 26 S Treacy (IRL) 27:46; 27 D Schöneborn (GER) 27:47; 28 C Rocha (POR) 27:48; 29 M Stewartova (CZE) 27:49; 30 A Bobocel (ROU) 27:50; 31 H Klein (GER) 27:53; 32 V Kalyuzhna (UKR) 27:54; 33 S Fjortoft (NOR) 27:54; 34 R Bârca (ROU) 27:55; 35 N Lugueros (ESP) 27:58; 36 I Truyers (BEL) 27:59; 37 A Guerin (FRA) 28:00; 38 T Carretero (ESP) 28:02; 39 V Roffino

(ITA) 28:02; 40 M Mircheva (BUL) 28:03; 41 I Monteiro (POR) 28:05; 42 P Todoran (ROU) 28:07; 43 C Mageean (IRL) 28:08; 44 L Havell (SWE) 28:10; 45 M Pérez (ESP) 28:11; 46 C Simion (ROU) 28:11; 47 C Santi (ITA) 28:12; 48 S Duarte (FRA) 28:13; 49 G Epis (ITA) 28:15; 50 C Perraux (FRA) 28:19; 51 M Finn (IRL) 28:23; 52 Y Prokofyeva (UKR) 28:23; 53 V Zinenko (UKR) 28:26; 54 H Vandenbussche (BEL) 28:26; 55 S Våg (NOR) 28:32; 56 O Claude-Boxberger (FRA) 28:35; 57 A Mcglynn (IRL) 28:40; 58 S Ribeiro (POR) 28:42; 59 Z Fuentes-Pila (ESP) 28:45; 60 A Brzezinska (POL) 28:46; 61 E Loyo (ESP) 28:47; 62 F Ross (IRL) 28:48; 63 T Erdal (TUR) 28:57; 64 K O’Flaherty (IRL) 29:00; 65 C Santos (POR) 29:01; 66 C Prisecaru (ROU) 29:10; 67 O Rayta (UKR) 29:23; 68 J Holterman (NED) 29:39; 69 L Kancyte (LTU) 29:48; S Moreira (POR) DNF; JAugusto (POR) DNFTEAM: 1 Netherlands 20; 2 Great Britain & NI 24; 3 Germany 50; 4 France 70; 5 Sweden 80; 6 Spain 85; 7 Turkey 88; 8 Norway 91; 9 Romania 106; 10 Belgium 112; 11 Ireland 120; 12 Portugal 127; 13 Italy 135; 14 Ukraine 137

CAN COMES THROUGH

Melissa Courtney: Brit mixes it with

Fabienne Schlumpf and Karoline Grovdal

GB team silver (l to r): Pippa Woolven, Charlotte Arter, Kate Avery, Melissa Courtney, Jess Piasecki, Verity Ockenden

Charlotte Arter: leading Briton in seventh

Yasemin Can: holds off Fabienne Schlumpf




Under-23 womenTHE promotional machine in Denmark will now begin to crank up in earnest as the IAAF world cross country championships at the end of March edge ever closer.

There will be few better adverts for the sport in the host nation, however, than one of their own clinching a major European title in dramatic style.

Indeed, Anna-Emilie Møller chose the perfect time to become Denmark’s first individual gold medallist since Carsten Jorgensen 21 years ago and the first ever to win the under-23 race. To do so the European under-23 steeplechase champion had to come from behind – a long way behind, in fact.

Germany’s Anna Gehring, a silver medallist in this race two

years ago, had looked to be on course for the top spot on the podium having stretched clear of Møller and Switzerland’s Chiara Scherrer.

Yet the Dane who lives in England has Nordic Cross Country Championships and Cardiff Cross Challenge victories under her belt already this winter and stuck to her task. The 21-year-old refused to panic and began to reel Gehring in.

Safe in the knowledge she had a finishing kick she could count on despite the mounting tiredness Møller used a downslope in the wooded section of the course to take the lead coming into the closing stages of the 6.3km race.

She quickly changed gear and made a move for the line which Gehring could not match and broke the tape in 20:34, two

MØLLER MAKES HER MARKBRITISH-BASED DANE GETS HER TIMING JUST RIGHT ON TILBURG COURSE

Anna-Emilie Møller: strong winter continues with gold for Denmark

Amy Griffiths and Poppy Tank are to the fore in the opening stages as athletes negotiate the logs


seconds ahead of her German rival as Poland’s Weronika Pyzik came home a further 10 seconds adrift.

Møller, featured in the pages of the December 6 issue of AW, is a student runner at St Mary’s University, Twickenham where she trains under the guidance of Mick Woods, so there was a little of her European success which was made in Britain.

“I didn’t think I was going to win,” admitted the 2016 under-20 silver medallist. “Anna Gehring looked very strong and I thought she would keep on running away from me but in the end I realised she was getting closer and I knew that I have that sprint at the end.”

She added: “This was a big goal but now I’m looking forward to the worlds in my own country. It’s a big event for Denmark and we are very proud to be hosting the worlds.”

For Gehring, there was team gold for Germany to go with her individual silver, with Spain three points behind and Britain picking up the bronze.

At one stage it seemed as if Amy Griffiths was moving into contention for individual honours, looking strong alongside the leaders, until a slip changed everything and she had

to settle for seventh place. University of Utah student

Poppy Tank, who had been at the front in the early stages, came ninth on her European Cross debut and Abbie Donnelly’s 17th place meant there was at least the consolation of team bronze.

Dani Chattenton (21st), Lydia Turner (30th) and Emily Moyes (45th) completed the GB line-up.

Griffiths, who was distraught at the finish, could not shake the feeling of what might have been.

“I was with the girls at the front for so much of the race and they started to push it on,” said Griffiths of her 21:04 run. “I tried to hang on and then push on if I could, but then I was coming down this bank and I just went flying – I slid down the bank and that

was it, they had gone. I picked myself up and I was like ‘right, gather my thoughts and then go on again’. I am just really disappointed because coming into this race I was in such good shape.”

Tank added: “It was a pleasant surprise to see myself so far up the field being my first time here, but really good fun. I loved it.”



RESULTSU23 women: 1 A Møller (DEN) 20:34; 2 A Gehring (GER) 20:36; 3 W Pyzik (POL) 20:46; 4 C Scherrer (SUI) 20:48; 5 C Antón (ESP) 20:57; 6 M Dattke (GER) 20:58; 7 AMY GRIFFITHS 21:04; 8 C Cardama (ESP) 21:04; 9 POPPY TANK 21:05; 10 M Senechal (FRA) 21:06; 11 E Morenaite (LTU) 21:07; 12 M García (ESP) 21:13; 13 Y Kiliç (TUR) 21:13; 14 L Tertsch (GER) 21:13; 15 L Meyer (GER) 21:14; 16 E Flanagan (IRL) 21:17; 17 ABBIE DONNELLY 21:19; 18 K Dvorakova (CZE) 21:22; 19 R Lonedo (ITA) 21:24; 20 F Stutz (SUI) 21:24; 21 DANI CHATTENTON 21:30; 22 L Hadji (FRA) 21:30; 23 F Zanne (ITA) 21:31; 24 E Delanis (FRA) 21:31; 25 A Richardson (IRL) 21:32; 26 B Koku (TUR) 21:34; 27 A Pedersen (DEN) 21:36; 28 J Thestrup (DEN) 21:42; 29 T Piolot-Doco (FRA) 21:42; 30 LYDIA TURNER 21:43; 31 K Radzeyuk (BLR) 21:44; 32 S Pingpank (GER) 21:44; 33 N Cano (ESP) 21:45; 34 V Scaunet (BEL) 21:47; 35 A Mitard (FRA) 21:49; 36 M Ghidini (ITA) 21:49; 37 P Kapala (POL) 21:58; 38 S Erol (TUR) 22:01; 39 B Atalay (TUR) 22:02; 40 T Shabanava

(BLR) 22:02; 41 R Flanagan (IRL) 22:04; 42 L Martins (POR) 22:07; 43 F Sweeney (IRL) 22:08; 44 L Rooms (BEL) 22:09; 45 EMILY MOYES 22:10; 46 M Ahm (DEN) 22:11; 47 V Zrastakova (SVK) 22:11; 48 G PauZaite (LTU) 22:11; 49 A Chlebikova (CZE) 22:11; 50 A Zhmurko (UKR) 22:17; 51 B Subatan (TUR) 22:17; 52 Y Moroz (UKR) 22:23; 53 M Larsen (DEN) 22:23; 54 S O’Flaherty (IRL) 22:25; 55 K VaidZiulyte (LTU) 22:27; 56 E van der Kolk (NED) 22:28; 57 L Alemanni (SUI) 22:30; 58 T Hrochova (CZE) 22:31; 59 M Martins (POR) 22:34; 60 P Gonzalez (ESP) 22:41; 61 G Leoz (ESP) 22:47; 62 M Nemchenko (UKR) 22:54; 63 S Kristensen (DEN) 22:55; 64 V Fedchyk (UKR) 22:55; 65 T Korvasova (CZE) 22:56; 66 S Mcallister (IRL) 23:16; 67 H Alves (POR) 23:19; 68 A Butnariu (ROU) 23:23; 69 Z Durcova (SVK) 23:59TEAM: 1 Germany 22; 2 Spain 25; 3 Great Britain & NI 33; 4 France 56; 5 Denmark 56; 6 Turkey 77; 7 Italy 78; 8 Switzerland 81; 9 Ireland 82; 10 Lithuania 114; 11 Czech Republic 125; 12 Ukraine 164; 13 Portugal 168

Bronze battlers (l to r): Lydia Turner, Amy Griffiths, Emily Moyes, Poppy Tank, Abbie Donnelly and Dani Chattenton

Amy Griffiths pursues runner-up Anna Gehring


Under-20 womenTHE junior women’s side had got the day off to a gold medal-winning start for Britain when they successfully defended their team title in the opening race of the championships.

Italy’s Nadia Battocletti – the European under-20 3000m bronze medallist – was the individual victor after seeing off Swiss Delia Sclabas to take gold by a second in 13:46, while Turkey’s Inci Kalkan was a further second back in third.

Amelia Quirk battled to fifth, but it was perhaps a case of what could have been for the Briton after she tripped over Irish athlete Sarah Healy, who had fallen, on the second lap and was left winded.

The Bracknell athlete recovered her composure but, with the race unfolding at great speed, was simply left with just too much to do to catch up in her attempt to emulate the feat of last year’s champion Harriet Knowles Jones.

It says much for Quirk that she still managed to lead the team charge for gold and did cover the 4.3km course in 13:57, followed three seconds later by seventh-placed Khahisa

Mhlanga and Grace Brock in 11th (14:05) on her first appearance.

Trials winner Cari Hughes (13th) and Brock’s fellow debutants Anna Macfadyen

(20th) and Tiffany Penfold (36th) completed the victorious British line-up as the team scored 23 points to beat the Dutch by five, with Turkey taking bronze.

“It went off quite fast but I was feeling quite comfortable at that point,” said Quirk. “The Irish girl went down right in front of me and I fell on top of her and then someone fell on top of me. I gave it my best shot.

“I actually went down in Liverpool (at the British trials). It was nearer the start, but I know the quicker I get up the fewer places I am going to lose.

“The race was moving so quickly at that point, so I knew it was probably changing as I had fallen and when I got back up there were different people around me.

“It was a shame because I felt if I hadn’t have fallen I could have got a medal.”



BRITAIN’S TOP TEAMJUNIOR WOMEN TAKE GOLD WHILE BATTOCLETTI MAKES IT A FIRST FOR ITALY

Eventual winner Nadia Battocletti leads with Britain’s Amelia Quirk well placed before her mid-race fall

Amelia Quirk: fifth place to lead Britain to team gold medals

Khahisa Mhlanga: fine seventh for the

multiple English Schools 800m

champion




RESULTSU20 women: 1 N Battocletti (ITA) 13:46; 2 D Sclabas (SUI) 13:47; 3 I Kalkan (TUR) 13:48; 4 J Lau (NED) 13:51; 5 AMELIA QUIRK 13:57; 6 C Gallardo (ESP) 13:58; 7 KHAHISA MHLANGA 14:00; 8 E O’Brien (IRL) 14:01; 9 S Healy (IRL) 14:03; 10 F Heinst (NED) 14:04; 11 GRACE BROCK 14:05; 12 S Häring (SUI) 14:06; 13 CARI HUGHES 14:10; 14 R Blokhuis (NED) 14:11; 15 M Machado (POR) 14:12; 16 C Ruiz (ESP) 14:12; 17 E Akbingöl (TUR) 14:16; 18 E Palmero (ITA) 14:19; 19 D Kunur (TUR) 14:22; 20 ANNA MACFADYEN 14:22;21 L Casajoana (ESP) 14:23; 22 L Cavalli (ITA) 14:23; 23 L Oed (GER) 14:24; 24 E Saura (ESP) 14:25; 25 S Cotter (IRL) 14:25; 26 C Hernandez-Pita (SUI) 14:27; 27 M Korkealaakso (FIN) 14:27; 28 S Šrut (CRO) 14:28; 29 D van Es (NED) 14:29; 30 I Barreiro (ESP) 14:30; 31 K Lukan (SLO) 14:30; 32 M Julien (FRA) 14:31; 33 M Deswaef (BEL) 14:32; 34 J Wind (SUI) 14:32; 35 J MCcann (IRL) 14:33; 36 TIFFANY PENFOLD 14:33; 37 P Schneiders (GER) 14:34; 38 A Vortmeier (GER) 14:34; 39 P Camposana (ESP) 14:36 ; 40 J Bakker (NED) 14:38; 41 A Snäll (FIN) 14:39; 42 F Marangi Agostino (ITA) 14:40; 43 E Megger (POL) 14:40; 44 A Helwigh (DEN) 14:40; 45 K Vukancic (CRO) 14:41; 46 K Sorensen (DEN) 14:41; 47 L Petersen (DEN) 14:41; 48 P

Silva (POR) 14:42; 49 L Lemos (POR) 14:44; 50 M Cornia (ITA) 14:45; 51 A Hightower (NED) 14:47; 52 L Giudice (SUI) 14:47; 53 L Taborda (POR) 14:48; 54 C Reicht (AUT) 14:48; 55 S Benfares (FRA) 14:51; 56 E Morel (FRA) 14:51; 57 G Karinauskaite (LTU) 14:52; 58 M Trapp (FRA) 14:52; 59 F Triest (BEL) 14:54; 60 S O’Sullivan (IRL) 14:59; 61 L Nicholson (IRL) 15:00; 62 B Semyonova (UKR) 15:00; 63 A Ammann (SUI) 15:01; 64 A Drees (GER) 15:01; 65 K Pawlus (POL) 15:01; 66 J Contois (FRA) 15:02; 67 K Koppe (GER) 15:02; 68 D Lavasa (GRE) 15:02; 69 A Kolackova (CZE) 15:03 ; 70 E Duškova (SVK) 15:04; 71 S Laukkanen (FIN) 15:10; 72 S Soefeldt (DEN) 15:11; 73 U Zvinklyte (LTU) 15:12; 74 L Farkaš (CRO) 15:13; 75 A Mattevi (ITA) 15:15; 76 I Kukh (UKR) 15:18; 77 A Olenici (ROU) 15:20; 78 S Güzelyurt (TUR) 15:28; 79 P Rakijašic (CRO) 15:28; 80 V Kovba (UKR) 15:33; 81 A Zavadska (SVK) 15:33; 82 M Repsyte (LTU) 15:38; 83 E Flórou (GRE) 15:41; 84 D Petraškaite (LTU) 15:43; 85 D Vdovychenko (UKR) 16:34; 86 A Petrakova (LAT) 16:44 TEAM: 1 Great Britain & NI 23; 2 Netherlands 28; 3 Turkey 39; 4 Switzerland 40; 5 Italy 41; 6 Ireland 42; 7 Spain 43; 8 Germany 98; 9 Portugal 112; 10 Denmark 137; 11 Finland 139; 12 France 143; 13 Croatia 147; 14 Lithuania 212; 15 Ukraine 218

BRITAIN’S TOP TEAMJUNIOR WOMEN TAKE GOLD WHILE BATTOCLETTI MAKES IT A FIRST FOR ITALY

The race, greeted by torrential rain, had certainly looked set to be an open affair right from the moment the Netherlands’ Roos Blokhuis responded to the cheers of the large crowd and sped off into an early lead.

Quirk was firmly in contention until her tangle with Healy, one of the favourites following European under-18 1500m and 3000m victories.

The Irish athlete eventually

came home in ninth place.Battocletti, who had finished

fifth in Samorin 12 months ago, tested out this course at the Warandeloop event last month and clearly made the most of that recce with a well-judged performance.

She looked in command of proceedings when she hit the front in the final kilometre and strode over the line to become the first Italian woman to win a

gold medal in European Cross Country Championships history.

“It was a difficult race, not only because of the weather, but also because of the strong opponents; they are all very strong athletes,” she said. “I didn´t expect to win, but I dreamed about it. My father, who is also my coach, did say I was going to win. For me, it´s a surprise.”

For self-coached Cornwall

athlete Brock, who clocked 34:24 on her road 10k debut at Worcester in September, there was delight at making a golden start to her European Cross career.

“It’s amazing (to win team gold),” she said. “I think we all knew we had a really strong team, but to actually do it is amazing. I am so proud of everyone and so happy with how we all ran.”

Gold for Britain: the under-20 women enjoy their podium moment

Italian triumph: Nadia Battocletti


Senior mixed relayTHE finale of the day’s proceedings brought with it disappointment and drama for defending champions Britain, who were the only athletes from the squad not to head home with medals after a somewhat cruel fourth-place finish.

It had all been going so well in the early stages of an event which made its debut in Samorin last year, with Jamie Williamson sitting in second spot and looking assured behind French leader Alexis Miellet.

However, with the opening changeover looming, the Scotsman fell and had slipped to sixth position when he handed over to Alex Bell.

The Pudsey and Bramley athlete did not panic and produced the fastest second leg of the field to bring her side back into third, Phil Sesseman then setting off in pursuit of leaders France and Spain.

The top three remained the same at the final changeover, Jess Judd being left to anchor Britain home with a seven-second gap to bridge on Spain.

While last year’s under-23 individual bronze medallist focused her efforts on trying to

chase down those in front, a surprise late charge from behind was to prove damaging.

Coming down the final straight, Volha Nemehai of Belarus produced the second-fastest final leg to snatch the bronze medal while, up ahead, there had been further drama when France, who had led at every changeover, were denied gold when Spain’s Solange Andreia Pereira overtook Johanna Geyer-Carles at the death.

Spain clocked, 16:10 for the 5.8km distance, two seconds ahead of France, while Belarus finished in 16:21 and Britain 16:24.

“I set off with a clear plan in mind,” said Williamson, son of Scottish mile record-holder Graham. “It started really well for the first half of the race – I was just running in the pack, doing what I needed to do and then moved up to second about halfway round. I was feeling really strong, but then unfortunately fell over and sort of lost it a bit from there. I got back up, but there is not much you can do at that point.

“It would have been great to get a medal, but it has been a great experience. It has definitely made me want to train even harder and try and come back on even more teams.”

An exhausted Judd added: “I knew I had to go off and try and catch them, but it was so hard. The turns were just so hard, I couldn’t get going around them, I lost so much ground and my legs were hurting so much at the end. I am just absolutely gutted because I knew we were close. I had nothing left, I gave it absolutely everything.”

Bell was more philosophical after the drama, adding:

“Regardless of what event it is, it is always going to feel bitter coming fourth but I felt like we all gave 100%. It (mixed relay) is just a fun way to get a lot of track athletes involved in cross country and I think there needs to be more of these events.”


EUROPEAN CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS ACTION

RESULTSMixed relay: 1 ESP 16:10 ((M) S Ordóñez 3:20 (2), (W) E Guerrero 4:29 (3) 7:48 (2), (M) V Ruiz 3:47 (2) 11:35 (2), (W) S Pereira 4:36 (3) 16:10 (1)); 2 FRA 16:12 ((M) M Miellet 3:17 (1), (W) R Lamote 4:31 (8) 7:48 (1), (M) Mekhissi-B. M 3:47 (1) 11:34 (1), (W) J Geyer-Carles 4:39 (5) 16:12 (2),); 3 BLR 16:21 ((M) A Lohish 3:23 (4)(W) I Ivanau 4:34 (11) 7:57 (7), (M) S Platonau 3:49 (3) 11:46 (4), (W) VNemahai 4:36 (2) 16:21 (3)); 4 GBR 16:24 ((M) JAMIE WILLIAMSON 3:25 (6), (W) ALEXANDRA BELL 4:24 (1) 7:48 (3), (M) PSESEMANN 3:54 (5) 11:42 (3), (W) JESSICA JUDD 4:42 (6) 16:24 (4)); 5 UKR 16:30 ((M) O Kayafa 3:26 (8), (W) O Demyanyuk 4:30 (6) 7:56 (5), (M) V Kyts 3:57 (10) 11:53 (9), (W) I Bubnyak 4:38 (4) 16:30 (5)); 6 SWE 16:32 ((M) E Blomberg 3:26 (7), (W) H Hermansson 4:29 (5) 7:55 (4),

(M) E Engholm 3:54 (4) 11:48 (5), (W) A Silvander 4:45 (7) 16:32 (6)); 7 (BEL) 16:34 ((M) I Debjani 3:29 (11), (W) E Vanderelst 4:29 (4) 7:58 (9), (M) P Hannes 4:02 (12) 11:59 (11), (W) S Van Accom 4:36 (1) 16:34 (7)); 8 LAT 16:40 ((M) A Blajs 3:31 (12), (W) L Velvere 4:26 (2), 7:57 (8), (M) U Jocis 3:54 (6) 11:51 (6), (W) A Strausa 4:50 (9) 16:40 (8)); 9 IRL 16:40 ((M) P Robinson 3:27 (9), (W) B Cléirigh 4:31 (10) 7:58 (11), (M) J Travers 3:55 (7) 11:53 (8), (W) C Tarplee 4:48 (8) 16:40 (9)); 10 POR 16:44 ((M) E Rolim 3:28 (10), (W) S Afonso 4:30 (7) 7:58 (10), (M) P Pinheiro 3:57 (9) 11:54 (10), (W) S Francisco 4:50 (10) 16:44 (10)); 11 ITA 16:51 ((M) S Abdikadar 3:25 (5), (W) E Vandi 4:31 (9) 7:56 (6), (M) A Zoghlami 3:56 (8) 11:51 (7), (W) G Aprile 5:00 (12) 16:51 (11)); 12 DEN 17:02 ((M) N Jensen 3:21 (3), (W) D Olsen 4:46 (12) 8:07 (12), (M) A Lindgreen 3:59 (11) 12:05 (12), (W) L Moller 4:57 (11) 17:02 (12))

BELARUS SNATCH BRONZE AS THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS FALTER IN FINALEUNHAPPY ENDING FOR BRITAIN

Jess Judd: gave everything on anchor

Alex Bell: pulling GB back into the race

Phil Sesemann: in the hunt

Jamie Williamson:

ran well until he tripped mid-race



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WHETHER you are chasing a half-marathon PB or want to race 13.1

miles in preparation for a spring marathon, the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon is a perfect choice.

Statistically, it is the fastest half-marathon course in the world, whereas when it comes to the weather it takes place in fine (but not too warm) conditions which will be a

welcome escape for British runners who have been training through the winter.

Taking place on February 8, it is well placed to fit in with spring marathon plans. It’s not all about the running either, as the Arabian Peninsula area where it is held is a sight-seeing paradise. A time difference of only four hours from the UK also means it’s not difficult to travel to.

Tim Hutchings, the

international runner-turned-commentator, has worked at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon for most of its history and says: “The Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon – also sometimes known after 12 years as the RAK Half – is one of the best kept secrets of the United Arab Emirates in terms of it being a wonderful “pre-spring marathon” preparatory race, for any level of runner.

“At the first Ras Al Khaimah Half in 2007, a young lad called Sammy Wanjiru blasted the dead-flat circuit in 58:53 – an unofficial world record – but the race was young and no drug testing was present, so that record was lost!”

Wanjiru went on to win Olympic marathon gold in Beijing in 2008 before sadly dying in 2011 aged only 24. But his presence at that inaugural

RUN IN THE SUNPROMOTION

THE RAS AL KHAIMAH HALF MARATHON IS AN IDEAL CHANCE FOR RUNNERS TO ESCAPE THE BRITISH WINTER AND ENJOY A SUPER-FAST 13.1-MILE RACE

Reigning champion: Fancy Chemutai

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event shows the quality of the race and the standard has been maintained ever since.

Hutchings continues: “Since 2007, the Ras Al Khaimah Half story has got better, and bigger. It now attracts almost 2500 starters, from just a few hundred initially. Dozens of elite men have run under 60 minutes on the gradually adjusted circuit, with many of the less fast runners focused on the glorious beaches as much as the race itself!

“Boasting four of the fastest women’s times ever, Kenya’s tiny Mary Keitany set a world record

of 65:50 in 2011, followed in 2017 by compatriot Peres Jepchirchir’s 65:06 world record.

“Five times Keitany has used it as her pre-spring marathon preparation race – and with three titles a piece in London and New York, it is clearly perfect for elite and masses alike as a great long weekend away in the sun, and as a pipe-opener a few weeks before London, Paris, Boston, Brighton and other marathons.”

Haitham Mattar, Chief Executive Officer of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), says: “The Ras Al Khaimah Half-marathon is a very important event in our sporting calendar, which attracts an increasing number of international visitors and UAE residents to make a weekend of it and experience our diverse offer across beaches, desert and mountains.

“Aside from lining up alongside great runners, there is something for everyone, from relaxing on our 64km of pristine beaches to riding the world’s

longest zip line at Jebel Jais.”In addition, if one half-

marathon race is not enough for you, then you can race on the local go-karting tracks, sail along the waters of the Arabian Gulf, show off your golfing skills or take a hike in the nearby mountains of the emirate.

Naturally, the event is an ideal chance to travel abroad with training partners – and there is the added incentive of team prizes on race day itself. In addition, there are shorter children’s events for all the family to get involved in.


RUN IN THE SUN@athleticsweekly

Ras Al KhaimahHalf MarathonWhen: Friday February 8Where: United Arab EmiratesEntry deadline: You can apply by December 15 for a reduced rate, while the fi nal date to register is January 15, 2019Packages: When you enter there are options to pick accommodation and transportInfo: rakmarathon.org and en.rasalkhaimah.ae

The world’s fastest half-marathonWHAT makes the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon the quickest course on the planet?

The organisers explain: “If you take the top 10 fastest times recorded in Ras Al Khaimah for men (and the same for women) and fi nd the average (for each) and then do the same with the top 10 fastest recorded times across all races, the faster average time for both men and women will be in Ras Al Khaimah, making it the world’s FASTEST half-marathon!”

Flashback to the last race earlier this yearTHE 12th edition of the event in February this year saw a world record and two course records as the Ras Al Khaimah Half once again showed how speedy its course is.

A pleasant sea mist enveloped the runners for the early-morning start with barely any wind and temperatures in the low teens.

Fancy Chemutai took the women’s victory in a 64:52 – missing the world record by one second – as she out-kicked Mary Keitany, while world record-holder Joyciline Jepkosgei fi nished fi fth.

The race saw a world record, too, as Caroline Kipkirui went through 10 miles in 49:29 before fading to third at the fi nish.

Bedan Karoki, meanwhile, won the men’s race in 58:42 as the top seven all broke the one-hour barrier.

Bedan Karoki: Kenyan smashes the 60min

barrier on the super-fast Ras Al Khaimah

Half Marathon course

Mary Keitany:

marathon legend

Caroline Kipkirui: 10-mile world best last year

AW Dec 13 Promotion RAK 22-23.indd 3 11/12/2018 09:59

EUROPEAN Athletics president Svein Arne Hansen has given his full backing

to the idea of cross-country running being introduced to the Winter Olympics, writes Euan Crumley.

Speaking in Tilburg ahead of what was another successful European Cross Country championships, the former long-time meet director of the Bislett Games admitted there are challenges to such an aspiration, which was discussed at the most recent meeting of the IAAF council in Monaco, being realised.

However, the discipline was included in the recent Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires and, with the IAAF world cross championships set to be staged in Aarhus, Denmark, in March, Hansen believes there is Europe-wide support for the idea.

It is now 10 years since Haile Gebrselassie, Paul Tergat and Kenenisa Bekele wrote a joint letter to the IOC stating the case for cross-country running to be in the Winter Games.

“I support that very, very

much,” said Hansen. “I think it would be so good for athletics and to show the importance of the No.1 Olympic sport in the summer to also be part of the winter games.

“I support it fully but it’s up to the big bosses at the IOC to take a decision on that.

“We talked about it at

the IAAF council meeting in Monaco.”

Hansen believes events like the European and World Cross are vital to strengthening the case for inclusion.

“We have to show the world that we are really worth being a part of it,” he added.

“If the big bosses (IOC) are

as daring as we at European Athletics then we could be part of the programme in the future.”

However, he added: “They have restrictions on number of athletes and the quota, then they would have to take something out of the programme (to fit cross country in), so it’s not as easy as it sounds.”


NEWS

HANSEN IS BACKING CROSS OLYMPIC DREAM

Svein Arne Hansen: would love to see cross-country running at the Winter Olympics

FARAH’S TRACK AMBITION FOR DOHAMO FARAH has confirmed his intention to return to the track for next year’s IAAF World Championships in Doha.

The four-time Olympic champion over 5000m and 10,000m had seemingly retired from that side of the sport to concentrate fully on road running and the marathon.

His third place in London

earlier this year, followed by his European record-breaking run of 2:05:11 for a maiden marathon win in Chicago this autumn, looked to be cementing the new direction his career was taking.

However, there were hints from coach Gary Lough in America that Farah may consider a track comeback and

it now seems the 35-year-old will have twin targets for 2019.

He will run the London Marathon again in April but, speaking on the Jonathan Ross Show on ITV, Farah was asked: “So you are running the London Marathon but you are returning to track events for Doha?”

He replied: “Yeah, I want to do it.”

Mo Farah: track comeback

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JESS PIASECKI believes Britain should support next year’s IAAF World Cross Country Championships by sending the country’s strongest possible teams to Denmark in March, writes Euan Crumley.

The former European under-23 cross country champion, part of the side which took senior women’s team silver in Tilburg last weekend, says the nation could do well at next year’s global showpiece, given that the Aarhus course will provide conditions much more akin to those traditionally found at cross country events in this country.

The championships come only a few weeks after the European Indoors in Glasgow and Piasecki knows some athletes could prioritise track

and road events in what will be another packed year.

However, AW understands British Athletics are indeed intending to support the world cross as much as possible and Piasecki, who will be targeting a place on the team, said: “I think if we could get a strong women’s team out there then

we could definitely get a medal as a team. It would be the same for the lads. If everyone that’s usually up there turned up and was fit and healthy then we could all do really well.

“If that’s what we want then we need to push (for it).

“It’s in Europe and we should support it. It’s going to be a

proper cross country and it’s going to be good to see that on the world stage. I think, as a nation, we should support it and send full teams.

“Fingers crossed everyone feels the same and we can get a strong team out there.”

She added: “The world cross has lost its glamour a little bit over the past few years, because people are prioritising track, when it’s fallen in the calendar, it’s been held in obscure countries where there is a lot of travel involved … but for it now to be held in somewhere like Denmark and it’s now been well advertised that the course will be a lot like the National.

“I think because as a nation we have always tried to push for stuff like that, then we should try and support it.”


@athleticsweekly

PIASECKI URGES BRITSTO SUPPORT AARHUS

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Jess Piasecki (far right): believes Britain could do well at the world cross country

Aarhus will provide a more traditional cross-country test

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DINA ASHER-SMITH took yet another end-of-season accolade last week when she was named Sports Journalists Association British Sports Awards sportswoman of 2018 – and the sprinter reacted in typically humble fashion.

Asher-Smith, who succeeded athletes Mary Rand, Mary Peters, Sally Gunnell and Denise Lewis as a winner of the award, told emcee Jim Rosenthal: “When I did my history degree I remember writing about death tolls and atrocities so I feel grateful that the most complicated thing in my life is trying to run fast in a straight line! I’m very lucky that it’s my job, something that I love and something I get to do every day.”

Christine Ohuruogu took the National Lottery’s ‘spirit of sport’ award in recognition for her school visits after London 2012, while the president’s award went to David Hemery half a century after his Olympic 400m hurdles win.n More on Ohuruogu and Hemery next week

THE South of England is considering the introduction of an

area affiliation scheme for its athletes, writes Jason Henderson.

Mike Winch, chairman of the South of England Athletics Association, says the organisation is thinking about bringing in a scheme similar to the one recently introduced by Northern Athletics in order to continue providing area competitions in the face of possible further funding cuts from England Athletics.

“There is a lot talked about on social media about all this and people are saying ‘the South of England wants to break away and go independent’, but what we want to do is we want to put into place a scheme

which ensures the association continues for many years to come,” Winch explains.

“If England aren’t paying for what they’re supposed to be

paying for then where do they expect us to get the money from? We did actually offer England a way through this which would have helped them considerably, which was to put a couple of quid on the affiliation fee and ring-fence it for the areas.

“It wasn’t rejected but it wasn’t discussed, apparently. It would have resolved all the problems with the areas but they chose not to do it.

“So now the North of England have taken the lead on this. We’re going to follow but after some consideration as we have to look at the plusses and minuses of the whole thing.

“We have agreed a letter to go out to the clubs and counties which will put our position and is based on our 2016 survey, where the clubs said they

were happy to pay a couple of quid per member to keep our competitions going and of course our strategy, which we need to fund.”

On p34-35 of this issue, Winch is critical of UKA and England Athletics and on the topic of funding, he says: “I’m absolutely supportive of the fact that we need to pay for our sport but the money that’s coming in (nationally) should paying for the sport and not for administration.”

However, a Southern affiliation fee is far from a certainty and the South of England’s competition chairman John Gandee says: “The idea has been discussed but we are not yet convinced this is the correct course of action for us. The idea in some form has not been rejected but neither has it been accepted.”


NEWS

SOUTH OF ENGLAND LOOKSAT ATHLETE AFFILIATION FEEMIKE WINCH SAYS AREA ORGANISATION IS EXPLORING CHARGE TO SURVIVE

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ATHLETICS WEEKLY’S2018 STATS SPECIAL

NEXT WEEK!

DECEMBER 20ISSUE

EVERY RUN, JUMP AND THROWOF THE YEAR THAT MATTERED

AS WE REVIEW THE LAST 12 MONTHS OF THE SPORT

Mike Winch: South of England chair is

keen to create financial sustainability

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FOR the first time in history the winner in the heptathlon and decathlon will soon become the athlete that crosses the finish line first as instead of athletes starting the final event – 800m for women and 1500m for men – together, the competitors will begin at various intervals based on their score at that stage in the competition.

The handicap format follows one that has been used in modern pentathlon over the years and it is one of several rule changes agreed by the IAAF this month at its 215th council meeting in Monaco.

This ‘Gunderson method’ will be trialled at the 2020 World Under-20 Championships and will make watching the combined events far easier for spectators. However, it also comes with some potential pitfalls.

First, athletes chasing the leader could benefit from drafting, or could alternatively find athletes getting in their way. Also, how will officials accurately set athletes on their way when they are separated by tenths of a second?

Toni Minichiello, coach to Jessica Ennis-Hill among others, was among those unimpressed as he tweeted: “Good luck setting people off at differing intervals accurately, athletes who are 0.6 apart or 1.3 secs apart. Best of luck to the officials who have to administer it and of course to the jury of appeal. IAAF new mission statement must be if it ain’t broke fix it.”

Other decisions by the IAAF include the elimination of the 10,000m for men at the 2020 World Under-20 Championships with athletes of both sexes competing over 3000m and

5000m at the event in Nairobi, while a mixed 4x400m relay will be added to the programme.

The IAAF has also asked the IOC to include the women’s 50km walk in the 2020 Olympics programme, while the new bidding rules allowing the IAAF to select a geographical area to hold an event were rubber-stamped.

Russia, meanwhile, continues to be suspended from international athletics after the IAAF said the ban will remain in place until samples and data from Moscow’s former anti-doping laboratory are made available.

It is the ninth time the IAAF has turned down Russia’s appeal for reinstatement and the nation will not be able to compete under its own flag at the European Indoors in Glasgow in March.


@athleticsweekly

Dasaolu’s Achilles hopeJAMES DASAOLU’s crowd-funding effort to raise £9000 for an urgent Achilles operation was successful.

The 2014 European 100m champion underwent surgery on Monday and hopes to return to action ahead of the 2020 Olympics.

“The British public have saved my career because without their support I wouldn’t have been able to afford the surgery,” he said. “I’m truly overwhelmed by the support from them and also my team-mates.”

Earlier marathon start TOKYO 2020 Olympic Games organisers have proposed moving the start time of the marathons from 7am to 5.30am or 6am to avoid the

worst of the city’s summer heat.

Olympic Stadium events ATHLETICS events at the Olympic Stadium will be fixed for the next six years thanks to a new deal between UK Athletics and the London Legacy Development Corporation. This will see the Anniversary Games held in

the third week in July each year.

Alnwick revisitedEUROPEAN Athletics described their cross-country championships in Tilburg this month as the 25th anniversary event. But the North Eastern Counties say next year marks 25 years since the Euro Cross was first held – in Alnwick in 1994 – and they are staging the North Eastern Counties Cross Country Championships in the same Northumberland town on December 14, 2019, as a commemorative event.

Surrey League changeTHE Surrey Ladies Cross Country League race on January 13 in Coulsdon will instead be staged on March 2 at Lloyd Park in Croydon. Given this, the next match will be on February 9 at Richmond Park.

Botswanan sudden deathBOTSWANA sprinter Omphemetse Mokgadi collapsed and died during training at his national stadium last month. The 46.44 400m runner was hoping to compete in the IAAF World Championships in Doha.

COMBINED EVENTS WINNERTO BECOME MORE OBVIOUS

CATERINE IBARGÜEN is statistically now the greatest all-round jumper in history but after her amazing long and triple jump triumphs in 2018 she says she will focus on triple jump next year.

The Colombian’s best marks of 15.31m for triple jump, 6.93m for long jump and 1.93m for high jump are, when combined using the IAAF’s scoring tables, superior to any other female athlete in history.

But the IAAF female athlete of the year (see News Focus, p38-39) says: “Triple jump is my

priority with next year’s World Championships in mind. My main focus will be on one event and doing it very well. I have two difficult years coming up – Doha, and then the Tokyo Olympics – and I am already preparing myself carefully for these two major championships.

“But that doesn’t mean I won’t be doing any more long jump competitions. We will just have to see how that plays with the calendar because the World Championships are so late in the year.”

IBARGÜEN FOCUSES ON TRIPLE

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THIS year has seen British athletes win medals galore at the European

Championships, Commonwealth Games, World Indoors, World Under-20 and European Under-18 Championships. Yet when it comes to domestic politics, so far it has been a winter of discontent.

Niels de Vos resigned as chief executive of UK Athletics in the aftermath of a financially-disastrous Athletics World Cup event and he has so far not been replaced, although Nigel Holl is currently acting as interim chief executive at UKA.

Richard Bowker, who replaced Ed Warner as chairman of UKA, has found himself at the centre of tabloid newspaper speculation that has described his position as ‘untenable’.

Much of the unrest is reportedly linked to a desire to merge England Athletics with UKA, while the unrest has spread to the area bodies with Northern Athletics already setting up their own affiliation scheme to ensure their survival and the South of England looking likely to follow.

On Friday (December 14) the latest UK members’ council meeting and Annual General Meeting takes place with results of its latest elections due to be announced.

Much speculation, though, has focused on Bowker’s future, with a man who is best known for working in the railways industry struggling to assert his authority in athletics.

In recent months AW has asked UKA several times for an opportunity to interview Bowker or one of its leading officials to clarify the situation.

Until this week, all requests have been politely declined but they have now released a short statement to us, which reads:


NEWS NEWS FOCUS: LEADERSHIP CRISIS

D-DAY FORDOMESTICATHLETICSAHEAD OF THIS WEEK’S UK MEMBERS’ COUNCIL MEETING, THE SPORT’S LEADING ADMINISTRATORS FACE A LEADERSHIP CRISIS AND FIERCE CRITICISM FROM THE GRASSROOTS REPORT: JASON HENDERSON & EUAN CRUMLEY PICTURES: MARK SHEARMAN

“UK Athletics is continuing to seek resolution to the ongoing matters through direct dialogue, discussion and positive collaboration. With further meetings

planned in the near future we believe it is appropriate that no public comment is made at this time – preferring instead to focus efforts on the dialogue with

and through the key partners and individuals involved.

“Our priority and entire focus is that the sport’s organisations and governing bodies work together to ensure the sport’s future success at all levels.”

UKA statement, December 2018

AW Dec 13 News Focus Politics 28-36.indd 2 11/12/2018 11:21


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D-DAY FORDOMESTICATHLETICS

Richard Bowker: railways industry

man replaced Ed Warner as UKA chair

England Athletics were also initially reluctant to offer views and even asked for a running website to remove an article on funding and domestic politics. But they soon reconsidered and sent us detailed information and answers to our questions, a lot of which you can read on pages 30-31 with the full transcript on our website.

The three English area bodies were also happy to answer questions, with Northern

Athletics describing its new area affiliation scheme (see p32-33), the South of England discussing its freshly-written strategy and possible affiliation scheme (p34-35) and Midland Counties AA saying why they currently are not interested in setting up their own separate affiliation scheme (p33).

Scottish Athletics, too, has offered some views to AW via its chairman Ian Beattie (p36) – and he is one of the home country representatives on the UK members’ council that meets this week.

n See Comment, p4

UKA MEMBERS’ COUNCILAS THE UKA website puts it: “The UK Members’ Council has a key role to act as conduit for the views of the various stakeholders of athletics in the UK. It is consulted on the development of the strategy for the sport, debates significant issues relating to athletics, acts as a ‘sounding board’ for the Board and the wider executive providing constructive challenge and advisory opinions.

“It acts as an ambassador to disseminate the Company’s strategic vision, helping to ensure that all stakeholders understand and support a shared vision for the development of Athletics.”

Jason Gardener: PresidentDonna Fraser: Vice PresidentMyra Nimmo: England representativeIan Beattie: Scotland representativeCarol Anthony: Wales representativeRoy Corry: Northern Ireland representativeTony Clements: Celtic nations clubs representativeMike Harris: clubs’ representativeNigel Rowe: road runners’ representativeToni Minichiello: senior coaches representativeWendy Haxell: officials representativeHannah England: athlete representative

UK Athletics boardRichard Bowker: chairNigel Holl: interim chief executive Jonathan Orr: chief financial officerPeter Taylor: non-executive directorAnne Wafula-Strike: non-executive directorSarah Rowell: non-executive directorDavid Bedford: non-executive directorPenny Avis: non-executive directorGordon Arthur: non-executive director

SPECULATION has focused lately on whether UK Athletics will merge with England Athletics. Newspaper coverage in the Daily Mail has reported that this plan – driven by UKA’s new chairman Richard Bowker – is at the centre of the unrest, but England Athletics has told AW that it won’t happen.

“England Athletics and UKA will not be merging and we will continue to work together, alongside the other home countries, to create a high-level long-term UK wide strategy that supports and aligns to our respective roles and responsibilities within our sport,” England Athletics said.

“As the governing body for athletics and running in England, our priority is to work with all members of the UKA board and staff to ensure that our members are served in the best possible way and we

will continue to collaborate with the other home country bodies and UKA to achieve this. Collaborative areas we are particularly focusing on currently are talent, coach education and commercial partnerships.

“Our belief that we should put the development of all home country member clubs and affiliated athletes across

the UK at the heart of the decision-making process and this has been shared with the UKA board and we are looking forward to continuing to work with them to create a robust and evidenced strategy for our sport for the future.”

The governing body has, however, pointed out that they share the same Alexander Stadium headquarters in Birmingham with UKA and they add: “We already work closely with UKA, sharing functions such as office accommodation, payroll, some IT functions, procurement and welfare where efficiencies can be delivered, and look forward to working hard to identify other opportunities to work together to benefit our members and partners. We will continue to work to identify if there are further efficiencies that can be attained through joint working.”

NO ENGLAND-UKA MERGER

“ON FRIDAY THE LATEST UK MEMBERS’ COUNCIL MEETING AND AGM TAKES PLACE WITH RESULTS OF ITS ELECTIONS DUE TO BE ANNOUNCED”




Athletics Weekly: England Athletics has been in the national press recently linked to the UKA leadership crisis. The governing bodies have not spoken about it to the public or media, so why does England Athletics want to break the silence now?England Athletics: It is correct to say there has been some negative press recently about our sport but EA believe that there is much to celebrate. The end of the year is traditionally a time for review and we wanted to share some of the positive work of the year from an EA perspective. We wanted to showcase what we do, and why, and the impact of our investment, including the continued growth of club and athlete registration and affiliation.

These include our recent #GoCoach campaign, reaching a milestone 100 Club Runs (an EA funded road running club coaching programme) this year, our age group international teams programme and a successful Commonwealth Games. We also recently launched a new website as we aim to ensure that our members and partners have regular access to good quality and accurate information.

As the membership and development body for athletics and running in England, we operate on a consultative basis with our members and partners. We work together with the other home countries federations and UKA to pool our experience, research and evidence to ensure that the management of our sport at a grassroots level is structured

in the best way possible. This enables us to deliver and grow opportunities for everyone to experience our great sport whilst also developing a talent pipeline of athletes and runners to compete in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and British vests.

We are only 20 months into a four-year strategy cycle and while we are satisfied with current progress, we are well aware of the challenges that lie ahead in the coming months and period through to April 2021. We are already beginning to work on our plans for post 2021, although some elements, such as Sport England funding, won’t be known for some time yet.

AW: We hear Richard Bowker wants to absorb EA into UKA. Is this true and, if so, how likely to happen?EA: England Athletics and UKA will not be merging and we will continue to work together, alongside the other home countries, to create a high-level

long-term UK wide strategy that supports and aligns to our respective roles and responsibilities within our sport.

England Athletics is currently working to deliver our own strategy, “Athletics and Running: for everyone, forever”, which we developed following consultation with our members. We have reduced annual dependency on government funding to below 30%, and have increased our own income streams through membership, road race licensing, event revenues and through partnership working, including commercial partnerships.

The number of people participating in our club sport is increasing, particularly in running, and the number of people participating recreationally across England each month has climbed to 7.2m. Performance levels of athletes across many events, beneath elite level, continue to improve and we have enjoyed a successful Commonwealth Games in 2018. In 2018

England Athletics took more than 40 teams to represent England at international level across different disciplines both at home and abroad. An illustration of how important our development work is in this space. We are also proud of the work we have initiated in partnership with the masters federation during the last couple of years, introducing more opportunities for club runners to represent their country on the road across different distances.

The governance of the sport underwent significant structural change in the past and we strongly believe that in recent years we have developed a close understanding of the needs of the sport at a grassroots level. While there are clearly challenges that we all face, such as funding levels, the urgent need to recruit and train more officials, the need to protect our facilities and our ambition to increase participation in track and field, there are nevertheless many success stories and volunteers across the sport have worked hard to deliver many of those.

Our current approach, founded on partnership with a range of different organisations including member clubs and competition providers like the English Schools AA (whom we have funded for a decade now), county associations and other voluntary run bodies, is working and producing results.

AW: With Niels de Vos leaving and Richard Bowker’s position precarious, is it fair to describe the sport as having a ‘leadership crisis’?

ENGLAND RESPONDSEA OUTLINES ITS STRATEGY AND RELATIONSHIP WITH ITS THREE AREA BODIES



@athleticsweekly

EA: UKA is best placed to comment on its own staffing and organisational structure. Leadership at England Athletics is stable, democratic and as a membership organisation we regularly consult with our members and key stakeholders to ensure we are delivering our strategic priorities, which are:

1. To expand the capacity of the sport by supporting and developing its volunteers and other workforce: our key ambition is a 6% increase in the number of licensed leaders, coaches and officials every year.

2. To sustain and increase participation and performance: our key ambition is 160,000 more individuals registered with England Athletics through our athlete registration (23,000) and RunTogether programme (137,000) combined.

3. To influence participation in the wider athletics and running market. Our key ambition is to have 650,000 more regular athletes and runners.

AW: It is 14 years since Sir Andrew Foster investigated the sport and came up with a

series of recommendations in his Foster Review. It led to the creation of England Athletics but are you happy with the way the sport has evolved?EA: The Foster review was well over a decade ago. We, of course, acknowledge that in the early years there were significant challenges, but those were a long time ago. The number of affiliated clubs and registered athletes in England has grown considerably in the past decade and the demography of the sport has changed, with more women than ever registering as athletes and the off-track community contributing significantly to overall growth.

We have consulted annually in one way or another since 2012 and we are happy that from a governance perspective, the structure of the sport is the right one and our relationships with members and our many partners are as strong as they have ever been. We are in the process of working with our regional councils on refreshing their role and to support them in adopting their primary role as our communication and

consultative vehicle with our sport across the country and adopting best practice in terms of the sport governance code.

As the membership and development body for athletics and running, EA works to secure resources to enable the development of the sport for member clubs and affiliated athletes and runners. We support affiliated clubs to prosper by developing more and better coaches and recruiting and supporting volunteers, leaders and officials. EA provides and supports competition opportunities at an international, national, area and county level.

AW: Can you clarify the funding situation with regards your Sport England grants?EA: We receive valuable funding from our partner Sport England, but our reliance on this has decreased year on year thanks to the support of our clubs and athletes and commercial partnerships with sponsors such as DW Fitness First. The funding from Sport England for the period 2017-2021 must be spent on the projects that Sport

England has agreed to fund, either as a whole or in part, and that these projects span all areas of activity including work on talent development and direct club support – not just to participation projects as has been posited in the past.

As a not for profit membership organisation, the sources of our overall annual income for the last year was broken down as follows: membership and registration 36%; Sport England 30%; other grant funding 8%; courses and workshops 14%; road race licencing 6%; commercial partnerships 3%; event/competition income 1%; other income 2%.

Our total expenditure, at a headline level during the year 2017-18 was as follows: club support – £2.76m; coach and athlete development – £1.90m; competition and events – £0.97m; overhead and support costs - £0.78m; communication and business development - £0.53m; membership and affiliation - £0.50m.

n A full version of this Q&A is at athleticsweekly.com

ENGLAND ATHLETICS’ VIEW ON THE AREA BODIES

EA OUTLINES ITS STRATEGY AND RELATIONSHIP WITH ITS THREE AREA BODIES

ENGLAND Athletics says: “We have provided grants to each of the areas during the past decade and that investment has totalled over £1m.

“Area competition is an important element of the competition pathway, but is one set of competitions among many, although many people still incorrectly believe the areas have wider remits than they in fact do. Their responsibilities begin and end with the provision of area championship meetings for track and field, cross country and road.

“So their output comprises outdoor and indoor senior and age group track and field championships, plus cross country championships and two sets of road relays.

“In each area, the off-track events generally generate a small surplus and

the track and field championships a small deficit. The grants EA has made to them have largely been used to pay for a small core staff and office overheads.

“In line with our own review of practice as a result of reduction in income, we have encouraged each area to seek efficiencies and to find new ways to generate the revenue they need. All parties agree that in an ideal world the areas would, like other competition providers in the UK, be self-sufficient. We certainly support that aspiration.

“At the same time, we have never said that we won’t fund them at all, just that with our own income streams working on four-year cycles, we cannot commit in writing to specific figures or to long term agreements.

“In the case of Northern Athletics, EA

fully supports their right as a competition provider to charge what they see fit and to initiate a registration scheme if they feel that is in the best interests of the sport. While there are undoubtedly others out there who would be happy to stage the meetings if Northern Athletics could not, we recognise their heritage and their position of the provider of championship competition in the north.

“We did offer to help shape their scheme and to work together in ensuring alignment with the national scheme. However, NA chose, as is their right, to proceed with their own approach.

“Our biggest concern about the scheme as it currently stands is that it prevents athletes born and raised and resident in the North but who are

members of midlands, southern or Scottish/Welsh clubs from competing. Such athletes number over 150 (of those that have competed in recent years) and they have no access to area competition of any sort.

“Also of concern is that only 60% of northern clubs have signed up to the scheme, which means that participation in these events will be limited. We are due to speak to Northern Athletics about this imminently.

“We have already started to discuss grants for 2019 with both MCAA and SEAA. Following positive discussions with both organisations in recent weeks we are looking forward to continued partnership working. We particularly welcome SEAA’s recent strategy and the aspirations outlined within it.”




TONY WOOD, CHAIR OF NORTHERN ATHLETICS, EXPLAINS WHY AN AFFILIATION FEE IN HIS AREA HAS BEEN SUCH A SUCCESSAthletics Weekly: As chair of Northern Athletics you must be really pleased with the way the clubs in your area have embraced the affiliation fee?Tony Wood: All of us at Northern Athletics and those connected to us are incredibly pleased with the response we have had from the 178 clubs who have now joined the affiliation scheme and paid the annual fee. We thank them for their resolve and commitment. We have had to take the introduction into this scheme slowly and carefully, engaging with the clubs and ensuring that we had their support before finalising its terms. Those clubs that committed to us are ensuring that we can continue long term.

AW: Around 178 clubs have affiliated already but how many have not?TW: There are over 400 clubs affiliated to England Athletics in the North of England but what must be emphasised is that over 60% of the total number of registered athletes in the North of England have now been affiliated to our scheme through their clubs. Many of the

clubs who have not affiliated have never taken part in North of England Championship events, the great majority do not take part in track and field and some of those are relatively new clubs who only now are starting to engage with the rest of our sport. It is our job to try to encourage more clubs to join us over the course of the next 12 months.

AW: Is the position now as good as you could have imagined a year or so ago?TW: Yes, it is even better than I could have imagined. When the clubs initially gave the go ahead for this at our Annual General Meeting in 2017 we had around 40 clubs who had given us the green light. By the time details of

the scheme had been disclosed in April of this year we had around 140 clubs committed. By the time the scheme had been implemented the figures had gone beyond 170 clubs and are increasing on a week to week basis. The income we have now received ensures our longer-term stability but of course we will have to factor in the possibility that we may not receive a grant from England Athletics. We hope we will, at least for the next two years, and we will continue to discuss with them that possibility.

AW: How important is this move to ensure the future health of Northern Athletics and its events?

TW: This move was absolutely necessary in order to ensure the future of Northern Athletics. Without this income from affiliation fees Northern Athletics would not have survived. We had been told that there were no commitments or guarantees of future funding from England Athletics and this left us in an extremely vulnerable position. We knew the funding was reducing year by year and like any good custodian of finances you have to make your decisions as early as possible to ensure that in time you are in a position to continue. We took that decision as soon as we knew that funding was at risk and being reduced and that decision has been completely justified by events.

THE NORTHERN AREAIS LEADING THE WAY

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Athletes in the North are happy to pay for improved competition



@athleticsweekly

AW: Apparently the Midland Counties has rejected a similar affiliation idea while the South of England is striving toward sustainability. What’s your message to those areas?TW: I am aware that with the election of Mike Winch as chairman of the South, that area is now considering introducing an affiliation scheme but it will be a matter for them to decide as to whether they wish to do so and how that scheme will work. The South of England is a large area and we hope that they can introduce a scheme that is very similar to ours so that we can continue to have a joint approach with them as to our futures. The situation in the Midlands may well be different with the demolition of their offices and the potential move to offices nearby. I cannot speak for the Midlands but would hope they would try to move in the same direction as the other two areas so that again we can continue to discuss matters on an inter-area basis with all three areas working on the same playing field.

AW: Does Northern Athletics have a view of the situation at UK Athletics and England Athletics with Niels de Vos leaving and chairman Richard Bowker seemingly in a precarious position?TW: We are obviously aware of the press speculation and we have gathered further information regarding the difficulties that UKA are having with the home countries. Our drive to ensure that Northern Athletics continues (through the agreed affiliation scheme) now takes on increased significance, since the UKA/EA situation introduces more concern regarding the funding of grass roots athletics.

The overriding position of the areas will be that the governing bodies should support us without question and grassroots athletics generally. There is much disquiet out there. They should support the clubs, the counties and the areas. We feel they are not doing that at present. There are huge amounts of money being spent by both UKA and England Athletics, in particular on wages and salaries.

Work in the main is carried out by the grass roots through volunteers who manage to keep our sport going and many of us at grassroots are extremely unhappy with money being paid to people who we feel have not made any difference at all to what is happening on the ground.

AW: We have heard rumours that Northern Athletics wants to break away completely. Is this true? TW: The word autonomous has been used on a regular basis through social media and the actions we have taken in terms of trying to ensure that we have complete independence financially will result in us being autonomous financially. This is indeed true.

During our 4-5 years of discussions with EA, we always confirmed our aim was to work in partnership with EA. We would ideally like to continue to work with our national governing body to ensure that the areas have more support both financially and otherwise and we have over the past few years tried to have an inter-area approach to the national governing bodies. During that time grant funding has reduced for us and suggestions that part of the EA athlete registration fee be routed to the areas has been rejected. As to whether

the national governing bodies change their policy towards the grass roots or not is a matter for them and for the future.

All of us at the clubs, counties and areas should be aware that unless the emphasis changes and more support, both financially and otherwise, is sent in our direction then it may be left to those on the ground to make decisions, possibly collectively to determine their own future.

AW: Athletes from the North of England continue to shine with athletes like Holly Bradshaw and Laura Weightman plus youngsters like Max Burgin amongst others are doing well in 2018. These performances must make you proud?TW: They make all of us in the North of England proud. They are all fantastic athletes and a credit to themselves. They have dedicated coaches and it is the athlete working with those coaches, many from the club system up here, that can make the difference. It is important that young athletes below the funding radar currently are considered for support. The money should be found to give them a lift at the right time.

In the North we provide competitive opportunities at area championships and

all the athletes that have excelled in the North in their time have competed in those championships, seeing it as a stepping stone to national and international competition. We are also trying to increase the number of area representative opportunities in track and field, cross country and on the road. It is encouraging that athletes are proud to represent the North and see selection for area representative teams as an important step on the ladder to continued success.

Our thanks go to team managers such as Rob Cameron and board member Steve Gaines for the work that they do with those teams over the course of the year.

AW: Finally, is there an end-of-year message you’d like to give to athletes, coaches, officials in the North?TW: Yes, I’d like to thank AW for giving me an opportunity to pass on my best wishes for 2019 to all our brilliant athletes, the coaches that work with them and of course our loyal officials who, week in and week out, ensure our championships can keep moving forward. The work we do at Northern Athletics is typical of the work that is being done on the ground throughout the country. Long may it continue.

UNLIKE the North of England and South of England, the Midland Counties is not rushing to bring in an affiliation scheme for athletes in its area. They have not ruled the idea out completely, though.

Geoff Durbin from the Midland Counties told AW: “Midland Counties is still considering its position and is aiming to have further discussions with England Athletics regarding future funding.

“The idea of an affiliation scheme has not been rejected, but our preference would be for this to be centrally coordinated.”

In a 2016 survey conducted by the Midland Counties, athletes voted overwhelmingly for a slice of the national affiliation fee to go to their area, whereas if funds needed to be raised in another way then 45% voted for an area affiliation fee with 35% for an increase in entry fees and 4% preferring fewer competitions.

MIDLANDS IN LIMBO



CHAIR OF THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND, MIKE WINCH, IS DETERMINED TO SECURE THE FUTURE HEALTH OF HIS AREAMIKE WINCH does not mince his words. UK Athletics and England Athletics have no strategy, in his view, whereas UKA especially have made “a muck-up of the whole thing”.

As an athlete, he won Commonwealth silver medals in the shot put in 1974 and 1982. As a coach, he has guided, among others, Britain’s greatest shot putter, Judy Oakes. As an administrator he is a former vice-president of UKA and is now chair of the South of England.

A long-time critic of the national governing bodies he says: “UK Athletics has not really done any kind of job in being the governing body. Things have gone from bad to worse.

“You’ve only got to look at the teams that clubs are trying to put out and you’ll see there aren’t that many senior athletes who have come through what can laughably be described as the UKA system. For a very long time I’ve been critical of them not producing any kind of strategy.”

For a long time the South of England had no formal written plan but two months ago it published a strategy document with four aims: to grow its competition programme, become more

financially sustainable, improve communication with partners and review how it supports its staff and volunteers.

Winch says the South of England has reviewed the results of a survey it did in 2016 and then “base a strategy on that so we can move forward in a sensible way”. He adds: “We clearly also talk to the Midlands and the North, who both have good ideas and average ideas and bad ideas, just like we do.”

On the goals of the strategy, he says: “It’s all very platitudinous but when you get

down to the nitty gritty, we are doing a fantastic job, as are the Midlands and the North in sustaining the bedrock of competition for the middle range of athletes – those who are aspiring to get to national level or beyond.”

On financial sustainability, Winch says the South of England is moving toward an area affiliation fee similar to the one in the North (News, p24). This has developed out of a frustration with what he feels is a lack of strategy and leadership from Birmingham.

“If I look at my own events, the throws, I’ve seen them (UKA and England Athletics) supporting them and not supporting them. I’ve seen them trying to do coaching and not doing coaching. I’ve seen them supporting what in effect is a completely useless coaching system and not supporting it. I’m seeing them trying to get officials in and then not worrying about it.

“Where is the strategy? What consultation have they done within the sport? I don’t mean consultation with themselves either, because they’re very good at talking to themselves.

“We know what people want. If I’m down the track on a Tuesday night and it’s pouring with rain, I want an indoor area! But where is the attempt to improve facilities? They seem to go from bad to worse and now they have this new project trying to get people to pay £4000 to get their track certified. It’s a disaster!”

He continues: “We need more coaches, more officials, more proper athletes – and by that I mean ones that are going to go on to compete as seniors. The drop-out rate is currently humungous.”

Related to this, he winces at the decline of athletics in schools. “It’s not taught in schools anymore. It used to be a bedrock of teacher training and sport in schools and it virtually has vanished. It’s only really the public schools that do athletics nowadays.

“There should be a seamless pathway from bottom to the


WINDS OF CHANGEBLOW IN THE SOUTH

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Mike Winch: former shot put international is now chair of the South of England and a critic of UKA

“OUR SPORT CAN’T BE ANY WORSE SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN ALL MAKE IT A BIT BETTER”



top – including competitions, a provision of facilities, coaches and officials, it’s the education side and finally at the very top the elite support services, which to be fair are absolutely brilliant – there’s no question about that – although having a good peak of the pyramid doesn’t mean to say the bottom hasn’t crumbled.”

But Winch does see some hope. “I’m actually really thankful for the World Cup to be honest because it was such a shambles and such a useless competition and so expensive to our sport that it’s actually brought people’s attention to the fact things aren’t right. It was a complete embarrassment and I don’t know how De Vos got away with it.”

UKA and England, he feels, are staffed by what he calls “generic managers” or “a group of people who are vaguely connected to sport have been brought into run a business”. He adds: “If I had a line of tick boxes in my report on the health of the sport, then none of them are ticked, with the exception

that the absolutely top end of the sport, which actually produces some results at that level, although they’re only the same kind of results that we had 10-15 years ago.”

The South of England’s savings mean it can survive about four years if funding from England Athletics stops. An area affiliation fee will also help. “We’ve been criticised by some for having money in the bank,” says Winch.

“Well, thank goodness we have! Because it looks as though we are set to have a pretty hefty deficit between what our competitions cost and what England are giving us directly. Rather than criticising us for keeping money in the bank, the sport should be thanking us because we can still run the competitions at a time when we’re arguing the toss with England Athletics.”

Ultimately, he says: “We’re not destroying the sport. We’re not breaking away. We’re looking after our own destiny. Our sport can’t be any worse so hopefully we can all make it a bit better.”

@athleticsweekly

UK ATHLETICS should be replaced with a body that simply looks after elite athletics, with the home nations given more power and funding to run their regions, says Mike Winch.

“Instead of UKA taking over England, we should have England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales getting rid of UK Athletics and replacing it with a ring-fenced structure that purely looks after the international competition arena,” says Winch. “Then we could get rid of UKA completely and funding could go through the home countries and we could have a pretty healthy sport.”

But he believes a large get-together should be arranged to decide the future of the sport. “Everyone (from area bodies to home nations to UKA) wants to rationalise it because they

realise a lot of money has been wasted,” he says. “So we should have a conference where everybody can have an input and see what we can do to improve the situation.”

Part of the current problem, he believes, stems from the Foster Report into the sport undertaken in 2004. It led to, among other things, the creation of England Athletics.

“Sir Andrew Foster was presented to the sport as an independent arbitrator to create a new structure but he was connected to UK Sport and Sport England and following their agenda,” says Winch, who was interviewed for the report at the time. “I felt he was not prepared to change the views he already had and the net result of the whole thing is the mess we’ve got now.”

A BETTER ROLE FOR UKA?

THE latest accounts, which cover up to March 31 this year and which were released last month, show a profi t after tax of £594,873 compared with a loss of £996,626 from 12 months previously.

It is worth noting, however, that on page two of the latest accounts it states: “The costs for the year also benefi ted from the release of £1.1m of excess accruals that had accumulated over previous years.”

This is money which has accrued for expenditure that is no longer required and is a common practice and has been properly disclosed.

However, if you were to look at 2018 without the benefi t of the accruals from previous years, the trading result for the year becomes a loss of around £505,000.

UKA’s cash in the bank stands at £11,274,445 compared to £13,499,401 at the end of March last year.

These latest accounts do not cover the events of summer 2018 but if, as has been speculated, the Athletics World Cup lost a seven-fi gure sum then a return to profi t seems unlikely in the accounts for March 2019.

How much did London 2017 boost finances?It’s hard to say. There are transactions related to these events noted in UKA’s accounts but there is no overall summary presented to allow readers to see the overall effect on the fi nances.

Development funding dropsThe accounts show a signifi cant drop in ‘Development, Governance

and Operations’ funding. That is, the area from which spending on the development of the sport comes. Spending in 2017 was £8,385,914 compared to £6,161,420 for 2018.

No income growth for 10 yearsTurnover is stagnant and, in real terms, is down over a lengthy period.

The March 2008 accounts show total income of £23.5m and total expenditure of £23.4m, whereas the latest March 2018 accounts show total income of £23.8m and total expenditure of £23.1m.

This shows that, despite Britain hosting the 2012 Olympics and 2017 IAAF World Championships in London, there has been no growth in income for 10 years.

The 2018 accounts also show former CEO Niels de Vos, who took over in 2007, received £338,168 remuneration including bonus and long-term incentive payments totalling £104,433.

Yet the 2018 accounts add: “The Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and that there are no material uncertainties that lead to signifi cant doubt upon the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.”

■ Accounts for UK Athletics Limited can be downloaded free via beta.companieshouse.gov.uk

MONEY TALKSUKA’S LATEST ACCOUNTS SHOW THE SPORT IS HARDLY THRIVING

UKA’s finances: turnover is stagnant

It’s not known if London 2017

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THAT there is dissatisfaction among the home nations is well known. AW understands the take it or leave it approach adopted by UK Athletics chairman Richard Bowker in his plans to streamline UKA and essentially absorb England Athletics is at the root of the current dissatisfaction ahead of what will be a crucial UKA members’ council meeting this week.

Scottish Athletics recently raised a few eyebrows when revealing a desire to explore the idea of competing independently at European level but, despite the apparently fragmenting landscape, chairman Ian Beattie insists there is a huge opportunity for the sport across Britain to work together as a whole.

“My view would be that the governance of athletics in the UK could be significantly improved,” he says. “I don’t think the structures we’ve got at the moment are very good.

“We’ve got a structure where UKA are the recognised governing body but don’t really have any formal relationship with any of the home countries at all – and it’s difficult to see how that could ever work, really.

“At the moment, the UK Athletics board has no home countries representation or involvement. That has been discussed a lot over the years.

“I think if an independent person with a good knowledge of athletics came in and looked at it again with the view of ‘how do we take athletics forward for the next 10 to 15 years and make sure our sport flourishes?’ then you’d make a few changes.”

How might those changes look?

“I would like to see a body which oversaw athletics in the UK which was very much a strategic, high level body,” adds Beattie. “It would have representation from all the home countries, it would have independent directors and it would have an independent chair.

“It would be the organisation which would try and make sure the whole thing gelled and worked together.”

He adds: “In that context, I think there’s an argument over whether or not a UK Athletics is needed in that context. UK Athletics delivers

the performance programme, it does governance and it organises events. Maybe it is a strand to the whole thing but the name would be changed to UK high performance and events or something like that – something that gets away from this idea that it’s the top body which, at the moment, it isn’t.”

Beattie has been at the heart of the upturn in Scottish Athletics’ fortunes since his appointment in 2012 and the feelgood factor around the sport north of the border is unmistakeable.

“I don’t want to keep harking back to what we’ve done in Scotland but we’ve got a sport here where everyone’s got a bit of pride in being part of it,” he adds. “It’s an organisation where we’re all on the same page. If you look at Laura Muir, the number of people I’ve heard say ‘she’s one of ours’ – it’s a sign that we’re all part of the same thing and I don’t see that happening at UK level, which I think is a real shame. I think there’s an opportunity to do that.

“When I first came into the Scottish role, the first thing I said was that we need to all be working together. How do you do that? Through really honest communication. If you go into a bunker mentality, then how do you ever get people to build that trust?

“Explain the accounts, explain how selection decisions are made, explain how funding decisions are made because it’s important.

“People will accept that view if they are told and they understand the rationale. They might not agree but they are more likely to understand. That, to me, is absolutely fundamental as to how athletics in the UK should work.

“At the moment it seems to be them and us whereas I

feel we should all be part of this thing, we should

all be wanting it to be better, but that’s simply not happening.”


IT’S GOOD TO TALK ...SCOTTISH ATHLETICS CHAIR IAN BEATTIE SAYS THE SPORT’S ADMINISTRATORS MUST AVOID “A BUNKER MENTALITY”

Ian Beattie: wants more transparency

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Laura Muir: part of the Scottish Athletics success story


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Untitled-4 1 16/11/2018 16:39

THE seafront Grimaldi Forum in Monaco welcomed many stars of the sport

last week to celebrate athletics success during the past 12 months.

World record-breaker Eliud Kipchoge and jumps star Caterine Ibargüen were named the world athletes of the year at the IAAF awards, after their triumphs which included an incredible 2:01:39 marathon mark by Kenya’s Kipchoge in Berlin and numerous victories in both the long jump and triple jump by Colombia’s Ibargüen.

Sweden’s world under-20 pole vault record-breaker Armand Duplantis and USA’s 400m hurdles world leader Sydney McLaughlin claimed rising stars honours, while US distance running coach Joe Vigil received the coaching achievement award.

Evelyn Claudio Lopez, who has been dedicated to promoting women’s athletics, gained the woman of the year honour and Andreas Brugger, who helped to make Zurich’s Weltklasse one of the most prestigious meetings in the world, was named winner of the IAAF president’s award.


NEWS NEWS FOCUS: IAAF AWARDS

CELEBRATING SUCCESS

Top prize: Eliud Kipchoge receives his award from IAAF president Seb Coe and Prince Albert of Monaco

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Caterine Ibargüen: female world athlete of the year

AW Dec 13 News Focus IAAF 38-39.indd 2 10/12/2018 12:30


@athleticsweekly

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CELEBRATING SUCCESS ELIUD KIPCHOGE AND CATERINE IBARGÜEN WIN IAAF WORLD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARDS

IAAF awardsMale world athlete of the year: Eliud KipchogeFemale world athlete of the year: Caterine IbargüenMale rising star: Armand DuplantisFemale rising star: Sydney McLaughlinIAAF president’s award: Andreas BruggerCoaching achievement award: Joe VigilWoman of the year award: Evelyn Claudio LopezAthletics photograph of the year: Felix Sanchez Arrazola for his image of a mud-splattered Selemon Barega at the Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza in Elgoibar

Rising star: Armand Duplantis (left) with world record-holder Renaud Lavillenie

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Evelyn Claudio Lopez

AW Dec 13 News Focus IAAF 38-39.indd 3 10/12/2018 12:31

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KIPCHOGE lost his second marathon in Berlin in 2013 in 2:04:05, but over the last five years the Kenyan has produced one fantastic marathon after another.

He brought tremendous speed to the event – a 3:50.40 mile, a 7:27.66 3000m and a 12:46.53 5000m and won a world title at the latter but it is over 26.2 miles that he has found his true calling.

After that loss five years ago, he has looked unbeatable.

In 2014, he won in Rotterdam (2:05:00) and Chicago (2:04:11). In 2015 his wins were in London (2:04:42) and Berlin (2:04:00) and in 2016 at London (2:03:05) and Rio (2:08:44) – the latter gave him Olympic gold by well over a minute.


STATISTICS EVENT HORIZONS

MARATHON STAR: ELIUD KIPCHOGE

Best world record: Abebe Bikila (ETH) – 2:12:11.2ABEBE BIKILA was an unknown when he won the 1960 Olympics and his 2:15:16.2 took eight tenths of a second off the world best. Three years later Toru Terasawa took off four tenths of a second of Bikila’s record.

The next two marks were set on the Windsor to Chiswick course but in the 1964 Olympics, Bikila got his record back in style.

The early pace was fast with 10,000m record-

holder Ron Clarke leading. The second half though was all Bikila and he went further and further away and won by an astonishing four minutes and took nearly two minutes off Basil Heatley’s world record. The Briton won the silver in a sprint finish.

Bikila then gained even more notoriety at the finish by doing exercises as he waited for the other finishers.Result: 1 Abebe Bikila (ETH) 2:12:11.2; 2 Basil Heatley (GBR) 2:16:19.2; 3 Kokichi Tsuburaya (JPN) 2:16:22.8; 4 Brian Kilby (GBR) 2:17:02.4; 5 Jozsef Suto (HUN) 2:17:55.8; 6 Leonard Edelen (USA) 2;18:12.4; 7 Aurele Vandendriessche (BEL) 2:18:42.6; 8 Kenji Kimihara (JPN) 2:19:49; 9 Ron Clarke (AUS) 2:20:26.8; 10 Demessie Wolde (ETH) 2:21:25.2

Eliud Kipchoge: world record-holder and

Olympic champion

In 2017, he first ran a paced 2:00:25 non-race effort in Monza and then won in

Berlin (2:03:32).In 2018 he won in

London (2:04:17) and then in Berlin (2:01:39) he smashed the world record.

THE LATEST INSTALMENT OF OUR STATS SERIES TAKES A LOOK AT THE CLASSIC 26.2-MILE DISTANCE WORDS: STEVE SMYTHE PICTURES: MARK SHEARMAN

THE marathon was first run in the Olympics in 1896 though the distance of 26 miles and 385 yards (42.195 kilometres) was

not standardised until the 1908 Olympics in London. Ethiopia is the most successful men’s nation with four gold medals. Kenya has won five men’s golds in the IAAF World Championships.

COMPLETE GUIDE TO MARATHON

List of championsOlympic (2016): Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) 2:08:44World (2017): Geoffrey Kirui (KEN) 2:08:27Europe: Koen Naert (BEL) 2:09:51Commonwealth: Michael Shelley (AUS) 2:16:45British Mo Farah (GBR/NEB) 2:06:21Scotland: Michael Wright (Shett) 2:29:19Wales: Russell Bentley (B&B) 2:29:41• 2018 unless stated

Abebe Bikila: twice Olympic champion and double record-breaker

AW Dec 13 Stats Series Marathon 42-45.indd 2 10/12/2018 12:32

World masters’ recordsThe late great Ed Whitlock dominates here as he does at 5000m and 10,000m with four records.M35 Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) 2:03:59 2008M40 Mark Kiptoo (KEN) 2:07:50 2018M45 Kjell-Erik Stahl (SWE) 2:15:51 1991M50 Titus Mamabolo (RSA) 2:19:29 1991M55 Piet van Alphen (NED) 2:25:56 1986M60 Yoshihisa Hosaka (JPN) 2:36:30 2009M65 Derek Turnbull (NZL) 2:41:57 1992M70 Ed Whitlock (CAN) 2:54:48 2004M75 Ed Whitlock (CAN) 3:04:54 2007M80 Ed Whitlock (CAN) 3:15:54 2011M85 Ed Whitlock (CAN) 3:56.38 2016M90 Ernest Van Leeuwen (USA) 6:46:34 2005

UK masters’ recordsWhile Mo Farah’s mark was set this year, many of the other records are from the 1980s and 1990s and have not been remotely challenged for some time.M35 Mo Farah 2:05:11 2018M40 Steve Way 2:15:16 2014M45 Don MacGregor 2:19:10 1984M50 Derek Lawson 2:24:58 1986M55 William McBrinn 2:34:24 1986M60 William McBrinn 2:46:26 1991M65 Hugh Currie 2:51:39 1990M70 John Keston 3:00:58 1996M75 John Keston 3:19:01 2002M80 Gordon Porteous 3:47:04 1995M85 Alf Gibson 5:48:09 1993

Best race: World Championships, Edmonton 2001THE organisers came up with the idea of staging the race in conjunction with the opening ceremony and it worked perfectly with the closest ever finish to a major championship marathon.

Trinidad’s Ronnie Holassie was the early leader and then London marathon winner Abdelkader El Mouaziz pushed on and went clear at 30km but he was caught on the hill. After two hours Olympic champion Gezahegne Abera surged and only Kenyan Simon Biwott could keep pace. They entered the stadium together and the Ethiopian kicked hard 200m out but Biwott responded and there was little between them at the finish with Abera getting the verdict by a second having covered the last 300m in 44 seconds.Result: 1 Gezahegne Abera (ETH) 2:12:42; 2 Simon Biwott (ETH) 2:12:43; 3 Stefano Baldini (ITA) 2:13:18; 4 Tesfaye Tola (ETH) 2:13:58; 5 Shigeru Aburaya (JPN) 2:14:07


@athleticsweekly

MARATHON

Recent world records2:12:00 Morio Shigematsu (JPN) Chiswick 19652:09:36.4 Derek Clayton (AUS) Fukuoka 19672:08:33.6 Derek Clayton (AUS) Antwerp 19692:08:18 Rob De Castella (AUS) Fukuoka 19812:08:05 Steve Jones (GBR) Chicago 19842:07:12 Carlos Lopes (POR) Rotterdam 19852:06:50 Belayneh Densimo (ETH) Rotterdam 19882:06:05 Ronaldo da Costa (BRA) Berlin 19982:05:42 Khalid Khannouchi (MAR) Chicago 19992:05:38 Khalid Khannouchi (USA) London 20022:04:55 Paul Tergat (KEN) Berlin 20032:03:59 Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) Berlin 20072:03:38 Patrick Makau (KEN) Berlin 20112:03:23 Wilson Kipsang (KEN) Berlin 20132:02:57 Dennis Kimetto (KEN) Berlin 20142:01:39 Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) Berlin 2018

Gezahegne Abera: Olympic and

world champion

Records listWorld/Commonwealth: Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) 2:01:39Olympic: Samuel Wanjiru (KEN) 2:06:32World CBP: Abel Kirui (KEN) 2:06:54Europe/British: Mo Farah (N&EB) 2:05:11

Doha 2019 predictionIT is unclear which runners will definitely target this race in the desert heat at the expense of a huge autumn pay day in Berlin, Chicago or elsewhere.

Our predictions are based on everyone being available which they certainly won’t be and might be more of a prediction for Tokyo 2020 where the best runners will be more likely to turn up.Winning time: 2:08:401 Eliud Kipchoge (KEN); 2 Mo Farah (GBR); 3 Leul Gebrselassie (ETH); 4 Mosinet Geremew (ETH); 5 Tola Shura (ETH); 6 Geoffrey Kirui (KEN); 7 Abel Kirui (KEN); 8 Galen Rupp (USA)

Ed Whitlock: dominates the older marathon records

Steve Way: UK M40 record-holder


THIS is far from clear-cut. There have only been nine Olympic gold medallists and no one has repeated. The only two double world champions, Edna Kiplagat and Catherine Ndereba, were not even the best of their era.


STATISTICS EVENT HORIZONS

THE small elite women’s field controversially had male pacemakers and they took Radcliffe through halfway in an unprecedented 68:02, well inside the schedule for the Briton’s 2:17:18, which was her mark from Chicago the previous autumn.

The halfway time may have been quick but Radcliffe was still full of running and looked in control throughout and with the last three miles in 5:03, 5:08 and 5:05 to complete an extraordinary 67:23 second half and looked so strong many think she would have run almost as fast pacemakers or not.

Despite former record-holder Catherine Ndereba being inside 2:20, she was almost five minutes adrift and over a mile behind Radcliffe, Deena Drossin set a US record.

The following year the second and third would repeat their positions in the Olympics as Radcliffe pulled out at 20 miles.

Fifteen years later no one else has broken 2:17.

MARATHON STAR: PAULA RADCLIFFE

Recent world records2:32:29.8 Grete Waitz (NOR) New York 19782:27:32.6 Grete Waitz (NOR) New York 19792:25:41.3 Grete Waitz (NOR) New York 19802:25:28.7 Grete Waitz (NOR) London 19832:22:43 Joan Benoit (USA) Boston 19832:21:06 Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR) London 19852:20:47 Tegla Loroupe (KEN) Rotterdam 19982:20:43 Tegla Loroupe (KEN) Berlin 19992:19:46 Naoko Takahashi (JPN) Berlin 20012:18:47 Catherine Ndereba (KEN) Chicago 20012:17:18 Paula Radcliffe (GBR) Chicago 20022:15:25 Paula Radcliffe (GBR) London 2003

THE first women’s Olympic marathon was in 1984 and the only countries with multiple golds are Japan and Ethiopia with two apiece. They have been in every IAAF World Championships and Kenya with four golds is the most successful nation.

The world champion with the best record against the clock is Paula Radcliffe.

Radcliffe would have surely won the 2004 Olympics but for injury in the build-up and is now better known for dropping out.

However, in 2005, she ran the fastest ever Championship marathon of 2:20:57 against a top-class field including defending world champion Catherine Ndereba and future Olympic champion Constantina Tomescu-Dita.

Curiously that marathon has largely been forgotten but her 2:15:25 in mixed company in London 2003 still stands unchallenged as the world record.

Radcliffe had earlier run the fastest debut in 2002 of 2:18:56 in London followed by a world record in Chicago of 2:17:42.

Her third London win in 2005 of 2:17:42 was a women-only world record.

Additionally, she won New York on three occasions with fast wins in 2:23:09, 2:23:10 and 2:23:56 – the latter coming a few months after injured, she had finished 23rd in the Beijing Olympics in 2008 at her second attempt at the distance.

Result: 1 Paula Radcliffe (GBR) 2:15:25; 2 Catherine Ndereba (KEN) 2:19:55; 3 Deena Drossin (USA) 2:21:16; 4 Susan Chepkemei (KEN) 2:23:12; 5 Ludmila Petrova (RUS) 2:23:14; 6 Constantina Dita (ROM) 2:23:43; 7 Jelena Prokupcuka (LAT) 2:24:01; 8 Elfenesh Alemu (ETH) 2:24:56; 9 Mihaela Prundus (ROU) 2:25:32; 10 Derartu Tulu (ETH) 2:26:33

Paula Radcliffe: three London and New York City wins, a world title

and world records

Best world record – 2:15:25 Paula Radcliffe (GBR) London, 2003

Paula Radcliffe: 2:15:25 remains

unchallenged



@athleticsweekly

List of championsOlympic (2016) Jemima Sumgong (KEN) 2:24:04World (2017) Rose Chelimo (BRN) 2:27:11Europe: Volha Mazuronak (BLR) 2:26:22Commonwealth Helalia Johannes (NAM) 2:32:40British Lily Partridge (AFD) 2:29:24Scotland Alison McGill (Fife) 3:02:35Wales Clara Evans (Card) 2:59:48• 2018 unless stated

Best race: World Championships, Beijing 2015 HEAT and high humidity meant a slow tactical race and halfway was reached in 75:16. The slow pace continued to after 20 miles when Mare Dibaba upped the pace and the pack was reduced to just six. A 33:48 10km up to 40km was two minutes up on all previous 10km splits and this brought the race to life.

As they approached the Bird’s Nest the double champion Edna Kiplagat, seeking her third successive gold, had dropped off but four entered the stadium virtually together before Dibaba kicked on the decline into the arena.

Dibaba kept pushing and first Jemima Sumgong and then Eunice Kirwa could no longer keep up in the tunnel but the Kenyan Helah Kiprop did, and as they entered the stadium with just 100m to go, Kiprop opened up her long legs and almost drew level with Dibaba but the Ethiopian, who is not related to namesakes Tirunesh and Genzebe, had another gear and kicked away to win by a

few metres which translated to a second.It was the closest major marathon in

history with just seven seconds covering the top four. Result: 1 Mare Dibaba (ETH) 2:27:35; 2 Helah Kiprop (KEN) 2:27:36; 3 Eunice Kirwa (BRN) 2:27:39; 4 Jemima Sumgong (KEN) 2:27:42; 5 Edna Kiplagat (KEN) 2:28:18; 6 Tigist Tufa (ETH) 2:29:12; 7 Mao Ito (JPN) 2:29:48; 8 Tirle Tsegaye (ETH) 2:30:54

Records listWorld/European/ Paula Radcliffe (GBR) 2:15:25Commonwealth/British Olympic Tiki Gelana (ETH) 2:23:07World CBP Paula Radcliffe (GBR) 2:20:57

World masters’ recordsBoth Tatyana Pozdnyakova and Yoko Nakano hold multiple records. As Lidia Cheromei only set the W40 record at the recent race in Valencia, it has still to be ratified.W35 Irina Mikitenko (GER) 2:19.19 2008W40 Lidia Cheromei (KEN) 2:22:11 2018W45 Tatyana Pozdnyakova (UKR) 2:29:00 2002W50 Tatyana Pozdnyakova (UKR) 2:31:05 2005W55 Rae Baymiller (USA) 2:52:14 1998W60 Claudine Marchadier (FRA) 3:02:50 2007W65 Emma Lüthi (SUI) 3:12:57 2009W70 Helga Miketta (GER) 3:35:29 2013W75 Yoko Nakano (JPN) 3:53:42 2012W80 Yoko Nakano (JPN) 4:11:45 2017W85 Betty Jean McHugh (CAN) 5:14:26 2012W90 Mavis Lindgren (USA) 8:53:08 1997

UK masters’ recordsThe three youngest records are all by athletes who finished high in the Olympics (Yamauchi, Welch and Smith) but it is Angela Copson who is the only multiple record-breaker. W35 Mara Yamauchi 2:23:12 2009W40 Priscilla Welch 2:26:51 1987 W45 Joyce Smith 2:32:48 1984W50 Jo Thompson 2:52:33 2010 (chip 2:52:30)W55 Angharad Mair 2:55:03 2017 (chip 2:54:49) W60 Angela Copson 3:15:18 2009 (chip 3:14:50)W65 Angela Copson 3:19:05 2013 (chip 3:17:10)W70 Angela Copson 3:36:30 2017 (chip 3:35:11)W75 Jackie Jenkins 4:01:24 2018 (chip 3:57:21)W80 Joyce Archibold 5:05:45 2016 (chip 5:02:47)W85 Iva Barr 6:41:29 2013 (chip 6:37:57)W90 Jenny Wood-Allen 11:34:00 2002

Doha 2019 predictionAs with the men, it is guesswork working out which athlete wants to run and also how the Kenyan and Ethiopian selectors decide on whom to pick. Based on her New York City victory,

Mary Keitany starts marginal favourite should she choose to compete.Winning time: 2:26:451 Mary Keitany (KEN); 2 Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN); 3 Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH); 4 Gladys Cherono (KEN); 5 Ruti Aga (ETH); 6 Birhane Dibaba (ETH); 7 Amy Cragg (USA); 8 Rose Chelimo (BRN)

Mare Dibaba: narrow win at Beijing

Mara Yamauchi: the UK W35 record-setter

Irina Mikitenko: W35 world record


THE WINTER season is already well underway and most of the evening

training runs will have been done under street lighting. Of course, there is nothing wrong with that, it’s what everyone else does after all. However, this puts restrictions on where you can train and one of the downsides is of course monotony – it’s the same route day in day out.

Most people get a good holiday break at Christmas and whether you are at school, college or university it will allow some good free time to train when and where you want. If you are in employment, hopefully you’ll get some time off too, and for the ones who don’t, just keep focused and positive, another three months will see the nights getting lighter again.

For most though, Christmas is a great time for meeting with family and friends. It is also a time of over consumption along with many temptations. Too much food and dare I say it, the odd tipple and the over-riding factor of getting lazy with long lie-ins is never far away.

PlanningFor runners, you need a plan that you can stick to and you’ll benefit in the long run (no pun intended). However, before we look at planning, the time off not only allows you to change your monotonous training routes

but it gives the opportunity to meet up with fellow runners or even drive to a bucket-list location that normally may not have been considered. This may include, where applicable, sand dunes, woodland areas or just somewhere scenic that meets the criteria for a specific workout.

Depending upon when or what your next race is, be it a cross country championship, road race or even the indoor season, the daylight hours should allow you to train where you want. Importantly, it also allows you to move your training days around to fit in with things such as family visits. Instead of sticking to the traditional Sunday long run, consider another day that may work better.

The overriding factor to success throughout the year is dedication and this is even more applicable at Christmas. Make a decision at what time you will train and stick with it.

Mid-morning is always a good idea as that may influence what you may or may not eat and drink on the previous evening. Running in the morning also frees up the rest of the day for any social activities, unless of course you are a twice a day animal!

Extra trainingHaving some extra time to train can have a knock-on effect in that it allows you to get some

extra miles or reps done. However, be aware not to over-cook it so much that the chance of injury is heightened. Train hard by all means, but never neglect the recovery process. If you train once a day, the chance of having a proper rest after a session is so much easier and productive than when in a non-holiday period.

As Christmas is a time of over-indulgence, try to stick with a normal diet after the big day as gastro-intestinal maladies may get the better of you on that sixth rep or mile. If you get enough chocolates in your stocking to fill a supermarket shelf, why not put them out of reach so that every time you walk past them there isn’t a tendency to grab one, two, three or four.

Dried fruit and nuts are better nutrition, but go on, it’s Christmas, have a couple of chocolates. Just don’t scoff them all in one serving!

Finally, don’t forget to get out of the door on Christmas morning and get a few miles in. It’s amazing how much better you’ll feel and it may make that turkey and Christmas pudding digest that little bit better too.

■ David Lowes is a level 4 coach, athletics writer and photographer as well as BMC academy chair and event organiser

PERFORMANCE FESTIVE WORKOUTS


THE FESTIVE PERIOD GIVES ENDURANCE RUNNERS THE CHANCE TO GET READY FOR 2019, WRITES DAVID LOWES

Use the festive season totrain in new locations

CHRISTMASTRAINING

CHRISTMAS RUNNING■ Get organised in advance

■ Resist too many temptations

■ Stick to a normal diet after

Christmas Day

■ Use your holiday time off wisely

■ Explore different routes for

specifi c sessions

■ Meet up with other runners

■ Move usual session days around

to fi t in with any socialising

■ Try to go out mid-morning

■ Use the extra recovery

purposefully

■ Train well and make the most

of a relaxed lifestyle

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AW Dec 13 Performance 46-47.indd 2 10/12/2018 12:25


@athleticsweeklyFESTIVE WORKOUTS

SPRINTS, JUMPS AND THROWS TRAINING

NOW, I do know how us speed and power athletes like a night out. Don’t get me started on one of those ‘when I was an athlete’ stories. Or, more so now, one of my coaching stories. Okay, I will say that I’ve had athletes turn up worse for wear for training sessions over the festive period – and it’s not been the consequence of an extra plyometrics session!

So, as David Lowes says earlier in this article, you do need to be circumspect and not overdo it (food

or party-wise) over Christmas as the indoor season is right around the corner. But you should have fun and you can have this fun at training too.

My training group has our annual Christmas challenge session where we do some specific tests. These are serious in that they follow on from the others that we do periodically through the preceding autumn period and I hope (expect) to see progress. Tests here include 20m and 40m sprint efforts for example, but to these we will add some fun ones.

These are actually often fun to watch but not fun to do!

So, we’ve done a pull-up and press-up challenge or a ‘how long can you hold your legs out straight while hanging from a high bar’ challenge. Those are the Christmas presents I like to give to my athletes … but they get their own back by ‘making’ me do some of the challenges! A lot of banter flies around, making for even more fun.

In the past I have given out presents for the winners of our

Christmas challenge … and sometimes for the best performance of a group member across the year. It’s a nice way to end the year and so too can be the inclusion of a couple of games. These have ranged from football to basketball and even touch rugby, with no injuries sustained to date however one year we didn’t extend our invitation to some heavy throws athletes training nearby! Speaking of throwers, I’ve heard you like the odd drink or two over Christmas …

“DON’T FORGET TO GET OUT OF THE DOOR ON CHRISTMAS MORNING AND GET A FEW MILES IN. IT’S AMAZING HOW MUCH

BETTER YOU’LL FEEL AND IT MAY MAKE THAT TURKEY AND CHRISTMAS PUDDING

DIGEST THAT LITTLE BIT BETTER TOO”

LIKE YOUR ENDURANCE COUNTERPARTS YOU’LL BE ABLE TO CHANGE YOUR TRAINING TIMES AND EVEN ADD SOME GAMES INTO YOUR TRAINING EXPLAINS JOHN SHEPHERD


Inov-8 – ‘G Series’ Mudclaw G260Price: £140.00 Stockist: inov-8.comAt just one atom thick, graphene is the strongest material on the planet. Two-hundred times stronger than steel yet ultra light and amazing elastic it makes for an incredible innovation through its use in running shoes. It’s also rightly deserving of its selection for innovation of the year when you also consider the scientists that discovered it received the Nobel Prize in physics.

The potential for the material is limitless thanks to its low weight but incredible strength and in

years to come it could revolutionise the manufacture of things like aircraft and cars as well as the shoes we have here.

By combining traditional rubber with graphene, Inov-8 have created a sole that is 50% more durable, 50% stronger and 50% more elastic, so the shoe has better grip and will last longer.

The Mudclaw is an off-road racer and at 260g (average weight of the shoe across the size range) even with the aggressively deep outsole lugs it feels light on the foot and wraps it securely.

The newly-designed sole pattern complements the incorporation of fraphene and offers incredible level of traction, even wrapping the edges of

the shoe for confident foot placement regardless of contours.

PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS


THE AW TEAM SELECTS SOME OF BEST ITEMS OF THE YEARTOP GEAR

I N N O V A T I O N

A firm favourite, the Wave Rider is a great everyday training shoe that offers technical cushioning via its now familiar ‘Wave Plate’ in a lightweight package that suits any running pace.

Heavier runners will find it a great race day shoe, whilst many others will find it an everyday workhorse. Regardless it happily provides stable cushioning whatever your shape or size and speed of travel.

New Balance – Fresh Foam Hierro 3Price: £115.00Stockist: newbalance.co.ukWhen deciding to take part in the Half Marathon Des Sables, an event which requires carrying your kit, you need to choose a single

pair of shoes which you can fully put your trust in, as they need to serve you for several consecutive

days of running across some of the harshest terrain

imaginable.

We chose these as from the first run we tried in them they felt able to provide long-lasting cushioning and protection, making them perform for the demands of the event.

The ‘Fresh Foam’ cushioning and all-over Vibram outsole welcomes firm, rocky ground with as much ease as it does soft sand or mud. The cushioning soaked up the long distances day after day and on such terrain never once did we feel like the shoes weren’t giving anything except fantastic cushioning and protection.

The Vibram studs of the sole are well suited to firmer ground and offer excellent traction and protection on rocky and harsh stony terrain.

The upper has a bootie construction and keeps out debris and its ‘HypoSkin’ design allows it to move naturally with the foot for a close seamless and crease-free fit.

It’s a shoe that feels tough and well put together while at the same time being soft and luxurious around the foot,

making for a perfect blend for off-road running.

T R A I L S H O E

N E U T R A LC U S H I O N E D S H O E

Mizuno – Wave Rider 22Price: £125.00Stockist: mizuno.euIn the most competitive section of the market, the Wave Rider remains a reliable and high performing shoe that gently goes with the flow. Small tweaks each year mean it doesn’t alienate its loyal fans but manages to remain current and on trend with new developments.


Kilpi – Hurricane JacketPrice: £120.00Stockist: kilpi.co.uk

Waterproof jackets need to perform. They need to keep the rain and

the wind out but also retain breathability and if that wasn’t enough they also need to be light and durable. This jacket delivers on all fronts and most importantly it’s probably the best value jacket around that offers such high levels of protection. The ‘SIBERIUM’ fabric used in the jacket offers waterproof protection to the level of 30,000mm

of hydrostatic head. In short, more than enough to keep you dry in the rain and with a breathability rating of 35,000 MVTR, it’s exceptionally breathable for lasting comfort.

The seams are fully taped and a built-in hood ensures total protection. It is light too, with a men’s size medium weighing just 240g, and it’s also incredibly easy to store as part of a race’s essential item of kit list.

The jacket’s zips are also waterproof, so the pockets remain as dry as you do, further cementing this jacket in our gear of the year selection.

Brooks – GTS Adrenaline 19Price: £120.00Stockist: brooksrunning.comAlthough only launched in the last three weeks, we have been fortunate enough to have tried these shoes and managed to cover a couple of hundred miles in them.

Eagerly awaited by fans of the brand, the Adrenaline is one of the country’s most popular shoes and when it was announced that it was to radically change, runners waited anxiously to try the new model.

Promising a smoother and more natural method of controlling the foot’s gait and providing support, it features a new ‘guide rail’ system. These rails sit either side of the rear of the foot and guide it forward as it comes into contact with the ground rather than trying to control it once it’s landed. It works very well and most importantly, feels very natural with a smooth feel.

The cushioning has been updated and feels a little softer on initial impact but overall we like the nice balance between cushioning and responsiveness. The shoe feels as good on long steady runs as it does on faster, tempo efforts.

The upper feels fresh and of a high-quality construction and whilst an engineered mesh combined with 3D print gives the shoe clean

looking lines with a comfort level that feels welcoming from the very first time you

slide your foot in. It arrived late in the year but it’s a shoe deserving of

a place in this line-up.

@athleticsweeklyPRODUCTS


S U P P O R T S H O E

P E R F O R M A N C E S H O E

Saucony – Kinvara 10Price: £115.00Stockist: saucony.comNot just a candidate for gear of this year, but one of the best lightweight performance

shoes of the last decade!

The Kinvara celebrates its 10th edition and fans may well recognise the colour of this special celebration edition as it bears the same colourway as the original.

On its launch the Kinvara held a special place in the market place as it offered a

great blend of cushioning in such a lightweight package.

Perfect for racing any distance as well

as faster

paced training runs, the shoe is a great all-rounder.

This edition features the brand’s ‘Everun’ midsole for a more responsive feel that adds to its race day credentials.

The upper incorporates engineered mesh that provides a seamless fit around the foot with a tongue that’s held securely in place for a secure hold at any speed.

The heel lining benefits from a new design which incorporates a padded

feature that sits around the heel bone.

This firmly supports your foot offering a hug-like feel, hugging the foot.It’s a shoe worth celebrating and this edition is sure to be as popular as ever.

J A C K E T


INDOOR

DECEMBER 8LSAC INDOOR MEETING THE FIRST LSAC indoor meeting of the winter season saw heptathletes Jessica Taylor-Jemmett, Jo Rowland and Niamh Bailey in action in both the hurdles and the shot put, David Brown reports.

Taylor-Jemmett, a 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, produced an indoor PB shot of 12.92m and a 60m hurdles best effort of 8.80. Rowland, who has competed internationally for Britain in combined events, posted two lots of 9.12 60m hurdles times and a shot of 13.52m, her third best throw indoors.

Corby’s Bailey missed out on an indoor season’s best by seven centimetres, with 11.80m, but produced the best 60m hurdles time of the event with 8.78 being an indoor season’s best.

Other highlights from the event saw Jack Phipps, one of the top 10 leading pole vaulters, win with a 5.00m vault. However, he just missed out on a season’s best of 5.11m, as his third attempt at this height was so nearly successful. Jack Hatton was the best male hurdler with 8.05m, and UK School Games ambulant discus champion Lydia Church produced an indoor PB in the shot put with 10.80m.Men: 60: r1.3: 1 J Fairhurst (Charn, U17) 7.3. r1.6: 6 P Edwards (C&S, M55) 8.8. r2.1: 4 J Fairhurst (Charn, U17) 7.28. r2.6: 5 P Edwards (C&S, M55) 8.79. 60H: r1.1: 1 J Hatton (TVH) 8.09; 2 L Hunt (Norw) 8.58; 3 R Paoluzzi (B&A) 8.70. r1.2: 1 B Clarke (Worc) 8.76. r2.1: 1 J Hatton (TVH) 8.05; 2 D Milandu (Shef/Dearn) 8.32; 3 L Hunt (Norw) 8.68; 4 R Paoluzzi (B&A) 8.73; 5 B Clarke (Worc) 8.88. r2.2: 1 J Mitchell (SinA) 8.96. SP: 1 M Beatty (Lough S) 14.39. SP: 1 J Twiddle (KuH, M50) 12.57. SP: 1 A Williams (W Norf, U17) 13.37Mixed events: HJ: 1 O Thorner (Wells, U20) 1.90; 6 M Wood (Charn, U17W) 1.62. PV: 1 J Phipps (Bir) 5.00; 2 J Clark (Notts, U20) 4.45; 3 G Quayle (Nthn (IOM), U20) 4.35; 4 S Meyler (Bir) 4.05; 5 R Gray (Corn, W) 3.65; 5 N Hooper (Sutt, W) 3.65; 9 M Mudd (Lough S, U20W) 3.55; 12 L Michalowski (Charn, U17) 3.45; 13 A Haslam (Sale, U20W)

3.15. LJ: 1 T Alexanderson (Bir) 7.01; 2 J Hobson (Shef/Dearn) 6.91; 7 A Hodgson (Roth, W) 5.76; 10 A Pawlett (Stock H, U17W) 5.60U20: 60H: r1: 1 O Thorner (Wells) 8.74; 2 C Darkin-Price (Charn) 8.90. r2: 1 O Thorner (Wells) 8.65; 2 C Darkin-Price (Charn) 8.76M50: 60H: r1: 1 P Edwards (C&S, M55) 10.34. r2: 1 P Edwards (C&S, M55) 10.39M70: 60H: 1 T Wells (Corby) 11.06Women: 60: r1.1: 1 A Pawlett (Stock H, U17) 7.93; 3 A Williams-Hewitt (Hallam, U17) 8.09. r1.2: 1 J Winogrodzka (Bolt, U15) 8.19. r2.1: 1 A Pawlett (Stock H, U17) 7.97; 3 A Williams-Hewitt (Hallam, U17) 8.06; 5 J Winogrodzka (Bolt, U15) 8.19. 60H: r1.1: 1 A Hodgson (Roth) 8.80; 2 J Taylor-Jemmett (Sale) 8.80; 3 N Bailey (Corby) 8.84. r1.2: 1 J Rowland (Craw) 9.12. r2.1: 1 N Bailey (Corby) 8.78; 2 A Hodgson (Roth) 8.79; 3 J Taylor-Jemmett (Sale) 8.86. r2.2: 1 J Rowland (Craw) 9.12. SP: 1 J Rowland (Craw) 13.52; 2 J Taylor-Jemmett (Sale) 12.92; 3 N Bailey (Corby) 11.80; 5 L Church (Nene V, U20) 10.84U17: 60H: 1 A Pawlett (Stock H) 8.76. r1: 1 A Pawlett (Stock H) 8.76. SP: 1 E Misantoni (Stock H) 11.42

LEE VALLEY MINITHON, Lee ValleyU13 boys: 60: 1 K Taylor (E&H) 8.28; 2 E Franklin (NEB) 8.33; 3 E Nwokeji (SB) 8.37; 4 M Ayling (W Suff) 8.53; 5 J Stone (Padd W) 8.54. 200: 1 K Taylor (E&H) 26.92U13 girls: 60: 1 S Morgan (R&N) 8.37; 2 K Wilson (NEB) 8.49; 3 D Iyekekpolor (Houns) 8.71; 4 D Omonijo (WSEH) 8.72; 5 A Thomas (R&N) 8.74; 6 N Anthony (Lon Sch) 8.77; 7 C Acquah (NEB) 8.79. 200: 1 K Wilson (NEB) 28.23; 2 S Morgan (R&N) 28.42. 60H: 1 I Mardle (Norw) 9.56; 2 A Cockburn (B&B) 10.48; 3 A Thomas (R&N) 10.53; 4 E Lacey (Ton) 10.55; 5 G Dean (Gt Yar) 10.96. HJ: 1 M Ratcliff (Buck Sch) 1.50; 2 I Mardle (Norw) 1.40. LJ: 1 I Mardle (Norw) 4.54

DECEMBER 5MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY OPEN STUDENT CHAMPIONSHIPS, Lee ValleyMen: 60: 1 B Mingeli (Oakl Coll, U20) 6.85; 2 B Wright (Lewes, U20) 6.98; 3 J Gill (University of Chichester) 6.98; 4 R Miller (Oakl Coll) 6.98; 5 E Wiltshire (Oakl Coll, U20) 7.06. SF1: 1 B Mingeli (Oakl Coll, U20) 6.92; 3 B Smith (BRIT, U20) 7.10. SF2: 1 B Wright (LEWI, U20) 6.99; 2 E Wiltshire (Oakl Coll, U20) 7.06; 4 J Mayingi (Hert, U20) 7.18. SF3: 2 J Hanson (Oakl Coll, U20) 7.09; 3 L Richards (Oakl Coll, U20) 7.11. Ht2: 1 E Wiltshire (Oakl Coll, U20) 7.09. Ht3: 1 J Mayingi (Hert, U20) 7.13; 2 J Hanson (Oakl Coll, U20) 7.14. Ht4: 1 B Wright (Lewe, U20) 7.02. Ht5: 1 B Mingeli (Oakl Coll, U20) 7.00; 2 B Smith (BRIT, U20) 7.16. Ht6: 1 L Richards (Oakl Coll, U20) 7.11. 400: B: 1 J Higgins (Itchen College, U20) 49.93. 800: r3: 1 T Eames (BH & Sussex 6th F, U20) 1:57.26. 3000: r2: 1 D Neary (BRIT) 8:36.61; 2 Z Mahamed (Itchen College, U20) 8:39.54; 4 T Tarragano (BH&Suss 6thFC, U20) 8:51.42. HJ: 1 H Rienecker-Found (BH&Suss 6thFC, U20) 2.02. SP: 1 J Watson (University of Brighton) 15.69; 2 L Mascarenhas (St Marys University) 14.59; 3 A Knight (Itchen College) 14.13; 4 B Hawkes (Worthing College, U20) 13.47

Mixed events: PV: 2 H Griffin (Reigate GS, U20W) 2.90Women: 60: A: 1 L Owusu-Junior (Oakl Coll, U20) 7.73; 2 C O’Reilly (Ports Uni, U20) 7.95. Ht3: 1 L Owusu-Junior (Oakl Coll, U20) 7.83. Ht5:1 C O’Reilly (Ports Uni, U20) 8.05. 3000: 1 I Rodriguez (University of East Anglia) 10:14.70. 4x200: r1: 1 SGS College 1:51.49. LJ: 1 A Scott (Peter Symonds College, U20) 5.64; 2 J Blundell (SGS College, U20) 5.37. SP: 1 S Vincent (Peter Symonds College, U20) 13.87; 2 A Scott (Peter Symonds College, U20) 13.68; 3 E Hodgson (Itchen College, U20) 11.63

DECEMBER 2SALE HARRIERS OPEN SERIES, SportcityU17 mixed events: HJ: 5 T Brown (Sale, U13W) 1.40Mixed events: 60: r1.1: 1 D Walsh (Gate) 6.84; 2 K Metzger (Sale) 6.91; 3 C Meakin (Warr) 7.00. r1.2: 1 H Nwoke (Liv H, U17) 7.05; 3 O Herring (Gate, U20) 7.18; 4 B Basten (C&N, U17) 7.25. r1.3: 1 Y Pawer (Scunthorpe AC, W) 7.53. r1.4: 1 E Williams (Wrex, U17) 7.27. r1.5: 4 K Chadwick (Sale, U20W) 7.86. r1.6: 3 L Turner (Gate, W) 7.85; 4 L Lewis (S’port W, U20W) 7.99. r1.7: 1 M Jones (Col B, U20W) 7.83; 2 C Agwu (Salf M, W35) 8.19; 4 T Milward (N Masters, W40) 8.56. r1.9: 1 L Golding (Pend, M50) 8.21; 3 H Hopkins (Worc, M60) 8.98; 4 M Smith (S’port W, W40) 9.03. r1.11: 1 B Wallace (Wirr, U17) 7.48. r1.12: 1 R Wilson (Barr, U17) 7.29; 2 M Houlden (Stockport Harriers & Ac, U17) 7.43; 3 C Brassington-Meehan (Worc, U17) 7.43. r1.14: 1 S Walton (Horw, U17W) 7.72; 2 T Taylor (Traff, U15W) 7.75. r1.15: 1 J Lively (NSP, U17W) 8.13. r1.18: 1 N Pickavance (Wirr, U15W) 8.26. r1.19: 2 T Brown (Sale, U13W) 8.75. r1.21: 2 H Hopkins (Worc, M60) 8.76. r2.1: 1 D Walsh (Gate) 6.85; 2 H Nwoke (Liv H, U17) 7.00. r2.2:1 E Williams (Wrex, U17) 7.30; 2 M Houlden (Stockport Harriers & Ac, U17) 7.40; 3 C Brassington-Meehan (Worc, U17) 7.47. r2.4: 2 L Turner (Gate, W) 7.97. r2.5: 3 M Smith (S’port W, W40) 9.03. 300: r9: 1 L Sidebotham (Liv H, U15) 38.81. 600: r1: 1 D Higham (Liv PS) 1:22.91; 2 J Morrison (W Ches, U20) 1:23.29; 3 T Oladiti (Sale, U20) 1:25.86. r2: 4 L Kidukula (Sale, U17W) 1:35.18. r4: 1 L Taylor (Liv H, U17W) 1:41.12. HJ: 1 S Conwell (Sale Harriers Manchester, U20) 1.95; 2 A Thomas (Sale, U17) 1.90. LJ: B: 1 D Walsh (Gate) 6.86; 2 H Bell (Edin) 6.83; 3 E Barbour (Amber) 6.83; 7 H Perrin (Traff, W) 5.60; 8 E Gargan (Gate, W) 5.58; 10 K Chadwick (Sale, U20W) 5.32

Men: 60H: 1 M Lee (Harrow) 6.44; 2 H Bell (Edin) 8.51; 3 A Murphy (Kilb) 8.62; 4 A Davies (Donc) 8.75. PV: B: 1 A Murphy (Kilb) 4.60U20: 60H: 1 O Herring (Gate) 8.51; 2 E Coles (Prest) 8.61U17: 60H: 1 D Pedro (G Man Sch) 8.58U15: 60H: 1 J Riley (B’burn) 9.29Women: 60H: 1 L Turner (Gate) 8.65U17: 60H: r1.1: 1 S Dragisic Wood (Sale) 9.45U15: 60H: r1.1: 1 J Winogrodzka (Bolt) 9.11; 2 G Donald (C&N) 9.30; 3 H Mason (Sale) 9.44; 4 P Johnson (Bolt) 9.79

WINDSOR, SLOUGH, ETON & HOUNSLOW AC WINTER SERIES, EtonMixed events: 60: r1.1: 1 J Phipps (Bir) 6.90; 3 C Joseph (BMH, U20) 7.14. r1.2: 2 E Ijeomah (WSEH, U17) 7.38; 5 S Over (AFD, U15) 7.67. r1.3: 4 M Henley (IoW, U17) 7.48. r1.4: 1 K Aubrey (W’borne, U17) 7.39. r1.5: 1 M Gondwe (Win, U17) 7.46; 2 H Mzee (Read, U15) 7.56; 3 T Leo-Stroud (Swin, U15) 7.56. r1.6: 1 L Baker (Newb, U17) 7.46. r1.7: 4 R Cooper (SW Vets, M50) 8.08. r1.8: 3 R Wheeler (Poole, M50) 8.27; 4 N Groocock (Havant, M55) 8.34. r1.9: 2 L Williams (WSEH, U15W) 8.22; 3 D Pearson (W’borne, M50) 8.23. r1.12: 1 R White (Herts P, U13) 8.43. r1.15: 2 L Pitts (Newb, W50) 9.51. r2.1: 1 J Phipps (Bir) 6.69. r2.2: 3 K Aubrey (W’borne, U17) 7.40. r2.3: 1 M Gondwe (Win, U17) 7.35; 2 M Henley (IoW, U17) 7.39. r2.4: 3 T Leo-Stroud (Swin, U15) 7.62. r2.6: 1 S Over (AFD, U15) 7.69; 5 R Cooper (SW Vets, M50) 8.27. r2.7: 1 D Pearson (W’borne, M50) 8.15; 3 L Williams (WSEH, U15W) 8.26; 4 R Wheeler (Poole, M50) 8.32; 5 N Groocock (Havant, M55) 8.55. r2.8: 3 R White (Herts P, U13) 8.57. r2.12: 1 L Pitts (Newb, W50) 9.37. TJ: 1 D Aneju (Radley, U17) 13.07; 4 A Warre (Swin, U15W) 10.80Men: 60H: r1.1: 1 C Joseph (BMH, U20) 8.76; 2 J Phipps (Bir) 8.85. r1.2: 1 R Bonifas (BMH) 8.61. r2.1: 1 J Phipps (Bir) 8.63; 2 C Joseph (BMH, U20) 8.87; 3 D Awde (Woking) 8.98. r2.2: 1 R Bonifas (BMH) 8.52. 60H: r1: 1 A Booth (Poole, U20) 8.63. r2: 3 A Booth (Poole, U20) 8.68. 60H: r1: 1 M Louise (WSEH, M35) 8.73. r2: 1 M Louise (WSEH, M35) 8.54U17: 60H: r1: 1 J Alexander (Card) 8.60; 2 M Ogunbanjo (Hill) 8.80. SP: 1 K Aubrey (W’borne) 12.11; 2 C Finnex (Crawley) 12.06U15: 60H: r1: 1 S Ball (Read) 9.12. r2: 1 S Ball (Read) 9.11Women: 60H: r1: 1 I Breeden (Card, U20) 9.21. r2: 1 I Breeden (Card, U20) 9.14

INDOORRESULTS

Steve Smythe, results editor

EURO CROSSI ENJOYED watching the Europeans, however there were two elements I questioned.

I know three to score means more teams will enter (which is clearly what the organisers want) but that is too few to adjudge who is the best team.

Too often the team race was almost decided by those battling for individual glory rather than the traditional battle being decided by scorers further back. Six to score is better than three.

I also question the necessity for under-23s. The best under-23s should be ready to take on seniors. Jakob Ingebrigtsen already is and he is not even in that age group yet!

Having an under-23 race dilutes the quality of the senior race. If the idea is to give athletes not quite ready to take on seniors an opportunity then why not have a B race, which can be made up mostly of younger runners but it is clear it is not full championships status?

You could argue there is more need for under-23 events at world level than there is at European level but only for Europeans!

An under-23 race in the worlds would just be dominated by African nations – probably by runners who are already clocking incredible times and by ones that are probably 25 years old plus!


DA

VID

HE

WITS

ON

UK Marathon leaders – 2018MEN WOMEN

2:16:09 Josh Griffiths U35 2:29:24 Lily Partridge2:05:11 Mo Farah V35 2:35:12 Helen Davies2:22:43 Stuart Hawkes V40 2:41:36 Julie Briscoe2:29:08 Steve Bateson V45 2:52:39 Annabel Granger2:36:35 Graham Green V50 2:55:14 Julie Warner2:38:52 Nigel Rackham V55 3:09:29 Susanna Harrison2:54:28 John Foss V60 3:16:08 Vicki Perry3:13:25 Dave Cartwright V65 3:22:52 Caroline Horder3:22:55 Dave Winch V70 3:44:08 Jane Davies3:46:39 John Gardener V75 4:07:01 Jackie Jenkins5:13:30 Harry Newton V80 6:47:54 Eileen Noble

Jessica Taylor-

Jemmett: PB form indoors

AW Dec 13 Results 50-51.indd 2 11/12/2018 12:54


facebook.com/athleticsweeklyINDOOR / OVERSEAS

DUBIOUS 2:04 UAE MARATHON FOR KENYAN KIPSEREMOVERSEAS

UAEAbu Dhabi, December 7IN THE first ever running of this event, Kenya’s Marius Kipserem moved to fourth on the 2018 world lists and was only a few seconds down on second and third Ethiopians Mosinet Geremew (2:04:00) and Leul Gebreselassie (2:04:02) with his 2:04:04 PB.

However, doubt has been raised about the course measurement with a 13:55 5km split suggesting one section was short.

After a promising 29:34 opening 10km, the pace slowed to 62:34 at halfway. At 30km in 88:42, it became a battle between the Kenyans Kipserem and Abraham Kiptum and, courtesy of a swift 61:30 second half, Kipserem forged clear in the closing stages.

Kipserem said: “I feel very good and happy because I set a PB. The route was perfect and it was great weather.”

Running in his first race since setting a world half marathon record-holder of 58:18, Kiptum also smashed his PB with 2:04:16.

Around a kilometre back in third was Ethiopia’s Dejena Debela (2:07:06).

Ethiopia’s Ababel Yeshaneh won the women’s race in 2:20:16 with even splits of 70:13 and 70:03. This gave her an astonishing 13-minute PB.

Bahrain’s Eunice Chumba (2:20:54) and Ethiopia’s former track star Gelete Burka (2:24:07) completed the top three.Men: Mar: 1 M Kipserem (KEN) 2:04:04; 2 A Kiptum (KEN) 2:04:16; 3 D Debela (ETH) 2:07:06; 4 T Rono (KEN) 2:07:12; 5 S Biwott (KEN) 2:09:18; 8 E Mutai (KEN) 2:12:38. 10km: 1 R Kipkorir Kimunyan (KEN) 28:21. Women: Mar: 1 A Yeshaneh (ETH) 2:20:16; 2 E Chumba (BRN) 2:20:54; 3 G Burka (ETH) 2:24:07; 4 C Tafa (ETH) 2:25:09; 5 C Kilel (KEN) 2:29:14. Women:

10km: 1 A Ejigu (ETH) 32:40. HM: 1 KATY HALLSIDE (W40) 86:00; 5 DEBBIE POWELL (W45) 92:34; 38 JULIE BASS (W60) 1:47:05

AUSTRALIAAV Shield, Melbourne, December 1Men: 5000: 1 NICK EARL 15:01.5

BARBADOSBridgetown, December 9Women: HM: 1 SARAH INGLIS 84:36

CHINAGuangzhou, December 9Men: Mar: 1 M Zaini (MAR) 2:10:44; 2 G Shumie (ETH) 2:10:44; 3 B Derseh(ETH) 2:10:53. Women: Mar: 1 T Girma Getachew (ETH) 2:26:44; 2 .Z Debebe Getachew (ETH) 2:27:15; 3 S Kudzelich (BLR) 2:32:04

IRELANDRaheny, December 8Men: 20KW: 5 JONATHAN HOBBS 1:43:37. Women: 20KW: 2 HEATHER LEWIS 99:01

ITALYReggio Emilia, December 9Women: Mar: 10 BETHANY THOMPSON (W35) 3:05:46

JAPANYamaguchi, December 8SIX WOMEN bettered the IAAF 10,000m standard for next year’s World Championships, led by Minami Yamanouchi won in 31:16.48 to go second on the world lists.

She outkicked Kenya’s Grace Kimanzi, who clocked 31:17.28.Women: 10,000: 1 M Yamanouchi 31:16.48; 2 G Kimanzi (KEN) 31:17.28; 3 H Okamoto 31:28.20; 4 R Nabeshima 31:28.81; 5 S Yano 31:44.13; 6 Y Hori 31:48.93; 7 N Sekiya 31:50.17Saitama, December 9Women: Mar: 1 D Gosa (BRN) 2:25:35;

2 S Habtegebrel (BRN) 2:25:39; 3 S Kibet (KEN) 2:28:38; 4 M Imada 2:29:35

SINGAPORESingapore, December 9DESPITE 90% humidity there were near course records for Kenyans Joshua Kipkorir (2:12:20) and Priscah Cherono (2:32:12)Men: Mar: 1 J Kipkorir (KEN) 2:12:20; 2 F Kirwa (KEN) 2:13:43; 3 A Kimtai (KEN) 2:14:30. Women: Mar: 1 P Cherono (KEN) 2:32:12; 2 S Barsosio (KEN) 2:33:23; 3 J Jelagat (KEN) 2:35:38.

SPAINMálaga, December 9Men: HM: 2 ANTHONY JOHNSON 69:54; 3 EOIN HUGHES 70:53; 17 MICHAEL MOORE (M45) 79:00; 20 BRUCE SCOTT (M45) 79:19. Mar: 1 L Dumecha (ETH) 2:11:07; 16 CHRIS BIRD 2:31:20; 23 STEPHEN MARKS (M40) 2:36:00; 25 COLIN THOMAS 2:36:22; 32 M Lesniak (POL) 2:41:23; 39 STEPHEN POPE (M50) 2:43:35; 40 JOHN HOWELLS 2:43:44; 54 JIM MORRIS (M50) 2:47:33; 72 R Mielczarczyk (POL/M40) 2:49:51; 81 PETER NORRIS (M50) 2:50:43; 85 MARTIN COX (M45) 2:51:38; 86 PAUL GREGG (M50) 2:51:55. Women: Mar: 1 M Abebayehu (ETH) 2:32:20; 6 F Gyurkó (HUN) 2:42:29; 14 M Miaskiewicz (POL) 3:13:42; 30 PENNY SADLER (W45) 3:27:23Valencia (Addn), December 2Women: Mar: 88 SABRINA CROTHALL 3:08:48Laviana, December 8Men: 10km: 16 ROGER FARRINGTON (M55) 36:16.

SWITZERLANDSion, December 8Men: 7km: 1 R Akhmadeev (ANA) 19:32; 2 Y Kowal (FRA) 19:46; 3 T Daba (ETH) 19:59; 10 DANIEL STUDLEY 20:31. Women: 5km: 1 H Bekele (ETH)

15:29; 2 C Kosgei (KEN) 15:49; 3 M Jeronoh (KEN) 16:22

USAAlamosa, December 8Men: 5000: r1: 8 DANE BLOMQUIST 15:34.10Allendale, December 7Men: 300: 1 T Underwood 33.65Bethlehem, December 8Men: 60H: Ht1: 3 OSCAR JOPP (U20) 8.73. PV: 6 JOPP (U20) 4.25Cambridge, December 9Women: 60: 1 OLIVIA OKOLI (U20) 7.57. 60H: 1 LIVIA GAUNTLETT 8.50. LJ: 1 SIMI FAJEMISIN 5.71College Station, December 8Women: 60: r2: 5 EMILY WRIGHT 7.85Colorado Springs, December 7Women: 60: r1: 2 IMMANUELA ALIU (U20) 7.55. 300: r2: 2 ALIU (U20) 40.81Colorado Springs, December 8Men: 800: r1: 1 THOMAS STAINES 1:51.34Honolulu, December 8ED CHESEREK, a Flagstaff-based Kenyan, successfully defended his title with a race record 3:54.83 to win $4000 as teenager Leonard Bett was close behind in 3:54.89

The women, who were given a 26-second start, were caught not along after halfway as Merriam Cherop won in a course record 4:22.54 to successfully defend her title.Men: 1M: 1 E Cheserek (KEN) 3:54.83; 2 L Bett (U20) 3:54.89; 3 C Engels 3:59.94; 4 B Flanagan (CAN) 3:59.97; 5 N Willis (NZL) 4:00.78. Women: 1M: 1 M Cherop (KEN) 4:22.54; 2 S Osika 4:34; 3 A Ngetich 4:37.Iowa City, December 8Women: 60: 2 JAHISHA THOMAS 7.73. Ht2: 1 THOMAS 7.73New York, December 7Men: LJ: 15 JAC HOPKINS 7.28Newport News, December 9Women: 5000: 1 SHONA BLADES 17:38.50

Pittsburg, December 8HepI: 2 HARRY MASLEN 5191 (7.32, 6.96, 11.47, 1.89, 8.60, 4.25, 2:45.60)Princeton, December 8Men: LJ: B: 3 TEEPEE PRINCEWILL (U20) 6.99. TJ: 1 STEFAN AMOKWANDOH 14.70. Women: 300: r4: 1 ISABELLA HILDITCH (U20) 40.75Yale, December 8Men: 5000: r1: 2 WILLIAM NEW 15:40.67Philadelphia, November 25Men: HM: 10 BEN TOOMER 68:28.Brooklyn, November 22Men: 5M: 2 JORDAN O’DONOGHUE 26:50. Women: 5M: 2 JOELLE REEVES 31:17USATF National Club Cross-Country Champs, Spokane, December 8THERE were wins for Katie Mackey and 2016 Olympic 1500m finalist Ben Blankenship Men 10km XC: 1 B Blankenship 29:21; 2 H Bor 29:27; 3 R Mahalsky 29:28; 47 ANDREW LEMONCELLO 30:54; 66 GILBERT GRUNDY 31:20. TEAM: 1 Tinman Elite; 2 Brooks Beasts. Women: 6km: 1 K Mackey 19:35; 2 A Blaney 19:41; 3 M Lawrence 19:43; 8 E Bates 19:56. TEAM: 1 Nomad 71; Hanson’s-Brooks Distance Project 74; 3 Idaho Distance Project 91Youngstown, December 7Men: 400: 1 M Pringle 46.14New York, December 7Men: 15km: 14 JAMES KELLY 49:05; 18 RYAN PROUT 50:16; 28 JORDAN O’DONOGHUE 51:23. Women 15km: 8 ZOE MACDONALD 57:13Honolulu, December 9Men: Mar: 1 T Ekiru (KEN) 2:09:01; 2 R Kiprop Kerio (KEN) 2:12:59; 3 V Yator (KEN) 2:15:31; 5 D Cabral (USA) 2:19:16. Women: Mar: 1 V Kiplagat (KEN) 2:36:22Dakota Classic, Fargo, December 7Women: WT: 1 AMY HERRINGTON 17.29

U17: 60H: r1: 1 E Manning (AFD) 9.13; 2 I Walton (AFD) 9.42. r2: 2 Manning 9.23; 3 Walton 9.36; 4 E Fidgett (AFD) 9.48U15: 60H: r1: 1 N Reddyhough (Brack) 9.74

DECEMBER 1NORTHERN ATHLETICS OPEN, SheffieldU15 mixed events: 60: r1: 2 A Jones (Donc, U15W) 7.91; 5 D Garbutt (Darl, U15W) 8.14; 6 N Kihuyu (Hallam, U15W) 8.16. r2: 1 M Corcoran (Bing) 7.52; 5 A Javed (Roth, U13) 8.07. r4: 1 M Angelo (Leeds C, U15W) 8.12; 2 N Nwosu (Sale, U15W) 8.23; 3 J Chrisp (Blyth, U13) 8.48. r6: 1 R Angelo (Leeds C, U13) 8.53; 2 M Turner (Blyth, U13W) 8.67. 150: r1: 1 M Corcoran (Bing) 17.81; 2 S Eduan (Sale, U15W) 18.31; 6 C Wilkinson (Stock H, U15W) 19.95. r2: 2 N Kihuyu (Hallam, U15W) 19.01. r3: 3 A Javed (Roth, U13) 19.27; 5 D Garbutt (Darl, U15W) 19.87. r4: 2 N Atkinson (P’fract, U15W) 20.79. r6: 4 E Hartley (Shef/Dearn, U13W) 21.90. r8: 1 M Liddell (Blyth, U13W) 21.04; 2 M Turner (Blyth, U13W) 21.27; 3 Z Smith (Newk, U13W) 21.54. r9: 1

M Angelo (Leeds C, U15W) 19.61; 2 H Wilson (Blyth, U13W) 21.66Mixed events: 60: r1: 2 T Thomas (Charn, U20) 7.19; 3 K Walton (Gate, U20) 7.20. r2: 1 J El Aida Chaffey (StarMax AC (Malta), U17) 7.05; 2 K Calhoun (Charn, U20) 7.19. r3: 4 W Edmonds (C’field, U17) 7.34; 5 M Lawson (Gate, U17) 7.38. r4: 3 M Lumb (Gate, U17) 7.40; 5 D Lennie (Gate, U17) 7.45. r5: 1 J Thorne (Charn, U17) 7.35; 2 D Curtis (Donc, U17) 7.48. r6: 1 B Hinson (KuH, U17) 7.44. r7: 1 D Douglas (Leeds City Athletic, U17) 7.33. r8: 7 J Moss (Gate, U20W) 7.82. r9: 1 D Walford (Bing, U17) 7.46. r10: 6 R Shonibare (Sale, U20W) 8.05. r11: 1 E Booker (Roth, U20W) 7.72; 3 M Lowndes (Stock H, U20W) 7.94; 4 J Eze (Gate, U17W) 7.96; 6 K Waterworth (Stock H, U20W) 8.05; 7 H Murray (Stock H, U17W) 8.05. r12: 2 H Gode (Leeds C, U17W) 8.06; 3 M Coxon (Roth, U17W) 8.08; 7 T Milward (N Masters, W40) 8.26. r13: 1 E Ajagbe (Hallam, U17W) 8.13; 3 K Archer (Womb, U17W) 8.20. r15: 1 F Beedie (Der, U20W) 8.06. r20: 1 T Milward (N Masters, W40) 8.61; 2 M Garland (Worc, W55) 9.15; 3

A Bryant (FoD, W55) 9.65; 4 P Wright (Mid M, M70) 9.93. r21: 1 O El Aida Chaffey (StarMax AC (Malta), U17) 6.99; 2 J Smith (Charn, U20) 7.01; 3 J Spencer (Tam, U17) 7.21; 5 M Lumb (Gate, U17) 7.40. r22: 2 M Lawson (Gate, U17) 7.32; 3 D Lennie (Gate, U17) 7.43. 300: r1: 1 E Meade (Rad) 35.61; 2 L McGivern (Wrex) 35.83; 3 J Smith (Charn, U20) 36.24. r2: 1 O El Aida Chaffey (StarMax AC (Malta), U17) 35.14; 2 J Spencer (Tam, U17) 35.90; 4 J El Aida Chaffey (StarMax AC (Malta), U17) 36.56. r3: 1 H Dalbal (Long, U20) 35.57; 2 A Orpwood-Colton (Notts, U20) 36.46. r4: 1 P Roberts-Nash (W&B, U20) 35.32; 2 J Vernon (Hallam, U17) 36.22. r5: 1 T Bennett-Williams (W&B) 35.98. r6: 1 J McKeown (Gate, U17) 36.89. r12: 1 D Chapman (Shef/Dearn, U17) 36.74; 5 T Anderson (Dur, U17W) 41.23. r15: 3 H Murray (Stock H, U17W) 40.93. r18: 1 B Allott (Shef/Dearn, U17W) 41.91. r19: 1 S Kaka (Shef/Dearn, U17W) 41.88. 600: r1: 1 R Shipley (York) 1:18.76; 2 O Dane (Shef/Dearn) 1:19.43; 3 H Russell (Newb) 1:20.25; 4 B Lee (Vale R, U20) 1:20.36; 5 Z King (Notts) 1:23.49; 7 J Fiddaman (Blyth, U20)

1:26.16. r2: 1 P Roberts-Nash (W&B, U20) 1:20.16; 2 T Bennett-Williams (W&B) 1:23.38; 3 T Kuhora (Sheff U) 1:23.59; 4 N Holloway (Harrow) 1:23.91. r3: 1 J Crook (Liv PS, U20) 1:26.22; 2 S Edwards (Taun, U20) 1:26.22. r4: 1 A Irvine (Notts, U20) 1:26.25; 2 A Stoger (Notts, U20) 1:26.97; 5 D Sullivan (Notts, U17) 1:28.98. r6: 1 W Cooke (Leeds C, U17) 1:27.78; 3 J Thorne (Charn, U17) 1:29.40; 4 E Alderson (Liv H, U20W) 1:30.46; 5 T McGraw (Amber, U20W) 1:32.40; 6 E Simpson (Shef/Dearn, U20W) 1:33.34. r7: 5 J Turner (Sheff RC, M55) 1:38.90; 6 E Misantoni (Stock H, U17W) 1:41.76. r8: 2 C Bennett (New M, U17W) 1:39.84; 3 B Wilkinson (York, W) 1:40.60. r9: 1 Z Tyas (Holm, U17W) 1:37.82; 3 E Arnfield (K&P, W) 1:40.32; 4 R Spencer (Macc, U17W) 1:41.98. 3000: r2: 6 H Delaney (Liv H, W) 10:19.21. r3: 1 R Harrison (Linc W, W) 10:14.46; 3 R Parkin (Der, M55) 10:42.67. r4: 6 V Shirley (N Masters, M75) 12:28.45Men: 60H: r1: 1 D Milandu (Shef/Dearn) 8.55; 2 J Hobson (Shef/Dearn) 8.74; 3 L Reveley (Blay) 8.84. HJ: 1 J Hobson (Shef/Dearn) 2.03; 3 C

Howes (P’fract, U20) 1.91U20: 60H: 1 T Thomas (Charn) 8.03; 2 A Coles (KuH) 8.60Women: 60H: 1 A Hodgson (Roth) 8.81; 2 L Revitt (Donc) 9.15; 3 M Lowndes (Stock H, U20) 9.16; 4 V Johnson (Charn, U20) 9.26; 5 V Morgan (KuH, U20) 9.32. HJ: 1 A Ward (Wake, U20) 1.80; 2 A Pawlett (Stock H, U17) 1.65; 3 Z Tyas (Holm, U17) 1.60; 4 M Levy (Hallam, U17) 1.60; 6 M Garland (Worc, W55) 1.35. LJ: A: 1 K Waterworth (Stock H, U20) 5.23; 2 K Archer (Womb, U17) 5.20. B: 5 M Garland (Worc, W55) 4.48U17: 60H: r1: 1 A Pawlett (Stock H) 8.63; 2 P Ellis (Gate) 9.05; 3 M Coxon (Roth) 9.17; 4 E Hinchliffe (Shef/Dearn) 9.24; 5 E Misantoni (Stock H) 9.35. r2: 1 A Lott (Morp) 9.18U15: 60H: r1: 1 J Winogrodzka (Bolt) 9.17; 2 C Bagshaw (Hallam) 9.46; 3 A Geoghegan (Morp) 9.61; 4 D Garbutt (Darl) 9.65. LJ: A: 1 J Winogrodzka (Bolt) 5.29; 2 E Lobley (Hallam) 5.21. SP: 1 E Lobley (Hallam) 12.46; 2 C Bagshaw (Hallam) 10.25U13: 60H: 1 H Lott (Morp) 10.51; 2 Z Smith (Newk) 10.81


CROSS-COUNTRY

DECEMBER 9GLOUCESTERSHIRE LEAGUE, Wotton Under EdgeMen (9.6km): 1 A Lawrence (Bath U) 31:34; 2 D Owen (Chelt) 32:19; 3 J Pickering (Chelt) 32:38; 4 J Bartlett (Cleve) 32:40; 5 O Mott (Chelt) 33:07; 6 A Chantler-Mayne (Chelt) 33:10; 7 R Dare (Chelt) 33:11; 8 G West (Bath U) 33:12; 9 B Leggate (Ciren, M40) 33:15; 10 A Pritchard (Bath) 33:16; 11 L Stopford (Stroud) 33:21; 12 C Booth (Chelt) 33:21; 13 J Donald (Bath) 33:24; 14 J Bond (Bath) 33:29; 15 J Harper (Chelt) 33:35; 16 R Slade (Bath U) 33:36; 17 R Bartram (Bath U) 33:37; 18 L Murray (Cleve, M40) 33:44; 19 D Jones (Bath) 33:48; 20 M Fallows (Chelt, M40) 33:53; 21 R Stewart (Cleve) 33:54; 22 J Thomas (Ciren) 34:02; 23 T Davies (Bath) 34:03; 24 P Hocking (Durs, M40) 34:10; 25 D Tomlin (Chelt, M45) 34:19; 26 E Charlton-weedy (Chelt) 34:26; 27 A Campbell (Stroud) 34:32; 28 J Rose (Severn) 34:43; 29 J Moreno-elias (CLC, M40) 34:43; 30 T Halling (Bath U) 34:44M45: 2 S Wood (Cleve) 37:07; 3 J Barry (Stroud) 37:45. M50: 1 G Hope (Severn) 35:37; 2 M Dooley (Bath) 36:09; 3 M Mackintosh (Bath) 37:29; 4 D Rantell (Chelt) 37:31; 5 P Cox (Unatt) 37:46. M55: 1 I Smith (FoD) 38:14; 2 R Homes (Kenil) 39:31; 3 N Urquhart (Bath) 39:34. M60: 1 D Wright (Ciren) 39:03; 2 T Wooldridge (Durs) 41:14; 3 M Ede (Chelt) 41:20U20 (6.4km): 1 M Dwerryhouse (Chelt) 22:08; 2 A Rawlings (Unatt, U17) 22:24; 3 S Davey (Worc, U17) 22:49; 4 J Astor (Bourt, U17) 23:04; 5 L Dailey (Stroud, U17) 23:11; 6 O Powell (Chelt) 23:27; 7 H James (Chelt, U17) 24:03; 8 J Derrick (W’bury) 25:00U15 (4.6km): 1 R Edwards (Card Arch) 17:22; 2 A Shrewsbury (W’bury) 17:40; 3 L Shrewsbury (W’bury) 17:56; 4 B Powell (Chelt) 18:06; 5 F Janta-lipinski (Chelt) 18:28; 6 O Godden (Chelt) 18:43; 7 M Brunnock (Here) 19:50; 8 P Morgan (Here) 20:05; 9 A Cross (Chelt) 20:19; 10 J Bennett (FoD) 20:28U13 (3.1km): 1 H Sheffield (Ciren) 10:55; 2 J Bagot (Swin) 11:36; 3 C Boulton (Cotswold Allrunners) 11:45; 4 O James (Cotswold Allrunners) 11:54; 5 K Dee (Bourt) 12:07; 6 J Martin (Tockington Manor School) 12:18; 7 L White (Worc) 12:20; 8 B Rowe (Tockington Manor School) 12:22; 9 J Stocks (Unatt) 12:25; 10 T Janta-lipinski (Chelt) 12:34U11 (2.4km): 1 H Rodgers (Chelt) 9:38; 2 A Collin (Tockington Manor School) 9:39; 3 B Bishop (Tockington Manor School) 9:41Women (6.4km): 1 R Underhill (Chelt) 24:16; 2 N Eaton (Chelt) 24:21; 3 F Spruit (Bath, U17) 24:36; 4 H Brown (FoD, W45) 24:41; 5 A Testar (Stroud, U17) 24:48; 6 C Wheeler (FoD, U20) 24:49; 7 J Cooper (Chelt) 24:50; 8 R Pierce (Bath) 24:55; 9 R See (Chelt) 24:56; 10 J Wassell (Stroud, W50) 25:04; 11 S Harris (FoD, W35) 25:15; 12 R Jackson (Durs) 25:21; 13 K Newcombe (Cotswold Allrunners) 25:24; 14 F Maycock (Chelt, W50) 25:24; 15 E Field (Bourt, U17) 25:39; 16 F Blackmore (Bitt, W40) 25:44; 17 L Backhouse (Bath) 25:50; 18 O Davis (Chelt, U17) 26:04; 19 J Musk (Ciren, W35) 26:17; 20 H Knight (CLC, W35) 26:18

W40: 2 L Halliwell (Cotswold Allrunners) 27:29; 3 T Bowden (Evesham Vale) 27:38. W45: 2 C Fowler (FoD) 27:04; 3 T Wickens (Glouc) 27:20; 4 A Steer (CLC) 28:16. W50: 3 M Johnson (Durs) 27:47; 4 K Higuera (Ciren) 29:00. W55: 1 K Sackett (Ciren) 28:58; 2 C Watt (Thornb) 29:41; 3 R Wheeler (FoD) 29:47. W60: 1 A Nixon (FoD) 26:21; 2 A Lewis (Durs) 29:39; 3 N Waters (Glouc) 30:15. W65: 1 S Smith (RSE) 30:52; 2 C Cowley (Tewkesbury RC) 31:12. U20: 2 B Bishop (Glouc) 26:23; 3 R Allen (Thornb) 26:34. U17: 5 H Love (Worc) 27:07; 6 E Quekett (Chelt) 27:27U15 (4.6km): 1 R Jarman (Worc) 16:34; 2 E Bendle (Stroud) 16:43; 3 L Jeffery (Glouc) 16:44; 4 H West (Bourt) 16:51; 5 E Parker (Bitt) 17:25; 6 A Spackman (Glouc) 17:36; 7 T Bird (Stroud) 17:42; 8 E Pound (Worc) 17:49; 9 I Barnett (Bourt) 18:22; 10 L Biscoe (Cotswold Allrunners) 18:35U13 (3.1km): 1 S Jones (Chelt) 12:08; 2 M Dibden (Chelt) 12:18; 3 L Silverton (Bath) 12:24; 4 L Holdsworth (Durs) 12:28; 5 A Newell (Glouc) 12:29; 6 F Howell (Chelt) 12:35; 7 L Skurek (Chelt) 12:38; 8 E Tyler (Here) 12:39; 9 H Mccartney (Chelt) 12:55; 10 A Burrows (Tockington Manor School) 13:15U11 (2.4km): 1 E Lowe (W’bury) 9:35; 2 E Woolley (Chelt) 9:46; 3 A Stalberg (Chelt) 9:56

CHILLY HILLY 10, West Wight, IoWOverall: 1 C Lucas (Read RR) 65:13; 2 P Russhard Lym Tri) 65:16; 3 W Trowell (Ryde) 65:33Women: 1 G Russhard (Lym Tri) 72:03; 2 D Bailey (Butskin) 75:53; 3 N Kelly (Lym Tri) 76:20

KENT FITNESS LEAGUE, SholdenOverall (XC): 1 J Smith (Dartf RR, M35) 29:18; 2 S Fox (Petts) 30:12; 3 N Chapman (Padd W) 30:35; 4 G Seymour (Dartf RR) 31:17; 5 D Smith (S’oaks, M50) 31:34; 6 J Kennedy (Dartf, M35) 31:39; 7 D Pyne (Dartf) 31:49; 8 N Wright (M&M, M40) 32:09; 9 M Millard (N Elth) 32:13; 10 C Patey (Larkf) 32:15; 11 N Lyons (Larkf, M50) 32:39; 12 S Dahdi (Petts, M35) 32:48; 13 D Clark (Than, M35) 32:49; 14 E Peters (M’stone, M35) 32:52; 15 A Tibbals (Padd W, M40) 33:05

M45: 1 K Howarth (Petts) 33:19; 2 G Mackay (Petts) 33:23; 3 C Brenchley (Than) 33:55. M50: 3 S Pond (Petts) 33:38. M55: 1 S Daley (Dartf) 34:38; 2 J Gill (Petts) 35:28; 3 D Sampson (Padd W) 35:30. M60: 1 M Abousselam (Bromley Vets AC) 36:23; 2 P McAuliffe (Larkf) 36:27; 3 J Gurney (Petts) 38:02. M65: 1 S Clark (Cant) 40:52; 2 P Howe (Brom Vets) 41:57; 3 J Wilkins (I&I) 42:07. M70: 1 T Edgley (I&I) 43:09; 2 G Reilly (Cant) 43:20; 3 V Thomas (Plumstead Rnnrs) 48:58. M75: 1 J Fitzmaurice (S’oaks) 56:32; 2 E Broad (Larkf) 63:32Women: 1 B Morrish (Padd W) 33:41; 2 R McDonnell (Deal TC, W40) 34:09; 3 J Cliff (Deal TC, W45) 35:36; 4 G Schaer (Petts, W50) 36:14; 5 C Bates (M’stone) 36:19; 6 H Roberts (Petts, W35) 36:52; 7 S Cronin (Dartf RR) 37:20; 8 N Evans (Larkf, W35) 37:27; 9 L Clifford (Deal TC) 37:33; 10 C Pluckrose (Cant, W45) 37:55W35: 3 J Norrington (Cant) 38:09. W40: 2 N Bonnet (Plum) 38:18; 3 E Crawford (Petts) 38:22. W45: 3 M Ellison (Dartf RR) 38:30; 4 M Skinner (Than) 38:57. W50: 2 P Dalton (S’oaks) 39:55; 3 D Parris (Cant) 40:01. W55: 1 C Marsh (New Eltham J) 43:52. W60: 1 B Wenman (Cant) 41:08; 2 B Weekes (S’oaks) 43:54. W65: 1 A Unseld (Brom Vets) 47:32U17 (XC): 1 E Wild (Padd W, U15) 11:47; 2 H Taylor (S’oaks, U15) 12:49U15 (XC): 1 D Leach (Than) 10:48; 2 C Featherstone (M&M) 10:56; 3 C Featherstone (M&M) 11:35; 4 T Blunt (Cant) 12:04; 5 J Greenwood (Dartf, U13) 13:21U11 (XC): 1 O Scott (Than) 11:02; 2 F Poland (Dartf) 13:15; 3 O Hogben (Deal TC) 14:21U17 women (XC): 1 E Hayward (Swanley & District) 20:42; 2 L Nash (Swanley & District) 20:59U15 (XC): 1 F Pierce (Than) 13:26; 2 M Mcgivern (Than) 13:49; 3 J Rayner (Padd W, U13) 14:22; 4 E Hunt (Swanley) 14:25; 5 I Wild (Padd W) 16:04U11 (XC): 1 E Violet Baker (S’oaks) 15:39; 2 H Butcher (Deal TC) 15:39; 3 A Hinton (Deal TC) 18:51Standings after 4 matchesMen: 1 Smith 99.91%; 2 Fox 99.60; 3 C Fullerton (M&M) 99.44; 4 S Jones (Cant H) 99.40; 5 Chapman 98.73Women: 1 Morrish 99.86; 2 McDonnell 99.27; 3 L Portway (NEJ, W35) 98.43; 4 J Butler (PWR, W45) 97.93; 5 Schaer 97.62TEAM (Combined): 1 Petts Wood Runners 276; 2 Sevenoaks 327; 3 Dartford RR 488; 4 Canterbury H 531; 5 Deal Tri Club 557Standings: 1 PWR 54; 2 S’oaks 50; 3 Paddock Wood 49; 4 Dartf 48; 5 Medway & Maidstone 40

TADLEY RUNNERS CHRISTMAS 5.3, HampshireOverall: 1 A Hamilton (BMH) 34:43; 2 B Nutley 35:34; 3 D Hawkins (Newb) 37:00Women: 1 D Godwin (Windle) 40:32; 2 F Martin 42:05; 3 K Robson (BMH) 42:42

WEST MIDLAND YOUNG ATHLETES’ LEAGUE, BirminghamU17 men (7.8km): 1 F Scott (R&N) 16:33; 2 A Caulfield (R&N) 16:37; 3 J Vaughan (R&N) 16:48; 4 A Saul-Braddock (W&B) 16:56; 5 R Shields (Bir) 17:00; 6 H Hardy-Smith (C&S) 17:23; 7 T Keenan (Coventry Godiva) 17:24; 8 W Kay (Tel) 17:32; 9 P Clisham (Cov) 17:34; 10 B Hope (R&N) 17:40

U15 (3.2km): 1 T Francis (W&B) 11:13; 2 D Steventon-Box (W&B) 11:25; 3 T Tyler (R&N) 11:28; 4 J Robins (Bir) 11:33; 5 N Bennett (R&N) 11:35; 6 A Veloso (SSH) 11:43; 7 L Panter (R&N) 11:46; 8 L Richardson (B&R) 11:51; 9 F Myers (R&N) 11:55; 10 S Mannings (Hale) 11:59 U13 (2.5km): 1 A Adams (Strat) 9:06; 2 A Tilt (R&N) 9:26; 3 F Robins (Bir) 9:37; 4 M Bevins (B&R) 9:41; 5 L Bradley (Tam) 9:48; 6 J O’Leary (SSH) 9:49; 7 T Maidment (SSH) 9:49; 8 O Buchan (R&N) 9:51; 9 W Pridden (B&R) 9:53; 10 T Wooton (Tam) 9:54 U11 (1.6km): 1 O Ulfig (W&B) 6:09; 2 F Jones (W&B) 6:11; 3 B Finn Shields (W&B) 6:12U17 women (4km): 1 E Semple (Bir) 16:37; 2 G Campbell (Strat) 16:38; 3 T Hart (C&S) 17:09; 4 B Sykes (B&R) 17:16; 5 A McMurtrie (R&N) 17:18; 6 L Stevens (R&N) 17:38; 7 E Taylor (Bir) 17:40; 8 M Calleia (W&B) 17:54; 9 F Bennett (Cov) 17:58; 10 S Causer (Bir) 18:02U15 (3.2km): 1 L Hackett (W&B) 12:30; 2 L Saxon (SSH) 12:47; 3 N Hatfield (B&R) 13:02; 4 E Bullock (Bir) 13:07; 5 A Hartshorn (Hale) 13:14; 6 T Ward (W&B) 13:17; 7 R Richards (W&B) 13:18; 8 C Gilbody (W&B) 13:19; 9 E Ranger (B&R) 13:19; 10 B Dyall (W&B) 13:20U13 (2.5km): 1 Z Gilbody (W&B) 9:37; 2 S Williams (W&B) 10:11; 3 I Jones (W&B) 10:16; 4 M Wood (RSC) 10:23; 5 A Hamilton (Bir) 10:30; 6 L Hatfield (B&R) 10:33; 7 R Kind (W&B) 10:36; 8 E Tromans (Tip) 10:38; 9 C Prince (RSC) 10:40; 10 K Bennett (Cov) 10:44U11 (1.6km): 1 E Darby (R&N) 6:26; 2 T Parkin (Strat) 6:47; 3 Z Asbury (W&B) 6:49

DECEMBER 8LIVERPOOL LEAGUE, SkelmersdaleOverall: 1 L Burthem (Liv H) 31:27; 2 A Jarvis (Liv H) 31:56; 3 J Tartt (S’port W) 32:44; 4 M Crehan (SHS) 33:01; 5 J Wotton (Liv H) 33:27; 6 J Doherty (St H Str) 33:28; 7 C Maher (LivPembroke & Sef AC) 33:47; 8 M Wynne (LivPembroke & Sef AC, M40) 33:54; 9 M Dunham (S’port W, M35) 34:06; 10 R Harrison (LivPembroke & Sef AC) 34:29; 11 R Owens (Knows, M35) 35:01; 12 C Pownell (Knows) 35:13; 13 I Roberts (LivPembroke & Sef AC) 35:24; 14 S Spencer (Wirr) 35:32; 15 S Campbell (Knows) 35:52; 16 T O’Dowd (Knows) 36:24; 17 A Wilson (SHS, M45) 36:27; 18 G Groves (Liv H, M50) 36:33; 19 M Skaife (Moseley Hill AC) 36:42; 20 M Goodwin (UTS, M35) 36:57Women: 1 D Campbell (LivPembroke & Sef AC) 40:45; 2 C Dewhurst (Liv H) 41:43; 3 S Fourie (Ches TC, W40) 43:37; 4 H Hughes (Liv H) 43:51; 5 H Thompson (Skemersdale / Boundary AC, W40) 44:37; 6 E Opara (W’sey, W35) 45:08; 7 C Sutcliffe (Ches TC, W45) 46:36; 8 R Wadeson (Skemersdale / Boundary) 46:44; 9 B Glasister (Skemersdale / Boundary, W45) 47:39; 10 K Holley (W’sey, W35) 48:46W60: 1 R Symms (Ches TC) 50:01TEAM (M&W): 1 Liv H 83; 2 Liv PS 87; 3 SHS 109; 4 S’port W 268; 5 W’say 335; 6 UTSRC 340; 7 Ches TC 350; 8 Mossley 378Final standings: 1 Liv H 142; 2 Liv PS 284; 3 SHS 456; 4 W’sey 894; 5 Ches TC 1150; 6 UTSRC 1412; 7 Mossley 1440; 8 Liv Bugs 2035

NORTH EASTERN COUNTIES A.A CHAMPIONSHIPS, Cardinal Hume School, Gateshead, Tyne & WearMORPETH HARRIERS won the men’s title for the seventh successive year and for good measure also took all the male team trophies on offer at the 113th edition of these championships, Les Venmore reports.

Strong winds greeted the competitors, but thankfully helped dry out the undulating course after regular spells of heavy rain during the previous seven days. Conditions remained mild and bright throughout, although there was light rain in the final 15 minutes of the meeting.

Greg Jayasuriya won his first senior cross-country title, although he has had previous county victories on the track over 5000m and 10,000m.

Jayasuriya was joined by Jack Willis and Kieran Walker on the first lap but pulled away at the start of the second of the four circuits. The margin of victory was 17 seconds over Walker, with Willis taking third ahead of Daniel Jenkin.

Andrew Lawrence led the Morpeth challenge in eighth position but, with five runners in the first 30, they had to wait until 61st position to secure a 10-point victory over Durham, with Gateshead taking the bronze medals.

Georgia Campbell took her first senior women’s cross-country title, though she is the current county track champion over 5000m. Campbell and Emma Holt soon headed the field and remained close together until halfway when Campbell gradually pulled away from her rival.

The margin of victory was 36 seconds. Danni Smythe finished strongly to take third place.

Led by the winner, Jarrow & Hebburn retained the team title ahead of Morpeth. India Pentland easily retained her U17 title finishing 83 seconds ahead of Holly Peck. The third runner across the line was the leading U20 athlete, Elisha Tait.

Minor medals went to Catherine Roberts (U17 bronze), Rhian Purves (U20 silver) and Eli Barnbrook (U20 bronze).

Gateshead won the combined team competition.

Josh Cowperthwaite, who has won previous titles at U13, U15 and U17 level, this time won the U20 race. Cowperthwaite led all the way, crossing the line 38 seconds ahead of Taylor Glover who overcame the strong challenge of third-placed Alex Brown.

Morpeth narrowly defeated Middlesbrough Mandale in the team competition.

Sam Charlton, the ESAA 3000m champion, was untroubled in winning the U17 men’s title. Daniel Dixon took second place ahead of Will Bellamy.

Like the U20 race, Morpeth just edged out Middlesbrough Mandale in the team event.

In the U15 boys’ race, Chris Perkins, the 2017 U13 champion, defeated his great rival, Josh Blevins, with Ethan McGlen taking third place.

In a close team competition, Morpeth defeated Gateshead on countback with North Shields Poly only a point behind in third. All members of the winning team had counted for King Edward School, when they won the recent English Schools Cup final.

Ines Curran maintained her impressive form, to successfully defend her U15 title.


CROSS-COUNTRYRESULTS

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This time her margin of victory was 29 seconds over the much-improved Millie Breese with Katie Francis finishing third, leading Birtley to the team honours.

Tom Slane maintained his top local form to finish two seconds ahead of Ryan Davies in the U13 race. Ben Pye was close behind in third. Davies led Morpeth to the team title.Senior men (12km): 1 G Jayasuriya (M&C) 42:53; 2 K Walker (M’bro) 43:10; 3 J Willis (M&C) 43:27; 4 D Jenkin (Dur) 43:30; 5 A Bailes (Birt) 43:37; 6 D Newton (N Marske) 43:42; 7 C Franks (Gate, M35) 44:00; 8 A Lawrence (Morp) 44:18; 9 J Scott (Morp) 44:29; 10 R Floyd (Morp) 44:32; 11 T Straughan (Morp) 44:33; 12 R Holt (Tyne Br) 44:36; 13 D Garbutt (Dur) 45:09; 14 K Jeffress (Sun, M35) 45:10; 15 J Dunce (Tyne Br) 45:11; 16 F Affleck-Brodie (Tyne Br) 45:14; 17 M Joyeux (Quak, M35) 45:22; 18 L Adams (SSh) 45:37; 19 D Green (NSP) 45:40; 20 M Hornsby (Dur, M35) 45:41; 21 J Bell (Black B) 46:00; 22 J Evans (J&H) 46:02; 23 S Jackson (Elv, M35) 46:19; 24 A Cook (Dur) 46:25; 25 J Cripwell (Gate) 46:30; 26 W Robson (NSP) 46:34; 27 D Inglis (Darl, M35) 46:34; 28 R Christie (Gate) 46:36; 29 A Douglass (Morp) 46:38; 30 B McMillan (J&H, M35) 46:40; 31 K Reay (Birt) 46:40; 32 M Alderson (Blay) 46:45; 33 L Dover (Hough) 46:53; 34 M Anderson (Sun S, M35) 46:57; 35 J McKenzie (Heat) 47:11; 36 D Alexander (Gate) 47:14; 37 J Woods (Blyth) 47:17; 38 R Eaton (Dur) 47:18; 39 K Connolly (Gate, M40) 47:31; 40 G Wallace (Black B, M35) 47:42; 41 S Kristiansen (Tyne Br, M35) 47:48; 42 C Taylor (Darl, M40) 47:49; 43 R Everson (Dur) 47:50; 44 G Redman (Blay) 48:00; 45 P Brown (N Marske, M40) 48:01; 46 C Rumsey (M&C, M35) 48:06; 47 G Hebdon (Elv) 48:08; 48 M Linsley (Gate) 48:09; 49 D Richardson (Aln) 48:09; 50 B Heathcote (Tyne, M35) 48:11TEAM (6 to Score): 1 Morpeth H 132; 2 Durham City H 142; 3 Gateshead H 183; 4 Tyne Bridge H 234; 5 Sunderland H 328; 6 North Shields Poly 387; 7 Birtley 410; 8 Blackhill Bounders 431; 9 Sunderland Strollers 520; 10 Blaydon H 549U20 (8km): 1 J Cowperthwaite (M’bro) 27:28; 2 T Glover (Morp) 28:06; 3 A Brown (Morp) 28:17; 4 R Bergstrand (M’bro) 28:53; 5 H Allan (New M) 29:05; 6 M Briggs (Morp) 29:22; 7 L Pickering (Dur) 29:31; 8 J Boaden (Blay) 29:36; 9 J Brown (J&H) 29:39; 10 C Spence (M’bro) 29:55; 11 W Dixon (Gate) 30:04; 12 J Wren (Blyth) 32:25; 13 B Horsfield (Dur) 33:07; 14 J Stephenson (Dur) 33:23; 15 D Stretzsky (Walls) 34:26TEAM (3 to Score): 1 Morpeth H 11; 2 Middlesbrough Mandale 15; 3 Durham City H 34U17 (6km): 1 S Charlton (Walls) 21:19; 2 D Dixon (Morp) 21:48; 3 W Bellamy (Hough) 21:51; 4 P Haycock (M’bro) 22:02; 5 R Charlton (Morp) 22:06; 6A Lowe (M’bro) 22:09; 7 J Creasey (M’bro-n/s) 22:17; 8 D Melling (Morp) 22:24; 9 H Johnson (Hough) 22:43; 10 T Balsdon (Morp) 22:50; 11 D Currie (M’bro) 23:01; 12 C Thomas (Dur) 23:17; 13 R Bennett (Morp) 23:19; 14 D Joyce (Tyne) 23:36; 15 D Payne (M’bro) 23:57TEAM (3 to Score): 1 Morpeth H 15; 2 Middlesbrough Mandale 21; 3 Houghton H 33; 4 Blaydon H 87; 5 Alnwick H 91U15 (4km): 1 C Perkins (Birt) 12:24; 2 J

Blevins (NSP) 12:34; 3 E McGlen (Gate) 12:42; 4 A Russell (Darl) 12:44; 5 C Daley (Tyne) 12:47; 6 D Race (Gate) 12:56; 7 J Russell (Darl) 13:09; 8 M Creasey (M’bro) 13:12; 9 B Waterfield (Morp) 13:14; 10 J Wraith (Dur) 13:15; 11 D Gooding (Morp) 13:20; 12 D Hughes (Black B) 13:24; 13 W Collinson (Blay) 13:27; 14 L White (Black B) 13:29; 15 C Coulson (Hough) 13:35TEAM (3 to score): 1 Morpeth H 38; 2 Gateshead H 38; 3 North Shields Poly 39; 4 Darlington H 57; 5 Tynedale H 57U13 (3km): 1 T Slane (Black B) 12:12; 2 R Davies (Morp) 12:14; 3 B Pye (Hough) 12:17; 4 N Henderson (Tyne) 12:46; 5 S Terry (Dur) 12:52; 6 A Boyer (Darl) 12:53; 7 J Dixon (Morp) 12:55; 8 E Bond (Gosf) 12:56; 9 T Dragoi (Gate) 13:01; 10 N Glanville (Dur) 13:10; 11 W Henderson (Dur) 13:22; 12 J Hudspith (Morp) 13:29; 13 M Downs (N Marske) 13:31; 14 M Das (Gate) 13:38; 15 M Murray John (Aln) 13:40TEAM (3 to Score): 1 Morpeth H 21; 2 Durham City H 26; 3 Gateshead H 46; 4 Darlington H 57; 5 Blaydon H 78U11 (Non Championship) (1.8km); 1 Z Brannon (NSP) 6:28; 2 J Henderson (Tyne) 6:45; 3 A Lienard 6:46Senior women (8km): 1 G Campbell (J&H) 31:25; 2 E Holt (Morp) 32:01; 3 D Smythe (Heat) 32:14; 4 H Warburton (Gosf) 32:32; 5 S Pattinson (J&H) 33:39; 6 A Smith (Sun, W35) 33:47; 7 G Floyd (Morp, W35) 33:48; 8 H Buswell (Leeds C) 33:53; 9 R Falloon (Morp) 34:00; 10 F Brannan (Elv) 34:02; 11 D Richardson (Quak, W45) 34:27; 12 H Wood (Low F) 34:31; 13 B Dennehy (Gate) 34:42; 14 J Giles (Gate, W50) 35:04; 15 J Wilkinson (Sun) 35:05; 16 C Maley (NSP, W40) 35:18; 17 E Thompson (Elv, W35) 35:20; 18 L Hayes (NSP, W45) 35:21; 19 L Cheetham (Jes J) 35:50; 20 G Rutherford (J&H) 36:09; 21 R Gill (Tyne Br, W35) 36:11; 22 C McManus (NSP, W40) 36:12; 23 K Mellor (Gosf) 36:18; 24 L Short (Birt, W40) 36:31; 25 S Robson (Walls) 36:38TEAM (4 to Score): 1 Jarrow & Hebburn 62; 2 Morpeth H 76; 3 Gosforth H 84; 4 Gateshead H 86; 5 North Shields Poly 97; 6 Sunderland H 101; 7 Elvet Striders 137; 8 Tyne Bridge H 200; 9 Jesmond Joggers 211; 10 Low Fell 221Junior women (6km): 1 I Pentland (Darl, U17) 24:59; 2 H Peck (Morp, U17) 26:22; 3 E Tait (Gate, U20) 26:27; 4 R Purves (Gosf, U20) 26:51; 5 C Roberts (Darl, U17) 27:00; 6 E Barnbrook (N Marske, U20) 27:05; 7 E Hardie (Hough, U17) 27:13; 8 S Knight (Sun, U20) 27:47; 9 A Pigford (Hough, U17) 27:57; 10 C Wellings (Gate, U17) 27:58; 11 S Fielding (Els, U17) 28:30; 12 L Havis (M’bro, U17) 28:43; 13 S Robson (J&H, U17) 28:45; 14 H Tumia (Els, U17) 29:09; 15 A Baker (Gate, U17) 29:38; 16 I Robinson (NSP, U20) 29:44; 17 C Fairclough (Birt, U17) 29:50; 18 E Quinn (Sun, U20) 30:05; 19 G Hufton (Morp, U20) 30:32; 20 E Duffield (Morp, U20) 30:35TEAM (3 to Score): 1 Gateshead H 28; 2 Houghton H 38; 3 Morpeth H 41; 4 Darlington H 42; 5 Sunderland H 54U15 (4km): 1 I Curran (Gate) 13:53; 2 M Breese (Aln) 14:22; 3 K Francis (Birt) 14:25; 4 E Chong (CleS) 14:39; 5 L Scothern (CleS) 14:45; 6 L Creasey (M’bro) 14:53; 7 T Graham (Birt) 14:57; 8 C Reid (Blay) 14:58; 9 K Salthouse (Tyne) 14:59; 10 R Hughes (Gate) 15:03; 11 N Phillips (Hough) 15:08; 12 H Waugh (NSP)

15:16; 13 E Van Der Merwe (NSP) 15:17; 14 A Thwaites (Birt) 15:19; 15 H Johnston (Aln) 15:55TEAM (3 to Score): 1 Birtley 24; 2 Gateshead H 27; 3 Chester Le Street 36; 4 North Shields Poly 48; 5 Alnwick H 57U13 (3km): 1 Z Hill (M’bro) 13:33; 2 E McNeil (M’bro) 13:36; 3 C Dillon (Dur) 13:44; 4 A Lewis (Gosf) 13:48; 5 I Herbert (M’bro) 13:54; 6 H Bowyer (Black B) 13:55; 7 F Gibson (Dur) 14:02; 8 F Clarkson (CleS) 14:13; 9 J Peart (Dur) 14:16; 10 A Crowder (Gate) 14:21; 11 I Troop (N Marske) 14:32; 12 E Jones (CleS) 14:35; 13 J Milburn (Gate) 14:42; 14 S Hill (Darl) 14:47; 15 F Caitlin (Els) 14:49TEAM (3 to score): 1 Middlesbrough Mandale 8; 2 Durham City H 19; 3 Gateshead H 39; 4 Gosforth H 49; 5 North Shields Poly 65U11 (Non Championship) (1.8km): 1 E Creasey (M’bro) 6:33; 2 Z Jones (Darl) 6:44; 3 S Quinn (Bill MH) 6:47Middlesbrough and Cleveland Centenary TrophyOverall: 1 Morpeth H 40; 2 Gateshead H 31; 3 Durham City H 20Gallery Jewellers TrophyMen: 1 Morpeth H 30; 2 Durham City H 15; 3 Gateshead H 13J W Kennedy TrophyWomen: 1 Gateshead H 18; 2 Morpeth 10; eq3 Gosforth H/North Shields Poly 7

RANELAGH H V SOUTH LONDON HARRIERS MOB MATCH, Richmond ParkOverall: 1 B Anderson (Rane) 41:51; 2 G Laybourne (S Lon) 44:13; 3 P Wright (Rane) 44:49; 4 M Leyshon (Rane) 44:56; 5 G Brook (Rane) 46:03; 6 P Haarer (Rane, M50) 46:52; 7 G Parr (S Lon) 47:58; 8 B Casserley (S Lon) 48:04; 9 J Graham (Rane) 48:31; 10 O Garrod (S Lon) 48:44; 11 J Moore (Rane, M45) 49:05; 12 P Pearson (S Lon, M50) 49:13; 13 A Morgan (Rane, M40) 49:41; 14 E Forbes (Rane, M40) 50:34; 15 A Fordham (Rane) 51:33M40: 3 J Freeland (S Lon) 53:33. M45: 2 J Rose (Rane) 53:41. M50: 3 D Baker (S Lon) 52:49; 4 P Mitchell (S Lon) 54:04. M55: 1 J Shaw (Rane) 51:50. M60: 1 D Wright (Rane) 52:23; 2 P Emery (S Lon) 57:40; 3 M Saunders (S Lon) 59:01; 4 D Powell (Rane) 59:26; 5 R Wise (Rane) 61:26; 6 A Hayward (Rane) 77:39. M65: 1 C Owens (Rane) 61:33; 2 M Peace (Rane) 63:22; 3 T Reay (Rane) 77:29Women: 1 H Mcguigan (Rane, W35) 51:59; 2 N Haarer ((G)) 52:34; 3 F Vein (Rane, W35) 53:35; 4 A Baddeley (Rane, W35) 54:30; 5 R Hutton (S Lon, W50) 55:18; 6 J Busen-smith (Rane) 56:07W50: 2 M Synnott-wells (Rane) 57:56; 3 L Ingram (S Lon) 63:26. W55: 1 A Reichwald (Rane) 65:50

LINDSAYS SCOTTISH EAST DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS, AberdeenJAMIE CROWE fought off four challengers to take the men’s title but Morag Millar (nee MacLarty), in contrast, never looked like being caught in the women’s race, Denis Shepherd reports.

For the majority of the race Crowe was part of a close, leading group along with Calum McKenzie, Robbie Simpson, Michael Ferguson and Michael Christoforou. Crowe, having just returned from Texas a couple of days earlier, tried to break away on the flat sections but eventually created some daylight on the

final hill – enough to prevail by three seconds from Christoforou who came from the back of the pack to pip McKenzie for silver as just six seconds covered the top four.

“The hills made it tough, as did the fact this was the most competitive East field for many years!” said the winner.

This sentiment was echoed by Christoforou who was taking his second East silver. Crowe (Central), McKenzie (Corstorphine) and Ferguson (Aberdeen) led their teams to medals while Central also took the masters’ individual gold, through Scott Brember, with Corstorphine the team champions.

Millar showed no signs of having been told her running career might be over after being diagnosed with patella tendonosis earlier this year. The Central AC runner, winner of many East titles ranging from her U17 days and including four senior ones in the last six years, set up an early lead and had the best part of two minutes to spare at the finish.

“I’m delighted with my recent progress, although I’ve had a knee niggle – but I wasn’t best prepared as I arrived late because of car charging problems and was expecting a 6km race rather than 8.7km!” said Millar.

Equally delighted was Jo Williams who made up much ground to relegate Annabel Simpson to the bronze position on the second lap. “That was my first ever individual medal and I should improve as I’m not strong on the uphills,” said Williams. Simpson on the other hand expressed some disappointment at losing silver – “But I’ve been ill this week and was coughing so I should be happy with bronze,” she added after collecting team gold for Fife AC who comfortably defeated Edinburgh and Metro Aberdeen.

W55 Fiona Matheson finished ahead of all the younger masters while Hunters Bog Trotters took the team award.

In the U20 men’s race James Donald, one of the athletes to relish the hilly sections, went out hard and held on to secure his first East title by five seconds, after finishing third twice. Second-placed Tyler White led Aberdeen to one their three team wins, the others being in the U13 races.

Kane Elliott also went out hard to win the U17 event by a similar margin from Ben MacMillan, although in his case he found the hills tough. Dundee Hawkhill finished first team, as they did in the U15 race won by Harry Henriksen, last season’s Scottish U13 champion, who pulled away gradually to finish 15 seconds ahead of Gregor Collins. In the U13 race Connor Bell showed his liking for the course by landing his best win to date, two seconds ahead of Caleb McLeod.

The U17 Cera Gemmell, with a first and a second place in this year’s British Cross Challenge races, could have been expected to do well here although she expected a challenge from Alice Goodall.

“We are usually close in races but the longer the better for me as my strength is my endurance,” said Gemmell after finishing 19 seconds ahead of Goodall who led Edinburgh AC to the team title.

In the concurrent U20 event, gold went to Holly Page who secured yet another team win this season for the Edinburgh University women.

The easiest winner of the day was U15 Anna Hedley, second in the

recent Liverpool Cross Challenge event and winner at Milton Keynes, whose 45-second victory for her third East title was achieved despite her thinking the course was too flat for her!

“I want to thank my family, friends and coach Dave Francis for their recent support,” said the gracious winner who also led Fife to team gold, only a brave effort from runner-up Katie Johnson preventing a clean sweep.

Fife clubmate Isla Thoms, the U13 winner at Liverpool, had no complaints about the course as she won impressively from Caitlyn Christie.Men (8.5km): 1 J Crowe (Centr) 27:19; 2 M Christoforou (Edin) 27:22; 3 C Mckenzie (Cors) 27:23; 4 M Ferguson (A’deen) 27:25; 5 R Simpson (Dees R) 27:39; 6 J Adkin (Moorf) 27:52; 7 A Hay (Centr) 28:17; 8 C Strachan (Metro) 28:20; 9 D Colley (Centr) 28:24; 10 J Leitch (Edin U H&H) 28:30; 11 C Mccaughey (Centr) 28:31; 12 J Lenehan (Edin) 28:40; 13 J Hoad (A’deen) 28:47; 14 D Hastie (Gala) 28:53; 15 J Crickmore (HBT) 28:59; 16 D Selman (Cors) 29:10; 17 W Mackay (A’deen) 29:21; 18 K Greig (Metro) 29:29; 19 J Espie (Dees R) 29:32; 20 A Hoyle (Cors) 29:35; 21 M Maclarty (Centr) 29:37; 22 S Brember (Centr, M45) 29:40; 23 M Wright (Centr) 29:45; 24 J Kelly (Metro) 29:46; 25 A Carcas (Edin U H&H) 29:47; 26 O Fraser-krauss (Edin U H&H) 29:51; 27 M Breen (Cors) 29:53; 28 T Ferrington (Cors, M40) 29:55; 29 S Fernando (Fife) 29:58; 30 J Harrison (Cors) 29:58; 31 M Anderson (Cors, M40) 29:59; 32 S Murray (A’deen) 30:03; 33 O Langselius (Edin U H&H) 30:03; 34 E Webster (A’deen) 30:13; 35 C Reid (Edin) 30:15; 36 C Richardson (Metro) 30:19; 37 R Dunn-capper (Edin U H&H) 30:20; 38 L Johnson (Edin, M40) 30:22; 39 D Jubb (PH Racing) 30:28; 40 R Stead (A’deen) 30:32M45: 2 G Barrie (Dund H) 31:24; 3 D Knight (Perth RR) 32:20; 4 D Roussias (Metro) 32:35. M50: 1 S Campbell (Cors) 32:37; 2 A Ronald (Falk) 33:19; 4 R Horne (Metro) 34:13. M55: 1 D Eckersley (Centr) 34:47; 2 G Matheson (Falk) 35:21; 3 W Grieve (Falk) 35:45. M60: 1 J Farquhar (Pit) 34:36; 2 W Jarvie (P’bello) 35:22; 3 G Mcpherson (Metro) 35:40

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Georgia Campbell: clear North East win




TEAM: 1 Centr 71; 2 Cors 124; 3 A’deen 140; 4 Metro 170; 5 Edin U 177; 6 Edin 185; 7 Dund H 413; 8 HBT 475; 9 Perth R 664; 10 Falk VH 694. VETS: 1 Cors 12; 2 Dund H 31; 3 Metro 33U20 (6.5km): 1 J Donald (Dund H) 21:02; 2 T White (A’deen) 21:07; 3 H Hickey (Centr) 21:21; 4 C Tharme (Edin U H&H) 21:43; 5 T Rees (Fife) 21:46; 6 M Tait (Lass) 21:51; 7 G Malcolm (Edin U H&H) 21:57; 8 R Sparks (Fife) 22:04; 9 A Odentz (A’deen) 22:06; 10 S Holl (Centr) 22:09TEAM: 1 A’deen 23; 2 Centr 26; 3 Fife 30; 4 Edin U 31; 5 Dund H 42U17 (5.5km): 1 K Elliott (Falk) 18:05; 2 B Macmillan (Centr) 18:11; 3 H Morrow (Edin) 18:12; 4 K Hornyik (Dund H) 18:25; 5 J Ewing (Edin) 18:35; 6 A Marshall (Living) 18:37; 7 R Donald (Dund H) 18:48; 8 A Brown (A’deen) 18:52; 9 I Mcwhinnie (Fife) 18:55; 10 B Sandilands (Fife) 18:59TEAM: 1 Dund H 23; 2 Edin 24; 3 Fife 33; 4 Falk VH 39; 5 A’deen 63; 6 Metro 81U15 (4km): 1 H Henriksen (Lass) 13:36; 2 G Collins (Gala) 13:51; 3 R Dewar (Edin) 13:55; 4 S Griffin (A’deen) 13:57; 5 S Bennet (Fife) 13:58; 6 C Gourley (Pit) 14:12; 7 A Wright (Tm E Loth) 14:16; 8 C Macmillan (Centr) 14:18; 9 E Christie (Gala) 14:22; 10 C Kerr (Centr) 14:24TEAM: 1 Dund H 37; 2 Edin 38; 3 Centr 42; 4 A’deen 49; 5 Banc 79; 6 Falk VHU13 (3.2km): 1 C Bell (Centr) 10:21; 2 C Mcleod (Pit) 10:23; 3 C Campbell (Tm E Loth) 10:24; 4 H Mckay (A’deen) 10:26; 5 C Rankine (Gala) 10:35; 6 A Wallace (Harm) 10:52; 7 A Jovcic (A’deen) 10:53; 8 I Wright (Tm E Loth) 10:56; 9 R Burns (Centr) 11:01; 10 D Pearson (A’deen) 11:06TEAM: 1 A’deen 21; 2 E Loth 23; 3 Centr 26; 4 Perth SH 54; 5 Edin 58; 6 Dund H 101Women (8.5km): 1 M Millar (Centr) 30:57; 2 J Williams (Loth) 32:40; 3 A Simpson (Fife) 33:07; 4 L Wilson (Edin) 33:29; 5 H Sharpe (Fife) 33:50; 6 C Bruce (Metro) 34:01; 7 M Crawford (Fife) 34:02; 8 V Barrand (Metro) 34:05; 9 J Elvin (Metro) 34:07; 10 J Spence (Fife) 34:09; 11 C Cox (Edin) 34:12; 12 K Gore (Lass) 34:22; 13 I Scott-pearce (Edin) 34:25; 14 F Matheson (Falk, W55) 34:27; 15 K Maxwell (Gala) 35:03; 16 L Robertson (HBT) 35:20; 17 C Gordon (HBT, W40) 35:32; 18 V Oldham (A’deen, W50) 35:43; 19 A Watt (Fife) 36:09; 20 M Wright (HBT, W45) 36:17; 21 N Gibson (Edin) 36:30; 22 K Kennedy (PH Racing, W45) 36:31; 23 E Eadie (Edin) 36:43; 24 P Edwards (Edin U H&H) 36:46; 25 M Boyle (Kinr) 37:03; 26 K Jones (Fife) 37:18; 27 A Hendry (Centr) 37:40; 28 M Western (PH Racing, W55) 37:45; 29 E Reynolds (Dund H) 38:01; 30 D Placentino (Dund H, W45) 38:06W40: 2 R Fagan (Lass) 40:52; 3 M Torres (Fife) 41:45; 4 L Lessels (Falk TR) 41:51; 5 F Gibson (Dund H) 42:00. W45: 4 J Mcafee (Centr) 40:08; 5 C Matthews (Dund H) 41:09; 6 S Harley (Falk TR) 41:49; 7 N Flynn (Falk) 41:57. W50: 2 K Dobbie (Edin) 39:04; 3 M Lang (A’deen) 40:36. W55: 3 H Dean (Centr) 40:47; 4 R Wolfe (Metro) 41:40. W60: 1 I Bracegirdle (Fife) 41:57. W65: 1 L Nicholson (Lass) 41:57TEAM: 1 Fife 25; 2 Edin 49; 3 Metro 54; 4 Centr 104; 5 HBT 116; 6 Dund H 151; 7 Falk VH 163. VETS: 1 HBT 38; 2 Dund H 41; 3 Falk VH 52

U20 (6.5km): 1 H Page (Edin U H&H) 23:45; 2 Z Bates (Edin) 24:44; 3 J Macleod (Cors) 24:45; 4 Z Pflug (Edin U H&H) 25:13; 5 L Mcculloch (Centr) 25:19; 6 S Tait (Lass) 25:45; 7 H Morrison (Edin U H&H) 26:25; 8 O Vareille (Falk) 26:55; 9 C Cameron (Edin U H&H) 27:09; 10 K Hall (Edin U H&H) 29:23TEAM: Edin U 12U17 (5.5km): 1 C Gemmell (Tm E Loth) 20:02; 2 A Goodall (Edin) 20:21; 3 I Calvert (Living) 20:46; 4 P Carcas (Edin) 21:24; 5 E Jaffray (Tev) 21:52; 6 D Cumming (Dunf) 21:58; 7 C Purcell (A’deen) 22:06; 8 B Winkler (Edin) 22:13; 9 C Banks (Centr) 22:19; 10 K Craig (Living) 22:24TEAM: 1 Edin 14; 2 A’deen 30; 3 Centr 37U15 (4km): 1 A Hedley (Fife) 14:36; 2 K Johnson (Edin) 15:21; 3 A Dalglish (Fife) 15:36; 4 I Hedley (Fife) 15:39; 5 K Christie (Falk) 15:48; 6 A Macaulay Orr (Edin) 15:53; 7 R Newman (Edin) 15:55; 8 M Arnott (Cors) 16:17; 9 F Henry (Tm E Loth) 16:21; 10 K Macleod (Cors) 16:24TEAM: 1 Fife 8; 2 Edin 15; 3 A’deen 72; 4 Banc 81; 5 Dund H 82U13 (3.2km): 1 I Thoms (Fife) 11:14; 2 C Christie (Falk) 11:26; 3 O Clarke (Cors) 11:31; 4 J Mackenzie (A’deen) 11:44; 5 P Armstrong (A’deen) 11:48; 6 R Russell (Fife) 11:53; 7 I Jamieson (Tev) 11:54; 8 M Turnbull (Centr) 11:54; 9 M Mcclelland-brooks (Banc) 11:57; 10 C Horne (Falk) 12:04TEAM: 1 A’deen 31; 2 Fife 32; 3 Centr 38; 4 Pit 42; 5 Dund H 71; 6 Edin 71

LINDSAY SCOTTISH NORTH DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS, GordonstounSCOTLAND road international Kenny Wilson looked untroubled in taking the men’s title ahead of ultra running specialist Rob Sinclair and Craig Campbell. Wilson led the Moray team to victory from Inverness and Highland Hill Runners. The M40 winner was Willie Nicolson of Highland Hill Runners and the M50 title went to David Weir of Forres Harriers, with the U20 honours going to Max Abernethy.

Eilidh Mackenzie of Stornoway successfully defended her senior women’s title, closely followed by W40 gold medallist Catriona Morrison and hill international Kirstie Rogan. Sheila Gollan and Grace Whelan were the respective W50 and U20 winners while Moray took the team win from Forres Harriers and Highland Hill Runners.

Inverness Harriers won 12 of the 18 individual age-group medals, four of them gold, and five of the six team golds.

Full results were not available as we went to press.Men (8.5km): 1 K Wilson (Moray) 25:16; 2 R Sinclair (Insch TR) 26:14; 3 C Campbell (I’ness) 26:32; 4 J Wilson (Moray) 26:42; 5 S Daye (S’land) 26:59; 6 R Paterson (Moray) 27:13TEAM: 1 Moray 63; 2 I’ness 114; 3 HHR 171; 4 JSK 177; 5 Forres 181. VETS TEAM: 1 HHR 67; 2 Forres 83; 3 I’ness 90Women (8.5km): 1 E Mackenzie (Storn) 30:20; 2 C Morrison (HHR, W40) 30:36; 3 K Rogan (Moray) 30:46; 4 A Hudson (I’ness) 31:35; 5 T Wilson (JSK RC) 31:48; 6 M Davie (Forres) 32:08TEAM: 1 Moray 42; 2 Forres 56; 3 HHR 56; 4 I’ness 59; 5 JSK 94VETS TEAM: 1 HHR 36; 2 Forres 50; 3 Moray 78

LINDSAYS SCOTTISH WEST DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS, KilmarnockLACHLAN OATES saw off the challenge of Andy Douglas to claim gold for the first time at a muddy Kilmarnock. The Scotland international had been a regular on the podium at this event winning silver two years ago and a bronze last year.

This time, he bided his time to make a last lap break to get clear of Douglas with the bronze medal headed for his club-mate, John Bell. Cambuslang Harriers however packed best and thus successfully defended the senior men’s gold they had won a year previously at Irvine. Oates’ Shettleston team took silver with Inverclyde in third.

“I’m really pleased to win that because Andy’s beaten me a couple of times at this event and is a top athlete,” said Oates. “We were together for a long time and eventually I managed to push it on a little bit and get an advantage.”

Elspeth Curran was a clear favourite for the women’s race and so it proved as she opened up a gap on Michelle Sandison of Springburn with that 1-2 never changing. Nicola Hood took the bronze on a course that was a bit longer than the 8.5km anticipated. Shettleston took the women’s team title form VP Glasgow and Bellahouston Road Runners.

There were masters’ golds for Shettleston pair Jethro Lennox and Avril Mason with the team golds going to the Cambuslang men and the women of Bellahouston Road Runners. GB international Erin Wallace won the U20 gold with Cameron Wright taking the U20 men’s title..

A course and marshalling error led to shorter than planned U13 races.

Full results were not available as we went to press.Men (8.5km): 1 L Oates (Shett) 29:40; 2 A Douglas (I’clyde) 29:57; 3 J Bell (I’clyde) 31:05; 4 F Stewart (Cambus) 31:08; 5 A Campbell (Cambus) 31:11; 6 K Harvey (Cambus) 31:14TEAM: 1 Cambus 57; 2 Shett 66; 3 I’clyde 124; 4 Bella H 282; 5 E Kilb 343; 6 Garsc 345; 7 Giff N 443; 8 G’nock 555VETS TEAM: 1 Cambus 12; 2 Shett 23; 3 Garsc 52Women (8.5km): 1 E Curran (Kilb) 33:44; 2 M Sandison (Springb) 34:35; 3 N Hood (Dumf RC) 35:26; 4 A Mason (Shett, W40) 35:42; 5 K White (Garsc) 35:45; 6 A Tait (VPCG) 36:00TEAM: 1 Shett 42; 2 VPC G 65; 3 Bella R 73; 4 Garsc 77; 5 Giff N 122; 6 Springb 129; 7 Dumb 135; 8 Cambus 158; 9 Bella H 160; 10 Ayr S 239

SOUTH OF ENGLAND MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS, OxfordKATH BAILEY followed up her W50 win in the Masters International with a hard-fought overall victory against younger athletes.

Bailey, who won the South of England senior title 24 years ago, took the combined women veterans’ race in 24:14 and helped her Winchester club to the W50 team win.

Two seconds back another International winner, Julie Briggs of Arena 80, won the W45 gold which ensured her team the W40 team event.

On the weekend one of her daughters won a European team gold and another just missed one in the relay, Sally Judd’s sprint finish gave her third overall spot and

she also won the individual gold as she took the W40 individual title in 24:35.

Defending overall champion Maria Heslop, who was not at full fitness, was sixth overall and second W50 while England international Caroline Wood was first W55 in 26:44.

Jane Davies of Reading Road Runners, not to be confused with the Epsom and Ewell veteran of the same name, won the W60 title in 27:56 and Joy Radford gained the W65 gold in 32:22.

Olympian Penny Forse ran 31:14 and thought she had won the title but was disappointed to find she was discounted because she was scored in the eighth placed W50 team.

Also disappointed in this race were the supporters, who waited at the end of the first lap, only to realise the athletes had done a totally different course to that advertised and featured in the programme and were only visible at the finish.

Simon Baines won the M40 championships in 31:54 and led Thames Hare & Hounds club to the title over Herne Hill, who were led in by runner-up Simon Coombes.

Oxford’s very own Julian Richardson won the M50 title in 33:30 but Andy Weir in second (33:46) led Thames to another team gold.

Also in their team was former champion Ben Reynolds, who finished out of the individual medals. He came home one place ahead of Andy Howey who won M55 gold in 34:26.

Michael Bridgeland had a comfortable victory in the M60 category in 37:15 while Dave Cox (38:16) was first M65.

Older vets were disappointed that there was no M70 or M75 championship medals as the SoEAA decided there was insufficient demand. M40 (10km): 1 S Baines (THH, M45) 31:54; 2 S Coombes (Herne H, M45) 31:59; 3 M Shore (THH) 32:03; 4 T Jones (Wit) 32:20; 5 J Rendall (Ton) 32:26; 6 B Paviour (Herne H, M45) 32:29; 7 A Hamilton (BMH) 32:39; 8 J Kettle (Herne H) 33:18; 9 J Richardson (Oxf C, M50) 33:30; 10 M Jones (THH) 33:41; 11 A Weir (THH, M50) 33:48; 12 C Sharp (Central P) 33:50; 13 M Adcock (Wat, M50) 33:53; 14 N Henderson (E&E) 33:54; 15 A Parmenter (C&C) 33:59; 16 S Herring (Bed C, M50) 34:04; 17 B Reynolds (THH, M50) 34:14; 18 A Howey (Tun W, M55) 34:26; 19 F Campbell (Head, M50) 34:27; 20 R Paranandi (Herne H) 35:02; 21 N Anderson (Win, M45) 35:06; 22 A Smalls (Col H, M50) 35:07; 23 P Cousins (Hay H, M55) 35:08; 24 R McCormick (Barn, M55) 35:10; 25 A Davidson (High, M55) 35:12; 26 P Sansome (Win) 35:16; 27 R Bentley (Soton, M50) 35:20; 28 P Jegou (W Horse) 35:28; 29 M Summerfield (VoA, M50) 35:34; 30 S Holmes (Over, M45) 35:36; 31 M Potter (Lon Hth, M50) 35:52; 32 A Bonzi (Phoe) 35:59; 33 M Tennyson (G&G, M55) 36:00; 34 M Bateman (Hill) 36:01; 35 A Simpson (Stubb G, M45) 36:02; 36 J Ratcliffe (Herne H, M50) 36:03; 37 R Coleman (Stubb G) 36:06; 38 R Carter (Strag) 36:12; 39 K Lowies (Head, M50) 36:14; 40 S Stevens (Win, M45) 36:18; 41 A Asmelash (London Heathside AC, M55) 36:21; 42 C Michael (Barn, M50) 36:22; 43 K Newton (Herne H, M55) 36:27; 44 P Spowage (Col H, M55) 36:29; 45 D Aguilar-Agon (C&C, M55) 36:31; 46 D Blackman (Soton, M50)

36:44; 47 D Lee (Herne H, M50) 36:50; 48 J Flahive (Lon Hth, M50) 36:51; 49 G Warder (Soton) 37:01; 50 P Dobson (Col H, M50) 37:03; 51 C Poulton (Camb H, M50) 37:06; 52 J Grainger (Soton, M50) 37:11; 53 M Bridgeland (Chelm, M60) 37:15; 54 S Flack (E&E) 37:18; 55 J Matthews (B’mth, M50) 37:20; 56 T Booth (G&G, M50) 37:22; 57 M Dmitrzak (QPH) 37:23; 58 R Casey (Gard CR) 37:26; 59 S Ingham (Wat, M45) 37:30; 60 R Reeder (Strag, M50) 37:31; 61 R Peacock (Herne H) 37:32; 62 J Hill (Gard CR, M50) 37:33; 63 M Kwint (Win, M50) 37:34; 64 P Coleman (Ton, M50) 37:35; 65 M Davies (Strag, M50) 37:39; 66 G Whitlock (Inv EK, M45) 37:42; 67 S Norris (TVH, M50) 37:44; 68 J Ward (Herne H) 37:48; 69 M Jubb (Der, M45) 37:52; 70 J Warner (Stubb G) 37:57; 71 R Skilbeck (Head, M45) 38:00; 72 A Parkinson (Win, M45) 38:03; 73 A Blair (Bed C, M50) 38:04; 74 M Jefford (Lon Hth, M50) 38:05; 76 T Chilton (Herne H, M50) 38:09M50: 31 N Herron (Phoe) 38:14; 32 N Aston (St Alb S) 38:18; 33 A Noble (Ashf D) 38:21; 34 D Morley (Strag) 38:27; 35 M Pitcairn-Knowles (Ton) 38:44; 36 I Harkness (Harrow) 38:49. M55: 9 C Ridley (Col H) 38:24; 10 S Howard (Ely) 38:29; 11 R Gunner (Stubb G) 38:37; 12 G Evans (Lon Hth,) 38:51; 13 A Phelps (Head) 38:55; 14F Young (Win) 38:56; 15 A Kelleher (Barn) 39:00. M60: 2 M White (Stubb G) 38:12 3 S Rolfe (Norf G) 38:26; 4 S Smythe (Dulw) 38:54; 5 I Fairclough (Newb) 39:53; 6 D Kitcher (Camb H) 39:59; 7 C Ritchie (C&C,) 41:47; 8 P Ellis (Barn) 42:01; 9 R Pitt (THH) 42:05; 10 A Lenon (THH) 42:50.M65: 1 D Cox (WG&EL) 38:16; 2 P Whelpton (Phoe) 38:32; 3 S Thorp (Oxf C) 39:42; 4 D Michael (Barn) 41:06; 5 A Catton (Ilf) 41:29; 6 D Wilcock (Barn) 41:37; 7 I Richardson (Soton) 42:48; 8 M Sheridan (Newb) 43:06; 9 S Connolly (Swin) 43:12; 10 C Heap (Lon Hth) 43:22; 11 G Anderson (Newb) 43:38; 12 S Plestead (ESM) 43:42; 13 M Farmery (THH) 43:50; 14 A Newman (Ton) 44:00; 15 M Bell (Stubb G) 44:04; 16 W Hill (Craw) 44:13. M70: 1 R Treadwell (Oxf C) 44:33; 2 D Beattie (Craw) 45:39; 3 R Bloom (Herts P) 46:05M40 TEAM: 1 Thames H&H 13; 2 Herne H 16; 3 Winchester 52; 4 Stubb G 75; 5 Soton 106; 6 Stragglers 117; 7 TVH 121; 8 Newbury 130

Michael Bridgeland:

clear M60 win at Oxford

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M50 TEAM: 1 THH 54; 2 Col H 55; 3 Lon H 57; 4 Herne H 60; 5 Soton 63; 6 Head RR 74; 7 Barnet 82; 8 Stragglers 109; 9 Hay H 144; 10 Gard CR 153; 11 Winchester 151; 12 Stubb G 165; 13 Tonbridge 178; 14 Burnham J 199; 15 Newbury 214 M60 TEAM: 1 Barnet 36; 2 Newbury 53; 3 THH 58; 4 Stubb G 67; 5 Phoenix 72; 6 Soton 83; 7 Oxf C 85; 8 Crawley 86W40 (6km): 1 K Bailey (Win, W50) 24:14; 2 J Briggs (Arena, W45) 24:16; 3 S Judd (Herts P) 24:35; 4 S Biggs (Strag, W45) 24:40; 5 T Simmonds (Win) 25:01; 6 M Heslop (Ton, W50) 25:14; 7 D Tarleton (Arena, W45) 25:17; 8 T Shanahan (Arena, W45) 25:23; 9 N Sturzaker (Herne H, W45) 25:28; 10 E Montiel (Ports) 25:30; 11 S Urwin-Mann (Read, W45) 25:56; 12 S Bailey (High, W45) 26:27; 13 C Hoskins (Win) 26:28; 14 D Norman (E&E) 26:30; 15 T Oldershaw (Ton, W50) 26:36; 16 W King (Chelm, W45) 26:41; 17 C Wood (Arena, W55) 26:44; 18 L Killip (Strag, W55) 26:51; 19 K Hazlitt (Win, W50) 27:20; 20 S Francis (Read, W45) 27:31; 21 J Clarke (Norw, W55) 27:36; 22 W Walsh (St Alb S, W45) 27:37; 23 C Pusey (Burn J, W45) 27:37; 24 S Harrison (G&G, W55) 27:41; 25 J Gandee (Win, W50) 27:46; 26 A Stewart-Power (Newb, W55) 27:53; 27 J Davies (Read RR, W60) 27:56; 28 D Smale (Strag, W55) 27:57; 29 D Rushman (Herts P, W50) 28:06; 30 S Dixon (Camb H, W50) 28:12; 31 L Pitcairn-Knowles (Ton, W50) 28:18; 32 H Pool (Read RR) 28:26; 33 M Ford (QPH, W50) 28:32; 34 P Flynn (Strag, W55) 28:33; 35 J Burkett (Serp) 28:35; 36 A Ramos-villaverd (Rad, W45) 28:42; 37 J Wastell (Lon Hth, W55) 28:44; 38 S Boxer (Barn, W55) 28:49; 39 A Garnier (THH, W60) 28:51; 40 H Davies (Strag, W45) 28:58; 41 L Evans (Stubb G) 29:00; 42 C Graham (Strag, W45) 29:02; 43 P Iannella (S Lon, W60) 29:10; 44 J Jefferies (Win, W45) 29:14; 45 B Tull (Read, W45) 29:17; 46 B Hibberd (Strag, W50) 29:18; 47 N Cendrowicz (High, W45) 29:22; 48 N Laitner (St Alb S, W50) 29:25; 49 L Nike (Read, W45) 29:27; 50 L Whitaker (Win, W60) 29:31; 51 C Curtis (Folk, W50) 29:36; 52 J Eaton (Newb, W55) 29:47; 53 C Henery (Norw, W55) 29:54; 54 G Hueter (Oxf C, W60) 29:58; 55 D Taylor (Read, W50) 30:01; 56 P Ronksley (Strag, W55) 30:10; 57 H Hoyle (Barn, W50) 30:12; 58 P Thomas (ESM, W50) 30:14; 59 J Rymell (Arena, W55) 30:16; 60 C Pout (St Alb S, W55) 30:20; 61 S McGrath (Stubb G, W50) 30:22; 62 R Burgess (W Horse, W50) 30:24; 63 A Fenwick (Win, W55) 30:30; 64 K O’Rourke (Hill, W50) 30:35; 65 S Park (Eal E, W55) 30:46; 66

P Gnoato (Herne H, W45) 30:47; 67 S Carr (Camb H, W45) 30:47; 68 J Hughes (Arena, W55) 30:51; 69 C White (Lon Hth, W60) 30:59; 70 S Venhuyssteen (Newb, W50) 31:06; 71 P Forse (Stubb G, W65) 31:13; 72 L Church (Read, W55) 31:37; 73 K Johnstone (Barn, W55) 31:39; 74 H Turley (Head, W60) 31:46; 75 B Smith (Hill, W55) 31:46; 76 A Burley (Read RR, W45) 31:49; 77 F Lord (Stubb G, W55) 32:01; 78 M Spencer (Hill) 32:13; 79 J Pinnock (Eynsh, W55) 32:15; 80 S Alves (Barn, W45) 32:19; 81 J Radford (Win, W65) 32:22; 82 S Knight (Read RR, W55) 32:43; 85 P Fischer (Hill, W60) 33:11; 91 J Duvall (Head, W60) 33:46; 93 S James (Ton, W65) 34:07; 109 L Harkness (Newb, W70) 38:46; 112 S Grylls (Head, W65) 39:28; 113 R Delabertauche (Barn, W65) 39:37; 116 S Boulton (Strag, W65) 40:20; 117 R Pilbeam (Tott, W65) 40:47; 118 J Franks (Strag, W65) 41:03; 119 L Atkinson (Read RR, W65) 42:32; 120 C Csemiczky (Read RR, W65) 42:40W40 TEAM: 1 Arena 12; 2 Winchester 38; 3 Stragglers 45; 4 Reading 47; 5 St Albans 80; 6 Read RR 82; 7 Stubb G 106; 8 TVH 134W50 TEAM: 1 Winchester 16; 2 Tonbridge 19; 3 Stragglers 32; 4 Arena 65; 5 Newbury 66; 6 Barnet 81; 7 Reading 104; 8 Stubb G 105; 9 Hillingdon 117W60 TEAM: 1 Head RR 33; 2 Barnet 42; 3 Read RR 44; 4 Stragglers 53

SOUTH OF ENGLAND INTER-COUNTIES CHAMPIONSHIPS, OxfordHANNAH VINER, who was only ninth last year, narrowly won the women’s race in 22:27 from Mel Wilkins and Gemma Kersey as fourth-placed Isabel Brinsden led Surrey to the team championship.

National winner Mohamed Ali (15:22) had a narrow win in the under-17 race from former South of England U15 winner Charlie Brisley (15:27) who led Kent to team victory.

Tia Wilson easily won the U17 women’s event. Another National champion, Bethany Cook, took the U15 girls’ race while English Schools International representative Louis Small won the boys race from Kent team-mate Matthew Taylor with English Schools 1500m champion Felix Vaughan back in third as Kent again took team honours.

Southern bronze medallist Isaac Morris, who this winter won at Milton Keynes and Liverpool, took the under-13 boys race easily with South of England champion Ruby Vinton winning the girls equivalent. U17 men (5km): 1 M Ali (Middx) 15:22; 2 C Brisley (Kent) 15:27; 3 W

Barnicoat (Sry) 15:28; 4 O Bright (Kent) 15:30; 5 C Macrae (Kent) 15:32; 6 N Harhalakis (Cambs) 15:33; 7 J Kingston (Kent) 15:34; 8 A May (Kent) 15:35; 9 L Vanoudtshoorn (Sry) 15:40; 10 W Mahoney (Norfolk) 15:45; 11 G Pool (Sussex) 15:51; 12 F Gordon (Kent) 15:54; 13 A Williams (Bucks) ) 15:58; 14 A Khalip (Middx) 16:00; 15 B Rushman (Herts) 16:02; 16 A Killeen (Beds) 16:04; 17 J Petterson (Suffolk) 16:04; 18 Z Bridgeland (Essex) 16:05; 19 E Ahmed (Middx) 16:06; 20 W Simm (Norfolk) 16:07; 21 N Goddard (Suffolk) 16:08; 22 E Pocock (Hants) 16:11; 23 J Blacknell (Sry) 16:14; 24 H Reilly (Kent) 16:15; 25 F Gibbs (Bucks) ) 16:17; 26 D Spencer (Sry) 16:19; 27 A Samuel (Essex) 16:21; 28 A Donnelly (Kent) 16:24; 29 M Caddell (Bucks) ) 16:25; 30 C Mcguiness (Cambs) 16:27TEAM: 1 Kent 18; 2 Surrey 61; 3 Kent B 72; 4 Middx 81; 5 Bucks 102; 6 Cambs 124; 7 Norfolk 125; 8 Sussex 133; 9 Hants 135; 10 Herts 138; 11 Essex152; 12 Suffolk 166 13 Beds 175; 14 Surrey B 227; 15 Sussex B 287; 16 Hants B 289; 18 Middx B 311; 19 Suffolk B 334U15 (4km): 1 L Small (Kent) 13:27; 2 M Taylor (Kent) 13:27; 3 F Vaughan (Sry) 13:32; 4 R Martin (Hants) 13:40; 5 W Jerome (Hants) 13:49; 6 L Sullivan (Suffolk) 13:57; 7 H Taylor (Kent) 13:58; 8 T Brash (Kent) 14:01; 9 C Wagstaff (Sry) 14:02; 10 D Adams (Norfolk) 14:03; 11 M Gar (Sry) 14:04; 12 H Hide (Hants) 14:08; 13 J Peck (Suffolk) 14:10; 14 J Pople (Kent) 14:11; 15 C Nieto-Parr (Sussex) 14:12; 16 K Evans-lombe (Suffolk) 14:13; 17 E Scott (Sry) 14:14; 18 S Maund (Middx) 14:14; 19 J Small (Kent) 14:15; 20 W D’Arcy (Oxon) 14:15; 21 C Laird (Hants) 14:16; 22 O Emment (Sry) 14:17; 23 L Stubbs (Herts) 14:17; 24 L Stone (Sry) 14:18; 25 A Ford (Essex) 14:19; 26 J Sanderson (Bucks) 14:20; 27 M Smith (Sry) 14:22; 28 S Burnell (Herts) 14:24; 29 M Duckworth (Sry) 14:26; 30 B Brown (Hants) 14:27TEAM: 1 Kent 18; 2 Surrey 40; 3 Hants 42; 4 Suffolk 69; 5 Surrey B 102; 6 Kent B 106; 7 Herts 137; 8 Hants B 151; 9 Middx 160; 10 Sussex 56; 16 Herts B 302; 17 Sussex B 317; 18 Suffolk B 326; 19 Beds 338; 20 Oxon B 352; 21 Bucks B 378U13 (3km): 1 I Morris (Cambs) 10:57; 2 Q Miell-Ingram (Oxon) 11:01; 3 B Peck (Suffolk) 11:05; 4 J Lewis (Hants) 11:07; 5 W Steadman (Essex) 11:09; 6 T Redmond (Bucks) 11:09; 7 D Shattock (Hants) 11:10; 8 C Chilton (Sry) 11:13; 9 G Hopkins (Kent) 11:17; 10 H Dover (Essex) 11:20; 11 C Norman (Sry) 11:21; 12 L Mcgrath (Essex) 11:22; 13 M Juxon (Sry) 11:22; 14 L Conway (Cambs) 11:22; 15 J Stevens (Kent) 11:24; 16 M Pickering (Sry) 11:25; 17 J Dargan (Sry) 11:28; 18 J Barnes (Kent) 11:29; 19 R Page (Kent) 11:30; 20 H Gear (Kent) 11:31; 21 G Lambert (Hants) 11:32; 22 J Geller (Essex) 11:32; 23 S Riley (Essex) 11:34; 24 S Blake (Middx) 11:34; 25 Z Crowther (Sry) 11:35; 26 H Glyn (Middx) 11:35; 27 M Waterworth (Sussex) 11:36; 28 H Lewis (Essex) 11:37; 29 G Ward (Herts) 11:38; 30 O Brownridge (Kent) 11:38TEAM: 1 Surrey 48; 2 Essex49; 3 Kent 61; 4 Hants 67; 5 Cambs 107; 6 Surrey B 115; 7 Kent B 117; 8Hetrts 145; 9 Sussex 154; 10 Bucks 178; 11 Suffolk 198; 12 Middx 203; 13 Sussex B 220; 14

Oxon 226; 15 Hants B 240; 16 Herts B 340; 17 Norfolk 343; 18 Bucks B 384; 19 Beds 405; 20 Oxon B 409Women (6km): 1 1 H Viner (Middx) 22:27; 2 M Wilkins (Bucks) ) 22:34; 3 G Kersey (Essex) 22:38; 4 I Brinsden (Sry) 22:49; 5 V Knight (Cambs) 22:54; 6 K O’Neill (Essex, U20) 23:02; 7 L Harris (Sussex) 23:07; 8 L Damen (Hants, W35) 23:10; 9 J Tomczak (Sry, U20) 23:18; 10 S Monk (Sry) 23:21; 11 R Dunlop (Hants) 23:29; 12 E Harrison (Sry) 23:43; 13 P Rutherfoord (Sry, W35) 23:45; 14 R Thomas (Middx) 23:47; 15 E Newton (Kent, U20) 23:52; 16 E Burgess (Middx) 23:55; 17 Y Goater (Middx) 23:56; 18 P Unthank (Suffolk, U20) 23:57; 19 C Grima (Sry, W40) 23:58; 20 M Deadman (Hants, U20) 24:00; 21 R Sweatt (Essex) 24:03; 22 R Piggott (Middx) 24:07; 23 E Palmer (Sry, U20) 24:08; 24 S Kingston (Hants) 24:08; 25 L Squibbs (Hants, U20) 24:09; 26 Z Tomkins (Sry, U20) 24:14; 27 J Hinton (Middx) 24:21; 28 K Brown (Sry, U20) 24:23; 29 C Wright (Kent) 24:27; 30 J Ball (Sry) 24:29; 31 H Cozens (Hants) 24:30; 32 L Nash (Sussex) 24:31; 33 A Wright (Bucks) ) 24:33; 34 R Lord (Hants) 24:34; 35 J Roberts (Bucks) ) 24:35; 36 S Grover (Herts) 24:36; 37 M James (Sry) 24:38; 38 A Weston (Kent) 24:41; 39 G Bailey (Essex) 24:42; 40 E Sharrock (Norfolk, U20) 24:44; 41 I Emmett (Hants) 24:46; 42 M Grice (Hants, U20) 24:48; 43 V Hiscock (Essex) 24:48; 44 R Luxton (Essex, W35) 24:50; 45 E Jolley (Hants, W35) 24:51; 46 C Bishop (Essex) 24:52; 47 S Clark (Essex, U20) 24:53; 48 M Hall (Sry) 24:53; 49 G Mann (Hants, U20) 24:55; 50 G Galbraith (Sry, W40) 24:55; 51 L Rowedder (Herts, U20) 24:56; 52 S Whatmough (Sry) 24:58; 53 N Fonteyn (Sussex, U20) 25:00; 54 F Demauny (Sry) 25:01; 55 A Goodwin (Suffolk) 25:02; 56 R Wyles (Sry, U20) 25:03; 57 R Frake (Cambs) 25:05; 58 E Coates (Sry) 25:08; 59 R Mulvey (Sussex) 25:12; 60 A Billups (Sry) 25:13; 61 L Weeks (Kent, W35) 25:14; 62 E Howsham (Sry) 25:15; 63 J Smith (Beds, U20) 25:16; 64 S Rand (Essex, U20) 25:18; 65 K Thorneycroft (Middx) 25:24; 66 S Amend (Buckinghamshire, W35) 25:25; 67 A Sharp (Hants) 25:26; 68 J Leane (Middx, U20) 25:27; 69 L Rooney (Sry, W35) 25:28; 70 J Payne (Sry, W35) 25:29; 71 C Crossman (Sry) 25:31; 72 J Vickers (Sry, W40) 25:33; 73 B Dow (Cambs, U20) 25:36; 74 E Navesey (Sussex) 25:39; 75 J Conway (Herts) 25:42; 76 L Rycroft (Oxon, U20) 25:50; 77 E Gray (Essex, U20) 25:52; 78 J Saunders (Sry) 25:53; 79 J Wedmore (Sry) 25:54; 80 S Markwick (Sussex) 25:57; 81 A Germana (Sry) 25:58; 82 K Balme (Sry, U20) 25:59; 83 S Mcdonald (Sry) 26:03; 84 R Gardiner (Herts) 26:03; 85 C Halfhead (Oxon, U20) 26:07; 86 M Smith (Kent, U20) 26:12; 87 A Johnson (Kent, W40) 26:14; 88 K Simister (Hants, U20) 26:15; 89 A Patterson (Middx, U20) 26:16; 90 C Ridewood (Oxon, U20) 26:20TEAM: 1 Surrey 33; 2 Middx 40; 3 Hants 56; 4 Essex 81; 5 Surrey B 100; 6 Bucks 100; 7 Sussex 126; 8 Hants B 130; 9 Kent 156; 10 Herts 211; 11 Kent B 269U20 TEAM: 1 Surrey 25; 2 Hants 36; 3 Essex 53; 4 Kent 103; 5 Sussex 115; 6 Oxon 117; 7 Middx 119 U17 (5km): 1 T Wilson (Beds) 17:38; 2 Y Marghini (Middx) 18:10; 3 P Anderson (Bucks) 18:10; 4 G Burrell (Essex) 18:16; 5 A Richer (Sussex) 18:22; 6 C Buckley

(Middx) 18:28; 7 F Stapleton (Herts) 18:31; 8 O McDonald (Sry) 18:39; 9 M Rose (Kent) 18:40; 10 A White (Middx) 18:43; 11 J Norkett (Norfolk) 18:48; 12 E Sakaria (Sry) 18:51; 13 J Tofte (Sry) 18:52; 14 M Jones (Bucks) 18:54; 15 H Bloor (Sussex) 18:56; 16 E Farrow (Hants) 18:58; 17 E Taylor (Norfolk) 18:59; 18 A Dunne (Hants) 19:00; 19 H Instance (Essex) 19:04; 20 M Collings (Sry) 19:06; 21 M Gadsby (Norfolk) 19:11; 22 N Ainsworth (Hants) 19:16; 23 I Patel (Herts) 19:18; 24 L Polloni (Middx) 19:19; 25 A Calder (Hants) 19:20; 26 C Griffiths (Sry) 19:22; 27 M Hardman (Sussex) 19:22; 28 E Hathaway (Middx) 19:26; 29 M Ramurenine (Sussex) 19:31; 30 E Robinson (Cambs) 19:33TEAM: 1 Middx 42; 2 Surrey 53; 3 Sussex 76; 4 Hants 81; 5 Norfolk 104; 6 Bucks 107; 7 Kent 109; 8 Herts 138; 9 Middx B 140; 10 Essex144; 11 Sussex B 177; 12 Hants B 179; 13 Surrey B 191; 14 Kent B 197; 15 Cambs 216; 16 Beds 229; 17 Suffolk 302; 18 Oxon 325U15 (4km): 1 B Cook (Sussex) 14:54; 2 A Ives (Essex) 15:13; 3 H Reynolds (Norfolk) 15:18; 4 M Harris (Essex) 15:22; 5 I HInkley (Hants) 15:26; 6 A Henderson (Bucks) 15:37; 7 S Lomas (Sry) 15:43; 8 G Jermy (Norfolk) 15:43; 9 P Roessler (Sry) 15:44; 10 S Lecoutrre (Sry) 15:45; 11 T Sullivan (Kent) 15:46; 12 M Harris (Essex) 15:47; 13 H Henderson (Bucks) 15:52; 14 R Chesterfield (Hants) 15:52; 15 P Craigmcfeeley (Sry) 15:55; 16 D Eves (Essex) 15:59; 17 R Horton (Hants) 16:00; 18 A Weightman (Herts) 16:01; 19 A Barnes (Kent) 16:03; 20 A Moore (Hants) 16:03; 21 O Martin (Oxon) 16:03; 22 A Jubb (Herts) 16:04; 23 M Silverstone (Essex) 16:04; 24 M Wise (Kent) 16:04; 25 H Clark (Kent) 16:05; 26 L Yse (Herts) 16:05; 27 N Sewell (Essex) 16:05; 28 A Evans (Kent) 16:06; 29 A Bushell (Bucks) 16:06; 30 Z Mossi (Middx) 16:07TEAM: 1 Essex 34; 2 Surrey 41; 3 Hants 56; 4 Kent 79; 5 Norfolk 81; 6 Herts 107; 7 Bucks 107; 8 Essex b 117; 9 Sussex 122; 10 Surrey B 166; 11 Middx 170; 12 Hants B 180; 13 Kent B 183; 14 Oxon 243; 15 Middx B 275; 16 Norfolk B 354; 17 Suffolk 298; 18 Bucks B 306; 19 Cambs 324; 20 Beds 377U13 (3km): 1 R Vinton (Suffolk) 11:44; 2 R Fossa (Hants) 11:54; 3 A Mann (Hants) 11:59; 4 F Baxter (Bucks) 12:00; 5 E Strevens (Sussex) 12:01; 6 A Reid (Essex) 12:06; 7 L Nloane (Bucks) 12:10; 8 L Wormley (Sry) 12:12; 9 E Little (Essex) 12:16; 10 K Atkinson (Essex) 12:19; 11 N Austin (Kent) 12:20; 12 K Sakaria (Sry) 12:21; 13 L Denece (Sry) 12:22; 14 L Slack (Kent) 12:24; 15 J Nicholson (Sry) 12:28; 16 R Higgins (Essex) 12:29; 17 S Okoro (Essex) 12:30; 18 N McGovern (Middx) 12:31; 19 E Priest (Sry) 12:32; 20 L Phillips (Hants) 12:32; 21 K Atkinson (Essex) 12:33; 22 M Hughes (Bucks) 12:34; 23 P Morris (Hants) 12:34; 24 I Law (Hants) 12:35; 25 D Yelling (Sussex) 12:36; 26 T Major (Herts) 12:37; 27 L Roberts (Hants) 12:38; 28 C Kirkby (Sry) 12:40; 29 D Wilkinson (Hants) 12:40; 30 K Youp (Hants) 12:41TEAM: 1 Essex; 2 Surrey 48; 3 Hants 48; 4 Bucks 68; 5 Kent 96; 6 Hants B 110; 7 Surrey B 112; 8 Sussex 178; 9 Essex B 194; 10 Herts 202; 11 Middx 202; 12 Kent B 205; 13 Norfolk 217; 14 Suffolk 227; 15 Bucks B 251; 16 Oxon 261; 17 Beds 261; 18 Cambs 213; 19 Sussex B 341; 20 Norfolk B 365

Bethany Cook (1589): under-15 win at Oxford

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WELSH INTER-REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, Llandrindod WellsJAMES HUNT and Alaw Beynon-Thomas were runaway winners, Alex Donald reports.

The 20th edition of the event took place at a new venue at the small, rural town in Mid Wales. Heavy rainfall meant difficult conditions could not be avoided on an undulating course that became increasingly boggy as the afternoon drew on.

Welsh cross-country champion Hunt enjoyed the victory over 9,940m in 33:54 and he came home nearly a minute ahead of his closest rival Abed Teweldebrhan, leading South Wales to team victory.

Mark Hopkinson was third with double Paralympian Stephen Morris in fourth, a long way over his favoured 1500m distance.

In the women’s race, West Wales’ Beynon-Thomas was defending her title won two years ago in Brecon following last year’s cancellation when heavy rainfall meant that travel to the venue couldn’t be recommended.

Beynon-Thomas, who had also warmed up for the Championships with a runaway win over a similarly testing course at the Gwent League a week before, said: “It was a good day for me, retaining my title. I might need to start saying that I enjoy the mud.”

Helen Marshall ran through the field to take second place outright and the W35 title.

Lucy Marland was the third athlete home, making a welcome return to racing following a long lay-off due to injury.

Despite not finishing an athlete on the podium, it was the East Wales team that claimed the senior women’s prize, led home by Hannah Jarvis in seventh.

Dominic Smith won perhaps the closest fought battle of the day in the U20 men’s race after changing places with West Wales team-mate and training partner Elliot Lawrence for much of the race. Smith’s eventual victory came just five seconds ahead of Lawrence, who lost touch in the closing stages.

Naomi Reid’s U20 women’s victory led her South Wales team to the top rung of the podium. Reid was followed home by Laura Wright, also running for the South, and Martha Owen in third for North Wales.

The U17 titles went to Mike Spill of North Wales and to 2017 Cross Challenge series runner-up Mia Roberts, also running for the North.Men (9.94km): 1 J Hunt (Card) 33:54; 2 A Teweldebrhan (Newp) 34:51; 3 M Hopkinson (Torfaen Runners) 35:19; 4 S Morris (Card) 35:20; 5 R Mcflynn (MickMorris, M35) 35:33; 6 A Bull (Aberdare Vaac) 35:46; 7 M Farhan (Card) 36:08; 8 J Turner (Welsh Anglo Athletes) 36:23; 9 E Cox (Buckley Runners) 36:34; 10 A Lanz (Meir) 37:03; 11 T Iveson (Builth, M35) 37:14; 12 H Evans (Les C, M45) 37:18; 13 R Jackson-hookins (Les C, M35) 37:28; 14 S Richards (Pontypridd Roadents) 37:40; 15 P Ryder (Aberdare Vaac, M35) 37:41; 16 M Evans (Aberdare Vaac, M35) 37:51; 17 D Triggs (Neath, M35) 38:05; 18 S Gregory (Aberdare Vaac) 38:09; 19 R Jones (Aberdare Vaac) 38:12; 20 A Williams (Meir, M35) 38:16; 21 J Wherlock (Llis, M45) 38:20; 22 L Williams (San D) 38:25; 23 R Davies (Wrex) 38:28; 24 H Diplock (Parc BB) 38:29; 25 M Jacklin (Aberdare Vaac,

M35) 38:31; 26 M Holloway (Brec) 38:32; 27 B Williams (Port T) 38:36; 28 M Mogford (MickMorris, M35) 38:36; 29 D Bodman (Aberdare Vaac) 38:36; 30 G Brown (Pen, M35) 38:39M45: 3 J Brown (Buckley Runners) 39:01; 4 S Simms (MickMorris) 39:51; 5 A Lee (Ponty) 40:03. M55: 1 I Lloyd (Swan) 41:15; 2 R Hunt (B’end) 41:33; 3 K Griffiths (TROTS) 42:05U20 (6.34km): 1 D Smith (Swan) 23:00; 2 E Lawrence (Swan) 23:05; 3 L Ryan (Card) 23:12; 4 T Wood (Eryri) 23:39; 5 M James (Card) 24:07; 6 B Thomas (Carmarthen Harriers) 24:22; 7 R Adebiyi (Newp) 24:41; 8 B Price-davies (Brec) 24:46; 9 E Ackroyd (W Ches) 25:05; 10 D Nazareth (Card Arch) 25:11; 11 O Edwards (Card) 25:16; 12 C Dafydd (Menai T&F) 25:23; 13 E Price-davies (Brec) 26:02; 14 R Davies (Carmarthen Harriers) 26:50; 15 I Oldfield (Wrex) 27:16U17 (5.44km): 1 M Spill (Menai T&F) 15:34; 2 N Jones (Swan) 15:45; 3 L Sheppard (Card) 16:04; 4 F Hines (Neath) 16:09; 5 L Griffiths (Aberdare Vaac) 16:10; 6 S Smith (Newp) 16:10; 7 B Reynolds (Card) 16:14; 8 J Penrose (Aberdare Vaac) 16:16; 9 D Jay (Swan) 16:18; 10 L Spencer (Card) 16:21; 11 T Land (Col B) 16:29; 12 D Gill (Maldwyn) 16:31; 13 A Jones (Menai T&F) 16:42; 14 I Edwards (Card) 16:43; 15 J Reardon (Aberdare Vaac) 16:44; 16 B Woodall (Col B) 16:45; 17 C La-trobe Roberts (Menai T&F) 16:55; 18 J Griffiths (Neath) 16:56; 19 D Stones (Menai T&F) 16:57; 20 C Owen (Maldwyn) 17:00U15 (4.14km): 1 A Beer (L’nelli) 14:30; 2 I Humphreys (P’broke) 14:55; 3 D Jones (Carmarthen Harriers) 14:59; 4 R Hardman (Card Arch) 15:10; 5 O Jones (Maldwyn) 15:39; 6 E Woodhead (Dees) 15:45; 7 E Urkola (Newp) 15:47; 8 L Jones (Card) 15:49; 9 O Tyrell (Card) 15:54; 10 R Edwards (Card Arch) 15:58; 11 M Anthony (Dees) 16:03; 12 I Cressy-rodgers (Carmarthen Harriers) 16:04; 13 C Harries (P’broke) 16:08; 14 D Owen (Maldwyn) 16:13; 15 C Shaw (Menai T&F) 16:20; 16 O Price (Blae G) 16:22; 17 J Jones (Newp) 16:25; 18 T Cartlidge (Dees) 16:25; 19 A Penrose (Card Arch) 16:38; 20 I White (Swan) 16:39U13 (2.24km): 1 J Organ (Brec) 8:01; 2 C Morgan (Maldwyn) 8:09; 3 Z Elvey (Carmarthen Harriers) 8:11; 4 L Stark (Newp) 8:14; 5 C Rowlands (Aberconwy) 8:14; 6 O Lloyd (Monmouth School) 8:14; 7 H Morgan (Menai T&F) 8:15; 8 J Thomas (Carmarthen Harriers) 8:17; 9 A Breeze (Maldwyn) 8:18; 10 C Harris (Cardiff Schools) 8:19; 11 L Camilleri (Card Arch) 8:25; 12 A Bell (Brec) 8:28; 13 H Dawes (Newp) 8:28; 14 E Finlayson (Card) 8:29; 15 I Bowen (Carmarthen Harriers) 8:31; 16 I Thomas (Carmarthen Harriers) 8:34; 17 H Evans (Monmouth School) 8:35; 18 O Winston (Dees) 8:36; 19 J Joyce (Card) 8:38; 20 R Ruttley (Cardiff Schools) 8:40U11 (1.24km): 1 R Dixon (P’broke) 4:25; 2 A Coles (Carmarthen Harriers) 4:33; 3 T Molloy (Dees) 4:35Women (6.34km): 1 A Beynon Thomas (Swan) 25:43; 2 H Marshall (Swan, W35) 27:12; 3 L Marland (Card) 27:25; 4 E Lagamarsiano (San D) 27:37; 5 I Paary-jones (Wildcard) 27:44; 6 M Grant (Eryri, W35) 27:50; 7 H Jarvis (Mynudd Du) 27:58; 8 R Evans (Card) 28:01; 9 S Chipper (Llis, W45) 28:19; 10 A Goodrick-latham (Swan) 28:36; 11 G Moore (N Wal,

W35) 28:43; 12 K Beecher (Les C, W35) 28:59; 13 F Johnson (Ponty) 29:24; 14 J Osborn (Swan) 29:26; 15 N Collin (Llis) 29:38; 16 A Dumayne (Llis) 29:43; 17 L Allen (San D) 29:49; 18 A Nixon (FoD, W55) 29:51; 19 E Wookey (Llis) 29:55; 20 E Haf (Eryri) 29:58W45: 2 N Jukes (Parc BB) 30:06; 3 T Sexton (P’broke) 30:12; 4 J Horler (Chep) 30:36; 5 N Morgan (Chep) 31:00. W55: 2 M Anthony (TROTS) 32:40U20 (5.44km): 1 N Reid (Card) 18:42; 2 L Wright (Card) 18:54; 3 M Owen (Dees) 19:31; 4 K Higginson (B’end) 19:45; 5 R Kamink (Col B) 19:48; 6 A Gammon (Card) 20:06; 7 M Bowen (Card) 20:40; 8 J Bagnall (P’atyn) 20:41; 9 H Jenkins (B’end) 21:25; 10 C Donnelly (Menai T&F) 21:26; 11 E Kiff (Carmarthen Harriers) 22:01; 12 C Jones (L’nelli) 22:05; 13 L Lawrence (Menai T&F) 22:20; 14 E Martin (P’broke) 22:41; 15 A Hayes (B’end) 22:46U17 (4.14km): 1 M Roberts (Dees) 16:47; 2 A Willis (Swan) 17:11; 3 A Callow (Card Arch) 17:32; 4 O Davies (Dees) 17:38; 5 F Higginson (B’end) 17:54; 6 B Davies (Col B) 17:56; 7 I Owen (Dees) 18:19; 8 B Thomas (Swan) 18:24; 9 E Edwards (Carmarthen Harriers) 18:30; 10 M Goddard (Card) 18:34; 11 E Robinson (Newp) 18:34; 12 T Ward (Brec) 18:36; 13 L Watchorn (Dees) 18:37; 14 L Thomas (Newp) 18:49; 15 D Bass (Swan) 18:52; 16 S Rayment (Card Arch) 18:53; 17 B Meyrick (Card) 18:54; 18 M Arch (Wa Schools) 18:56; 19 I Clark (Blae G) 19:13; 20 S Cordiner (Wrex) 19:17U15 (3.14km): 1 S Jones (Menai) 12:00; 2 G Goode (Card Arch) 12:26; 3 M Lyons (Card) 12:36; 4 A Hill (Card Arch) 12:42; 5 E Andrews (Card Arch) 12:51; 6 N Roberts (Dees) 12:54; 7 F Bostock (Card) 13:04; 8 B Celyn Jones (Menai T&F) 13:09; 9 E Small (Dees) 13:14; 10 L Hart (Newp) 13:15; 11 E Davies (Swan) 13:20; 12 D Thompson (Swan) 13:22; 13 E Griffiths (Newp) 13:24; 14 A Parkinson (Menai T&F) 13:26; 15 M Pearce 13:28; 16 L Williams (Newp) 13:32; 17 L Jones (Card) 13:35; 18 L Osmand (Card Arch) 13:35; 19 L Prosser (Blae G) 13:40; 20 K Griffiths (Aberdare Vaac) 13:47U13 (2.24km): 1 M Griffiths (Maldwyn) 8:48; 2 F Mackie (Carmarthen Harriers) 8:55; 3 I Roderick (Ysg Glantaf) 8:58; 4 F Ouseley (P’broke) 9:00; 5 A Grant (Card Arch) 9:02; 6 M James (Dees) 9:04; 7 M Davies (Swan) 9:05; 8 S Knoyle (Card Arch) 9:07; 9 M Macduff (B’end) 9:09; 10 K Dunglinson (B’end) 9:13; 11 B Hardman (Card Arch) 9:15; 12 A Garrod (Newp) 9:15; 13 E Morris (Blae G) 9:17; 14 C Hale (Carm) 9:19; 15 M Sinfield (Menai T&F) 9:20; 16 H Lewis (B’end) 9:21

U11 (1.24km): 1 A Brady (Newp) 4:56; 2 E Davis (Wrex) 5:02; 3 C Hartley-Green (Swan) 5:12

WEST YORKSHIRE LEAGUE, KeighleyMen (7.7km): 1 J Wood (Ilkley) 25:37; 2 J Hudson (Keigh, U20) 25:44; 3 J Baxter (P&B) 26:09; 4 A Mcleod (Leeds C) 26:37; 5 M Bostock (Wake, U20) 26:41; 6 J Sagar (Spen) 27:04; 7 M Lockyer (Leeds C, M35) 27:06; 8 D Franks (Wake) 27:14; 9 M Hallam (Vall) 27:21; 10 K Critchley (Knaves, M45) 27:26; 11 A Buckley (Leeds C, M35) 27:34; 12 A Burns (Wharf, M35) 27:36; 13 W Collumb (Rothwell Harriers) 27:44; 14 J Johnson (H’gate) 27:54; 15 R Howie (Wharf) 28:00; 16 B Crowther (Hal) 28:01; 17 M Hill (Wake, U20) 28:02; 18 N Hardy (H’gate) 28:04; 19 B Marriott (Bing) 28:07; 20 C Craig-Jackson (Sky) 28:08; 21 T Stratton (York) 28:08; 22 J Habergham (Hal) 28:11; 23 C Holmes (Wharf, M45) 28:12; 24 E Hassell (Wharf) 28:13; 25 K Sunman (Holm) 28:23; 26 D Mckeown (Ilkley, M40) 28:28; 27 T Mason (Wharf, M35) 28:34; 28 G Cook (York) 28:43; 29 T Street (Holm) 28:48; 30 R Watmough (Keigh, U20) 28:56M50: 1 G Hull (Leeds C) 30:01; 2 S Johnson (Hal) 30:10; 3 P Crabtree (Wharf) 30:19; 4 T Ashelford (Ilkley) 30:52. M55: 1 J Sykes (Holm) 31:57. M65: 1 M Pickering (Ilkley) 37:51. U20: 5 T Barrett (Keigh) 29:23; 6 J Baker (York) 30:18; 7 J Tucker (York) 30:20TEAM: 1 Wharf 134; 2 Wake 205; 3 CoY 211; 4 K&C 258; 5 Ilkley 267; 6 Holm 310; 7 Knave 341; 8 Vall 354U17 (5.3km): 1 M Burgin (Hal) 18:01; 2 L Hudson (Keigh) 18:15; 3 H Johnson (Hal) 18:50; 4 T Antcliff (York) 19:04; 5 B Mann (Wake) 19:06; 6 J Carnelley (Bing) 19:27; 7 R Matthews (Ilkley) 19:41; 8 H Norden (Rothwell Harriers) 19:53; 9 L Hunter (Long) 19:54; 10 F Knappy (Keigh) 19:54TEAM: 1 Hali 16; 2 K&C 23; 3 R’well 43U15 (4.5km): 1 A Thompson (Wharf) 16:12; 2 A Flaherty (Bing) 16:19; 3 S Conroy (Keigh) 16:25; 4 S Headley (Keigh) 16:27; 5 J O’brien (York) 16:43; 6 L Parker (Rothwell Harriers) 16:51; 7 S Langley (Wake) 16:53; 8 T Shaw (York) 17:08; 9 T Clay (Bing) 17:14; 10 J Johnson (Hal) 17:16TEAM: 1 Bing 22; 2 CoY 25; 3 K&C 26; 4 Harr 54; 5 Wake 58; 6 Weth 67U13 (2.9km): 1 B Hill (Sky) 11:10; 2 B Shackleton (Wake) 11:14; 3 D George (Wake) 11:30; 4 J Walker (Vall) 11:38; 5 W Partner (H’gate) 11:43; 6 J Duffy (Hal) 11:46; 7 A Budding (Ilkley) 11:50; 8 M Wardell (Wake) 11:51; 9 M Dalton (Spen) 11:54; 10 C Parker (Roth) 11:56

TEAM: 1 Wake 13; 2 Hali 41; 3 Ilkley 44; 4 Valley 47; 5 Skyrac 60; 6 Rothwell 96U11 (1.6km): 1 A Peaker (Keigh) 5:29; 2 D Levay (Holm) 5:32; 3 A Wolfenden (Ilkley) 5:42TEAM: 1 K&C 22; 2 Ilkley 46; 3 Bingley 47Women (5.3km): 1 J Walsh (Leeds C) 19:39; 2 B Penty (Knaves) 19:40; 3 R Sykes (Holm) 19:53; 4 N Tarrega (Knaves) 20:09; 5 E Byram (Holm, U20) 20:13; 6 H Berry (Holm, W40) 20:25; 7 L Byram (Holm, U20) 20:33; 8 C Mason (York) 20:43; 9 P Munro (Ilkley, W50) 20:52; 10 V Stainburn (Otl) 21:09; 11 C Green (P&B) 21:17; 12 C Slack (Sky) 21:26; 13 C Inch (Holm, U20) 21:32; 14 J Muston (Spen, W40) 21:32; 15 E Robinson (H’gate, W35) 21:51; 16 C Jones (H’gate) 21:55; 17 C Leaver-Hewitt (Holm, W35) 21:57; 18 M Padilla (Wharf) 22:00; 19 R Pilling (P&B, W35) 22:04; 20 K Archer (Ilkley, W35) 22:05W40: 3 J Buckley (Bing) 22:23. W45: 1 L Watson (Bing) 22:42. W50: 2 K Oddy (Hal) 22:37. W60: 1 L Ewart (Holm) 24:58. U20: 4 S Pickering (Ilkley) 22:22; 5 J Branford (Holm) 22:29; 6 E Findlay (Bing) 24:07; 7 A Whitehead (Bing) 24:09; 8 L Rickard (Ripon) 25:03; 9 P Thorpe (Wake) 25:10; 10 B Grogan (Goole Y) 25:38TEAM: 1 Holm 21; 2 Knave 65; 3 Ilkley 98; 4 Bing 139; 5 P&B 141; 6 Skyrac 159; 7 CoY 159; 8 K&C 165U17 (4.5km): 1 E Field (Bing) 18:02; 2 A Brooke (Wake) 18:26; 3 R Firth (Bing) 18:37; 4 Z Tyas (Holm) 18:40; 5 E Jones (Wharf) 18:59; 6 L Hall (Wake) 19:07; 7 O Dyson (Holm) 19:13; 8 I Castelow (Hal) 19:40; 9 P Anderson (Ilkley) 19:50; 10 E Crossley (Keigh) 19:55TEAM: 1 Wake 20; 2 Holm 25U15 (3.7km): 1 R Forrest (H’gate) 13:51; 2 L Carr (Keigh) 13:58; 3 E Jones (Sky) 14:14; 4 H Brewster (Long) 14:26; 5 N Hardcastle (Long) 14:35; 6 E Plimmer (Wake) 14:40; 7 E Peel (Keigh) 14:47; 8 E Inch (Holm) 14:57; 9 T Diamond (Vall) 15:10; 10 H Ghafoor (Keigh) 15:18TEAM: 1 K&C 19; 2 Harr 25; 3 L’wood 28; 4 Wake 43; 5 Ilkley 77U13 (2.9km): 1 I Wolff (Holm) 11:36; 2 R Flaherty (Bing) 11:45; 3 A Lane (Wharf) 11:57; 4 H Forrest (H’gate) 12:03; 5 L Langan (York) 12:14; 6 O Barley (H’gate) 12:19; 7 E Horner (Hal) 12:21; 8 P Watson (Wake) 12:26; 9 P Midgley (Keigh) 12:28; 10 M Reynolds-jones (H’gate) 12:32TEAM: 1 Harr 20; 2 Ilkley 49; 3 K&C 53; 4 Wharf 56; 5 L’wood 57; 6 R’well 64U11 (1.6km): 1 K Buckley (Keigh) 5:54; 2 N Harrison-Sargent (Hal) 6:00; 3 L Brooks (York) 6:03TEAM: 1 Wake 18; 2 K&C 27; 3 Hali 40Final standings: Men: 1 Wharf 11; 2 CoY 11; 3 Wake 12; 4 Holm 14; 5 Ilkley 18; 6 Knave 29; 7 Vall 31; 8 Bing 39U17: Hali 3U15: 1 Bing 3; 2 CoY 5; 3 Harr 12; 4 R’well 12; 5 Wake 13; 6 Weth 14U13: 1 Wake 3; 2 Ilkley 6; 3 Hali 10; 4 Skyrac 11; 5 Vall 13; 6 R’well 15U11: 1 K&C 3; 2 Ilkley 6; 3 CoY 8Women: 1 Knave 5; 2 Holm 7; 3 Bing 17; 4 Skyrac 19; 5 Ilkley 20; 6 P&B 25; 7 Wake 31; 8 Harr 32U17: 1 Holm 5; 2 Wake 5U15: 1 Harr 4; 2 L’wood 6; 3 Wake 11; 4 Ilkley 16; 5 Holm 17U13: 1 Harr 3; 2 CoY 9; 3 Bing 9; 4 Sky 9; 5 Ilkley 14; 6eq Holm/L’wood 17U11: 1 K&C 4; 2 Wake 4; 3 Leeds C 8



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Jennifer Walsh: on her way to a West Yorks League win



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DECEMBER 9TELFORD 10kmTHE men’s race was very tactical with a group of 30 going through halfway in 14:45 and in a close finish, Callan Moody, a Kiwi down as Serpentine but not listed on Power of 10, and with no results for four years on international website Tilastopaja, won by one second in 29:31 from Jack Gray.

Close behind were Lucan Allison (29:33) and Shaun Antell, Kadar Omar Abdullarhi and Patrick Martin (all 29:34).

Pre-race favourite Sam Stabler dropped out injured after halfway as 17 men broke 30 minutes and 47 were inside 31 minutes.

In the women’s race, Kate Reed was around 10 seconds clear at halfway but also dropped out injured with Emily Hosker Thornhill taking the win just 14 seconds outside the course record with a PB 32:54.

Hayley Carruthers (33:20) and Jennifer Nesbitt (33:25) completed the top three and 57 women broke 40 minutes.Leading results. Additional next weekOverall; 1 C Moody 29:31; 2 J Gray 29:32; 3 L Allison 29:33; 4 S Antell 29:34; 5 K Omar Abdullahi 29:34; 6 P Martin 29:34; 7 G Rush 29:36; 8 O Hind 29:38; 9 O Ahmed 29:39; 10 A Teuten 29:42; 11 S Overall 29:44; 12 J Grice 29:46; 13 P Martelletti 29:48; 14 D Gezimu 29:52; 15 L Taylor 29:53; 16 C De’ath 29:57; 17 J Trigwell 29:58; 18 J Cornish 30:10; 19 T Poolman 30:12; 20 E Dorey 30:12; 21 O Lockley 30:12; 22 J Hopkins 30:12; 23 R Harvie 30:12; 24 B Cole 30:14; 25 C Avery 30:16Women: 1 E Hosker Thornhill 32:54; 2 H Carruthers 33:20; 3 J Nesbitt 33:25; 4 L Small 33:45; 5 C Duck 33:47; 6 L Crookes 33:49; 7 C Evans 34:00; 8 H Doran 34:24; 9 B Owen 34:44; 10 N Devine 34:54; 11 K Maltby 34:55; 12 D Davies 34:55; 13 M Renfer 35:03; 14 L Gent 35:05; 15 H Irwin 35:08; 16 A Jones 35:08; 17 L Hall 35:08ANDY READING 10km, BicesterOverall: 1 J Eve (Head RR) 33:18; 2 S Strange (Bas) 33:43; 3 K EWhite (HW) 34:24; 4 M60: T Jones (VoA) 39:24Women: 1 D Foster (Head RR, W40) 38:12; 2 N Nealon (Hunc, W45) 39:39; 3H Mulhall (B’brook, W45) 39:57W45: 3 S Usher (Alch) 40:35. W55: S Cook (Thame) 44:44

BECCLES TURKEY TROT 10, SuffolkOverall: 1 L Cook (Waveney) 56:54; 2 T Gavin (Felix) 57:35; 3 J Last (Fram) 57:46M50: D Soloman (Felix) 61:18. M55: 1 J Moore (Norf G) 61:46; 2 R White (Wum) 64:40. M60: P Hurr (NNBR) 65:34. M65: S Mead (Stow) 67:46Women: 1 L Thomas (Ips J) 61:45; 2 J Watkinson (Wym) 67:23; 3 E Attwood (Stow) 69:30W45: 1 A Carter (Tri Ang) 70:06; 2 S Spence (Bure) 70:37; 3 J Fawcett (Bunbgay) 72:29

BOLSOVER 10km, DerbyshireOverall: 1 S Moakes (SinA) 32:25; 2 D Annable (Heanor) 33:02; 3 R Start (N Der) 33:32; 4 M Johnson (Leic C, M45) 33:45; 5 D Page (Clowne) 34:15; 7 T Shaw 34:56

M40: 1 M Blair (Mat) 35:09; 2 I Bailey (Newark) 35:25. M45: 2 M Abramiuk 36:18. M50: 1 J Knibb (Leam) 37:08; 2 J Lowe (Mansf) 37:10; 3 R McWilliam (Gains) 37:26. M55: S Croft (Mat) 39:00. M60: 1 J Hewitt (Worksop) 40:41; 2 L Morton (Sheff RC) 40:56. M70: N Oxley 44:36Women: 1 M Willcox (SinA) 38:36; 2 C Dover (Der, W40) 39:31; 3 B Coomber (Denby D, W55) 40:06W45: 1 S Spencer (Der) 42:20; 2 L Lewis (Totley) 42:23. W55: 2 J Burke (Der) 43:33. W60: P Fisher (Roth) 50:00. W65: 1 Y Twelvetree (Totle) 49:28; 2 J Forrester (Mat) 52:09. W70: E Robinson (Ripley) 55:44

CHRISTCHURCH CHRISTMAS 10kmOverall: 1 R Spencer 33:27; 2 J Gilfillan ( M40) 33:53; 3 T Stevens (Soton) 34:09; 4 J Sharkey (B’mth, M35) 34:35; 5 S Nicholas (B’mth) 34:44M40: 2 B Day (Poole R) 35:04; 3 K Willsher (Lords) 35:25. M60: 1 M Lascelleslas Maiden Newton Runners 39:58. M65: 1 D Cartwright (Poole R) 41:55Women: 1 A Heijnen ( W50) 42:04; 2 C Ingram (Salis, W35) 42:16; 3 J Timmus ( W35) 42:41W50: 2 L Lascelles (Maid N) 43:16. W60: 1 J Jackson 48:42. W65: 1 C Woodford (New F) 50:21; 2 L Burn (Littled) 52:40. W70: 1 S Barrett (Poole R) 52:19. W75: 1 J Jenkins (Littled) 54:03

FESTIVE 5, Welwyn Garden CityOverall: 1 T Wackett (Gard CR) 28:15; 2 C Westcott (S&NH, M40) 28:16; 3 T Burke (M40) 28:55Women: 1 L Hicks (Harp) 32:45; 2 J Conway (St Alb) 33:08; 3 Z Stephens (Gard CR, W35) 33:40W45: W Walsh (St Alb) 34:36. W55: C Thrussell (NHRR) 35:41

MILTON KEYNES WINTER HALF-MARATHONOverall: 1 P Mizon (Mil K) 73:00; 2 S Coombes (Herne H M45) 73:41; 3 D Connell (Hunts, M40) 74:34; 4 P Farmer (Ampt, M40) 74:49M50; 1 J Decesare (Amp) 81:14; 2 N Jones (Ampt) 81:51. M55: 1 M Beare (Ampt) 83:27; 2 M Turney (Chilt) 83:40Women: 1 K Godof (Olney) 85:21; 2 O Desborough 87:29; 3 R Nkoane (Chilt, W40) 87:46W55: C Findlay (Dac) 1:41:19

LONGRIDGE CHRISTMAS PUDDING 7Overall: 1 R Grantham (Pens, M45) 41:13; 2 S Denye (Wesh, M45) 43:23; 3 J Horrocks (B’burn) 43:28M55: 1 K Horrigan 46:06Women: 1 K Cousins (L&M) 46:54; 2 K Kennedy ( W35) 47:45; 3 E Dean 51:30W60: 1 J Jefferson (Red Rose RR) 52:49. W70: 1 D Bowling (Red Rose RR) 68:13

NICE WORK RICHMOND PARK CHRISTMAS 10km, RichmondOverall: 1 A Mccaskill 33:54; 2 T Smith (AFD) 34:35; 3 O Zeal (O-win) 36:02Women: 1 M Kenny (B’ville) 46:39; 2 G Hellings ( W55) 47:33; 3 R Owen ( W40) 47:42Overall (5km): 1 C Barratt ( W) 22:38; 2 M Fu ( U20) 22:58; 3 F O’connor 24:22Women: 1 Barratt 22:38; 2 J Eichel 24:24; 3 K Jurkute (Lithuanian Olympic Team) 25:48

ROYAL PARKS REGENTS PARK 10km, LondonOverall: 1 E Mooney 34:56; 2 A Mitchell (TVH) 36:18; 3 S Hazleton 36:39Women: 1 N Seymour 36:53; 2 C Airey 42:10; 3 G Pirouette 44:29

SOUTHEND RUDOLPH RUN 5, Southend on SeaOverall: 1 G Tye (Brain) 28:27; 2 B Green (Ben) 28:33; 3 I Fullerton (Brain, U17) 28:40Women: 1 L Shewbridge ( W35) 31:56; 2 J Lovelock (Spring S) 32:53; 3 L Golding (Thurr) 34:20

STOCKPORT 10, StockportJACK MARTIN won the men’s race easily in 50:02 while Julie Briscoe was the leading woman in 59:08, which placed her 13th overall.Overall: 1 J Martin (Stock H) 50:02; 2 J Nixon (Stock H) 52:49; 3 N Barry (Sale) 53:17; 4 M Cummings (Herne H) 55:04; 5 R Coen (Wilm, M40) 55:51; 6 N Pendlebury (Leigh) 56:05; 7 G Cooke (Stock H, U20) 56:47; 8 N Emmerson (Radc, M35) 56:52M40: 2 S Crook (Stock H) 57:01. M50: 1 A Porter (Bram R) 60:51; 2 R Johnson (Alt) 61:19. M55: 1 A Lundberg-Bury (Ross) 60:22. M60: 1 M Sharkey 67:46. M65: 1 P Pickwell (Alt) 70:30Women: 1 J Briscoe (Wake, W40) 59:08; 2 V Wills (Der) 62:21; 3 V Wright (Hyde, W40) 62:28; 4 F Davies (Roth, W45) 66:02; 5 S Thomas 66:51W40: 3 K Gill (Macc) 67:17. W45: 2 A Chinoy (Sale) 68:06; 3 J Lawton (Stock H) 69:36; 4 M Vaughan (E Ches) 70:16. W50: 1 B Jackson (Alt) 71:43; 2 J Yates (Radc) 74:08; 3 S Millns (Hyde) 74:20; 4 L Darbyshire (Burn RR) 74:46. W55: 1 L Sinclair (Stock H) 72:18; 2 G Richardson (Hyde) 76:21. W60: 1 K Harvey (Alt) 81:39; 2 S Ransome (Puds P) 81:51

DECEMBER 8BUXTON PAVILION GARDENS 5km, BuxtonOverall: 1 J Brunnock (Bux) 17:24; 2 R White (Bux, M40) 17:56; 3 N Curtis (Penn, M40) 18:26Women: 1 E Taylor (Congle) 20:19; 2 J Moss (Congle, W45) 21:22; 3 R Mogridge ( W35) 22:52

DECEMBER 7EALING MILE, EalingOverall: 1 J Manuel Pabon (Eal E, M35) 5:14; 2 M Biava (Eal E, M40) 5:17; 3 M Gutch (Eal E, M35) 5:23

Women: 1 R Badham (W4H, W45) 5:58; 2 C Jones (ESM, W60) 7:22; 3 K Fellas (Wat J, W45) 7:24

RUN-4-IT METRO PROMS 3km WINTER SERIES, AberdeenOverall: 1 C Beattie (Metro) 9:56; 2 C Crighton (Fraser) 10:12; 3 S Molloy 10:16Women: 1 E Watt (Jog Scotland Kintore) 11:23; 2 A Matthews (Metro) 11:46; 3 K Williamson 11:49

DECEMBER 6BURNHAM ON SEA WINTER 5km SERIES, Burnham-on-SeaOverall: 1 J Bartlette (Cleve) 15:57; 2 K Summers (Weston, M40) 16:39; 3 C Smith (North Som. AC, U20) 16:42M60: 1 P Wheddon (Cleve) 19:33. M70: 1 R Trubridge (T&C) 21:14Women: 1 S Duncan (Weston) 19:58; 2 E Murray (BoS Tri Academy, U20) 20:32; 3 M Fryer (Weston) 20:44W70: 1 S Nicholls (Burnham Harriers) 26:05NOTTINGHAM 5km WINTER SERIES, NottinghamOverall: 1 P Townsend 17:01; 2 M Kingston-lee (GRC, M40) 17:16; 3 O Linderborg 18:06Women: 1 G Coveney (Holme P) 20:26; 2 C Dodds (Mans, U20) 20:52; 3 L Grant ( W35) 20:59

DECEMBER 5LEICESTER CITY WINTER 5km SERIES, LeicesterOverall: 1 J Dugdale (C’land F) 16:19; 2 A Quigley (W End, M45) 16:28; 3 H Bolton (Kesw) 16:40Women: 1 I Wrightam (W&SV, U20)

19:31; 2 S Dunbobbin (W&SV, U20) 20:03; 3 L Ellis (W End) 20:13

SOUTH SHIELDS MONTHLY MILEOverall: 1 S Morley (Tyne Br) 4:45; 2 J Robertson (Tyne Br) 4:52; 3 R Walker (Sun, M45) 4:54Women: 1 R Falloon (Morp) 5:33; 2 C Carr (Dur) 6:13; 3 D Tullis 6:16

DECEMBER 4TYNE BRIDGE HARRIERS WINTER GRAND PRIX 5km, NewcastleOverall: 1 S Morley (Tyne Br) 16:23; 2 J Robertson (Tyne Br) 16:32; 3 C Braithwaite (Tyne Br) 17:18Women: 1 K Stevenson (Tyne Br) 19:15; 2 S Marr (Tyne Br) 20:00; 3 R Adamson (Tyne Br) 20:33

DECEMBER 2HOG’S BACK RACE, GodalmingOverall (11.2km): 1 G Dolner (G&G) 39:03; 2 C Gillett (G(G) 39:36; 3 D Hull (Waverly) 40:05; 4 C Peck (Wav’ly) 40:36; 5 A Bradley 40:44Women: 1 E Harrison (G&DG) 44:13; 2 L Custance (Clap, W35) 44:51; 3 H Barran (Hasle, W40) 46:53

BROMHAM PUDDING RUN 10kmOverall: 1 M Towler (Avon VR) 33:16; 2 M Threlfall 34:08; 3 J Donald (Bath) 34:22; 4 T Davies (Bath) 34:33M60: 1 D Vaudin (Bath) 39:19; 2 N Holliday (Chelt) 40:47Women: 1 S Kingston (Soton) 37:39; 2 F Spruit (Bath, U20) 40:01; 3 L Backhouse (Bath) 40:58W40: 1 J Fifield (Stroud) 41:19. W60: 1 J Thompson (Bath) 44:21; 2 S Smith 49:57

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A big pack contested the Telford 10km

Julie Briscoe: Stockport victory

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FELL / MULTI-TERRAINRESULTS

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DECEMBER 9LITTON CHRISTMAS CRACKER, LittonOverall (12.2km/360m): 1 M Wainwright (Dark Pk) 49:27; 2 Billy Cartwright (Mat) 51:11; 3 R Simpson (Darl Pk) 52:15; 4 R White (Bux, M40) 53:47; 5 A Frost (Dark Pk, M40) 54:01; 6 B Light (Bux) 54:04M50: S Pyke (Dark Pk) 55:31. M60: A Hauser (Holm) 66:05. M70: T Press (Hatt D) 77:05TEAM: 1 Dark Pk 235; 2 Bux 317; 3 Viallage R 592Women: 1 S Fawcett (Dark Pk) 60:13; 2 A Clark (Bux) 61:01; 3 N Richards (Mercia, W40) 64:37; 4 K Stuthridge (Village R) 66:56W50: J Jepson (Dark Pk) 68:35. W60: C Boyd Southern (Malt) 86:53TEAM: 1 Dark Pk 34; 2 Bux 61; 3 Mercia 77

VOCATION MYTHOLMROYD, HalifaxOverall (10km/411m): 1 J Boyle (Ribb) 47:19; 2 I Holmes (Bing, M50) 47:25; 3 A Worster (Tod) 48:28; 4 R James (Royt R) 49:33; 5 M Howard (Calder V, U21) 50:16M60: T Taylor (Ross) 64:37TEAM: 1 Tod 35; 2 Calder V 38; 3 Wharf 60Women: 1 R Pilling (P&B) 59:11; 2 M Padilla (Wharf) 62:08; 3 H Hardaker (K&C) 63:38W40: J Goorney (Lyth) 64:23. W50: N Murphy (Ross) 67:58. W60: A Baldwin (Stain) 78:10TEAM: 1 Wharf 40; 2 Stain 56; 3 Hyde P 62

SHITTERN SANTA SAUNTER, GlossopOverall (8km/350m): 1 S Bailey (Mercia) 37:56; 2 J Dale (CPH) 39:35; 3 J Oldfield 39:41; 4 M Preedy (Ross, U21) 40:40M45: S Knowles (Penn) 41:01. M60: S Entwistle (Penn) 45:47. M65: F Fielding (Penn) 54:50Women: 1 C Rice (Ribb) 44:25; 2 I Trinder (G’dale) 49:33; 3 J Darigala (W45) 52:06W50: L Palmer (G’dale) 63:57. W60: C Bailey (Goyt) 68:10

SIMONSIDE CAIRNS, RothburyNICK SWINBURN cut almost two minutes off the course record he set in 2006.Overall (11M/1772ft): 1 N Swinburn (N’land F) 72:51 (rec); 2 C Hanson (P&B) 80:46; 3 J De La Harpe (Dur U) 81:37; 5 L Piper (Dur U) 83:34M40: J Heaney (NSP) 84:05. M50: A Fletcher (Aln) 91:41. M60: J Tullie (Tev) 97:13TEAM: Dur U 12Women: 1 G Bradley (Saltwell) 98:40; 2 K Robertson (N’land F, W40) 1:40:33; 3 R Vincent (Tyned, W40) 1:41:07W50: D Tunstall (Dur F) 1:59:52TEAM: N’land F 22

DECEMBER 8EAIRY BEG, Glen HelenOverall (4.5km/150m): 1 B Corkill (Manx F) 19:40; 2 O Smith (Western) 21:03; 3 I Owen (Western, U20) 21:06; 4 M Burman 21:31; 5 L Phair (Northern, U20) 22:16M50: P Sheard (Manx F) 22:32. M60: P Cooper (IOMV) 29:32Women: 1 C Perry (Northern, U20) 24:57; 2 S Coleman 25:38; 3 M Dunwell (Northern U20) 25:58

W40: R Craine (Northern) 26:58. W50: J Gledhill (Manx F) 29:32. W60: R Hooton (Manx F) 33:09

DECEMBER 2CARDINGTON CRACKER, Church StrettonOverall (9M/2600ft): 1 D Connolly (Mercia) 76:56; 2 J Agnew (Mercia) 77:41; 3 S Roberts-Law (E Suth) 77:56; 4 P Jones (Mercia, M45) 79:05; 5 D Jones (Mercia) 80:06; 6 J Brown (Buck, M45) 82:00M50: J Atyeo (Mercia) 85:40. M55: P Jeggo (Springf) 93:03. M60: S Entwistle (Penn) 93:34. M65: D Gould (Mercia) 1:57:06. M70: M Blake (Eryri) 2:11:14Women: 1 R Parker (Mercia) 83:24; 2 M Grant (Eryri) 87:33; 3 M Price (Mercia, W45) 89:07; 4 H Brown (Mynydd D, W45) 93:10W50: G Lindsey (Macc) 1:41:53. W55: E Collins (Denbigh) 1:49:13

ANGUS TAIT HEXHAMSHIRE HOBBLE, AllendaleOverall (10.5M/1220ft): 1 C Hanson (P&B) 65:44; 2 J Cox (Eden) 65:57; 3 M Fenwick (Tyne B) 66:20; 4 N Ward (N Fells) 68:54; 5 J Robertson (Tyne B) 70:42; 6 M Hetherington (N’land F) 70:45M40: J Heaney (NSP) 72:50. M50: A Green (Tyne) 74:18. M60+: T Mason 90:06Women: 1 E Holt (Morp) 77:05; 2 L Tang (Tyne) 80:12; 3 C Davies 80:43; 4 M Clancy (Tyne B) 82:29W40: D Metcalfe (Derw V) 84:01. W50: K Audrey (Helm H) 91:33. W60: K Firstbrook (Tyne) 2:01:55

GRAVY PUD, TintwistleOverall (5M/1000ft): 1 R James (Royt R) 37:36; 2 J Ross (Staffs M) 38:08; 3 W Lewis 38:43; 4 C Donnelly (Sale, M40) 38:59; 5 A Frost (M45) 39:49M55: A Poole (Sadd) 45:10. M65: F Fielding (G’dale) 49:43. M70: K Taylor (Ross) 49:52Women: 1 C Rice (Ribb) 42:18; 2 G Keane (Sadd, W40) 46:06; 3 H Ashby (Sale) 47:45W50: N Parkin (Dark Pk) 48:37. W55: S Barker 58:14. W60: A Ashton (Marple) 63:42

MULTI-TERRAIN

DECEMBER 9DEN DASHER 5km, TurriffOverall (age not declared): 1 R Kirk (Gari R) 18:17; 2 G Harris (Dever) 19:56; 3 M Mackinnon 20:21Women: 1 G Chau (Gari R) 22:43; 2 M Mackie (Nairn R) 22:57; 3 C Berry (Gari R) 23:53

HERMITAGE OF BRAID AND BLACKFORD TRAIL RUNSOverall (5km): 1 R Normand (C’thy) 22:17; 2 L Middleditch (W) 22:39; 3 L Kemp 23:20Women: 1 Normand 22:17; 2 Middleditch 22:39; 3 C Edmonds 25:09Overall (10km): 1 S Paterson 39:41; 2 N Dhillon 40:48; 3 A Ramsay (M40) 41:17Women: 1 N Duncan (Race Fitn) 43:31; 2 N Stewart (Centr) 46:03; 3 R Van Rensburg (Fife, W40) 46:49

NEVIS RANGE COUR LOOP, Fort WilliamOverall (14km approx): 1 E Tresidder (L’ber) 73:17; 2 J Cabrera Valdes (HHR) 74:34; 3 R MacKenzie (HHR, M40) 75:11M50: D Gallie (HHR) 79:06. M60: D Reid (W’lands CC) 92:59Women: 1 K Lyons (HHR, W40) 86:15; 2 I MacKay (L’ber) 88:44; 3 L Walter (L’ber) 91:59W50: H Leggett (L’ber) 95:25

SECOND SUNDAY 5, WimbledonOverall: 1 M Gallagher (Wimb W) 30:59; 2 S Farmer (Fulham, M40) 31:13; 3 T Greenwood (THH) 31:26; 4 S McCandle (Fulham, M45) 31:35; 5 T Curtis (Fulham, M40) 31:40; 6 S McLeod (Fulham) 31:48M50: 1 B Thornton (Fulham) 33:32; 2 D Symons (THH) 33:36Women: 1 L Thompson (Fulham) 33:31; 2 R Edgar (THH, W35) 34:14; 3 C Baker (Fulham) 34:35W50: A Riddell-Webster (Fulham) 36:46 WESTON CHRISTMAS CRACKER 10km, Weston-super-MareOverall: 1 T Lander 35:16; 2 J Pugsley (Bide) 35:26; 3 P Monaghan (Torbay, M50) 35:46

M50: 2 S Bartlet (P’pridd) 37:27. M60: J Goodland 41:07. M70: S Ellis (Portis) 47:23Women: 1 J Dixon (Bide) 39;26; 2 A Granger (B&W, W40) 39:29; 3 F Marks (B&W) 39:42W40: 2 S Voller (W’bury) 41:40. W50: M McLachlan 44:39

LEEDS & LIVERPOOL CANAL CHRISTMAS CRACKER (DAY 2), LeedsOverall (5km): 1 J Harding (SLL) 18:55; 2 J Walton (Salt, M45) 23:39; 3 C Jones (W) 26:30Women: 1 Jones 26:30; 2 J Burden (Spen, W35) 26:41; 3 S Ricketts (Roberttown Road Ru) 28:44Overall (10km): 1 S Collins (LonelyGoat) 36:38; 2 J Harding (SLL) 40:07; 3 M Rennison (Knaves) 41:49Women: 1 J Esty (DDAC) 48:28; 2 E Worsley (Denb DT, W35) 50:47; 3 M Dennison 51:40Overall (HM): 1 T Robshaw 84:11; 2 J Holder (Roundhay Runners) 84:43; 3 J Hall (Clare) 85:58Women: 1 S Fauset 98:46; 2 V Penn 99:06; 3 S Walkington 1:52:47Overall (20M): 1 D Needham 2:29:22; 2 M Melia 2:48:58; 3 C Wragg 2:51:42Women: 1 H Witchalls 3:34:00; 2 C Adams 3:47:20; 3 E Colman (HPH) 3:56:03Overall (Mar): 1 D Smithers (York Knavesmire Ha) 3:12:15; 2 C Johnstone (UKRunChat, M40) 3:16:17; 3 J Carter (100MC) 3:33:07Women: 1 L Biddle 3:42:32; 2 R Draisey 3:53:08; 3 E Diggle 3:56:06

MAIDSTONE HARRIERS TURKEY RUN 6.5, East MallingOverall: 1 T Collins (M&M) 35:22; 2 M Godden (M&M) 36:13; 3 R Tomlinson (M&M, M50) 37:38Women: 1 C Stone (W35) 48:12; 2 J Leng (Petts, W50) 48:22; 3 L Tomlinson (Ocean Lake Triathlon, W45) 49:15

MINCE PIE 10, PeacehavenOverall: 1 J Baker (Chich, M40) 55:14; 2 D Hards (Phoe, M35) 62:35; 3 M Caffyn (RAW) 62:59Women: 1 T Shanahan (Arena, W45) 66:43; 2 S Fry (Hail, W45) 68:50; 3 C Bounds (Hail) 70:09

NOT THE FLITCH SWITCH 9.5, FelstedOverall: 1 A Smalls (CHAC) 65:15; 2 S Ketteridge 69:14; 3 G Allen (Hals, M40) 69:14Women: 1 L Higgs (Mid E) 77:41; 2 M Dowell (CHAC) 77:41; 3 T Harrington (T’tree, W50) 79:56

PRINCESS CRACKER 7, ColchesterOverall: 1 A Conway (M50) 54:06; 2 S James (M50) 58:53; 3 R Frost (Hals) 61:36Women: 1 K Powell (L Bad, W35) 63:34; 2 H Thomsit (L Bad, W35) 63:41; 3 R Bean (W45) 64:23

SOUTH LEEDS BAH HUMBUG 10km, LeedsOverall: 1 J Mace (R’well) 40:44; 2 R Gibbs (Roundhay Runners, M40) 41:31; 3 R Blackburn (R’well) 41:35Women: 1 S Lewis (Roundhay Runners, W40) 44:05; 2 A Young (HPH) 45:37; 3 N Jackson (Kirks, W35) 46:00

DECEMBER 8RUN RICHMOND PARK 10km, SurreyOverall: 1 L Peacock 36:29; 2 T Brownlee (M40) 36:37; 3 I Cooper 36:53Women: 1 M Bobbo 44:07; 2 F Clark (U20) 44:29; 3 C Price 45:08

COCKINGTON CHRISTMAS CAPER 7.5, TorquayOverall: 1 A Holland (Tav) 52:19; 2 M Dawson (N Der, M40) 52:30; 3 L Turner (Torbay TC, M40) 54:51Women: 1 N Flanagan (Torbay TC) 62:31; 2 C Haines 64:04; 3 H Karas 66:59

OSTERLEY PARK WINTER 10km, IsleworthOverall: 1 S Farmer (Fulham, M40) 34:28; 2 J Gomes 34:41; 3 S Shaw (M40) 35:01Women: 1 J Braithwaite (Fulham) 39:43; 2 E Macalister Hall 39:55; 3 S Tomaszczyk (W4H) 41:18

DECEMBER 7DASH IN THE DARK, Coed LlandeglaOverall (6.5km): 1 K Steinegger (Amble) 23:51; 2 T Evans (Meirion) 24:18; 3 T Hiles 25:08; 4 B Lightowler (A’gele) 25:33M40: D Fishwick (Chorley) 27:21. M50: N Dalywater (Clwyd RR) 28:17. M60: S Roberts (Osw O) 31:46Women: 1 S Ellis 29:20 (rec); 2 H Evans (Buck) 29:40; 3 R Pierce (Denbigh) 29:44W40: MPeffers (Clwyd) 34:07. W50: J Rogers (Ches TC) 35:29

DECEMBER 2BLYTH SANDS HANDICAP 5, Blyth/Seaton Sluice, NorthumberlandCHRIS MORLEY caught long-time leader Mark McNally in the final strides to win the 59th edition of this pre-Christmas event organised by Blyth Running Club, Les Venmore reports.

The earlier rain had eased off as the competitors covered a return route from Blyth Harbour to Seaton Sluice. McNally, the winner in 2016 and 2017, being in the M70 category and off a mark of 11 minutes, soon headed the field and still had a healthy lead as the runners appeared back in sight with 300m to go. Morley in the M55 category and off five minutes, was quickly closing and passed his rival with 20m remaining.

The runner-up had given his all and was reduced to a walk in the last 10m. Overall: 1 C Morley (NSP, M55) 29:40; 2 M McNally (Els, M70) 29:48; 3 J McKenna (B&W) 30:16; 4 G Penn (NSP, M55) 30:39; 5 I Norman (Heat, M55) 30:51; 6 M Parkinson (NSP, M45) 31:05; 7 A Heppell (Gosf, M40) 31:53; 8 I Pickett (Tyne Br, M40) 31:55; 9 J Brady (Tyne, W45) 31:56; 10 P Grey (Aln, M60) 32:04; 11 N Cameron (Heat, W45) 32:10; 12 J Fiddaman (Blyth, U18) 32:13; 13 G Hewitson (Crook, M60) 32:15; 14 K Heron (Blyth 32:25; 15 J McKenzie (Heat) 32:36; 16 P O’Mara (Tyne Br) 32:47; 17 S Brown (Swale, M60) 32:49; 18 E Leslie (J&H, W50) 32:49; 19 N McAnany (Morp, M55) 32:51; 20 S Daley (Heat, M65) 32:55Fastest: McKenna 30:16; Heron 32:25; McKenzie 32:36; O’Mara 32:47Women: Brady 39:56; Cameron 40:10; R Oldham (Gosf, W40) 40:37; W Pawsey (NSP, W35) 40:38TEAM (Mixed) (4 to score): 1 Heaton H 51; 2 Tyne Bridge H 77; 3 North Shields Poly 87

Rachel Pilling: winning the Mytholmroyd fell race

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FIXTURES @athleticsweekly

CROSS-COUNTRY

Saturday December 15CUMBRIA LEAGUE (Inc CUMBRIA VETERANS CHAMPIONSHIPS)Keswick. Noon.facebook.com/groups/114674541912211ESSEX LEAGUEHorseheath. 10am.colchesterharriers.co.ukLEWIS & HARRIS SERIESLews Castle, Stornoway.srac.org.ukNORTH STAFFORDSHIRE LEAGUEPenkridge. Noon.nsccl.org.ukNORTH WEST OPENGransha Park, Londonderry. 11.45am.derry-spartans.comRUN4IT SCOTTISH NORTH DISTRICT LEAGUENairn. 1.15pm.northleague.co.ukSOUTH EAST LANCASHIRE LEAGUETandle Hills, Oldham. 12.30pm.selcc.co.ukSOUTH OF THAMES CCA 7.5 CHAMPSBeckenham Place Park, Beckenham. 2pm.sotcca.org.uk/events.htm

Sunday December 16BERKSHIRE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPSSt Andrew’s School, Pangbourne. 11am.berkshireathletics.org.ukB&BH XMAS YACHT H’CAP 5 Hayes. 10.30am.bandbhac.org.ukBORDERS WINTER SERIESSpittal Beach, Berwick. 11.30am.bordersxc.co.ukDORSET COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPSBryanston School, Bryanston. 11.45am.sites.google.com/site/dorsetcountyaaEAST SUSSEX LEAGUEWarren Hill, Eastbourne. 10.30am.eastsussexcrosscountry.co.ukNORTH WEST SUNDAY LEAGUEArrowe Park, Wirral. 10am.stevesaunders.co.ukNOTTS MINI LEAGUEWorksop College, Worksop. 11am.notts-minileague.co.ukPECO LEAGUETemple Newsam.pecoxc.co.ukREIGATE HOLLY RUN OPENPriory Park, Reigate. 10.30am.hollyrun.com

SUNDAY LEAGUEWillian. 10.30am.runherts.comTHREE COUNTIES LEAGUEStandalone Farm, Letchworth Garden City. 10.30am.threecountiesxc.co.ukWESSEX LEAGUEBryanston School, Bryanston. 11.45am.teamdorsetathletics.btck.co.uk

Wednesday December 26SOUTH LONDON H BOXING DAY H’CAPFarthing Downs. 11am.southlondonharriers.org

Saturday December 29HENTY RELAYRichmond Park. Noon.ranelagh-harriers.comHERCULES WIMBLEDON LAURISTON 5Wimbledon Common.herculeswimbledonac.org.uk

Sunday December 30SOUTHERN LEAGUELord Wandsworth College, Hook. 11am.southerncrosscountryleague.co.ukSOUTH ESSEX LEAGUEHadleigh Downs. 10am.facebook.com/SouthEssexCrossCountryLeague

Saturday January 5BUCKINGHAMSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIPSHigh Wycombe.bucksaa.org.ukCUMBRIA CHAMPIONSHIPSPenrith.ESSEX COUNTY U17/U20/SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPSWrittle College, Chelmsford.essexroadrunning.org.ukGLOUCESTERSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIPSRendcombe College, Rendcomb, Cirencester.athletics4u.co.ukHAMPSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIPSFairthorne Manor, Curdridge.hampshireathletics.org.ukHUMBERSIDE CHAMPIONSHIPSQuibell Park, Scunthorpe.KENT CHAMPIONSHIPSBrands Hatch, West Kingsdown.kcaa.org.ukLANCASHIRE CHAMPIONSHIPSWitton Park, Blackburn.lancsaa.co.uk

LEICESTERSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIPSRotherby Farm.lraa.org.ukMERSEYSIDE CHAMPIONSHIPSSherdley Park, St Helens.merseysidecountyaa.org.ukMIDDLESEX CHAMPIONSHIPSHorsenden Hill, Greenford. 1pm.middlesexaa.org.ukNORTH DOWN RELAYSCastle Park, Bangor. Noon.northdownac.co.ukNORTH WALES JUNIOR LEAGUEYsgol Morgan Clwyd, Wrexham. 10.30am.northwalesxc.comNORTH WALES REGIONAL CHAMPSRhug Estate, Corwen.northwalesxc.comSTAFFORDSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIPSWolverhampton. Noon.staffs-athletics.org.ukSTART FITNESS NORTH EASTERN HARRIER LEAGUETemple Park. Noon.harrierleague.comSURREY CHAMPIONSHIPSLloyd Park, Croydon. 11am.surreyathletics.org.ukSUSSEX CHAMPIONSHIPSLittle Common, Bexhill.sussexathletics.netWARWICKSHIRE/WORCESTERSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIPSNewbold Revel, Stretton-Under-Fosse.warwickshireathletics.co.uk/county-cross-country-championshipsYORKSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIPSLightwater Valley Pk, North Stainley. 11am.facebook.com/events/244349682916977

Sunday January 6CAMBRIDGESHIRE CHAMPIONSHIPSPriory Park, St Neots. 11am.cambsathletics.org.ukCC6 LEAGUEBadger Farm, Winchester. 9.30am.cc6.co.ukEAST YORKSHIRE LEAGUESledmere House, Sledmere. 10am.bridlingtonrr.co.uk/page14.htmlGWENT LEISURE CENTRE LEAGUEMeend Farm, Monmouth. 11am.sites.google.com/site/glclrunning/home/cross-countryHEREFORDSHIRE LEAGUEQueenswood. 11am.HERTFORDSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIPSVerulam Park, St Albans. 11am.hertscaaa.org.uk

LINCOLNSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIPSBiscathorpe.lincsathletics.comNORFOLK CHAMPIONSHIPSCharles Burrell Centre, Thetford.athleticsnorfolk.org.ukOXFORD MAIL LEAGUE INC OXFORDSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIPSHorspath Stadium, Oxford. 9.55am.oxonxc.org.ukPECO LEAGUEWest Park.pecoxc.co.ukSOUTH WEST INTER COUNTIES CHAMPIONSHIPSAldon Hill, Yeovil.SUFFOLK CHAMPIONSHIPSCulford Sch, Bury St Edmunds. 11.30am.suffolkathletics.org.ukWEST YORKSHIRE WINTER LEAGUEPudsey. 10am.westyorkshirewinterleague.blogspot.co.uk

INDOOR

Thursday December 13GATESHEAD HARRIERS OPEN SERIESgatesheadharriers.com

Saturday December 15SOUTH OF ENGLAND AA COMBINED EVENTS & OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPSLee Valley. 10am. Until Sunday Dec16.seaa.org.uk/index.php/events/track-and-field

Sunday December 16ABERDEEN OPEN GRADED MEETINGAberdeen. 10am.aberdeenaac.co.ukCARDIFF MET GP1: CHRISTMAS CLASSICCardiff.cardiffmetathletics.co.uk/events/indoor-grand-prix-seriesNORTH YORKSHIRE OPENSheffield.SALE HARRIERS OPEN SERIESSportcity. 10.30am.saleharriersmanchester.comSUTCLIFFE INDOOR 60m SERIESEltham.

Friday December 21GLASGOW AA YULETIDE OPENEmirates Arena, Glasgow.glasgowathletics.org.ukSKY HIGH POLE VAULT OPENEmirates Arena.scottishathletics.org.uk

Saturday December 22MANCHESTER PV CHRISTMAS OPENSportcity.vaultmanchester.comTRACK ACADEMY SPRINT CHALLENGEWillesden. Noon.trackacademy.co.uk

Tuesday January 1LEE VALLEY NEW YEAR OPENLee Valley. 10am.visitleevalley.org.uk/athletics

Friday January 4BMC/GLASGOW AA METRIC MILER MEETING (Inc SCOTTISH 3000m CHAMPIONSHIPS)Emirates Arena, Glasgow. 5pm.glasgowathletics.org.ukSCOTTISH 3000m CHAMPIONSHIPSEmirates Arena.scottishathletics.org.ukSKY HIGH POLE VAULT OPENEmirates Arena.scottishathletics.org.uk

SUBMIT YOUR FIXTURE ONLINE AT athleticsweekly.com

5km and 2km events. For more info, see greatrunlocal.org

Wythenshawe Park: 9am SundayDebdale Park: 9am SundayBoggart Hole Clough: 9am SundayBirchfields Park: 11am SundaySalford Quays: 6.45pm ThursdayBurrs Country Park: 9.30am SundayGibside: 9.15am SundaySunderland: 9.30am SundaySouter Lighthouse: 9.30am SundayStockton: 9.30am SundayGlasgow Quays: 6.30pm WednesdaySouthwold: 9.30am SundayNeedham Lake: 9.30am SundayAshford Kingsnorth: 9.30am SundayHolbrook: 9am SundayNewmarket: 11am SundayBirmingham Ley Hill: 9.30am SaturdayThe Vale Birmingham: 10.30am SundayEdgbaston: 9.30am SundayPortsmouth Lakeside: 9.30am SundayLancing Beach Green: 9.30am SundayQueen Elizabeth Olympic Park: 9.30am Sunday

NEXTISSUE

AW IS OUT ONDECEMBER 20

STATS SPECIAL BUMPER ANNUAL PACKED

WITH RANKINGS

READERS’ CHOICE WE REVEAL YOUR ATHLETES

OF THE YEAR

DINA ASHER-SMITH SPEED QUEEN TALKS

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AW Dec 13 What's On 59-61.indd 3 10/12/2018 12:23

Saturday January 5ENGLAND ATHLETICS U20/SENIOR COMBINED EVENTS CHAMPIONSHIPSSheffield. Until Sunday January 6.englandathletics.orgLONDON U13/U15/U17 GAMESLee Valley. Until Sunday January 6.visitleevalley.org.uk/athleticsMIDLAND COUNTIES OPEN SERIESAlexander Stadium, Birmingham. Until Sunday January 6.midlandathletics.org.ukSCOTTISH ATHLETICS INDOOR LEAGUEEmirates Arena.events.scottishathletics.org.uk

Sunday January 6BMC SHEFFIELD GRAND PRIXSheffield EIS. 1pm.britishmilersclub.comSALE HARRIERS OPEN SERIESSportcity. 10.30am.saleharriersmanchester.comSOUTH LONDON ATHLETIC NETWORK OPEN MEETINGCarshalton.entries.opentrack.run/2019/slan_indoor_openWELSH ATHLETICS JUNIOR OPEN (Inc SOUTH & EAST WALES REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS)Cardiff.welshathletics.orgWINDSOR, SLOUGH, ETON & HOUNSLOW AC WINTER SERIESEton. 12.30pm.wseh.info

MULTI-TERRAIN

Saturday December 15DINTON SANTA DASH 5kmDinton Pastures Country Park, Hurst, Berkshire. 10.30am.barnesfitness.co.ukELSECAR RUNNING FESTIVAL 6.7/HALF-MARATHON/20/MARATHONWath Road, Elsecar, Yorkshire. 9.30am.itsgrimupnorthrunning.co.ukMAD BULL TORCH CHALLENGE 5Rivington, Lancashire.madbullevents.comNORTH BERWICK BEACH SANTA RUNHope Rooms, Forth Street, N Berwick. 10am.entrycentral.com/festival/1317RACE THE LIGHT 8.5Old Schoolhouse, Mothecombe. 3.30pm.puretrail.uk/race-the-lightRUN FOREST RUN – KILBRONEY 5km/10kmKilbroney Forest Park, Shore Road, Rostrevor. 11am.born2runevents.comSPERRIN HARRIERS LOUGH FEA 5kmLough Fea, Cookstown. Noon.sperrinharriers.co.uk/winter-league-seriesST NICHOLAS HOSPICE FESTIVE FOREST CHALLENGE 10km/HALF-MARATHON/20Kings Forest, Bury St Edmunds. 9am.positivestepspt.co.uk

Sunday December 16DIRTRUN WINTER WARRIOR SERIES 5km/10kmBaggeridge Country Park, Dudley. 9am.dirtrun.co.ukELSECAR RUNNING FESTIVAL 5km/8kmWath Road, Elsecar, Yorkshire. 11am.itsgrimupnorthrunning.co.uk

EVESHAM FESTIVE 10kmCheltenham Road, Evesham, Worcestershire. 10.30am.entrycentral.com/eveshamfestive10kFOREST OF DEAN CHRISTMAS TREE 5Ellwood, Gloucestershire. 10am.fodac.org.ukHALDON JINGLE JANGLE 5km/10kmHaldon Forest, Exeter, Devon. 9am.city-runs.co.ukHOOKY CHRISTMAS CANTER 7The Bourne, Hook Norton, Oxfordshire. 11am.hooknortonharriers.org.ukJINGLE JOG 5kmFrimley Lodge Park, Frimley Green, Surrey. 9.30am.jinglejog.co.ukLOFTUS POULTRY RUN 8Loftus Leisure Centre, Loftus, Cleveland. 11am.loftusandwhitbyac.co.ukMUDDY WELLY RUN 5km/10kmWellington College, Crowthorne, Berkshire. 10am.muddywelly.comPLYM TRAIL HALF-MARATHON/MARATHONVillage Hall, Clearbrook, Plymouth, Devon. 9.30am.firstandlastrunning.comPONTARDAWE 5kmPontardawe Inn, Pontardawe. 11.30am.facebook.com/crprc/photos/d41d8cd9/1844635392529916PRESTON PARK SANTA RUN 5kmPreston Park Museum, Stockton-on-Tees. 10am.events.stockton.gov.uk/stockton-winter-5k-trail-series/#RUDOLPHS RAMPAGE 7kmPainswick RFC, Painswick, Gloucestershire. 10am.rudolphsrampage.co.ukSANTA’S SPECIAL 4.5Rotherham, South Yorkshire. 10.30am.kimberworthstriders.co.ukWELLINGTON MONUMENT RACE 6.27Hemyock Primary School, Hemyock, Devon. 10.30am.tauntonac.org

Saturday December 22CHRISTMAS PUDDING DASH 5Village Hall, Pett, East Sussex. 10.30am.nice-work.org.ukEXTREMELY JOLLY 7.5Escot House, Ottery St Mary, Devon. 10.30am.jollyrunning.uk/extremely-jollyRUNTHROUGH GREENWICH PARK 5km/10kmGreenwich Park, London. 10am.runthrough.co.uk

Sunday December 23ELVES 11Park Drive, Maldon, Essex. 9am.topdayevents.comPORTSMOUTH COASTAL WATERSIDE HALF-MARATHON/MARATHON/50kmLangstone Harbour, Portsmouth. 8am.fitprorob.bizRATTLER SCROOGE 7Church Lane, Mevagissey. 10.30am.mudcrew.co.ukRUNTHROUGH CHASE THE SUN HYDE PARK 5km/10kmHyde Park, London. 7pm.runthrough.co.uk

TORRINGTON CHRISTMAS CAPER 9Torrington. 11am.en-gb.facebook.com/events/766940843512465XMAS AT THE MUSEUM 5.2Hatfield Road, Langford, Maldon, Essex. 10am.midessexcasuals.org.uk

Wednesday December 26BEECRAIGS FESTIVE HANDICAPBeecraigs Country Park, Linlithgow,.lothianrunningclub.co.ukBRAITHWELL BOXING DAY 4.3Butchers Arms, Rotherham, South Yorkshire. 11am.maltbyrunningclub.comCHEVIN CHASE 7Aireborough Leisure Centre, Guiseley, West Yorkshire. 11am.airecentre-pacers.co.ukCROWN TO CROWN BOXING DAY 5kmWestley Heights Country Park, Basildon, Essex. 11am.pitsearunningclub.org.ukESSAR CHESTER ROUND THE WALLS 4.6Race Course (Roodee), Chester. 10.30am.westcheshireac.co.ukLOUTH HUBBARDS HILLS BOXING DAY FUN RUNHubbards Hills, Louth, Lincolnshire. 10.30am.louth-ac.org.ukPINEWOOD TRAILS BOXING DAY 5kmBlack Park Country Park, Wexham, Buckinghamshire. 9.30am.bucksvoice.net/pinewoodtrailsSALTWOOD BOXING DAY 3The Green, Saltwood, Hythe, Kent. Noon.nice-work.org.uk

Thursday December 27SATURN RUNNING RUN HOME CHALLENGE 6-HOURWokingham Waterside Centrer, Earley, Berkshire. 9.30am.saturnrunning.co.uk

Friday December 28COLEY CANTER 8Northowram Community Sports & Activity Club, Halifax. 10am.northowrampumas.co.uk/coleycanterGREAT BARROW CHALLENGE MARATHON (DAY 1)The Academy, Church Road, Barrow, Suffolk. 8am.thegbc.co.ukPHOENIX YEAR END MARATHONElmbridge Xcel Leisure Centre, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. 9am.phoenixrunning.co.uk

Saturday December 29CASTLEWELLAN CHRISTMAS CRACKER 8.6Castlewellan FC, Castlewellan, Co Down. 1pm.newcastleac.orgGREAT BARROW CHALLENGE 5km/10km/HALF-MARATHON/MARATHON (DAY 2)The Academy, Church Road, Barrow, Suffolk. 8am.thegbc.co.ukILFORD 10Lambourne Road, Chigwell Row, Essex. 10.30am.ilfordathleticclub.co.uk

PHOENIX FROZEN 6-HOUR (DAY 1)Xcel Leisure Centre, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. 9am.phoenixrunning.co.uk

Sunday December 30ADLINGTON WINTER WARMER 10kmMiners Arms Adlington, Cheshire. 10am.crazylegsevents.co.ukGREAT BARROW CHALLENGE MARATHON (DAY 3)Academy, Church Road, Barrow. 8am.thegbc.co.ukGUT BUSTER 10km/10Butlers Lands Farm, Mortimer, Berks. 10am.thegutbuster.co.ukJOLLY HOLLY JOG 10kmMallorie Park Drive, Ripon, North Yorkshire. 11am.riponrunners.org.uk/jolly-holly-jog-10kPHOENIX FROZEN 6-HOUR (DAY 2)Xcel Leisure Centre, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. 9am.phoenixrunning.co.ukPLAIN CRAZY 12.5Land Warfare Centre, Warminster, Wiltshire. 9am.warminsterbritishlegion.co.ukSIX GEESE A LAYING 10The Pleasance, High Street, Chipping Ongar, Essex. 10am.essextrailevents.comTWIXMAS 10kmWicor Recreation Ground, Fareham, Hampshire. 10am.ruralrunning.orgWEST BROMWICH H WINTER WARMER 5Sandwell Valley Country Park, West Bromwich. 10.30am.westbromwichharriers.com

ROAD

Saturday December 153-1-5 LANCASTER 5km/10km SERIES3-1-5 Heath Club, Caton Road, Lancaster. 11am.lancaster-race-series.co.uk5KOOL RUN 5kmTavistock College, Tavistock, Devon. 7.15pm.skoolrun.eventsCLISSOLD PARK SANTA DASH 5kmClissold Park, Green Lanes, Hackney, London. 9.30am.theraceorganiser.comDARLINGTON HARRIERS CROFT 5kmCroft Circuit, Dalton on Tees, Co Durham. 10.30am.darlingtonharriers.co.uk/croft-5kRUN4ALL NEATH SANTA 5kmAberavon Promenade, Port Talbot.run4allneath.co.uk/santa

Sunday December 16BOWNESS JINGLE BELL JOG 2km/4kmCockshott Point, Bowness, Cumbria.lakeslions.co.uk/jingle-bell-jogCLEETHORPES DAY SANTA STRIDE 4kmDiscovery Centre, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire. 2.30pm.cleethorpes-santa-stride.co.ukCLEETHORPES NIGHT SANTA STRIDE 4kmDiscovery Centre, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire. 4.30pm.cleethorpes-santa-stride.co.uk

DRAYCOTE WATER SANTA DASH 8kmDraycote Water, Kites Hardwick, Warwickshire. 9.45am.theraceorganiser.comEAST COAST HOSPICE SANTA DASH 5kmGorleston, Norfolk. 11.30am.nice-work.org.ukGRAVESEND SANTA DASH 5km/10kmCyclopark, Tollgate, Gravesend. 10.30am.nice-work.org.ukHERRINGTON COUNTRY PARK WINTER WONDER 6-HOURHerrington Country Park, Houghton le Spring. 9am.northeastmarathonclub.co.uk/winter-wonder-runs.phpKENILWORTH CHRISTMAS REINDEER 5km/10km/20kmStoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warks. 9am.stuweb.co.ukKENT CHRISTMAS CRACKER 5Fowlmead Country Pk, Sholden. 10.30am.nice-work.org.ukLANCASTER CHRISTMAS CRACKER 10kmGeorge & Dragon Pub, St George’s Quay, Lancaster. 11am.lancaster-race-series.co.ukLOSSIEMOUTH TURKEY TROT 10 (Inc SCOTTISH NORTH DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS)Lossiemouth Sports & Community Centre, Lossiemouth.morayroadrunners.comRISBOROUGH RUN IN THE PARK 5kmWades Park, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire. 9am.risboroughruninthepark.weebly.comRUNTHROUGH OLYMPIC PARK 5km/10kmQueen Elizabeth Olympic Park. 10am.runthrough.co.ukTRAVELLERS 6Pie Hall, Denby Dale, W Yorks. 10.30am.denbydaleac.co.ukWATERSIDE 10kmGrafham Water, Buckden, St Neots, Cambridgeshire. 10am.nicetri.co.ukWOLVERHAMPTON TURKEY TROT 5Wolverhampton, West Midlands. 10am.wolvesandbilstonac.co.uk

Wednesday December 19DERBY MIDWEEK MILE/5km TRAINING RACEAlvaston & Boulton CC, Raynesway, Derby. 7pm.runningwithdavid.comMEDWAY PARK 5km/10km SERIESMedway Park track, Gillingham 7.30pm.nice-work.org.uk

Saturday December 22LANCASTER CHRISTMAS CRACKER 10kmGeorge & Dragon Pub, St George’s Quay, Lancaster. 11am.lancaster-race-series.co.ukSALTWELL 10kmSaltwell Park, Gateshead. 11.30am.saltwellharriers.org.uk

Sunday December 23BURNHAM ON SEA CHRISTMAS JINGLE 4Berrow Road, Burnham on Sea, Somerset. 7.30pm.bospool.com



FIXTURES



CHESTERFIELD UNIT 1 SANTA 5kmQueens Park, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. 9.30am.entrycentral.com/festival/1305HAZELBANK CHRISTMAS RUN 5Hazelbank Park, Shore Rd, Newtownabbey. 11am.facebook.com/events/24488625618990 2RISBOROUGH RUN IN THE PARK 5kmWades Park, Princes Risborough. 9am.risboroughruninthepark.weebly.comRUDOLF RED NOSE 5Blackpool Fire Station, Blackpool, Lancashire. 11am.weshamroadrunners.co.ukWARD GREEN 6Genn Lane Community Centre, Barnsley, South Yorkshire. 11am.barnsleyac.co.uk

Monday December 24BURNLEY CHRISTMAS CRACKER 2/4Towneley Park, Burnley, Lancashire. 9am.cannonballevents.co.uk/burnley-christmas-cracker

Wednesday December 26AYLESBURY BOXING DAY 5kmMarket Square, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. 9.45am.voaac.org.ukAYRODYNAMIC TURKEY TROT 5km/10kmCitadel Leisure Centre, S Harbour Street, Ayr. 11.15am.ayrodynamic.org.ukBARROW RUNNERS BOXING DAY HANDICAP 6Humphrey Perkins School, Barrow On Soar, Leicestershire. 10.30am.barrowrunners.co.ukBROCAGH BAY 5km/10kmCastlebay Community Centre, Brocagh. 10.15am.facebook.com/BrocaghBayRunBURREN TOWNLANDS 6/12Burren Heritage Centre, Warrenpoint. 10.30am.burrenathletics.comCLEVEDON BOXING DAY 4Little Harp, Clevedon, Avon. 11am.clevedonac.co.ukEHH BOXING DAY 10kmSaltshouse Road, Hull, East Yorkshire. 10am.easthullharriers.comGLYNNEATH 5Glynneath Social Club, Glynneath, West Glamorgan. 11am.glynneath5.comGREENCASTLE 5Greencastle Community Centre. Noon.greencastle5.comLARNE AC BOXING DAY RUNGlynn Rugby Club, Larne, Co Antrim. 11am.larneac.co.ukLEYLAND BOXING DAY 10kmWorden Park, Leyland, Lancashire. 10am.ukroadraces.infoPOOLE ROUND THE LAKES BOXING DAY 10kmPoole Park, Poole, Dorset. 10am.pooleac.co.ukPORTHCAWL LIONS 38 FURLONGS (4.75)Hi Tide Inn, Porthcawl, Vale of Glamorgan. 11am.porthcawllions.org.uk

STOCKPORT STARS AND GARTERS 5kmHillgate, Stockport, Cheshire. 10am.stockportharriers.niftyentries.com/StarsandGartersWITHAM BOXING DAY 5Witham FC, Spa Road, Witham, Essex. 11am.withamrc.org.uk

Thursday December 27PILOT INN 4Pilot Inn, Hardwicke, Gloucestershire. 11.30am.severnac.comWHEATON ASTON ROMAN 10kmSt Mary’s School, Wheaton Aston, Staffordshire. 11am.newportrunningclub.org.uk

Friday December 28HARBOUR CLUB LAST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH 5kmThe Bandstand, Hyde Park, London. 12.30pm.serpentine.org.uk

Saturday December 29RUNTHROUGH LEE VALLEY VELOPARK MILE/5km/10km/10M/HALF-MARATHONLee Valley VeloPark, London. 9am.runthrough.co.uk

Sunday December 30BUNTINGFORD YEAR END 10Freman College, Buntingford, Hertfordshire. 10.30am.roystonrunners.co.ukGLOUCESTER NEW YEARS EVE 10Kingsway Sport Pavilion, Quedgeley, Gloucester. 10am.beyondthelimitations.org.ukMASSEY FERGUSON RC NEW YEAR EVE RACE PACE 3.55Coventry, West Midlands. 10am.masseyrunners.org.ukNEWCASTLE WINTER WONDER 6-HOURTown Moor, Newcastle. 9am.northeastmarathonclub.co.uk/winter-wonder-runs.phpOLD FATHER TIME VETS 5Llandaff RFC, Western Avenue, Cardiff. 1pm.lescroupiersrunningclub.org.ukPEDNOR INTERNATIONAL 10Chesham, Buckinghamshire. 10am.arctic1.co.ukRIBBLE VALLEY 10kmRoefield Leisure Centre, Clitheroe, Lancashire. 10am.blackburnharriers.co.ukRISBOROUGH RUN IN THE PARK 5kmWades Park, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire. 9am.risboroughruninthepark.weebly.comSTAPLEHURST END OF YEAR 10High Street, Staplehurst, Kent. 10am.runningandriding.co.ukTEMPO 10km SERIESMickleton Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. 10.30am.tempoevents.co.uk

Monday December 31ELY NEW YEARS EVE 10kmVillage Hall, Little Downham, Ely, Cambridgeshire. 11am.newyearseve10k.co.uk

LOUGH 5Loughmacrory. Noon.lough5.comNOS GALAN 5kmMountain Ash, Glamorgan. 7pm.nosgalan.co.ukRAF MARHAM NEW YEARS EVE 10kmUpper Marham, Norfolk.marhamflyers.co.uk

TRACK

Saturday December 15THE 5000m’s OF CHRISTMASBattersea. 9am.

Thursday December 20COLCHESTER INVITATION WINTER THROWSColchester.

Sunday December 30NENE VALLEY HARRIERS THROWS PENTATHLONPeterborough.nvh.org.uk

Saturday January 5MIDLAND COUNTIES WINTER THROWS OPENAlexander Stadium, Birmingham. Until Sunday January 6.midlandathletics.org.uk

WALKS

Sunday December 16SARNIA HILL CLIMBLe Val des Terres. 9am.sarnia.wordpress.comUP & RUNNING WINTER LEAGUERamsey, IOM.

Wednesday December 26BRIGHTON BOXING DAY 5Preston Park, Brighton. 10.30am.SOUTHEND-ON-SEA AC 2MSouthend-on-Sea. 9.30am.

Sunday December 30SARNIA ROCQUAINE CIRCUIT ROAD WALKRocquaine Circuit. 9am.sarnia.wordpress.com

OVERSEAS

Saturday December 15ALL IRELAND UNEVEN AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPSNavan Racecourse, Proudstown, Ireland.athleticsni.org

Wednesday December 26BELGOOLY ANNUAL 4Belgooly, Ireland.belgoolyac.com/events/belgooly-st-stephens-day-4-mile

Sunday December 30TOGHER AC 5kmCommunity Centre, Togher, Ireland. 1pm.togherathletics.org/togheracroadrace2018

Sunday January 6IAAF CROSS COUNTRY PERMIT MEETINGSan Giorgio su Legnano, Italy.iaaf.org


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MELISSA COURTNEY and Ashley Bryant are one of the most

talented couples in athletics. Courtney won 1500m bronze at this year’s Commonwealth Games, while her fiancé Bryant won decathlon silver at the 2014 Glasgow Games.

Yet what would happen if the duo ever raced?

The much-publicised 600m head-to-head between Usain Bolt and Mo Farah did not happen before the Jamaican hung up his spikes. But a Courtney-Bryant shoot-off is far more likely.

“I think he thinks he would beat me over 800m but I’m not sure,” says Courtney, who was eighth in last weekend’s Euro Cross. “Maybe we’ll have a race one day.

“He used to think he could maybe beat me at 1500m but in the last few years he’s started to think ‘no way, it’s not happening’.”

Bryant’s 1500m best at the end of a decathlon is 4:27.15 – compared to Courtney’s best of 4:03.44 – but he has also run a speedy 48.10 for 400m.

The Loughborough-based duo have even had a taste of

rubbing shoulders on the track. “Before the Commonwealth Games when he did a few of his 1500m sessions they were linked into my sessions,” says Courtney, “so we were able to train together which was fun and a rare moment.”

Light-hearted head-to-head banter aside, Courtney says she draws inspiration from the

hard work he puts in as a decathlete. “I have to grind out all my sessions and miles,” she says, “but watching him and the time and dedication he puts into it with all his technical events inspires me.”

During her career, Courtney has tried almost as many events as

Bryant. She swam competitively from the age of eight and aged 14-15 she was part of a national programme for modern pentathlon (swimming, shooting, horse riding, fencing and running). She even won a national title in a run-swim-shoot ‘triathlon’.

“I enjoyed swimming, but I began to enjoy running so much more,” she remembers, “I enjoyed the buzz of running and found it so much more sociable than being in the pool.

“As for modern pentathlon, it was fun and when you’re young it’s important to try out all these things but I decided it wasn’t for me in the end. I always wanted to be a runner, so running was my priority and favourite.”


COURTNEY VS BRYANT

DIP FINISH CRAZINESS AND CONTROVERSY IN THE WORLD OF ATHLETICS

SEMENYA SNUB IN ATHLETE OF THE YEAR VOTECATERINE IBARGUEN was a deserving and popular winner of the IAAF female athlete of the year award (see News Focus, p38) after the Colombian enjoyed a terrific season in the long and triple jumps.

But many felt it was odd that

Caster Semenya did not even make the final five short list of contenders.

Unbeaten at 800m, she won Commonwealth, IAAF Continental Cup and Diamond League titles, posted the fourth, sixth and eighth fastest 800m

times in history and also won the Commonwealth 1500m and African 400m crowns.

Naturally, there has been speculation that Semenya was left out because the IAAF is seeking to introduce new regulations forcing athletes

with hyperandrogenism to take testosterone-lowering medication.

Public votes made up 25% of the short list decision‚ with votes by the IAAF council 50% and votes by ‘the IAAF family’ making up 25%.

WELSH ENDURANCE RUNNER AND ENGLISH DECATHLETE ARE ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED – AND COULD ONE DAY RACE OFF OVER 800m FOR FUN

Melissa Courtney: Commonwealth 1500m bronze medallist

Melissa Courtney and Ashley Bryant

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AW Dec 13 Dip Finish 62.indd 2 10/12/2018 12:29

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PERIOD - Athletics Weekly

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