Nine Sheffield Runners travelled to London for this year’s National Cross Country Champs on Hampstead Heath. In contrast to the snow and endless mud of last year’s event at Alton Towers, the sun was shining, the ground was firm and Spring was in the air.
The start of the race on Parliament Hill was a mass of tents, marquees, and flags, resembling a mediaeval fairground. Athletes had travelled from across the whole of England to compete, and the sight of hundreds of runners charging up the first hill at the National is one to remember.
First up for Sheffield were our three women, Jenny, Helen and Clare, on an 8k course. Jenny has a great record in this event, and she worked her way forward throughout the race for an excellent top 100 finish – 97th in 32.30. Helen and Clare’s had concerns that they may be outclassed in a quality field but these were totally unfounded – both were easily in the top half of the field of 650 finishers. Helen was 246th in 36.02, and Clare close behind in 266th, clocking 36.35. Having done their work they were then able to relax in the sunshine with an ice-cream and watch the men toil round. Hallamshire’s women won the team prize.
The men’s race was a bit short of the advertised 12k, given Keith Gerrard’s (Newham and Essex Beagle’s) winning time of 35.36. Nearly 2000 men toed the start-line, all eager to be underway. The gun went – once, twice, three times. Was it a false start? Recalling 2000 runners to the start was never going to happen, so everyone charged on regardless. Will Beauchamp had clearly got his recent 50-mile victory out of his legs as he led the team home in 393rd place (44.07) – a top 400 finish in the National is a fine achievement. Chris Ireland improved 5 minutes on the last time he ran the National at Parliament Hill in 1993 (OK, so the 1993 race was run over 9 miles, but, hey, why let a minor detail get in the way of a good story?). His 44.55 put him in 458th place. Sid Cordle struggled with injury and the congested course, finishing 762nd in 48.31. Ian Alexander Barnes has been an ever-present on the country this year, and he continued his return to fitness by finishing in the top half of the field – 803rd in 49.06. Tim Tett struggled to even make the start line, having returned from a skiing trip just the night before. An application of Will’s magic pain-relieving gel got him through the first lap OK, but the effects then wore off and Tim was forced to a virtual crawl. Heroically he kept going to finish 1010th in 51.34 ensuring that the Sheffield men completed a team. Finally, a return to action for London-based John Doherty. John has been back in training for just 3 weeks, so was hardly in the best of shape for a hilly 7 mile cross country race. He rose to the challenge magnificently, though, finishing 1111th in 52.53. Great to see you back in action, John!
The men’s team of six were 66th out of 125 complete teams – the first time we’ve finished a men’s team at the National. Leeds City were overall winners.
Special thanks to Mike Levery for driving the minibus, taking photos, shouting encouragement, and, most impressively, finding a free parking space in London. Give the National a try next year – it’s a great occassion and a chance to see some of Britain’s top athletes in action, but it really is an event for athletes of all abilities
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