Mansfield’s Berry Hill Park, the long standing home of the English Cross Country Relays, will remain open for now after a positive outcome was reached at a meeting between Mansfield District Council, the trustees for Berry Hill Park and the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO) on Thursday (November 22).

The annual cross country relays, which Leeds City and Tonbridge won at the start of November, have been staged at the venue since 1989, but the future of the privately owned park was in doubt after trustees announced they could no longer afford the upkeep costs.

Protests from the public took place at the park on November 10, while a petition started by Graeme Baguley gained almost 8000 signatures.

Following the meeting on Thursday, a deal looks to have been made to secure the park’s financial future, with the council taking control of the park’s maintenance.

Other options are now being considered to secure its long-term future, which includes the possibility of the Mansfield District Council becoming a corporate trustee.

“The English Cross Country Association is pleased to hear the news that Berry Hill Park will stay open and local parties will work together to find long term funding to keep the Park maintained,” said Ian Byett, English Cross Country Association secretary.

“There is now a year before the next Cross Country Relays will be held, so we will remain optimistic that the 2019 Relays can be held once again at Berry Hill.”

The council and the current trustees have also agreed to regular meetings to keep channels of communication open.

Mayor Kate Allsop said: “We are delighted to be able to support keeping this stunning and much-loved park open for everyone to enjoy.

“It is the right decision for Berry Hill Park and the residents of Mansfield District. We are working towards becoming a corporate trustee and this could take up to six months so, in the interim, the council will maintain the park whilst it remains the responsibility of the current Trustees.

“The aim is for the Council to take a decision regarding the park’s long term future in the new year.”

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The post Home of English Cross Country Relays to remain open appeared first on Fast Running.

Tonbridge AC won the women’s senior title and Leeds City clinched the senior men’s title at the Saucony English Cross Country Relays at Berry Hill Park, Mansfield on Saturday (November 3).

Despite a large fallen oak tree having to be moved from the course earlier in the week, it was a perfect day for cross country running with over 1000 teams competing.

The team event is a great early season opportunity for athletes from junior to senior ranks to kick start their winter racing schedules.

In the senior women’s race, Tonbridge claimed a great win as they denied Aldershot, Farnham and District a third consecutive title.

Aldershot’s Emily Hosker Thornhill led the first leg running 9:10.65, which was the fastest of the day, to give the defending champions a lead over Nicole Taylor of Tonbridge, who ran the third quickest time of the day herself with 9:34.60.

A strong second leg by Lucy Reid put Tonbridge in front, a lead Ashley Gibson did not relinquish on the final leg, with the club clocking a combined time of 29:27.50 over the 9km race.

Aldershot took silver clocking 30:01.95 ahead of Rotherham Harriers with 30:16.95. Jess Judd of Blackburn Harriers ran 9:23.45, the second quickest of the day, to overtake 25 people on the final leg.

In the senior men’s race, Leeds City’s team of Ossama Meslek, Graham Rush, Emile Cairess and Philip Sesemann claimed a superb win over Aldershot, Birchfield Harriers and defending champions Tonbridge.

Photo: Andy Peat

Anchored by Sesemann the quartet finished 30 seconds ahead of second placed Aldershot, with the southern club’s Jonny Hay running the fastest leg of the day in 14:56.35.

Birchfield Harriers took bronze ahead of Tonbridge.

The junior women’ race was the first event of the day and 24 teams competed over the 3 x 2.5km course. First over the line was the Loughborough Students AC A team of Zoe Wassell, Alex Barbour and Cari Hughes in a total time of 26:03.15.

As university teams do not compete for the gold medals that went to Herne Hill Harriers, who were second across the line.

The south London team consisted of Ella Newton, Zoe Tompkins and Alexandra Brown and finished just three seconds ahead of third placed Aldershot. Khahisa Mhlanga of Herts Phoenix AC ran the fastest leg in 8:06.90.

In the junior men’s race Morpeth AC took the win in 26:31 from Tonbridge AC in a combined time of 26:41 ahead of Cambridge and Coleridge AC (26:43).

A close run contest was blown wide open by Rory Leonard on the last leg. Leonard represented Great Britain at the European Athletics U18 Championships this summer over 3000m.

U17 Women (3 x 2.5km)

First place was Herne Hill Harriers A in 26:15.45 with Yasmin Marghini, Phoebe Anderson and Charlotte Alexander.

Marghini set the fastest leg of 8:28.30 from the gun and Herne Hill led the whole way. Blackheath and Bromley Harriers were second in 27:02.65 and Sale Harriers Manchester A third in 27:08.05

U17 Men (3 x 3km)

Invicta East Kent were the winners with a team consisting of Cameron MacRae, Charlie Brisley and Matthew Stonier. Just 11 seconds behind were Aldershot, Farnham and District (26:57.10) and third place were Shaftesbury and Barnet AC in 27:16.25.

Matthew McKay of Rossendale ran the fastest leg with 8:48.00. Special mention goes to Mohamed Ali who ran 8:48.65 to take his Ealing team from 53rd to 25th on the final leg. Ali ran a world age group best for 14 year olds over 3000m earlier this year.

U15 and U13 races

The Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow trio of Charlotte Dewar, Eloisa Harris and Jasmine Young won the U15 girls race, while Aldershot’s A team of Michael Gar, Ryan Martin and Woody Jerome won the boys event.

Cambridge and Coleridge’s team of Isaac Morris, Lewis Buchallet and Luca McGrath won the U13 boys race, while Tonbridge AC won the U13 girls relay thanks to the efforts of Lily Slack, Sophie Slack and Sam Breed.

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The post Tonbridge and Leeds win English cross country relays appeared first on Fast Running.

Over 1000 teams, including a record 170 senior women’s teams, have entered the Saucony English Cross Country Relays at Berry Hill Park, Mansfield on Saturday (November 3).

Defending senior champions Aldershot, Farnham and District and Tonbridge AC are among the leading clubs set to contest the 33rd edition of the relays.

In last year’s senior women’s race, Aldershot successfully retained their crown thanks to the efforts of Katie Bingle, Emelia Gorecka and Emily Hosker Thornhill over the three legs, while City of Stoke’s Kate Holt ran the fastest leg of the day.

Leeds City, Charnwood, Cambridge & Coleridge and Preston Harriers completed the top five teams and will be among those aiming to deny Aldershot three consecutive wins, who will be boosted after their recent win at the National Road Relays.

The Tonbridge quartet of George Duggan, Charlie Joslin-Allen, Ryan Driscoll and Chris Olley saw off the challenge of Aldershot, Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers, Lincoln Wellington and Bristol and West to clinch the 2017 senior men’s title, while Preston’s Patrich Dever clocked the fastest leg.

Tonbridge Team Manager Mark Hookway said: “Fingers crossed we have a solid men’s and women’s team this year.

“We are missing a few with Chris Olley and James West in USA and Henry Pearce recovering from a recent marathon (Toronto Waterfront Marathon), so retaining the men’s title will be difficult as Leeds and Aldershot plus maybe others are likely to be very strong.”

Photo: Andy Peat | Chris Olley’s final leg for Tonbridge

In the junior races, 78 teams are expected to contest the men’s event, while 57 teams are entered for the women’s race which kicks off the 10 event programme at 10:45.

Loughborough won the men’s U20 race last year, although as a university team the gold medals were awarded to second placed Tonbridge.

Sam Crick of Tonbridge has analysed the men’s U20 event and shared predictions of how the race might unfold.

“Loughborough’s team is likely to be Joe Arthur, Freddie Carcas and Terry Fawden and the team could be well up from the start,” he said. “Tonbridge have a strong chance of retaining the gold medal and will want to go one place better than last year’s overall results.

“The strong trio of Ally Kinloch, James Puxty and Jamie Goodge have all been in good form recently, with Puxty running the anchor leg of the winning Leeds Beckett team at the Manchester relays last week.

“Last year’s third place finishers were newly formed Milton Keynes distance project and although they had a very strong team, I think it will be difficult for this club to retain a medal, as they will be without the trio on Saturday, while a move to Bedford for Alfred Yabsley could push Bedford and County further up the rankings.

“Other contenders for top five positions could also include; Cambridge and Coleridge, who have U18 European champion Tom keen among their team, Shaftesbury Barnet and Reading AC.

“My overall prediction is Tonbridge (27:25), Loughborough (27:30) and Bedford and County (27:35).”

Timetable

10:45 – Junior women (3×2.5K)
10:57 – Under-17 women (3×2.5K)
11:26 – Under-13 boys (3x2K)
11:50 – Under-13 girls (3x2K)
12:15 – Junior men (3x3k)
12:40 – Under-17 men (3x3K)
13:06 – Under-15 girls (3x2K)
13:30 – Under-15 boys (3x2K)
13.50 – Senior women (3x3K)
14:40 – Senior men (4x5K)

RELATED: Tonbridge AC and AFD win senior English Cross Country Relays

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The post Clubs set to battle at English Cross Country Relays appeared first on Fast Running.

Let’s recap on this weekend’s running highlights across the UK.

English Cross Country Relays, Berry Hill Mansfield, Saturday 4th November.
Tonbridge AC and Aldershot, Farnham and District won the senior English Cross Country Relays in Mansfield on Saturday.

In exciting final lege battle Chris Olley of Tonbridge and Jonny Hay of Aldershot who went head to head. Hay who led Aldershot to victory in 2016 couldn’t quite replicate that feat as Olley kicked to seal the title for Tonbridge. Hay secured the silver medal ahead of Shaftesbury Barnet’s Phillip Crout to complete the Men’s podium.

Emelia Gorecka established a lead for Aldershot in the senior women’s race in the second leg. Emily Hosker Thornhill then had the task of holding the lead over the final 3km. Like in 2016, she ran a superb anchor leg and ensured the victory went to Aldershot in an overall time of 29:48:05. The race for silver and bronze saw Leeds City go one place better than last year as Lucy Crookes held off Charnwood’s Juliet Potter in the final stages.

A full report and fastest legs can be found here.

Cheshire 10K – Arley Hall, Saturday, November 4

In favourable conditions (at least for the North West of England) Arley Hall staged another successful edition of the increasingly popular Cheshire 10K. Held twice a year the course fairly flat, which has previously seen Matt Clowes post 29:29 and Helen Clitheroe 32:44 respectively.

Both Clowes of Cardiff AAC and another previous winner, Moh Abu Razeeq of Altrincham AC returned to battle it out on Saturday. Clowes was the victor with another brilliant sub 30-minute time, crossing the line in 29:44. Abu Razeeq followed in 30:22 after a close finish with another Cardiff AAC man Carwyn Jones just two seconds behind in 30:24.

Jessica Piasecki (nee Coulson) was the clear winner in the women’s race crossing the line in 34:44. After an injury-stricken period, it is great to see the 2012 European under-23 cross country champion back performing on the roads. With a 32:41:59 best over 10km and a 71:36 minute half marathon to her name, the Stockport athlete was never troubled on Saturday. She led from the start, with the nearest rival Rachel Jacks of Southport Waterloo AC a distant second in 40:14. Rachael Gavin was third in 42:33.

Full results can be found here.

Stretford Parkrun – Manchester, Saturday, November 4

Parkrun’s latest initiative to trial the free event within a prison launched on Saturday. The ambitious idea aims to help effort mental, physical and social health amongst in-mates. With the first event held in HMP Haverigg, Cumbria, it could have been easy to miss the results from further south at the Stretford parkrun in Manchester.

Tom Lancashire (Bolton Harriers) and Gavin Hill (Sale Harriers) both went under 15 minutes. By the close times, it looks like the pair had a good battle to push each other to 14:42 and 14:48 respectively.

Great to see @MichaelRimmer8 @tomlancs @dave_norman & other top athletes join 530 runners,joggers & walkers at today's Stretford parkrun pic.twitter.com/2n7xEzM0tc

— McrRun (@McrRun) November 4, 2017

In a star-studded line up on a Saturday morning, the second Olympian in attendance, Michael Rimmer finished third with 15:21.

Leeds Abbey Dash – Sunday, November 5

Eilish McColgan and Sam Stabler won the Leeds Abbey Dash on Sunday. McColgan, the winner in 2016, retained her title and set a course record crossing the line in 32:05.

Emma Mitchell finished second to McColgan with 32:51 to break the Northern Irish record.

Stabler won impressively in a high calibre field with a time of 29:13. Known for his ability on the cross country terrain the 25-year-old has now started to transition those fast times onto road and track.

A full report and details on sub 34-minute women and sub 30-minute men can found here.

The post English XC Relays, Leeds Abbey Dash and Cheshire 10K – Weekend Review appeared first on Fast Running.

The English Cross Country relays staged at Berry Park, Mansfield always provides high-quality racing and today was no different, with record entries competing in the mud on the top field and faster undulating woods.

In 2016 both senior titles were won by the red, green and white vests of Aldershot, however, the year will always be remembered for the tragic deaths of club athletes Lucy Pygott and Stacey Burrows, who lost their young lives three days after both running the anchor legs for their club. Pygott emphatically breaking the tape and sealing the victory for Aldershot A team in the under-17 girls’ race.

In the men’s senior race today, Patrick Dever got Preston Harriers into a leading position with fastest of the first legs. He was swiftly followed by a mix of all the top contenders and as leg two progressed it was Jack Morris of Stockport Harriers who came to the fore with Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers and City of Stoke hot on his heels.

Leg three saw Andy Nixon takeover for Stockport, as Tonbridge AC and Aldershot, Farnham and District moved into the medal positions behind. It was all to play for going into the final 5km stage as little separated Tonbridge AC, Aldershot and Shaftesbury Barnet, now in third place, at the final changeover. In an exciting final burn up it was Chris Olley of Tonbridge and Jonny Hay of Aldershot who went head to head.

Hay who led Aldershot to victory in 2016 couldn’t quite replicate that feat as Olley kicked to seal the title for Tonbridge. Hay secured the silver medal ahead of Shaftesbury Barnet’s Phillip Crout to complete the Men’s podium. Lincoln Wellington AC finished just outside the medals, 19 seconds adrift in 4th.

Patrick Dever was rewarded with the fastest leg of the day for his 15:22:45 effort on leg one, with Lewis Moses of Gateshead Harriers next in 15:23.00 and A Brecker of City of Stoke AC in 15.25:00.

It is worth noting that in regards to fastest times, the first leg is slightly shorter in distance as a result of the start line having been moved forward a few metres in recent years to avoid the danger of such a downhill mass start. Taking this in to account the final leg from Chris Olley is even more impressive, not only to out-kick Jonny Hay but also to clock a time of 15:29:25.

Emelia Gorecka established a lead for Aldershot in the senior women’s race after taking over in third place after the first leg.

Emily Hosker Thornhill then had the task of holding the lead over the final 3km. Like in 2016, she ran a superb anchor leg and ensured the victory went to Aldershot in an overall time of 29:48:05. The race for silver and bronze saw Leeds City go one place better than last year as Lucy Crookes held off Charnwood’s Juliet Potter in the final stages.

The fastest leg of the day went to City of Stoke AC’s Kate Holt in 09:37:85, closely followed by Elle Vernon of Stockport in 09:39:05, Kate Bingle of Aldershot 09:44:25 and Claire Duck from Leeds City 09:57:45, all on leg one.

Archie Walton won the junior men’s race for Loughborough, however with university team’s only eligible to compete, the medals were awarded to Tonbridge in second. Warrington sealed the junior women’s title with a fantastic final leg from Harriet Knowles-Jones.

For U13, U15 and U17 results please see www.englishcrosscountry.co.uk

(please note: no results of incomplete teams were available at the time of writing so the fastest leg results may differ).

The post Tonbridge AC and AFD win senior English Cross Country Relays appeared first on Fast Running.

Elsewhere this weekend, the popular Cheshire 10K returns for its second edition this year.

English Cross Country Relays – Berry Hill Park, Saturday, November 4
Berry Hill Park in Mansfield will stage its 28th English Cross Country Relays on Saturday. Over 1000 teams are entered with 205 Senior Men’s teams and 145 in the Senior Women’s category – record-breaking numbers.

The relays always provide high-end racing and among those hoping for top honours are last year’s men’s winners, Aldershot Farnham and District. The silver and bronze medallist from last year Tonbridge AC and Bristol & West AC will also be strong contenders for podium spots again.

Looking to get in the mix are Northern Cross Relay winners Lincoln Wellington AC and Aaron Scott, who is competing on Saturday, told Fast Running: “We have a good chance, I’ve looked at the numbers and we should be in medal contention at least. But it also depends on what others like Aldershot, Stockport, Tonbridge, Bristol, Highgate and maybe Leeds do. We’ve got a very strong team, and we are all in good 10k shape, so hopefully, it will translate to cross country.”

Aldershot Farnham & District have been dominant in recent years over the Women’s 3-stage relay. Having recently triumphed at the National 4 stage Road Relays and with such impressive depth, and even with some top athletes away attitude training, they look favourites to retain their title. The main challenge should come from Leeds City, Charnwood and Rotherham AC.

The English Cross country Association has advised all athletes to review the new timetable as changes have been made this year to the running order and start times.

Timetable
11.00am Junior Women (3×2.5K)
11.09am Under 17 Women (3×2.5K)
11.40am Under 13 Boys (3x2K)
12.05pm Under 13 Girls (3x2K)
12.30pm Junior Men (3x3k)
12.50pm Under 17 Men (3x3K)
1.20pm Under 15 Girls (3x2K)
1.45pm Under 15 Boys (3x2K)
2.05pm Senior Women (3x3K)
2.40pm Senior Men (4x5K)

Leeds Abbey Dash – Sunday, November 5
Returning for the 32nd year this weekend is the popular Leeds Abbey Dash 10km. The race is renowned for very fast times and last year saw a close battle between Jonny Mellor of Liverpool Harriers and Southend’s Adam Hickey for the win. By the line, the pair were separated by three seconds in times of 29:12 and 29:15 respectively.

In 2016 fourteen men dipped under the 30-minute barrier and a staggering 32 men under 31 minutes.

The women’s race also attracts a high pedigree and in 2016 Olympian, Eilish McColgan won in a time of 32:52 beating Gemma Steel of Charnwood in the closing stages. Like the men, it was a battle right up until the line and again only a three-second margin.

Jonny Mellor is entered for the race on Sunday and will be hoping for a consecutive Dash title. The Liverpool Harrier comes into the race in great form after a superb run in the Berlin marathon last month which saw him run 2:12:57. Having been left out of the English Commonwealth Games team, Mellor will also have the added motivation of proving the selectors wrong.

Though Mellor will not have it his own way and could be challenged by training partner Ben Connor of Derby AC. Connor recently had a great battle with Chris Thompson at the Great South Run, just losing momentum in the final stages before finishing in third.

Other entrants to watch out for include; Adam Hickey (Southend), Andrew Davies (Stockport Harriers), Emile Carriss (Leeds City), Josh Grace (Aldershot Farnham & District), and Kevin Seaward of Cardiff AC.

Eilish McColgan leads the entries in women’s field and will hope for a consecutive title at the Leeds Abbey Dash. The Dundee Hawkhill runner, who finished 10th in the 5000m at the World Championships, has enjoyed an amazing few months of PB’s including 14:48 and 8:31 for 5000m and 3000m respectively.

Other strong entries include triathlete Emma Pallant and Rebecca Robinson of Kendal AC.

Cheshire 10K – Arley Hall, Saturday, November 4
Some quick times have been recorded on this course around the grounds and nearby roads of Arley Hall in Cheshire. The course hosts two 10km events per year and in this second edition of 2017, we can expect to see Moh Abu-Razeq of Altrincham AC on the start line as well as Matt Clowes (Cardiff AC). Both athletes have run this course previously and have posted fast times.

The race awards £20 for the quickest athlete through each of the km markers between 1km and 9km and £100 cash for the win, providing an incentive that can lead to some exciting and more aggressive race tactics than often seen on the domestic circuit. In the Spring edition earlier this year, Moh started quickly through the first 3km but Clowes tracked him back and stormed to the win in 29.29. Abu-Razeq will be looking to turn the tables on the Cardiff athlete this weekend and improve on his 30.26 time from March.

The same incentive scheme is in place for the women and March saw Hannah Griffiths of Stockport capitalise with a win in 35.56. A regular in Northern road races Kirsty Longley (Liverpool Pembroke Sefton), finished runner-up and is a previous winner over the course so could be likely to return once again to try and regain her title. The female course record holder is Helen Clitheroe (Preston Harriers) who clocked 32.44 in 2014, highlighting the potential for very quick times over this course, if conditions are favourable.

The post Athletes set for English Cross Country Relays and Leeds Abbey Dash appeared first on Fast Running.