Cross country runners across England were out in force to compete at the North, South and Midlands Cross Country Championships on Saturday (January 26).

London’s iconic Parliament Hill Fields was the venue for South of England Cross Country Championships and Pippa Woolven and Henry Pearce claimed the senior wins.

Emile Cairess and Mhairi MacLennan took the honours in the senior races at the Northern Championships at Pontefract Park in West Yorkshire, while Newbold Comyn, Leamington hosted the Midlands Championships with victories for Jack Gray and Kate Holt.

South of England Cross Country Championships

Wycombe Phoenix’s Woolven was the runaway winner in the senior women’s race at the South of England Championships at Parliament Hill.

Woolven, who was in action for GB recently at Great Stirling XCountry, finished 66 seconds ahead of Commonwealth Games steeplechaser Iona Lake.

City of Norwich’s Lake has had some great results at Parliament Hill, including third at last year’s English National. Third place was Naomi Taschimowitz of Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers.

The senior men’s race saw Tonbridge AC’s Pearce looking relaxed at the front early on before winning the battle over the 15km course.

Photo: Nigel Bramley

It could be the strength from marathon training in 2018 and fine 2:19 performance at Toronto Waterfront Marathon gave the youngster the edge.

Last year’s English National champion Adam Hickey was second and Ed Sheperd of Woodford Green and Essex Ladies in third. Southend’s Hickey, who won the Essex County Champs earlier in the month, was second at this event in 2018 before going on to win the National Championships.

Amelia Quirk was first to the line in the women’s U20 race, clocking 23:15 to retain her U20 crown. Bracknell AC’s Quirk just beat Cornwall AC’s Grace Brock (23:26) in second and Cambridge Sabrina Sinha (24:00) in third.

Lachlan Wellington (25:12) turned a 2018 second place in the U17 category into a 2019 win in the men’s U20 race, with last year’s U17 third place finisher, Zak Mohamed (25:34), jumping up a place to second in the higher age category too. Brighton & Hove AC’s Tomer Torragano (25:38) was third.

In the senior women’s race, Thames Hare and Hounds were the overall team winners, while Aldershot, Farnham and District were the victors in the men’s team event.

Northern Cross Country Championships

Leeds City’s Cairess ran a great race to win the Northern Cross Country Championships, ahead of Carl Avery of Morpeth and Dejene Gezimu of Liverpool AC.

Photo: Pete Brown

The front three were comfortably clear, but commendable mentions for Jack Martin of Stockport and Nigel Martin of Sale Harriers in fourth and fifth. Mainly so I could chuck a shout out to Nige in here, he works his socks off and it’s great to see the progression and hard work paying off.

Morpeth Harriers’ MacLennan won the women’s senior race for a second straight year.

MacLennan crossed the line in 27:36, with Leigh Harriers’ Lauren (Howarth) Heyes (27:40) and Blackburn Harriers’ Jess Judd (27:46) not far behind at Pontefract Park.

Photo: Pete Brown

The young Scot won the Scottish Inter-District title in Stirling two weeks ago and has been consistently strong over the cross country in the last few years.

The top five were all within 30 seconds for the senior women with Pudsey & Bramley’s Alexandra Bell, who is sharing her journey this year on Fast Running, and Leeds City’s Claire Duck featuring in a high-quality race.

The junior women’s winner was Eleanor Bolton with Tiffany Penfold, a parkrun top 10 regular, and Becky Briggs, who has been having some great success over 10km and half marathon distances recently, not far behind.

Morpeth’s Rory Leonard continued a great cross country season with the victory in the junior men’s race. Leonard was victorious ahead of Euan Brennan and Nathan Dunn.

The senior team prizes both went to Leeds City AC.

Midlands Cross Country Championships

Cambridge and Coleridge’s Gray went one better than last year in the Midlands Cross Country Championships, with a first place finish ahead of Omar Ahmed of Birchfield Harriers and Mohamed Daud Mohamed of Coventry Godiva.

Photo: Stephen Lee

City of Stoke’s Holt retained her Midlands senior women’s crown in 29:38 from Bournville Harrier Nicola Sykes, who was almost a minute behind in 30:27.

Third place was Charlotte Taylor-Green (30:44) who was running for Bristol and West AC.

Holt won the Staffordshire county title earlier in January and then finished fifth at the Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza, Spain on the 13th of the month.

Photo: Stephen Lee

Amelia Samuels of Wolverhampton & Bilston celebrated a victory in the U20 women’s race. The youngster won at the Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza earlier this month in Spain and came into the event in fine form.

Rebecca Twardochleb was 90 seconds back in second, with Zoe Brickley another 30 seconds behind, such was the dominie of Samuels’ win.

Ben Dijkstra was the U20 winner in the Midlands and the triathlon specialist is another showing how a multi-sport approach at a youth level can bring fantastic results.

The Leicester Corinthian ran 26:27 ahead of Thomas Mortimer (26:55) of Stroud & District AC. In 26:59 was third place Connor Bentley for City of Stoke AC.

The overall team winners for the Midlands senior races were Notts AC for the men and Bristol & West AC for the women.

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After being forced to pull out mid-race on his 26.2 mile debut at the London Marathon earlier this year, Tonbridge AC’s Henry Pearce bounced back to run a fantastic 2:19:23 at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in October.

Pearce’s achievement is all the more notable for the fact he not only works full time alongside running over 100 miles a week – he also studies most evenings too!

The trainee accountant certainly packs as much as he possibly can into his life living in central London. While the 24 year-old is unsure of what’s next race-wise, he’s keen to strike a happy harmony with training and a city career.

“The key is whether I can balance running with other life commitments,” he tells Fast Running. “I’m going to think it through properly, but I’m leaning more towards giving it a proper shot and balancing work alongside it.”

Alan Storey’s coaching success 

The fact the relatively new kid on the elite running block is even able to consider other options is a sign of how far he’s come since being taken under coach Alan Storey’s wing in January.

Pearce has always been a talented athlete. He enjoyed great success on the track last year in particular, posting PBs of 8:26.80, 14:11.10 and 29:41.12 for 3000m, 5000m and 10,000m while studying in America.

His marathon breakthrough is a testament to Storey’s ability to get the best out of his undoubted endurance capabilities. 

“With Alan’s experience and coaching philosophy, the training is a perfect fit for progressing my running career,” he says. “This is especially true of my move to the marathon distance.

“We communicate regularly by Whatsapp, email and on the phone, despite him living down in Bath.”

A year of back to back PBs 

Storey helped the Tonbridge AC star run a debut 49:54 clocking – and victory – at the Bramley 10 in February, before going onto firmly establish himself amongst the best in the country in March.

Pearce sped to a huge six minute half marathon PB at the Big Half in London, posting a 65:49 result in the British Championship race.

Since then there’s been no stopping the tall Kentish athlete.

The month before Toronto he ran a 29:33 debut at the Cardiff 10k before going onto win the Ipswich half marathon just two weeks later in 66:02.

It was his trip to Canada with fellow Team England members James Westlake, Hayley Carruthers and Helen Davies that was to prove the making of Pearce, though.

England selection for Toronto after London marathon DNF

How did he feel when he discovered he’d been selected for the race ‘on merit’, despite dropping out of London earlier in the year?

Photo: provided by Henry Pearce

“I felt incredibly privileged to be picked to run for England, as I was in essence selected off potential, so I’m so thankful and grateful to the selectors,” he enthuses.

“The DNF in London is still a mystery to me. It could have been the heat, hayfever, nerves of the occasion, or even something going slightly wrong in the build-up. 

“I was way off target pace at halfway, overheating and heading for big trouble. That was when me and Alan decided it was best to step off the course. It was the right thing to do. I probably would have caused great harm to myself otherwise.

“It took a while to recover from in a mental sense though. I’d worked so hard and for so long at something for the race just to completely fall apart. I was questioning what I was doing for a while.

“Luckily, the selection came along, which provided plenty of motivation!”

Preparations were perfect for Toronto

That motivation clearly helped him run those late summer PBs, setting him up nicely for a timely confidence boosting lead up to Toronto.

Pearce says he knew he was in good shape, was recovering from training sessions well and hitting all the prescribed paces and times set by coach Storey. 

He adds: “It was just a matter of executing all of that training on race day in order to record my first time down on paper.”

The fact he was to swap the searing heat of the London marathon for the bitterly cold Canadian autumn didn’t phase him either.

“I actually prefer cold conditions” he jokes.

Pearce says the wind was more of a factor on race day “as the course is incredibly exposed on the front of Lake Ontario”.

He adds: “I tried to keep to my prescribed pace, but had to run alone from 11k onwards. That made the closing 8k of the race incredibly tough, as they were directly into the wind! 

“I feared those last few miles of the race as it was heading into the unknown, but now that I’ve done it I know I can do it in the future.”

Training solo

The British international cross country athlete is no stranger to running alone, as he does all his training solo.

He says it makes him better able to deal with the demands racing can throw at him.

“I’m not too bothered about training alone,” he asserts. “I feel it gets you mentally stronger for the marathon distance. 

“I train on my own because it’s hard to fit in with others doing similar training around my full time hours.

“In the build up to Toronto I was sometimes having to do 1.5-2 hour sessions on my own at 6am!”

Those early morning and evening runs have continued post-Toronto, with studying taking up most evenings too. 

Full time work and 100+ mile training weeks

“When I’m in full training there isn’t much time to do anything else! It’s very full on, but I like being busy,” he says. “In my downtime, I like meeting up with friends and watching and playing sports. When I’m older I hope to play a lot more golf!

“My biggest fear comes from not recovering and getting enough sleep. The training part strangely doesn’t seem that bad compared to the rest of the day.”

The rest of the day must be pretty challenging considering the effort Pearce puts into an average week’s training.

Pearce’s training sessions

“A big week will be 110-115 miles,” he reveals. “That will include around three sessions and seven or eight easy runs. Those sessions will include efforts like: 15x1km (off 75secs recovery), 1 mile, 10x400m, 1 mile, or a two hour run at 5:50 minute/mile.

“However, it changes all the time. Generally, I have a down week every few weeks, and sessions will also be set on days where it fits in with work and other commitments.

“Alan always listens to how I’m feeling and how I’m recovering, adjusting the week accordingly. I don’t do any cross training unless an injury crops up. I also don’t do much strength and conditioning, but it’s something I’ll look to add into my training very soon.

“My favourite sessions are definitely the longer tempo type rep session work. Long runs of up to 2 hours 15 minutes at a good pace are what I really enjoy. That’s one of the reasons I stepped up to the marathon.

“Fuel-wise I eat a balanced diet, but also tend to treat myself quite a bit at times! I take a very relaxed approach to nutrition, although carb-loading in the lead up to a marathon is a thing for sure.”

Loughborough University and studying Stateside

The Loughborough University Management Science graduate is glad of his time studying Stateside, where he earned a Masters in Accounting at Tulsa.

“Both universities were great for my athletics at differing points in my life,” he reveals. “I stayed in the UK for my undergraduate degree because I wanted to compete at home with the aim of gaining international representation. 

“The facilities at Loughborough are great. I was coached by George Gandy during my time there and my running came on well. 

“I then had the choice to work full time or take up a scholarship in the US. The choice was a no brainer for me. 

“The likes of Chris O’Hare, Marc Scott and Luke Traynor went to Tulsa. They were brought on greatly by the athletics programme, so Tulsa seemed a perfect fit for what I was looking for. 

“University sport in the States is set up in a much more professional manner than in the UK. I feel incredibly privileged to have experienced it. 

I would advise other athletes to do their research before heading out, though. Make sure you’ll be able to transition well into the new training programme.”

American highway – student adventure road trips 

Pearce’s time in the US wasn’t all plain sailing, however.  As is traditional for foreign students looking for adventures abroad, he thought nothing of buying an old clapped out car for a road trip along with two other young bucks.

Sadly their planned journey from Tulsa down to New Orleans was cut short when the banger broke down in a small village in North Louisiana. 

Refusing to be defeated, the trio hired another car to complete the trip, only to arrive in New Orleans at 11pm to discover they’d booked the hostel for the wrong weekend! 

He adds with a laugh: “Luckily some athletes from the University of Tulane put us up for a few days!”

Tonbridge AC’s rise to the top

It could certainly be argued that that American adventure has been topped since he’s returned to British shores with his achievements in the Tonbridge AC vest.

Tonbridge have grown into one of the UK’s most successful clubs under the guidance of long term coach, Mark Hookway, who also forms part of the Trackside Podcast team.

Pearce is glowing in his praise for the club he’s been a member of since 2009.

“It’s great being part of such a strong athletics club,” he says. “I feel incredibly fortunate to have been introduced to the club by my maths teacher at school in Tonbridge. 

“Although many of the older athletes are now dotted around the country and the world, people still make the trips to races. 

“The club has been developed and brought together by an incredible amount of hard work from Mark. All of us athletes at Tonbridge AC realise the club would not be where it is today without him.”

A marathon future

Pearce is allowing himself to recover fully after his marathon efforts in Toronto before he considers his next racing venture.

However, he is in no doubt that he’s found his favourite competitive distance.

“Having had a taste of the marathon it definitely seems my preferred option in the longer term,” he reveals. “At the age of 24, I feel there is much more progression to be had at the distance. It’s where my strength and potential lies.”

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The four athletes representing England will be Hayley Carruthers (Gary Warhurst), Helen Davies (Clive Sparkles), James Westlake (Alison Benton) and Henry Pearce (Alan Storey).

Crawley’s Westlake has only recently given up his first love of football to concentrate on developing his potential as a runner. Under the guidance of coach Alison Benton he was fourth in the England Championships at London. He clocked 2:24:19 in the challengingly warm conditions that all runners faced that day. Westlake will be making his England debut.

Henry Pearce, who has notable recent bests at both the half-marathon and 10 miles, has been planning his step up to the marathon over the last 12 months under the guidance of Alan Storey. The Tonbridge AC athlete started fast at the London marathon this year but stopped after halfway. Possibly due to the hot weather that Westlake judged so well.

Both athletes have been racing well in the build up. Westlake won the Bright10 (51:17) and finished fifth at the Trafford 10k (30:15) in September. Pearce won the Simplyhealth Great East Run Half Marathon in 66:02 in September.

The women’s team

In a step up to international competition Hayley Carruthers races for England for the first time. Regular Fast Running readers will know of the Rotherham athlete, who only recently starting running competitively in the last couple of years.

After an excellent 74:46 PB at the Great North Run in September, Carruthers will be looking to improve on her 2:47 marathon PB which was run at London this year.

Helen Davies won Brighton in the spring to add to her 2017 victory in the same race. The Clive Sparkles coached athlete has only been back running competitively this last 18 months after a five-year break to start a family.  She will be looking to recapture some of her 2012 form that saw her clock a best 2:34:11.

The Ipswich Jaffa also won the Simplyhealth Great East Run Half Marathon this September in 77:10, meaning both race victors will be running in Canada.

The favourites

Toronto have assembled a quality elite field for the weekend. The number one bib belongs to Philemon Rono with his 2:06:52. The Kenyan will be racing for a three-peat after STWM victories in 2016 & 2017, when he ran the fastest marathon ever in Canada.

Likely to challenge will be Jake Robertson. The Kiwi ran 2:08:26 at Lake Biwa earlier this year in his debut.

Olympic marathon champion Stephen Kiprotich form Uganda also deserves a mention with a 2:06:33 PB. It will also be exciting to see what Canadian Cam Levins can do on his 26.2 mile debut.

Amane Beriso (2:20:48) and Marta Megra (2:24:32) of Ethiopia hold the two fastest PBs in the women’s field with Beriso the favourite. Megra was the 2017 STWM champion so will be looking to defend her title. Both bests were set in 2016 though. Someone like 22 year old Celestine Chepchirchir (2:30:39) could make a breakthrough performance and take the win.

More than just a race

STWM is more than a great running event – through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge, the race raises money for nearly 200 local charities focused on helping young people reach their infinite potential and building vibrant communities.

Over the weekend, the event is expected to bring more than $30 million in economic activity to the GTA, creating the equivalent of 100 full-time, year-round jobs.

Live tracking of athletes is available at http://live.sporthive.com/event/2089/Live

The races will be broadcast live via STWM.ca, starting at 8:15 a.m. EDT (5:15 a.m. PT). Fans can also watch on Twitter, the Athletics Canada site, and CBC Sports.

RELATED: Hayley Carruthers is just getting started

RELATED: James Westlake tops the UK parkrun rankings

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