The international stars were just two of thousands who turned out for their clubs at county cross country championships across the nation this weekend in a welcome boost for domestic athletics.

The Essex and Suffolk championships saw athletes of both genders taking on equal distances for the first time in their events’ history, with the senior men and women running 10k a piece. Until this weekend’s event the men had run 12k and the women 8k.

400 runners braved the cold temperatures in Writtle, Chelmsford for the Essex Cross Country Championships (January 5), with 2018’s English National Cross Country champion Adam Hickey and European Junior and U23 Cross Country gold medalist Jess Judd both emerging victorious.

Judd, running for Blackburn Harriers AC, comfortably led the ladies home to win in 35:56, over a minute ahead of her nearest rival Lauren Deadman of Havering AC in 37:03. Hannah Irwin finished third for Braintree & District in 37:45.

Southend AC’s Hickey kicked off his 2019 season with a narrow three second win in the men’s race in 32:22. He just held off club mate Thomas Frith, who ran 32:25, while Havering AC’s Grant Twist was third in 32:41.

Leeds City’s GB ace Claire Duck successfully retained the women’s title at the Yorkshire championships at North Stainley (January 5). Duck clocked 27:57 for the win ahead of Rotherham Harriers Nicola Devine in 28:31. In third place was Leeds City’s Georgia Malir in 28:43.

Photo: Adrian Royle

In the men’s race, Leeds City’s Emile Cairess also won back-to-back titles, crossing the line first in 32:15. Second was Notts AC’s Jonathan Thewlis in 32:35, with GB international triathlete Jonny Brownlee of Bingley third in 32:43.

Leeds City won the senior women’s team title ahead of Rotherham Harriers, while the men’s team title was a reverse with Rotherham coming out on top over Leeds.

Much further south, there were some appropriately speedy performances at the Kent championships at Brands Hatch (Jan 5).

Tonbridge’s in form Lucy Reid was another clear winner of the women’s 8k race in 29:42, ahead of Blackheath & Bromley’s Niamh Bridson-Hubbard (30:22) and Tonbridge’s young star, Kirandeep Marsh (31:34).

Benedict Cole won from club mates Max Nicholls and Jamie Bryant to make it a clean sweep of the podium positions for Tonbridge in the men’s 12k race. Cole ran 38:04 to Nicholls’ 38:20 and Bryant’s 38:40. Robbie Farnham-Rose was also fourth for the club in 38:52!

Staying in the south of the country, the Surrey championships saw wins for Guildford & Godalming’s John Sanderson and Epsom and Ewell Harriers’ Isabel Brinsden in their respective 12k and 8k races (January 5).

Sanderson just fought off stiff competition from AFD’s Jack Rowe, the two finishing in 38:03 and 38:05 respectively. Mole Valley’s Luke Caldwell could only manage third in 38:21, proving how fierce this race was!

The women’s race was even fiercer, with Brindsen and Highgate Harriers’ Molly Renfer given exactly the same time for first and second, 29:16. AFD’s Laura Gent took third in 29:24.

There was another Tonbridge win at the Sussex championships at Bexhill for the club’s Nicole Taylor, who won the women’s 6.4k race by more than a minute in 23:48 (January 5). Worthing’s Leah Harris took second place in 24:47, while Brighton Phoenix’s Almi Nerurkar was a fine third in 25:05. If that name sounds familiar it is because Almi is the daughter of 2:08 marathoner, Richard Nerurkar!

Ultra running sensation Tom Evans took the men’s title for Lewes, completing the 12k course in 37:49. Evans was well ahead of Brighton Phoenix’s Ross Skelton’s 39:05, while Lewes’s Ben Savill took third just two seconds behind in 39:07.

Further north saw wins for Bedford’s Tabatha Walford and Birchfield Harriers’ Jonathan Goringe in the Northamptonshire championships at Abthorpe (January 5).

Walford covered the women’s 6k course in 22:12, with MK Distance Project’s Claudia Kelsall taking second place in 22:27. Corby’s impressive talent, Rebecca Hall, was a fine third in 22:47, despite battling long term health issues.

Goringe took the men’s 10k title in 31:35, ahead of Rugby & Northampton’s Josh Lay and Dominic Jones, who ran 31:59 and 32:01 respectively.

Over at the Warwickshire and Worcestershire championships at Stretton-Under-Fosse, Bournville’s Nicola Sykes proved her incredible consistency to win the women’s 6k event in 20:42 (January 5). Sykes fought off Nuneaton’s Polly Keen and Birmingham Running ATC’s Molly Browne, who were second and third in 21:02 and 21:10 respectively.

AFD’s Ellis Cross took the men’s 10k title in 31:37, holding off Birchfield Harriers’ Omar Ahmed and Will Richardson, who finished less than 18 seconds behind. Ahmed ran 31:41 for second, while Richardson crossed the line in 31:55.

Stafford Common hosted the Staffordshire championships (January 5) which saw convincing wins for City of Stoke’s Alex Brecker and Kate Holt.

Brecker won the men’s race in a speedy 27:41, although we couldn’t qualify how long each race was. Wolverhampton & Bilston’s Jon Morris was a distant second in 28:50 while City of Stoke had another medal winner in David Sheldon, who was third in 29:11.

Holt was a superb winner of the women’s race in 18:37, well over a minute ahead of Newcastle’s Rebecca Twardochleb, who ran 19:43 for second. Cannock & Stafford’s Giorgia Chattwood was third lady in 19:59.

London Heathside’s Rebecca Piggott just took the women’s 8k title at the Middlesex championships (January 5) at Greenford, winning from Harrow’s Eilish O’Grady and Highgate’s Yasmin Goater, who ran 30:22 and 30:40 respectively. Could Yasmin be the daughter of esteemed former GB distance running legend, Julian Goater? Answers on a postcard!

In the men’s 12k race, Shaftesbury Barnet’s Phillip Crout was victorious in 38:18 from Highgate’s Alex Lepretre, holding off his rival by just two seconds. Serpentine’s fast improving athlete, Chris Wright, took the third spot not far back in 38:34.

Over at St Helens, the Merseyside championships (January 5) saw wins for veteran ace Kirsty Longley from Liverpool Pembroke Sefton and Liverpool Harriers’ Dejene Gezimu.

Gezimu won the men’s race by nearly 200 metres when he clocked 38:18, with Sale Harriers’ Phil Robertson claiming second place in 38:55. St Helens Sutton’s Thomas Griffiths was a distant third in 39:47, but well ahead of his nearest rival.

Longley also won her race by some margin, clocking 29:36 to Wirral AC’s Emily Kearney’s 30:05. Liverpool Harriers’ Rachael Burns ran a fine 30:32 for third.

It was business as usual in the women’s 8.4k race at the Hampshire championships at Curdridge (January 5) when AFD and GB star Louise Small took the title in 29:48, nearly 40 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor. Club mate Lauren Hall was second in 30:25, while Southampton’s Laura Brenton took third in 30:58.

Hampshire Cross Country Champ – 4 in a row Always enjoy running for @AFDACofficial #timetofly #hokaoneone #crosscountry pic.twitter.com/FUb97QbyZm

— Louise Small (@LoulouSmall) January 5, 2019

AFD’s Phillip Sewell kept the trophies in the club cabinet when he won the men’s 12k race in 39:16, ahead of Serpentine’s Andy Greenleaf’s 39:37 and Southampton’s Jamie Knapp’s 39:52.

The Gloucestershire championships at Rendcomb (Jan 5) saw wins for Bristol & West’s Zoe Wassell and Cheltenham’s Dan Owen, Cheltenham filling half of the top ten positions to boot.

Owen completed the 10k course in 34:38, ahead of club mates Jacob Pickering (34:55) and Douglas Wight (35:05). 

Wassell took the women’s 6.5k title in 25:27, with Cheltenham athletes taking the next four positions here two! Rachel Underhill was second in 26:57 while Naomi Eaton took third in 27:06.

Over at Warrington there was fine racing at the Cheshire championships (January 5). Woodford Green & Essex Ladies’ Edward Shepherd won the men’s 10.4k race in34:08, with Sale’s Nigel Martin second in 34:28. Liverpool Harriers’ Dan Cliffe took third in 34:52.

Helsby’s Hannah Cowley just won the women’s 8.3k race in 32:25 from Vale Royal’s Sarah Murphy (32:31) and Liz Renondeau (32:41).

Hughenden Park saw some fierce battles at the Buckinghamshire championships (Jan 5), with Cheltenham again featuring in the men’s race. The club’s Alex Bampton was the men’s 12k victor in 40:00 ahead of Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow’s Alex Goodall (40:16) and MK Distance Project’s George Wheeler (40:37).

Marshall Milton Keynes’ Elle Roche was the women’s winner in the 8k race in 31:23, with Belgrave’s ultra running ace Sam Amend second in 32:13. Vale of Aylesbury’s Alice Wright was third in 32:34.

Sale Harriers’s Katie Hellison took the women’s win at the Lancashire championships at Blackburn (Jan 5), crossing the line in 23:17. Manx Harriers’ Rachael Franklin made the long trip worthwhile when she finished second in 23:36, while Salford’s Carla Davies was third in 23:45.

Preston Harriers’ Daniel Bebbington just held club mate Nathan Dunn for victory in the men’s race, winning by just three seconds in 30:35. Wesham’s Rob Danson was third in 31:02. 

Bristol and West’s Owain Jones (County: Avon) and Cornwall AC’s Heidi Tregenza (Cornwall) won the senior races at the South West Club & County Cross Country Championships at Aldon Hill, Yeovil.

Jones clocked 29.38 to finish ahead of Cheltenham and County Harriers’ Philip Wylie and Newquay & Par AC’s Finn Birnie (Cornwall) in the senior men’s race.

In the senior women’s race, Tregenza won in 20:03, while Wimborne AC’s Grace Copeland (Dorset) was second and Wells City Harriers’ Elise Thorner (Somerset) third.

Bristol & West AC claimed both the senior men’s and women’s club team titles, while Avon won the men’s team county crown and Devon secured the women’s county team title.

The Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire championships took place at Wollaton Park (January 5).

In the Derbyshire championships, it was a welcome return to the country for Leigh Harriers’ Lauren Howarth in the women’s 8k race. Howarth won in 23:34, with Derby AC’s Veleska Wills second in 25:57. Ribble Valley’s Helen Thornhill took third in 26:08.

Derby’s Alex Pilcher took victory in the men’s 10k race in 29:26, just ahead of Chesterfield & District’s Alex Ediker’s 29:33. Two seconds back was Pudsey & Bramley’s Harry Holmes, who ran 29:35 for third.

Buxton AC’s won the Derbyshire women’s team title, while the men’s team honours went to Heanor RC.

Also at Wollaton Park, Notts AC Doug Musson won the senior men’s Nottinghamshire title in 28:49. Musson finished ahead of Mansfield Harriers & AC’s Alex Rieley in 29:54 and Notts AC’s Milan Campion in 30:47.

In the senior women’s race, Notts AC’s Samantha Harrison came out on top in 26:04 finishing ahead of Worksop Harriers & AC Sarah Worley 27:10. Sutton-in-Ashfield Harriers & AC’s Molly Johnson completed the top three in 27:40.

Notts AC won both the men and women’s senior team titles.

Results for County championships which were not available at the time of publishing will be added once they are released.

Away from the mud and in the warmth of the indoor track, there were top 3000m and 5000m performances from Scotland’s elite athletes at the GAA Miler Meet at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena.

Photo: Bobby Gavin

The meeting incorporates the Scottish Championships 3000m, and saw the top three male athletes break 7:58. The race was won by Glasgow University’s Sol Sweeney in 7:56.78, with Inverclyde AC’s Adam Craig close behind in second (7.57.66) and Leeds’ Philip Sesseman running 7.57.84 for third.

Sweeney and Craig are now ninth and 10th on the Scottish all-time list for 3000m indoors.

Laura Muir and Jemma Reekie were also in fine form in the 5000m and 3000m respecively, with Muir taking the 5k win in a superb 14:52.02, her second fastest ever indoors.

Reekie won the Scottish 3000m title in an indoor PB of 9:16.48.

Staying indoors, Joseph Reid and Jamie Webb won over 800m and 1500m at the opening BMC Grand Prix in Sheffield on Sunday (January 6).

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Action from the men's 1500m and the women's 800m at the Sheffield GP today 6.1.19. Brilliant victories for @jamiewebb800 3:43.59, ahead of Jonny Hay and @tamsinmcgraw 2:13.02 – both winners earning England selection. More pics to follow. Thanks to @englandathletics for hosting us, and as always to the pacers for making it happen. Photos : Photos @thatsagoodoneofme

A post shared by British Milers Club (@britishmilersclub) on Jan 6, 2019 at 1:45pm PST

Cardiff’s Reid won the 800m race in an indoor PB of 1:50.29 finishing ahead of City of York’s Alex Botterill, Brighton Phoenix duo George Mills and Finley Bigg, and Tonbridge’s Sean Molloy.

Liverpool’s Webb impressed over 1500m clocking a PB of 3:43.59 to take the win. AFD’s Jonathan Hay was second in 3:45.64 and Tonbridge’s Kieran Reilly third in 3:46.10.

Further afield in Italy, there were top runs by Ross Millington and Daniel Hallam to finish 7th and 19th at the Campaccio Cross Country. Hagos Gebrhiwet and Yasemin Can took the overall wins.

Meanwhile, a week after Alex Yee ran the second fastest ever men’s time at parkrun, Welsh and British international Charlotte Arter ran a superb 15:50 to break the women’s parkrun record on Saturday (January 5).

More about Arter’s performance and round-up of the weekend’s top runs at parkrun can be found here.

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