Page 22 - BBHAC Winter 2017-18 Gazette

22

National Cross Country Championships

24th February 2018

Parliament Hill, North West
London played host to this year’s
National cross country Cham-
pionships and once again the
iconic course lived up to its tough
reputation causing difficulties for
most of the thousands who dared
to run!

Twelve months previously
Blackheath and Bromley HAC
young athletes arguably had
their best National XC Champi- Gritty determination in the U15 boys race at the Nationals
onship in Nottingham 2017 and
so this year’s Hampstead Heath strong in 34th with Hanna Clark placing 337th and 338th and
Championship was always going high up in 56th. Biancamaria clocking the same time. Next
to be a great challenge. Polloni made her National home was Archie Whitehead
debut a great one placing 80th making both his club and
With large numbers of BB’s and Amelia Middleton had one National debut, in at the deep
competing we were bound to of her best races of the winter end and finishing well in 384th.
have athletes in the thick of the finishing inside the top 100 in Ted Marston in his first year
action and with many making 98th. Great to see Lily Meers on of club running was 421st and
their BBHAC debuts let alone the come back trail after injury, another double debutant Zach
their Nationals debuts, the finishing well in 134th. Cam- Mathews-Mansour starting his
results were excellent. eron Kelly Gordon was 181st, career at the sharp end just be-
Jade Adbelmoumene was 227th, hind Ted in 424th, interestingly
Individually our athletes were Isabella Louth 303rd, Amelie in front of a further 146 U13
solid but collectively we were Willars 310th and completing boys as 570 completed the 3k
impressive, especially our girls the strong squad was Natalia hilly course. Alessio Tutt made a
as they secured team bronze in O’Doherty-Veru in 344th. The great start to his BBHAC career
three age groups. team won a great bronze, not only to frustratingly lose a shoe
quite managing the fine gold early on, having no option but
Blackheath and Bromley ath- from last year. to reluctantly pull out. The team
letes are currently having their, were 17th out of 56 complete
not so fair share of injuries and Max Gregson led the U13 boys teams.
illness but this made no impact home, making the top 100 in a
on the 68 BB youngsters who great 84th. Next up were three Our U15 girls had great
did toe the start line. boys making their National numbers running and were
debuts, George Shaw was a great out in force with fourteen girls
The U13 girls had five finish 119th, Jamie Sears 142nd and attempting their challenging
in the top 100 in a field of over Sam Stuart 310th. Encour- 4k course. Naomi Toft led the
460. Lara Mannes has raced sev- aging to see Matt Smith fast charge placing a strong 31st,
eral times at Parliament Hill and improving, having recovered Ellie Dolby next up in a solid
this advantage showed as she from a nasty ankle injury, racing 57th backed up by Zoe White in
placed an impressive 13th in her hard at the end with team mate 84th and Jess Neal in 88th. With
National debut. Imogen Hadley Jake Anthony, who lost his right four to score a great bronze
also on her National debut was spike but carried on regardless, was secured, with 50 completed