Last updated
02 March 2019
National Cross-Country,
Harewood House, Leeds 23
February 2019
Photos start here...
Full
results
here...
Summary results from the National Cross Country
Championships by Chris Haines
Under 13 Boys 408 finished
264. Ryen Rennnie 350. Oles Chaban
Under 13 Girls Team 17th 418 finished
87. Carys Firth 114. Gabriella Martin 116. Emily Deveney 221. Olivia
Magee-Beown 264. Sophia-plum Maher 366. Kate Brash
Under 15 Boys Team 4th 346 finished
16. Tom Brash 38. Frederick Georgio 74. Samuel Reardon 92. Matthew Smith
138. George Shaw 200. Will Andrews 203. Alessio Tutt 228. Nicholas
Paddington. Jake Anthony 260.
Under 15 Girls Team 1st 362 finished
19. Anwen Thomas 21. Lara Mannes 57. Hannah Clark 65. Ellie Dolby 72.
Lily Meers 188. Isabella Louth 193. Olivia Wauters 263. Amelie Willars 299.
Kelsey Pullin 307.Abigail Smith DNF. Daniella Harper
Under 17 Men Team 7th 272 finished
12. Oliver Bright 70. Joel Rooney 83. Joesph Georgiadis 98. Matthew
Francis 100. Henry Fisher132. Alex Davis 135. Cameron Swatton 160. Benjamin
Gardiner 162. Jake Leng 195. Justin Strover 250 Bailey Marks-Belaon 262.
Harvey Blanden
Under 17 Women Team 10th 220 finished
13. Sophie Hoare 56. Amy Miller 74. Jessica Neal 179. Zoe White
Junior Men Team 8th 201 finished
6. Charlie Davis 89. Marco Arcuri 98. Callum Myatt 122 Angus Harrington
124. Theo Wood 199. Ifetobi Salako
Junior Women Team 4th 129 finished
26. Yasmin Austridge 34. Jessica Keene 69. Millie Smith 79. Amy Leach
Senior Women No runners 1034 finished
Senior Men Team 19th , 18th in the 9 to score 2006
finished
94. Joshua Schofield 125. Ross Braden 211. Alex Gibbins 235. Richard
Webb 367. Rob Donohue 495. Danny Brewer 599. Daniel Kennedy 601. George
Vacharopolus 720. Jonathan Vintner 884. Chris Tuck 926. Bertie Harrington
937. Fintan Parkinson 1602. Timothy Ayres 1612. Richard Hall
National
Cross Country Championships 2019, Harewood House, Leeds
The
2019 National Cross Country Championship was held in the magnificent grounds
of Harewood House, Leeds, West Yorkshire. “The National” is the highlight of
the winter season and this year entries were in the region of 9000 athletes.
The well marked out course ensured proper cross country running over
undulations, up steep hills, down sharp descents and all run over the
‘Capability Brown’ landscaped grounds below the imposing Harewood House.
Having spent the previous evening locally in Garforth, relaxing, swimming
and eating our 60 plus young athletes and supporters headed to Harewood
House where we were greeted by low mist but relatively mild weather, before
the sun broke through to produce a lovely spring / summer like day. PP’s
Dave Cordell and Ken Daniel were first on site and chose a perfect spot to
pitch the club tent. We were all set for a fantastic days racing.
First race of the day was the U17 girls running 5k and Sophie Hoare rose to
the challenge producing another fine run placing high up in 13th.
Amy Miller had a strong run finishing 56th, with Jess Neal
working hard in 74th and Zoe White completing the four to score
squad in 179th. Niamh Milmo was part of the team support as they
finished tenth team overall.
This year BBHAC awarded “performance of the day” National commemorative
T-shirts in each age group, not necessarily to the highest placing athlete
but recognising great individual performances. Sophie collected the U17 girl
T-shirt.
The
next race saw the U15 boys race over a 4k course. Tom Brash continued his
fine season, posting another top 20 National finish, crossing the line in an
impressive16th, despite turning his ankle during the race.
Freddy Georgiou had his best run of the winter to finish high up in 38th,
winning himself the “performance of the day” t-shirt. Great to see Sam
Reardon back running injury free again and finishing well in 74th
along with a strong run from Matt Smith in 92nd completing the
scoring team, placing a fantastic 4th out of 35th
complete teams. The U15’s were backed up well by George Shaw running strong
in 138th, Will Andrews looked good for 201st just in front of
Alessio Tutt, who had pushed on from the gun and finished 203rd.
Nick Paddington had a good run placing 228th and Jake Anthony
completed the strong squad crossing the line in 260th.
The
U13 girls had a tough 3k to contend with and they were led home by another
great run from Carys Firth in 87th, Gabriella Martin look good in
114th closely followed by Emily Deveney in 116th
having her best run of the winter, earning her “the T shirt”. Olivia Magee
Brown ran well for 221st, with SP Maher placing 264th
and Katie Brash looking strong at the finish in 366th. The team
was 17th in a field of 41 teams.
BBHAC’s biggest squad of the day was the U17 boys and they combined well to
finish 7th team overall. Ollie Bright committed from the start
and went with a breakaway pack full of quality athletes and ran superbly to
finish a high 12th. Joel Rooney had a very strong run finishing
an impressive 70th and Joe Georgiadis showed great form placing
well in 83 earning him “performance of the day”. Matthew Francis’ presence
was a welcome sight as he returns from injury and should be satisfied with a
top 100 finish placing 98th. Harry Fisher proved his talent
finishing exactly 100th. A great run from Alex Davis in 132nd
just in front of Cameron Swatton in 135th followed by a shoe less
Ben Gardiner in 160th and Jake Leng running well in 162nd.
Justin Strover ran hard to dip under 200, placing 195th and Bailey Marks
recorded a quarter of a century finishing bang on 250th. Harvey
Blanden nursing a sore heel did well to complete the squad’s effort with a
262nd finish.
Only three U13 boys toed the line for their 3k run out, but with four to
score weren’t able to record a team position. However, Ryen Rennie in a
double debut, looked good finishing 264th in not only his first
National but also his first race for Blackheath and Bromley. Interesting to
note that Ryen at 11yrs still has two more years in this age group. Oles
Chaban in his second National crossed the line in 350th. Archie Whitehead,
just back from injury went off well but was unfortunately struck down again
at the furthest point of the course, making for a long slow return to the
club tent, but I’m sure Archie will return stronger.
Our
under 15 girls had a big squad and this ultimately proved decisive as they
won team gold ahead of 38 other clubs. Annie Thomas ran superbly placing an
impressive 19th with Lara Mannes just behind having an equally
impressive run in 21st. Hannah Clark continued her fine season
placing 57th and ever present Ellie Dolby completed the scoring
four in 65th making it Ellie’s third Team National gold medal.
Lily Meers had her best run of the winter earning her the prize T-shirt ,
placing 72nd. Isabella Louth ran well in 188th, Olivia
Wauters worked well finishing 193rd and Amelie Willars looked
strong at the finish placing 263rd. Kelsey Pullin just dipped
under 300 in 299th and Abbie Smith was 307th. Daniella
Harper was going well but worryingly collapsed at a fairly remote part of
the course. Fortunately for all, PP Chris Haines was nearby and saw Daniella
fall. Chris was able to quickly call for assist and this arrived fairly
swiftly. Luckily, also on hand were PP Steve Cluney and our own former GB
hurdler Sue Cluney, who kindly jumped in the medical car and stayed with
Daniella until she had recovered. Heidi Forsyth, recovering from a recent
injury was also present giving her teammates support.
Two
laps of the circuits making up 6k was the task ahead for the U20 women. All
National fields are packed with quality and this one was no exception as the
junior women powered over the course and first home for the club was Yasmin
Austridge finishing well in 26th, followed by University teammate
Jess Keene in 34th. Mille smith had a great run placing 69th
and good to have Amy Leach back in the team finishing a high 79th.
Collectively these team results were good enough to secure fourth only a few
points off collecting bronze. Yasmin’s run earned her the commemorative
T-shirt.
Last race up for the young athletes was the U20 men’s 10k race and BBHAC
were well represented with six athletes on the start line. Charlie Davis
showed his class last year placing a very high 11th at the
Parliament Hill National but matching that would call for another very
special performance, especially as Charlie had been under the knife earlier
in the season (nothing criminal just a hernia!). Charlie committed early and
went with a pack of twelve on the small first lap but with a long lap to
complete anything could happen. Coming out of the woods with about 1k to go
Charlie emerged in a fantastic 6th place and with one final up
and down hill Charlie was able to cement this position and claim his and the
clubs highest National finish of the day. A tremendous effort, worthy of the
winning T-shirt but not without pain as Charlie made a quick visit to the
medics to help stabilize him after his exertions! Our Jack Petchey
coordinator Marco Arcuri was next home in 89th but still had time
collect and count nominations and to make four JP awards to worthy club
members (more on that later). Callum Myatt ran well making the top 100
placing 98th, with Angus Harrington 122nd, Theo Wood
124th and Ifetobi Salako making the top 200 crossing the line in
199th. The U20 team was 8th.
Back at the hotel there was time for relaxation in the swimming pool or
watching the (disappointing for some) England Wales six nations rugby before
a carvery dinner and a disco! We had arranged a video link for a message
from the president but a technical difficulty let us down. However, at
dinner we were joined by many Past Presidents, Vice Presidents and senior
members of the club who have all, without exception been quality athletes
(back in the day!). Present were PP John Baldwin - GB international and top
20 National finisher, PP Margaret Baldwin - Olympian (Munich 1972 - 800m)
and National winner, PP Bill Foster - GB international and 2:15 marathon, PP
Chris Haines - 2:24 marathon and now club handicapper, PP Tim Soutar-Hong
Kong International, 2:24 marathon, team manager and driver of club house
redevelopment among many other jobs, Ken Daniel - GB International (so he
tells me and currently the fourth fastest in his family), PP Mike Peel -
multi London marathon racer with best of 2:40 and our web master. Mike had
already posted many great photos of the day’s action before we had dinner.
VP Terri Shotton who took the opportunity to sell more ‘Presidents Swindle’
tickets to parents and supporters, PP Mike Mahoney - 400m runner and coach
and Jan Mahoney - former Welsh senior 400m champion (very pleased about the
rugby), PP Steve Cluney - huge talent range from 2min 800m to 2:40 marathon
and club hurdle coach. Sue Cluney (coached by Steve) - GB internationals
hurdler (best time of 57.79 over the 400m hurdles) and PP Dave Cordell who
once again transported the tent from Bromley to Leeds, then 1mile over bumpy
heavy going grass and back again. Ken Daniel once again helped Dave pitch
the tent and again we are very grateful for this and all the times Dave has
pitched the tent over the years. Dave has finally and rightly hung up his
trolley for the last time as the pain endured through his toughest marathon
was slightly less than putting the tent up this year! (Any offers to help
with the tent will be greatly appreciated)
We
are lucky enough to be supported by the Jack Petchey Foundation (www.jackpetcheyfoundation.org.uk),
who plough loads of money into helping young people reach their potential.
Marco Arcuri presented the latest four to add to the very prestigious list
of previous Jack Petchey winners, Tom Brash, Jess Neal, Amelie Willars and
Matt Smith. List of previous winners here
www.bandbhac.org.uk/petchey.html
We
were lucky enough to have many parents, grandparent, family and supporters
cheering BBHAC on but special thanks go to Paul and Jo Brash, Mandy Cowburn,
Michele Clark, Andy Frankish and Nigel Stickings who gave up their whole
weekend to support and care for our young athletes.
To
see the official sponsors photos
https://twitter.com/pic2gouk/status/1100014948325957632?s=12
http://bit.ly/NatXC19
Next year’s National Cross Country Championships 2020 is back in Nottingham
at the beautiful setting at Wollaton Park. Book your tickets early.
Paul Austridge
A gorgeous day in Yorkshire (living up to the old line
about it being God's country) for the National Cross Country Championships
was what greeted the seniors in the hallowed (and amazingly mud free) turf
in the grounds of Harewood House near Leeds. For those of you who haven't
seen Mr Brewer's glorious speech yet, a breakdown of everyone's efforts are
below.
As fate would have it, we were stationed next to the eventual winners Leeds
City and former Heathen Phil Sesemann on the start line and with the abuse
directed towards him ringing in everyone's ears, everyone charged up into a
ridiculous bottleneck. Least affected was the native Yorkshire-man Josh
Schofield who made a strong debut in the senior ranks to come 94th. Ross
Braden finally put injury troubles behind him, and trip hazards, to back
Josh up in 126th. Alex Gibbins put his recent marathon training to good use
in his 70th consecutive national to come 213th. Richard Webb's commitment
was so great that after a great run to back up Alex in 237th he had to be
taken away in an ambulance after his knee became dislocated post-race. Get
well soon, mate. Rob Donohue sealed a fine full cross country season in
369th in his debut National, and Danny Brewer briefly stopped talking long
enough to put the effort into cracking the top 500 in 497th and completing
the scoring 6.
Dan Kennedy patiently worked his way through the field after a very slow
start to pip Georges Vacharopoulos on the line for 601st and 603rd
respectively. Jon Vintner, no doubt inspired by his comments towards Phil,
was next across the line in 722nd in another big race effort. Chris Tuck
made sure that the team managers all achieved the increasingly difficult
feat of actually completing a race together by coming 886th. Bertie
Harrington, inspired by his new beard, made his senior National debut in
928th. Fintan Parkinson kept things ticking over in 939th, and Tim Ayres and
Rich Hall enjoyed their own private battle to come 1604th and 1614th
respectively. Tom Desborough failed to finish due to an ankle injury,
conveniently stopping next to the Blackheath tent, prompting the biggest
boasting of the day from Tim.
The efforts of the top 6 placed us 20th out of 146 complete teams in the 6
to score and 18th in the 9 to score.
Up the Heath!
Ross, Dan & Chris
Picture of the girls receiving their medals and trophy by
Michelle Donoghue
Olli Brights dad kindly took this photo of the u17 boys
team
It’s 11 of the 12 that ran, Joel Rooney was missing from photo but had a
fantastic run
Photos from Paul Austridge
