In the UK Cross Challenge at Liverpool, Martha Calton-Seal finished 109th in the combined Under 20 / Under 17 race. Angus McMillan also ran in the Under 20 men’s race and finished in the top 30, however, for some reason Angus doesn’t appear in the results. These were trial races for the British U20 team for the European Cross Country, so attracted most of the country’s leading Under 20s. Luca Mastrolonardo was 46th in the Under 15 race.
A small group went to the NYSD at Redcar, a muddy course. Daniel Kennedy and Annabelle Coxon both had great runs to finish 2nd in the Under 11s. Also very good runs for Kate Setchell 9th, William Keens 7th, and Issac Henson 5th in their age groups.
Others chose the shorter journey and tough challenge of the PECO League at Temple Newsam. Saturdays rain had turned the previously nice running conditions into a very muddy main field especially on the tough uphill finish. 220 ran in the Under 11 race, and although the PECO is mainly the “smaller” junior sections of adult distance running clubs, there was a very high standard in the girls with the leading West Yorks League runners guesting. Emma Hutton was 11th girl, Sophie Williams 13th, good results in that standard and numbers. There were 130 in the Secondary age race, with Lottie Langan having a very good run to win the girls. Ian Gaskin ran well for 28th, and 5th in the Under 13 Boys category.
Such is the popularity of this League, and the knowledge that Temple Newsam is a great course, over 1000 ran in the senior race which was a 5 mile trail race. A great sight to see them all setting off with 2 laps of the field behind the house before setting off into the country. After all these runners it was certainly a very boggy finish field when they came back. Paddy Langan had a good run to finish 180th of the 1032 finishers, and with Dave Paver also running they enjoyed the challenge of the 2 giant hills and 3 big hills, woodland paths, and muddy puddles / lake to run through.