English National Cross Country Relay Championships
Berry Hill Park, Mansfield – Saturday 3rd November 2018
The annual English National cross country relay championships were staged in Berry Hill Park Mansfield, on Saturday the 3rd of November. This meeting was the first national championship event of the 2018 cross country season. The course at Berry Hill is a mixture of good parkland, a wooded section with lots of undulations and a fast finishing section which make it a good course for the championships. The event is part of the build up to the ‘Trials’ at the end of November in Liverpool where the athletes will get the opportunity to impress and hopefully gain selection for the Great Britain team which will be competing at the European Cross Country Championships.
The first English Cross Country Relays took place in 1985 when they were staged in Crystal Palace Park. They moved to Berry Hill Park in 1989, where they have been held for the last 29 years. Since the advent of the event, all the top British cross country runners have competed over the course around Berry Hill Park and with the various laps remaining the same, consistent records have been established and are regularly challenged.
A total of 2279 athletes competed at this year’s championships and races were held at all age ranges, from boys and girls under the age of 13 up to senior men and women whose ranks, included veteran athletes as well. All races were contested over three legs with the exception of the senior men’s race which was run over four legs.
Kingston upon Hull AC fielded two teams at the event, one a team of under15 girls, and a team of under15 boys. In addition there was also a second under 15 girls incomplete team, with Amy Rothery as the sole runner. It was a fine but breezy day, with not a lot of mud for the runners to navigate.
Under 15 Boys – 2 Kilometres Race
The under 15 boy’s team contained the same three athletes, who had done so well the previous weekend, at the Northern Counties relay Championship’s, in Sheffield. Thomas Smales enjoyed a good start, to his 2018 cross country campaign, which saw him collect the silver medal, at January’s County championship meeting at Costello. Later that month he put in an excellent run at the Northern Counties championships, finishing in the top third of the race, running against the best cross country runners in northern England. In March he secured another top third finish at the English Schools championships in Leeds. On the domestic front, he was the bronze medallist at the Barton cross country event. Thomas, who was making his debut appearance at the national relay championships, took out the baton on the first leg running in a field of 113 athletes. He covered the two kilometres course, in a time of 6:38 sec and handed over the baton, with the team in 27th place.
Oliver Adnitt made his cross country debut at this year’s County championships, where he took a 14th place finish. All his previous racing had taken place on the track, where he was and still is, a middle distance runner. He arrived at Mansfield for his debut appearance at the national relay championships, suffering with a heavy cold and congestion, despite this he wanted to run with his team mates, and do the best he could. Oliver took over the baton on the second leg, which contained a total of 104 athletes, although struggling, he ran the course in a time of 7:26 sec, handing over the baton, with the team in 69th place.
Adam Fox started off 2018 in fine form, he was the bronze medallist at January’s County cross country event. He then followed this up with a solid performance, at the Northern Counties championships. He gave good service to the Kingston junior team, competing in UK Youth development league. Covering sprints, middle distance and long jump, in the league fixtures. He suffered with niggling injuries, which saw the prolific competitor sidelined for a time. This competition marked his debut at the National cross country relays event. Adam ran the third relay leg, which contained a field of 93 athletes. He covered the two kilometres course in a time of 7:05 sec, which saw him bring the team home in 41st position, out of a total of 93 teams.
Under 15 Girls – 2 Kilometres Race
Hermione Pickering has been with Kingston since the summer of 2017. She is a member of the Kingston junior team, who competes in middle distance and sprint races. She made her cross country debut this March, when selected to represent the County, at the English Schools cross country championships. She also made her debut appearance at the national cross country relays, at this meeting. Hermione took up the baton on the first leg, running in a field of 111 athletes. She ran the course in a time of 7:55 sec, handing over the baton in 68th place.
Georgina North had her first outing of 2018, this March at the Barton cross country event, where she was a12th place finisher. She has competed for the junior team in the UK YDL, where she covered middle distance races. Georgina made her National cross country relay debut at this meeting, where she ran the second leg, among a field of 105 runners. She covered the course, in a time of 9:29 sec, handing over the baton in 101st place.
Aimee Campbell made her club debut at this year’s County cross country event, where was the 10th place finisher. She saw further action at the Barton cross country meeting, where she took a 14th place finish. The track & field season saw her running middle distance for the junior team. Aimee was one of 96 athletes, who ran on the final leg, of the under 15 girls race. She navigated the course in a time of 9:12 sec and brought the team home in 91st place.
Amy Rothery is in her second year with the club. Her first outing in 2018 was at the County cross country championships , where she took a 13th place finish. Next up was the Barton event , which brought an 11th place finish. The track & field season, saw her giving good service to the junior team, where she competed in the middle distance races, the sprints and the hammer throw. This was Amy’s national relays debut appearance. Her team mates didn’t make the start of the competition, so she ran as an incomplete team of one athlete. Running the first leg of the under 15 girl’s 2 kilometres race. She covered the course in a time of 8:52sec.
