UK Counties Athletic Union

Inter County Cross Country Championships

Loughborough – Saturday 9th March 2019

2979 of the UK’s top cross country runners descended on the tiny Leicestershire village of Prestwold, near Loughborough for the National Inter Counties Cross Country Championships, staged for the second year running, in the picturesque grounds of Prestwold Hall. Thankfully the weather conditions were much improved on last year, when the course had resembled a swamp. This year the athletes had to cope with a strong wind, around the varied course with its mix of long, gradual slopes and short steep ascents and descents.  

Under 13 Boys – 3 Kilometre Race

The County representatives in the under 13 boys 3 kilometre race, were Grimsby’s Adam Ewing and Beverley’s George Rice, along with the Cleethorpes duo, of Benjamin Edwards and Robin Smith. The race was contested by a field of 300 athletes. The first of the athletes to finish the course, was the County champion Benjamin Edwards, who crossed the finish line in 230th place, running a time of 14:20 sec. The next team member over the line was Adam Ewing, in 255th place, who ran a time of 14:32 sec. George Rice was the next runner home in 287th, covering the course in 15:16 sec. Robin Smith came home in 291st, running a time of 15.26 sec.  

Under 13 Girls – 3 Kilometre Race

Representing the County, in the under 13 Girls 3 kilometre race, were Kingston duo Lydia Greenwood and Emma Hoggard, along with Barton’s, Emily Richardson and Emily Barker. Emily Davies of Cleethorpes, Scunthorpe’ Olivia Altoft, and Beverley’s Jorja Hutchinson. A field of 307 runners contested the race. Emily Davies was the first of the athletes home, in 204th place, running the course, in a time of 14:55 sec. The next girl to finish was Emily Richardson, in 238th, she navigated the course in 15:13 sec. Lydia Greenwood was the next to come home, in 262nd place, running a time of 15:32 sec, Olivia Altoft finished in 272nd, with her run of 15:46 sec. Followed by Emma Hoggard in 275th, who ran a time of 15:48 sec. Emma Barker’s run of 16:08 sec, gave her 288th position, whilst Jorja Hutchinson was 304th, running the course in 16:57 sec. 

Under 15 Boys – 4 Kilometre race

The under15 boys race was contested by 313 runners. Athletes from Kingston, Barton, Cleethorpes ,Scunthorpe and Goole Youth, were in County action. Kian Wiles of Barton, the reigning County champion, was the first of the athletes to complete the course, crossing the finish line in 116th place, covering the course, in a time of 14:42 sec. Kingston’s Thomas Smales, the County silver medallist, was the next to finish the course, in 165th place, with his run of 14:58 sec. Charlie Burrell was the next member of the team to come home. The Cleethorpes athlete took 169th place, covering the course in 15:00 sec. Scunthorpe’s Samuel Blackburn, was next over the line in 287th place, running the course in 16:08 sec. Barton athlete Harry Barker finished 294th, covering the course in 16:26 sec. Goole Youths Lucas Walton was 296th, running the course in a time of 16:29 sec.    

Under 15 Girls – 4 Kilometre Race

309 runners took part in the under 15 girls race, featuring athletes from Kingston and Cleethorpes. There was an outstanding performance from Cleethorpes Ella Greenway, who finished the race in 16th place, running the course in a time of 15:18 sec. 2019 has also seen Ella take the County cross country title, she also won the silver medal at the Northern Counties event, and took 5th place at the English National championships. The second team member to finish, was Kingston’s Ella Shaw-Hall, who crossed the finish line in 214th place, she covered the course in 17:20 sec. Kingston club mate Georgina North, was one place behind in 215th, running the course in 17:21 sec. Katelyn Howden of Cleethorpes, came home in 227th, running a time of 17:32 sec. Kingston’s Aimee Campbell took 289th place, with her run of 18:42 sec. Charlotte Davies of Cleethorpes, ran the course in a time of 19:16 sec, to take 300th place.  

Under 17 Women – 5 kilometre Race

The under 17 women’s race, was contested by a field of 264 athletes. The outstanding performance in this race came from Kingston’s Jodie Martin. The 2019 County champion, who also took a superb 8th place finish, at February’s Northern Counties championship meeting, in Pontefract. She crossed the finish line in 39th place, covering the course, in a time of 21:14 sec. The next team member to finish, was Cleethorpes Robyn Greenway, who crossed the line in 78th place, running the course in 21:53 sec. Kingston’s Megan Hatfield, was the next member of the team to finish. Coming home in 133rd, navigating the course in a time of 22:48 sec. Scunthorpe’s Millie Weaver crossed the finish line in 228th, running the course in 25:06 sec. Lucy Ellis of Scunthorpe, finished 250th, running the course in 26:24 sec.

Under 17 Men – 6 kilometre Race

The under 17 men’s 6 kilometre race, was contested by a field of 283 runners. The County representatives, were Lewis Phillips of Cleethorpes, and Ashley Jacketts, of East Hull Harriers. The 2019 County champion Lewis Phillips, covered the course in a time of 20:47 sec, crossing the line in 105th place. Ashley Jacketts navigated the course, in a time of 27:03 sec, finishing in the lower half of the field.

Under 20 Women – 6 Kilometre Race

The under 20 women’s 6 kilometre race, attracted a field of 152 runners. There were three athletes representing the County. City of Hull’s England international runner Becky Briggs, backed up her recent performance, at February’s English national championships. She put in another outstanding run, at this event, taking a 5th place finish in the race, covering the course in a time of 21:40 sec. 2019 County champion Eleanor Ball of Beverley AC, was the second member of the team finish. She took 132nd place, navigating the course in a time of 28.06 sec. Another Beverley athlete, County silver medallist, Jordan Peacock, ran the course in 36:47 sec, to finish in the lower positions.

Under 20 Men – 8 Kilometre Race

The under 20 men’s 8 kilometre race, was contested by 185 runners. The 2019 County champion, Kingston’s Alex Wilson, finished in 155th position, covering the course in a time of 36:02 sec. County bronze medallist, Jonathon Dennison of Beverley AC, ran the course in 38.55 sec, to take 178th place.