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The 121st running of this great cross-country event, first run in 1876, attracted over 8000 entries as it returned to a more central venue. As well as being home to some of the best known thrill rides in the country, Alton Towers is set in wonderfully scenic countryside. In good weather conditions athletes faced the dual challenge of competing against large numbers of runners over the most demanding of courses. The racing loop was set on the side of a hill on farmland and provided a testing, undulating course with one particularly short and steep climb at the bottom end of each lap. The vast numbers of spectators and supporters were able to enjoy this wonderful spectacle of cross-country racing at its best.... 4½ hours entertainment for free.
Chiltern Harriers had just 11 athletes competing on the day but 7 of those were running into Club history as members of the U13 Boys team. All 7 of them were heroes on the day although only 4 could be the scoring members of the team that placed 3rd overall and secured the team bronze medals, the first medals of any colour won at the National Cross-country Championships by Chiltern Harriers.
For all, except Dan Barraclough, this was the first taste of such a big cross-country event for the young Chiltern Harriers athletes with entries from Clubs the length and breadth of England. There were 353 finishers in the 3.2k race and the U13 Boys team produced an outstanding team performance to finish 3rd, ahead of many of the country's top clubs.
On this occasion it was Jack Dutton who led the team home with a storming last 500m to move 20 places through the field to finish 21st. He was followed home 2 seconds later in 27th place by first year Michael Goddard, still suffering from a cough, and a further 9 seconds behind was Dan Barraclough in 39th. The next one home was 11 year old Andrew Stenning, a year 6 boy, who completed the scoring team with an outstanding performance to finish in 96th place, improving his position by over 100 places after the initial stampede start. 11 year old Joe Cochrane, another year 6 boy, finished 161st and was followed home in 162nd position by Peter Illingworth. George Gillingwater finished a very tired 235th, having only just returned from a skiing trip to America the day before, but he was pleased with the experience. Aldershot, Farnham & District won with 137pts, Northern champions East Cheshire Harriers came 2nd with 157pts and Chiltern Harriers finished 3rd with 183pts, followed by Tonbridge with 204pts and then Bedford & County 211pts.
Jack, Michael, Dan, Andrew and George will all be competing in the Buckinghamshire U13 team of 8 at the National Inter-Counties cross-country championships at Wollaton Park, Nottingham on the 15th March, and they have a fighting chance of finishing in a team medal winning position.
The U17 men's race over 5.8k saw first year Allan Stewart work his way gradually through the field of 289 runners to finish in 190th place. Matthew Bennett took part in the U20 men's 9.6k race and after a solid start he was disappointed to have an 'off day' and dropped back in the second half of the race to finish in 81st place out of 197 finishers. Rebecca Moorhouse was satisfied with her run as she placed 107th in the U20 women's 5k race. In the last race of the day, the Senior men's 12k championship, veteran Trevor Brawn enjoyed his race of 3 laps over this tough course and placed 1149th in a vast field of runners.
Gary Howells
Coach/Team Manager