National Cross Country Relays
Senior Men
We were represented at the National Cross Country Relays in Mansfield by a senior men's team and several younger teams.
We had not had a men's team at this championship for many years, as many men feel that a 5K race does not fit with their winter plans to race over between 5 and 9 miles. But this year we had four willing athletes. We put our theoretically fastest man, Andy Mariani, on leg 1 to cope with the notoriously hectic start, as over 160 men set off. And he performed excellently to come in 34th in 16:41. This compared with the fastest time of the day, 15:26, set by regular cross country international Steve Vernon of the winning club, Stockport Harriers. Casting an eye down down the finishers on leg 1, it was pleasing to see Mariani's name just seconds behind highly regarded men such as Luke Cragg (Mansfield), Matt Lole (Coventry), Matt Barnes (Altrincham) and Mohammed Aadan of Thames Valley who won the first Met League race recently at Claybury.
The rain had been teeming down for some time and with 160 teams charging round the 2 lap course, the mud was churned up so that the running got increasingly difficult as the race unfolded. On leg 2, Tom Beedell was passed by former international Kevin Farrow of Notts, but then worked with him to pass several other men and leave us in 29th as he clocked 17:27.
Darren Southcott's time of 18:24 on leg 3 was good enough to keep us in 29th, and then Jim Roche, who stepped in late in the day to complete the team, ran 19:40 on leg 4 to leave us in 43rd at race end.
Young Athletes
Three young athlete teams took on the best in England at a saturated Berry Park, Mansfield with the going getting more treacherous after each race.
First away in the green and white hoops was Rosie Poole in the Under 13 girls race. Rosie got a good start and hung on well, coming in 28th in 7 mins 58 secs for the muddy 2k course out of 110 teams. Jodi Ratcliff took charge of leg 2 and promptly took Woodford up 9 places, running a fine 8 mins13 to bring us in 19th place. Aoife Guyatt, a first year Under 13, took on the tough last leg with many good athletes moving their teams up. Aoife battled well and although we slipped to 27th Aoife, as always, ran her heart out.
So 27th out of 110 teams was very satisfying and 12th Southern Club to finish. Rosie was 43rd fastest out of 300 who completed the course for Under 13 girls.
Next away was the Under 13 boys race, also over laps of 2k, with Canaan Soloman starting the ball rolling for Woodford. Whilst Canaan was walking through the funnel to the start line the starter fired his gun which left Canaan a mountain to climb as he was at the back of the field as he set off. He did remarkably well to come in in 3rd place behind the flying Hugo Milner from Derby who won in 6 mins 57. Canaan recorded 7 mins 09 secs, which gave him the 7th fastest lap overall on the day. Canaan admitted he would have not beaten Milner but felt he would have beaten Trafford's runner Lonsdale, who was 2nd in 7 mins 06 secs. Alfie Poole was another to give his all by running 8 mins 06 for the 2k course, to bring us in 18th. James Wakefield was very brave on the last leg and, despite falling in the wooded section of the course, he had the courage to get to his feet and came in shaken and muddy in 36th place out of 100 teams - another fine performance for the lads. They were 14th southern club to finish.
By the time the Under 15 girls got underway, the course was very muddy with torrential rain falling. Amela Barrett was first away and placed an excellent 19th out of 114 teams in a time of 7 mins 50 secs, which placed 33rd fastest overall. Next away was Alicia Mcardell, a first year Under 15, who held onto our forward position in great style running 8 mins 17 secs, coming in 19th. Abbie Dell was another first year under 15 girl, called up in the last minute, and she was very brave to even finish as she badly twisted her ankle in the woods. Abbie completed her leg in discomfort in 9 mins 15 secs to bring the team home in 43rd and 18th Southern Club to finish.
Team manager John Stow said, "The youngsters can all feel very proud of their efforts against the best in the country and all ran with courage and great belief. A big thank you to all the parents on transporting the athletes up north to rainswept Mansfield. Now bring on the Met League."