Cross Country Championships Witton Park Blackburn

Saturday 23rd January saw the Northern Cross Country Championships being held in Blackburn, Lancashire, with a group of fifteen athletes from Beverley Athletic Club travelling across the country to take part in the event and to represent their club. Races were held throughout the day on a challenging loop that included a number of steep climbs, technical descents, and muddy conditions underfoot.

Beverley Athletic Club were represented in three of the junior races, those being the U13 girl’s (Kelly Dawson173rd), U15 girl’s (Nicole Dawson 84th), and U15 boy’s (Peter McGill 27th ) events. All three competed well in their respective events against tough opposition with Peter McGill particularly showing great potential for the future and possible County selection.

Two of the last events of the day were the Senior Women’s and Senior Men’s races. The Senior Women’s race, which was 8km long, saw three Beverley Athletic Club members taking part. Helen Storr (145th in 43:00) was the first club athlete home, with Jane Dale (172nd in 45:00) and Sam Allen (188th in 46:27) not far behind.

The Senior Men were the last to race, covering four loops and 12km in total. James Pearson (139th in 48:19) ran a very strong race to be the first Beverley Athletic Club runner home, with Aubrey Morrell (190th in 50:20), Ian Boardley (294th in 53:43), and Mark Dalton (311th in 54:18) also producing strong performances.

The club were very well represented in this final race with Steve Peacock (400th in 57:48), Neil Bant (427th in 59:15), Pete Watkinson (432nd in 58:28), Tim Simpson (513th in 1:03:31), and Brian Richardson (565th in 1:08:42) all running well and representing their club magnificently in this prestigious event. Overall, the men placed 30th out of the 49 club who fielded complete teams.

All those who travelled agreed that it was a superb event and one that other members are encouraged to take part in during the future.

Reported by Kay Farrow, Beverley AC