Leather right in contention
In her first cross country back in England for six years, Team Bath AC’S Ellie Leather ran herself into contention for the European Cross Country Championships in Brussels.
Leather finished an impressive fifth – and tied on the same time as Southampton’s Lilly Hawkins in fourth - in the European short course relay trial held at Sefton Park, Liverpool, on Saturday.
It is interesting to note that her last race on English mud was way back in 2017 when she finished 19th in the senior girls’ race at the English Schools Championships.
After that she took up a scholarship offer to join Fresno State University, in America, and has never looked back, developing into one of the best young middle distance talents in the country, finishing eighth in the 1,500m at the UK Championships this summer.
Also at Liverpool, fellow 1,500m ace and former Running Bath/chron competition winner Justin Davies showed his winter endurance training is going well by finishing 11th in the men’s short course event.
In the young athletes races, the Maxwell family were out in force with Harry Maxwell finishing an excellent fifth in the under-17 men’s race with brother Josh in 38th, while in the under-15 girls age group sister Sophie finished 39th.
■ MEANWHILE far, far away in a completely different branch of the sport, Team Bath’s ultra runner Annamarie Watson was in Nepal to take part in the ever-popular Manaslu Trail Race.
This is an amazing seven-stage event which covers 140km amongst some breath-taking – quite literally as it takes place at high altitudes - scenery in the mighty Himalayas.
Watson finished the course as fifth woman, only beaten by top Swedish ultra runner Ida Nilsson and a trio of local Nepalese ladies, who felt quite at home on the terrain.
■ ALSO on the international circuit, Matt Lay opted for the Leptos Cyprus International four-day Challenge which comprised mountainous runs of 6km, 11km, half marathon and 10km over four days. Unfortunately the official results are still not available.
■ CLOSER to home, Marianne Carpenter celebrated victory in the over40 age group at the AVR Wiltshire half marathon. Carpenter clocked a time of 1hr 33mins 54secs to finish fourth, while behind her club newcomer Jess Ventham recorded an encouraging 1:35.47 to finish sixth overall.
Leading club man was Martin Arcbold in eighth (second MV40) in a solid time of 1:21:58 with Andy Alcorn third MV50 in 1:31:49.
AT the Yarnbury Yomp, Eliot Ball finished seventh in a time of 42mins 46secs with victory going to Calne’s Simon Nott (37:24).
■ The athletics coverage in the Chron is sponsored by Running Bath.