Alice sprints in for second-place finish
SEVERAL Harriers made the trip over to Sefton Park, Liverpool for the latest fixture in the Mid Lancs cross country league on Saturday and it proved to be a very worthwhile journey for everyone who made the effort to run in the top class fields.
Each year the fixture incorporates several cross country leagues, the UK
Cross Challenge series and for the seniors it’s the trial races for the European Cross Country Championships.
Although it was bitterly cold and very windy the usual muddy conditions in the park were absent this year so the firm ground made for some fast times.
In all, 103 runners lined up for the U11 girls race and Alice Carr, who is certainly making a name for herself in the area, enjoyed a stunning performance to finish in second place behind Blackpool’s Polly Kershaw after a sprint to the line when she picked up two places.
Holly Nicholls also had a very good run in the same race finishing in 17th place overall but the sixth Mid Lancs runner.
Arthur Grenfell represented the U11 boys in his 126 strong field coming 31st of the Mid Lancs runners and Toby Steel was 44th in the U13s.
For the U13 girls Ruby Cleaver secured a top 20 finish coming in 18th place from 40 runners.
Joe Ormrod found running against some of the best athletes in the country in the U17 mens race and, although he struggled after a recent illness, he should be pleased with his journey back to fitness to finish as sixth of the 33 Mid Lancs runners.
The Rossendale ladies managed to finish a team and were 11th of a total of 25 clubs thanks to a rare appearance by Corinna Howorth in 34th place, Sophie Howard in 42nd and Joanne Cleaver in 52nd.
Natalie Murphy was 59th and Sarah Steel also ran and was 98th from 112 runners.
Jon Cleaver extended his lead in Rossendale’s club championship by finishing in 21st place and also first veteran over 40 after running 33mins 41secs for the three lap 9.8 kilometre course. Ben Kirkman is in a similar position in the U20 category for the club and on Saturday he missed out on finishing as first U20 man in the league by four seconds with his 34mins 11secs for 29th spot.
Rob Webb is nowhere near as fit as he can be but should be encouraged by his 35th place after 34mins 34secs as also Sean Greenwood should be in his first season on the country.
On Saturday Greenwood finished in 39th place from 217 finishers, clocking 34mins 53secs, a solid performance.
Matthew Clawson also ran and finished in 96th place.
Next Saturday will see Rossendale’ fixture at Marl Pits and the club will hope to end the Red Rose season with individual and team wins on home turf.