Midlands mud-fest

GATESHEAD HARRIER CALUM JOHNSON AND DANISH RUNNER ANNA EMILIE MØLLER TAKE SENIOR TITLES ON A CLASSIC COURSE FULL OF MUD AND UNDULATIONS

- STEVE SMYTHE (WOMEN) & MARTIN DUFF (MEN)

A VERY muddy Wollaton Park again played host to an excellent ‘National’, which while it may lack the quality of 25 to 40 years ago, is still surely one of the greatest cross-country races in the world in terms of depth and atmosphere. Just under 5000 participated as the best of England battled for individual and team titles and only one athlete, Amelia Quirk, retained her title from 2019 and she was the only previous winner, but there were quite a few athletes advancing from previous second places.

The weather was windy but mild, the rain largely stayed away and despite the testing conditions most athletes thought the course was considerably challenging and made the trek to Nottingham worthwhile.

Generally the number of finishers was on par with last year at Leeds in the younger age groups but well down in the senior races and there is a disappointing slight decline in numbers in the very youngest age groups (see panel).

Senior men

ENTRY numbers may have been slightly less than in recent years but the quality of the racing at the front end was of the usual high standard and in the absence of last year’s top two, it was the three North of England medallists who fought it out for the podium places.

Over a four-lap course of increasing circuit length both the finishing times and smartwatches worn by some runners suggested that the total distance run was considerably greater than the advertised 12km.

Purists will have been pleased that the probable total distance completed was somewhat over eight miles and therefore closer to the historic nine-mile distance that old-timers believe is a truer test of cross-country prowess.