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| Nick, Andrew, Rob, Matt and Jack |
Grantham running club sent a team of 6 to the prestigious
English National Cross Country Championships at Harewood House, Leeds. With one
runner in the women’s race and six in the men’s race, the club was well
represented amongst an 8,000-runner national standard field.
After a spell of dry, mild weather the parkland was looking
better than in previous championships. However, the hilly course was still sure
to take its toll on runners pushing for a high finish position. With the
slowest start imaginable, the course had a wide mass start straight up a
lung-busting hill only to narrow quickly for the more technical parts.
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| Willow Stacey |
Willow Stacey was first off in the women’s 8k race
completing two laps of the energy sapping course.
Fishing mid-way through the
field in 662 position and with a time of 43:09. The race was won by Emily
Hosker Thornhill of Aldershot Farnham & District.
The men’s race, which attracts the largest field with around
2,500 runners stampeding up the hill after the start gun. The GRC men getting caught
in the early traffic were keen to fight their way through the tiring field.
First to complete the 12k, 2 lap course was the age defying Robert Howbrook.
Only three weeks before he runs the Barcelona Marathon, Robert is peaking at the
perfect time; demonstrated brilliantly by finishing in 1138 place with a time
of 50:56 and placing him highly amongst his V60 age category. Next home was
Andrew Pask who settled into his rhythm for a faster 2nd lap, with a time of
51:45. Closely following was Matthew Williamson who continues his return from
injury with 51:56. Nick Rossington was over the line in 58:20 and then Cross
Country debutant Jack Dodwell with 1:02:17. The race was won by hot prospect
Mahammed Mahammed of Southampton AC.
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