The fourth and final race of the 2019-20 North Midlands
Cross Country League took place at Wollaton Park in Nottingham on Saturday 11th
January. Although it was a very blustery
day the course conditions were good, with it being mostly dry under foot save
for a couple of wet, muddy patches. The course though was still a good test
with a climb on each lap up towards Wollaton Hall followed by a pleasant
descent. The race fields were particularly competitive, perhaps because it is
for those not running the Nationals (also being held at Wollaton Park) it is
likely the last cross country race of the season.
In the women’s 6km long race Michelle Parczuk was first home
in a fine 80th place overall. Caroline Davis followed in 105th;
Sarah High was 124th; Kate Marshall 159th; and Tracy Webb
th. The ladies Vets team came seventh on the day and in the final
league standings finished ninth. In the individual league standings Sarah High
was an excellent winner of the V55 age category, with Michelle and Caroline finishing
a very creditable eighth and ninth respectively in the V45 category.
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In the men’s race Jonathan Palmer ran
outstandingly to
finish ninth in the senior race and eleventh overall – his time of 37:22 over
the 10km long course just sixty one seconds slower than the winner Nathan
Tweedie of Helptson Harriers. It is the highest ever finishing position by a
GRC runner in a North Midlands Cross Country race and could be considered the
as one of the club’s best ever performances over cross country.
Behind Jonny, Gav Meadows finished 132nd; Chris
Toon 215th; Daniel Howson 219th; and Wayne Baxter 246th.
The men’s Vets team finished thirteenth on the day, but unfortunately neither
the Vets nor Senior team were able to field enough runners over the four races
to appear in the final league standings. 
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Photos by Adrian Royle used with his kind permission.
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