UK INTERCOUNTIES CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS 2009
James Kelly
With the World Cross Country Championships taking place in Amman, Jordan, the Intercounties and UK Trials at Wollaton Park, Nottingham was advanced to 7 March to accommodate visas, vaccinations, and maybe Sky Sports. Of more importance for the customarily sizeable CUH&H contingent, Intercounties did not clash with the Annual Dinner and so could receive full attention!
The early March sun dried out the course, ably assisted by a gusting wind that kept the temperatures down and made for difficult conditions in the exposed areas of the course. As the county tents assembled, the burger vans parked and the public address system cranked up in volume, the first of the age category races set off. While these might well have featured future members of CUH&H, it wasn’t until the start of the Senior Women that club interest was truly piqued.
As the women glided up the hill towards Wollaton Hall, the leading contenders for the win were already established at the front. The CUH&H ladies had started more conservatively — some by choice, and some because their county teammates were a bit tentative in getting out of the pen! Happily, as the race progressed and the hill, the wind, and the long season began to take its toll, the Hareys did indeed move through the field. Naomi Taschimowitz (Avon & Somerset) showed great form in clinching 54th place out the 278 finishers. Alas, a bureaucratic error meant that Naomi’s great run was attributed to one of her county teammates!
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Those spectators bedecked in Cambridge blue didn’t have to wait long for the rest of the ladies to break the tape. Anna Anderson (Lancashire) continued her recovery from injury by finishing 114th in her debut race in the Senior category. Polly Keen (Hampshire) arrived at Wollaton Park looking to banish the memories of the 2008 edition, in which a heavy cold destroyed her race. Unfortunately she had been ambushed by a cold again, but her determination saw her dig in and finish 133rd, just a couple of seconds behind her predecessor as Ladies’ Captain, Harriet Owles (Surrey). Lauren Barklie (Oxfordshire) was another to be debuting in the Senior category. She confessed to finding the race ”to be a long way“ but had every reason to be pleased with her 162nd place finish. A nasty, lingering virus left Helen Rollins (Leicestershire) completely sapped of energy and forced her withdrawal from the race.
Steph Twell (Hampshire) punctuated her outstanding cross country season by claiming a comfortable individual win ahead of Sarah Tunstall (Cumbria) and Jane Potter (Nottinghamshire). Scotland East was the top Senior team, with Yorkshire and the North East completing the northern presence on the podium.
After a slight lull in the atmosphere corresponding to the youngest age category competitions, the Senior Men were the final set of competitors to take to the course. Thundering up the hill, the 292 finishers stayed relatively close together for the first kilometre. As the pace picked up at the front, the field began to string out. James Kelly (Surrey) established himself in the midfield, with the recently–departed Owain Bristow (Oxfordshire) for company over the first lap. Ultimately, Kelly held on for 62nd place, with Bristow recording an excellent top–100 finish. Chris Bannon (Warwickshire) was a late addition to the county team, but he showed that the selectors got it right in the end with his 164th place finish — ahead, crucially, of a couple of his rivals from December’s Varsity Match. Will Mackay, the Cambridgeshire County Champion, also took to the line with less–than–ideal preparation. Still managing a foot injury and also battling a virus, Will showed his customary courage (or is it folly?) in finishing as white as a sheet in 206th position. But at least he has no memory of the painful final kilometres!
At the front, Andy Vernon (Hampshire) won in a close finish from Frank Tickner (Avon & Somerset), with Guernsey’s Lee Merrien completing the podium. Greater Manchester was the champion county ahead of neighbours Lancashire, with Surrey claiming the team bronze.