SOUTH OF ENGLAND CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS 2009
Polly Keen
On Saturday 24th January 2009, a few of the ”soft“ southern members of CUH&H travelled to the South of England Cross Country Championships held this year at a new course in Hillingdon. A trip to the toilets on arrival gave us a clue of what the course was going to be like; everyone had to take their shoes off before entering the building. And sure enough, as soon as we approached the actual site of the races, it became evident that there was more than enough mud to go around!
First to tackle the mud bath of a course was Will Mackay in the Junior Men’s race. Will ran very well finishing in 19th in 30:15 (and also with an impressively mud–spattered face!).
Next up was Polly Keen and former Women’s Captain Harriet Owles in the Senior Ladies’ 8km race. Harriet finished 40th (36:20) and Polly 52nd (36:54), both also in incredible need of a shower.
The final race of the day was the Senior Men who had a 15km trudge through the churned up course to endure. James Kelly, not a fan of the mud at the best of times, managed to come 41st in 56:09 and his Belgrave team took the frustrating 4th place. Liam Richardson finished in 230th (1:05:03).
And so, we travelled back to Cambridge, leaving a trail of mud behind us, with the joyous task of cleaning our trainers, spikes and every item of clothing we had worn that day… Mud Glorious Mud!