Southern Cross Country Championships

Report from Ed Steele:

Saturday 28th January brought about the Southern XC Championships at Sussex University near Brighton, with a minor football related scheduling clash involving a certain Toon Army.

Some last minute takers meant no places were wasted and with cold but clear conditions, it was a good day for cross country running.

Eight Harriers took part in the Senior Men's race, consisting of a penned line start with a brief but sharp hill to separate the field. The course was quite firm despite being the last race of the day, but had challenging steep up and down slopes through 3 laps of a forest area, easily besting the playing-field course of the recent Dartford champs. At 9.5 miles its one of the longer events in the year, close to our Presidents' own Eridge 10 challenge and by the third lap it was evident in the field that those used to the usual shorter routes were becoming undone by the distance.

First home for the men was Chris Wolton in 144th, showing the standard of competition out on the field. He was followed by our Chairman Andy Howey in 309th, returning to XC after a long period of injury. Third place was taken by Stuart Shields in 339th, finishing the race this time with faculties intact. The usuals then followed with Daryl Palfrey in 401st, myself in 417th and the scoring 6 was made up by the indomitable Michael Russell in 614th. Making up the final 2 were George 'the flying' Harris in 626th and Steve Austin in what I believe was only his 3rd race in 645th.

In the women's race, numbers were unfortunately low meaning there was no 4 to score team. A call to all Harrierettes - lets make Swanley a return to the numbers of Somerhill and give the league and the season a great send-off. Three Harriers made their best of the 8km route with its brilliant flying downhill finish.

The women's team was made up of our very own captain Sian in 148th, thrill-seeker Clare Hayhurst in 186th and our roving London correspondent Becky Smith in 254th. Low turnout meant there was no 4 to score for the ladies, so...

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Team Results

Senior Men 6 to score:    TWH 45th/79

Men's results:

1 / 49:11 Ben Tickner - Wells City/Kent/Phoenix AC
...
144 / 57:57 Chris Wolton
309 / 63:46 Andy Howey
339 / 64:53 Stuart Shields
401 / 67:12 Daryl Palfry
417 / 67:35 Edward Steele
614 / 76:27 Michael Russell
626 / 77:13 George Harris
645 / 78:36 Steve Austin

745 runners finished

Womens results:

1 / 29:44 Ceri Mitchell - Southampton AC
...
148 / 38:34 Sian Roberts
186 / 40:13 Clare Hayhurst
254 / 43:47 Rebecca Smith

335 runners finished

For the full results please follow this link:
http://www.thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=55654

Thanks to all who attended. One final thing, I've been featured on the
sussex sport photography blog with the following photo and caption:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a_2ZcfTY7SE/TybA0JWNG0I/AAAAAAAAMPg/niBgUdwWz3o/s1600/SS2P13916.JPG
"and if you turn left here..." The TWH runner had his own personal
local tour guide of the woods..

What a day!

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Next races are as follows, let me or Sian know if you want to race! I'll be accosting you all in the bar the next few weeks.

Saturday, 11 February      Kent XC League 4 – Swanley

The final Kent XC League race, we need numbers for this one to rival our amazing turnouts at the first Swanley and Somerhill! For our M70 vets this is also the last in the M70 season, so please try and make it so we can get a special prize for winning 1st, 2nd and 3rd place!

Please remember to bring your number if you’ve raced in an existing Kent XC league event, or let us know if you’ve lost it so we bring spares
Men 10k / Women 5k

Saturday, 25 February      National XC Champs - Parliament Hill

The one and only Parliament Hill champs. If you’ve only done the League, take the size of those races and times it by 10 to get a sense of the field (1500 runners). Take how muddy the fields have been and do the same. You'll also be starting with (and will be lapped by) the
best runners in the UK and those you'll likely see at the Olympics that year.

This has to be experienced at least once. It clashes with our own half, but if you raced that last year, why not run parliament hill and
take the time to help out with the half e.g. marshalling or running a pace group like myself.
Men 12k / Women 8k

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Ed & Sian
Your friendly neighborhood XC captains