Category: Cross Country

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Chiltern Cross Country League 17/18

Fixture 3 – Stopsley

After what seemed to be a record turnout for Teardrop Lakes at the last Chiltern League fixture, the senior teams turned up at Fixture 3 in Luton, a little bit light on numbers. However, that’s not to say that those who turned out didn’t do their club proud and as always, the Juniors got everybody off to an excellent start.

The day was cold and surprisingly wet with a mixture of mist and drizzle drifting across the course throughout the late morning and early afternoon. Whilst it wasn’t particularly pleasant for spectating, it did actually mean the conditions for racing weren’t too bad with not much wind around. read more

British & Irish Masters Cross Country International

To gain selection to represent England is truly an honour. I was especially happy this year to receive my selection letter as I wasn’t confident that I had posted enough good races. Having run well in the Counties in January I thought 2017 might be a good year however injuries and timing of races meant things didn’t quite go to plan.

I travelled to Derry on the Friday before the race taking a lot of waterproof kit, which as it turned out was not needed. On race day the weather was good, dry and not too cold. However, walking the course before you could see it was very boggy in places from the previous week’s rainfall. read more

The Vets Leading the Way

Mahamed Mahamed walked in to the tent to collect his number and was met by Pete Mackrell, full of excitement following his brief chat with race favourite Andy Vernon. “Here’s your number, good luck. Andy Vernon’s over there, reckon you can beat him?” was Pete’s short jokey conversation with the shy Southampton AC athlete who just smiled and walked away. A couple of hours later and that same quiet runner stormed around the six mile course at Teardrop Lakes in 29:18 to take victory and push Vernon down to third. When you consider that Elliot – who has broken most of our club records recently – was nearly three minutes behind, this is a whole different level of running! read more

Feeling a bit “non-league” in Mansfield

English Cross Country Relays

by Sam Dear

The English Cross Country Relays has been staged in Mansfield since 1989 and LBAC were last there in 2010 and 20011, however on both of these occasions one member of the team had somehow forgotten to put their timing chip on and so the team was disqualified, much to the annoyance of those who wore their chip! Andy must have been one who was left with a DQ next to his name as I got an almost daily reminder to wear my chip in the week leading up to event.

The relays are part of the build up to the trials at the end November to get into the GB team for the European Cross Country  Championships and so there was definitely some talent around quite often has some GB athletes that you may recognise. read more

Here we go again! – Chiltern League – Race 1

Chiltern Cross Country League 2017/18

Race 1 – Shotover Hill, Oxford

14th October 2017

As sure as the leaves will fall from the trees and the nights will get darker, October comes around and that means that the Chiltern Cross Country League starts again.

As with in 2016 the first fixture was at Shotover Hill in Oxford and despite missing quite a few key members of the team, those that turned up, did so in style.

As seems to be becoming the norm, the first fixture was on the warm side and the ground underfoot was hard so trail shoes seemed to be the preferred option. There were even a few people wearing racing flats or road shoes! read more

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