ECCA National CC Championships, Herrington Country Park, Sunderland

The National's Glorious Ebb and Flow

Will Cockerell writes: - The Belles' 2012-13 cross-country campaign ended with this interesting little scamper under the Penshaw Monument folly. To the uninitiated, there was plenty more folly going on down below, but for some reason, the craziness of the day makes sense to a good portion of the 3,000+ participants, as much as paint-balling, cheese-rolling or dwarf tossing does to others.
To be sure, the logistics don't seem to jive. A 16-17-hour round trip for 30-40 minutes of the most gluey, gloopy, freezing, ghoulish conditions one ever did see. 2007 this was not, when Frank Tickner shimmied round the park in 37:31. Keith Gerrard needed more than 30-seconds-per-mile to take care of the distance - and this correspondent 41.

At around 0630hrs Sammi, Tish & Ma, Laura, Hester and the 'pillar popped their heads out from their burrows, and started out on the fiddly journey to King's Cross. Loading up on caffeine, they were then smoothly ferried up to Sunderland grimly noting that England's green and pleasant land started to turn white at around York (aided and abetted by a snowstorm). They were greeted at Sunderland by the aptly named Lou Blizzard, a key scorer in the best National performance in our history in 2005 [12th]. A seven-seater cab whisked us up to Herrington (and how nice to see the park's namesake, Chaz, in the crowd - our 15th most 'blinged' relay-runner this century and key National cross man in our Stowe and Bristol campaigns of 2000 and '02).

It didn't take much to see that the battlefield before us was not for the faint-hearted. Mud splattered athletes from the age-groups walked around like zombies, long since having lost feeling in their extremities. Half-an-hour before the gun and SA's feet were frozen blocks which given her other niggles was always going to make running at optimum pace a problem. For a moment there was concern that she would DNS, but announced: "I haven't come all this way for nothing." A final photo op with JK before the off, who was pastiche-interviewed about the Belles' prospects: "Think this lot can go top 6, Jim?" "Well looking at them they seem very mean, lean and hungry, so they must have a chance." Profound.

Early doors and it was clear Lou had a big problem. She had stepped in a hole the week before and her ankle had blown up to twice the size. Surely the National was out, but she wouldn't let it go, and after nailing the Wrexham Half declared herself fit. But suspect ankles were like a match to a scarecrow on this course, and Lou was in for a whole world of pain. That she stuck it out was a marvel - a true Belgrave hero.

But we had back-up, and Jojo was suddenly under the spotlight, and didn't she grab it with glee, nearly scoring 2nd for us as it went, as she placed Fee behind her for the first time. Fee was 17 pips up on her excellent National of last year, and yet again was the backbone of our operation. We are so grateful to the 'Maycock massive' for all the support they've given us these last two years, and particular menche should go to Drew and Finlay, who are uncomplaining, often hypothermic, and on this occasion clad in footwear more appropriate for Ibiza.

Laura had a cracker to go way inside the top half, whilst our 'sweeper' HBR bashed out the 'stat' of the day, as she turned her 302 last year into 145. Which only leaves our 'two-headed monster', who have catapulted us into the limelight this season. Sam toiled in the gloop and never gave up, and the roads will feel so easy after this. We know given fairer conditions this is a very fine cross-country runner - Brighton '12 - proved that, but this was about getting the job done, when she could instead have imploded.

If we thought Tish was exceptional last week, this was truly stunning. Her 1:35 defeat to Steph Twell in London became a mere 12 seconds here, as it just shows that no-one, no matter their class and experience, was exempt from turmoil if things started to go awry. As for Tish, despite struggling to control her nerves, she executed her race dead centre, and typically for her, still craved more. That 'more' will come race-by-race, as she is steadily climbs up the ranks of England's foremost endurance runners.

So, scores at the doors? We got that top 6, with the next three clubs neatly lined up bang in front of us - ooh, what could have been with a bit more luck. But they'll all say the same - Hallamshire for instance lost Hattie Dean the week before - so no ifs, no buts, this is where we currently belong in the nation's pecking order. Some logistical acrobatics were required, but well worth all the effort and expense. This team is perfectly poised for many more top-sixes over the coming generation - bring it on.

A magnificent 25th place came from James Kelly in the men's race. "I died a thousand deaths over the last kilometre," he later admitted, "Bring on the 12 stage." Sadly we were unable to get a full team together and as a result several of those who had planned to run baulked at a round trip of 600 miles to run in an incomplete team. Malik Nehaili showed his love of the sport by combining a run in the under 13 Boys event while on a few days break in the North East.

Men. 1 K Gerrard (Newham &EB) 41:21; 2 S Vernon (Stockport) 41:24; 3 N Hall (Bedford &C) 41:47; ... 25 J Kelly 43:26; 204 W Cockerell 49:00; 1034 D Anderson M55 1:15:17; 1085 finished.

U13 Boys. 1 T Kendrick (Tonbridge) 11:07; ... 94 M Nehaili 12:58; 205 finished.

Women. 1 L Damen (Winchester &D) 29:31; S Samuels (Sale) 30:31; 3 G Steel (Charnwood) 30:40; ... 17 T Jones 32:29; 79 S Amend 36:12; 92 J Rhodes 36:33; 101 F Maycock W45 36:52; 145 H Barsham-Rolfe 38:40; 201 L D'Albey 40:56; 234 L Blizzard 41:59; 427 finished.

Teams: 1 Aldershot F&D 42; 2 Charnwood 174; 3 Serpentine R 231; ... 6 Belgrave H 289; 46 teams closed in.

A magnificent 25th place came from James Kelly in the men's race. "I died a thousand deaths over the last kilometre," he later admitted, "Bring on the 12 stage." Sadly we were unable to get a full team together and as a result several of those who had planned to run baulked at a round trip of 600 miles to run in an incomplete team. Malik Nehaili showed his love of the sport by combining a run in the under 13 Boys event while on a few days break in the North East.

Restored from the club's earlier website, belgraveharriers.com, and published here as originally written.