ECCA National Cross Country Relays, Berry Hill Park, Mansfield, Full result

Well out of the medals but young runners shine

Ever since the six stage road race, where the Bels had only come through the field as their strength in depth had come into play, this four stage cross country event at Mansfield was known to be "wide open". Some seven clubs had been tipped as possible winners but for the first time in years we headed up the M1 knowing that it was unlikely to be us.

We are in a period of transition with several of our stalwarts either injured or taking a step back from competition while there are also a number of younger runners beginning to make their mark; Berry Hill saw three of them in action. Selection for the race was, as usual, based on the six stage but with a now fit Jonathan Blackledge not taking part in that event while any difference between most of those that did was impossible to define, it was eventually decided to keep the status quo and leave JB out of the A squad, even though he was expected to outrun at least one of those who were in.

Stage 1

Second fastest of today's runners who'd competed at Sutton Park, Paul Freary made a quick start but was followed closely by Shugri Omar for the Bs. Shoulder to shoulder throughout the two laps, both drifted back to the 20s with Paul still retaining the edge as the finish neared. But it was 20 year-old Shugri who had the strongest finish up the final climb with Paul right behind him but legs a-buckling as he crossed the line. We were further back than hoped for and over such a short distance it was unlikely that we could get back in contention. Sale's Stuart Stokes had grabbed a big lead while we were in 22nd (Bs) and 23rd (As).

Stage 2

Jonathan Blackledge tore away for the Bs but Phil Wicks had problems to contend with. Paul had stopped dead on the line and needed to get going again to cover the 15 metres to where Phil was waiting to "touch hands" and by the time they'd connected, the As had lost four places and the watch about to record Phil's effort had relentlessly "ticked" on. How much time was lost we can't be sure but for the records we'll allow an ungenerous four seconds*.

With a point to prove, Jonathan tore through the field ahead but Phil was also on a mission to erase any memories of his Sutton Park run and by the end of the first 2.5k lap had overtaken his colleague. Yet again, though, that trademark Blackledge finish put the Bs back ahead with Jonathan's time proving not only to be faster than someone in the A - but faster than all of them! Great runs from both the 21 year-old Belgravians had taken the Bels to 10th and 13th with Salford and Tipton between them and only seven seconds covering the four.

For Newham & Essex Beagles, Mo Farah had run like a gazelle, picking up no fewer than 29 places to go into fourth, but it was still Sale ahead with pre-race favourites Morpeth back in 17th.

Stage 3

Pete Willis ran like a man possessed as he tried to keep the Bs ahead of the As. For almost the whole of the first lap Al Stewart did not get onto terms with him but the inevitable did eventually occur and the remainder of Pete's race was spent trying to recover from that early burst. There was much changing of the order on stage three: Holmfirth, Gateshead, Harrow, Telford - their challenges all subsided as Al steadily made ground. But there were others also on the rise - Morpeth, Tipton, Notts - and the net effect was that Al's effort gained us four places and we were into 9th.

Altrincham now held the lead with several previously unfancied teams well into the top ten - most notably Aldershot in 3rd.

Stage 4

Morpeth's Nick McCormick had breakfasted with us. His easy going ways cover a steely determination and ability - who will forget his sterling effort to catch our own Mark Miles just before the line last year - but surely with his club lying in 6th place, 48 seconds behind leaders Altrincham, he was going to be unable to save Jim Alder's Morpeth Harriers this time. Not so!

For the Bels Stephen Sharp flew round his first lap but with so much talent ahead he was unable to make much impression. Bedford & County fell to his stride but he was unable to hold the pace for his second circuit and we had to accept a place well out of the medals.

And while this was going on, McCormick was on a charge. Altrincham sagged and Aldershot moved ahead of them but the Morpeth man was going faster than anyone in the race's history, bar a 2003 version of AFD's Chris Thompson, and once again it was the North Easterners who carried the day.

Disappointing for the Bels, then, especially as we knew we'd have problems with 'B' vs 'A'. But the signs for the future look good, and who's to say we won't have an under 23 four-some soon that can go sub-1 hour for the Berry Hill course.

1 Morpeth H 1:00:34; 2 Aldershot Farnham & District 1:00:59; 3 Altrincham & District 1:01:07; 4 Tipton H 1:01:09; 5 Newham & Essex Beagles 1:01:19; 6 Sale H Manchester 1:01:31; 7 Notts AC 1:01:38; 8 Belgrave H 'A' 1:01:47 - P Freary (23) 15:41, P Wicks (13) 15:12/15:08*, A Stewart (9) 15:38, S Sharp (8) 15:16; dnf Belgrave H 'B' - S Omar (22) 15:40, J Blackledge (10) 15:06, P Willis (17) 16:18; 156 teams started, 126 finished.

Fastest: 1 N McCormick (Morpeth H) 14:21; 2 M Farah (Newham &EB) 14:29; =3 C Davies (Telford) and M Skinner (Blackheath &B) 14:36; 5 A Bowden (Harrow) 14:46.

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