Mid Lancs & Mc Cain X/C Challenge Sat 29th Nov.

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The very best of the countries cross country runners assembled at Liverpool’s Sefton Park on Saturday for this joint promotion of the McCains UKA Cross Country Challenge –which incorporated the trial for the European X/C Championship – held this year in Brussels – and the Mid Lancs league race.

As you can see by the positions of our club runners the quality of the fields were truly international at the sharp end, with top club runners from all over the country giving the men’s field of 395 great strength in depth.

In the ladies race Katie Ingram (28.55) raced hard for her 23rd position – nine places higher than last year – so was pleased with her progression. We only had two ladies running with Suzanne Budgett running well and clocking 33.10 (75th) for our second counter. Again a super field of 144 runners

Our numbers were also down in the men’s race with just nine finishing. Gary Priestley started the race put had to pull out with an injury after just a few minutes, this left Gareth Booth (119th) to bring our team in, running 34.01 and showing he is now back to some form. Alastair Murray (34.51) ran well for 150th and was happy with his race, unlike Guy Heyes in 180th whose time of 36.07 did not truly reflect his current form. Good back up from Brendan Bolland (37.22) 203rd, Steve Nolan (37.10) in 197th place and Tony Hesketh (40.14) in 269th made up our team. The Mid Lancs results are not out yet so not sure of our team position. This just leaves our three stalwarts, of Pete Bland (44.34) in 339th place, Pete Ramsdale (45.27) in 349th and Barry Allman (46.56) in 363rd.

Thanks to Blandy for the tent and Pete R for the numbers, its appreciated.

McCain results: http://www.ukathletics.net/media/news/november-2008/29-11-08-mccain-liverpool/