The Northern Cross Country Championships, which were first held in 1883, were this year held on one of the toughest and muddiest courses in the country at Witton Park, Blackburn in some of the most gruelling weather conditions imaginable.
In the Under 20 Mens race we only had 2 finishers. Matt Sutton finished in an excellent 23rd place, in his first year in this age group. Ben Jackson, having missed the start of the race, managed to work his way through to 61st place.
Trafford had 5 finishers in the Under 17 Mens race. in a field of 105 finishers, Colin Daly had a solid run in 38th place, followed home by Mac O'Malley (44th), Seamus Bradbury (66th), Mikey Kingston (81st) and Abel Ashby (90th). The team finished 7th.
168 athletes completed the Under 15 Boys race and Trafford's 2 competitors both ran great races, with Xav O'Hare 10th and Jack Wilkinson 26th.
However, Trafford's highest individual and team positions came in the Under 13 race. In a massive field of 213 athletes, Joe Bentall had the best race of his life to finish in 9th place, the first athlete home from Greater Manchester. Close packing by Seb Patrick (39th), Tom Bentall (63rd), Alex Bailey (69th) and Oliver Choi (71st), all finishing in the top third of the race, gave us 4th place in the team race.
Trafford also had 2 girls taking part who coped admirably with the conditions. Anna Baker was 128th in the Under 15 race and Lauren Howley 175th in Under 13 Girls.
This coming Saturday sees most of the above athletes (and about 500 more) taking part in the Greater Manchester Schools Cross Country Championships at Longford Park. The races are on from 11am until 2pm and any offers of help for marshalling etc will be greatly appreciated.
In the Under 20 Mens race we only had 2 finishers. Matt Sutton finished in an excellent 23rd place, in his first year in this age group. Ben Jackson, having missed the start of the race, managed to work his way through to 61st place.
Trafford had 5 finishers in the Under 17 Mens race. in a field of 105 finishers, Colin Daly had a solid run in 38th place, followed home by Mac O'Malley (44th), Seamus Bradbury (66th), Mikey Kingston (81st) and Abel Ashby (90th). The team finished 7th.
168 athletes completed the Under 15 Boys race and Trafford's 2 competitors both ran great races, with Xav O'Hare 10th and Jack Wilkinson 26th.
However, Trafford's highest individual and team positions came in the Under 13 race. In a massive field of 213 athletes, Joe Bentall had the best race of his life to finish in 9th place, the first athlete home from Greater Manchester. Close packing by Seb Patrick (39th), Tom Bentall (63rd), Alex Bailey (69th) and Oliver Choi (71st), all finishing in the top third of the race, gave us 4th place in the team race.
Trafford also had 2 girls taking part who coped admirably with the conditions. Anna Baker was 128th in the Under 15 race and Lauren Howley 175th in Under 13 Girls.
This coming Saturday sees most of the above athletes (and about 500 more) taking part in the Greater Manchester Schools Cross Country Championships at Longford Park. The races are on from 11am until 2pm and any offers of help for marshalling etc will be greatly appreciated.
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