Nene Valley Harriers athletes left many of their rivals bogged down in the mud at the National Cross Country Championships on Saturday.
The Wollaton Park course in Nottingham was set out to include many swamp like areas of the deer park, but local cross country experts thrived on the unforgiving terrain.
A highlight was the battle between Nene Valley and Peterborough AC in the senior men’s race. Peterborough have enjoyed the upper hand on the road in recent months, and both clubs were eager to show their supremacy on the country.
The Harriers came out on top, but only just, finishing 36th out of the 131 teams with Peterborough hot on their heals in 37th.
Lloyd Kempson led the Nene Valley charge finishing 140th, with a rejuvenated Chris Wright not far behind in 168th.
Nathan Tweedie and Michael Channing, both of Nene Valley, came in 302nd and 350th respectively, while Mike Chapman and Oliver Slater completed the scorers
James McCrae was the highest placed Harrier, finishing 39th in the junior men’s race. McCrae, who’s short-striding style was well suited to the conditions received solid support from Alex
Hampson, Austin Herbert and Bradley Spurdens as the team came home 12th.
There were some fine performances from the girls with Megan Ellison the pick of the bunch placing 43rd in the under-17 race, while Josephine Fortune squeezed into the top 100.
Flo Brill’s season has been hampered by illness, but she had a fine run at Nottingham, with a 51st place finish for the under-15 girls, with Lottie Hemmings also acquitting herself well.
Amber Park was the first under-13 girl home in 83rd, and strong running from Ella Robinson, Olivia Mead and Hana Ray saw the team finish 31st.
Nene Valley’s senior women were led home by Ruth Jones in 248th. Sophie Wilkinson-Hargate was 317th, while Laura Grimer placed 372nd.
Bradley Allen completed the course in 119th place in the under-17 race, while Sam Oakley fought his way through the field for a pleasing 54th place finish for the under-13 boys.
The Nene Valley team were 42nd with Sidney O’Connell also running well.
Matt Dowling was 218th in the under-15 boys race, and was the mainstay of the Nene Valley team that finished 34th.
