Nene Valley Harriers’ cross country team romped their way to North Midlands League success at a rain soaked and boggy Glebe Park in Corby.
On a day when 80 Nene Valley athletes travelled to Northamptonshire, the Peterborough club – who have a host of South Holland members – dominated several of the races, winning three of the ten categories.
Coach Russ Prosser acknowledged the performance as being one the finest in Nene Valley’s history, in what is a highly competitive event.
The Harriers come out on top in both senior races, with a youthful men’s team delivering an excellent display. Indeed, they even demoted one of England’s leading clubs – Notts AC – in to second place.
Star man was 19-year-old James McCrae, who was the first Nene Valley runner to finish the 10k course. He crossed the line in fifth place with a time of 35.51mins.
Joe Turner was just two places further back and teenager Jake Richardson ran well for 19th place.
The scoring team was completed by Drew Warnes and Alex Hampson. Michael Channing and Bradley Spurdens provided good support, giving Nene Valley seven of the first 32 finishers in a match contested by 26 clubs.
A strong ladies’ team made light work of the quagmire like conditions as Cat Foley-Wray led the team to victory with a fine second place finish.
Grace Mullins crossed the line in fifth position, while Nicky Morgan was 14th, as well as being the first veteran home for the second race in succession.
Flo Brill, who has been a revelation this season, continued where she left off at the National Cross Country Championship at Mansfield a fortnight earlier, winning the under-13 girls’ race.
Nene Valley finished third on the day, with Brill well-supported by Ella Robinson and Calypso Priestley.
The girls currently top the table after two rounds of the four race series.
The Harriers boasted a third winning team, as the under-15 girls grouped superbly with Amber Park, Jose Fortune and Ellie Piccaver finishing eighth, tenth and 11th respectively.
The talented trio cemented Nene Valley’s place at the top of the table after finishing as first team in both races to date.
Megan Ellison suffered a rare defeat in the ladies’ under-17 race, finishing second behind behind the highly rated 17-year-old Lucy Evans, of Charnwood AC.
Casey Hilliam, in 13th place, and Beth Goymour (27th) enabled the Harriers to finish second on the day.
The boys’ teams all performed creditably, with the pick of the bunch being the under-13s – who took second place behind Chesterfield AC.
Matt Church, the third generation of his family to represent his club, came home ninth, two seconds and two places ahead of Sam Oakley. Sid O’Connell was also in the scoring team.
The under-15 boys’ team delivered a gritty performance in securing fourth place, with Nandeli Palembe, Mapesho Mutukuma and Callum Dalliaday, on his club debut, making up the scoring team.
The under-17 boys went one better, securing third position thanks to Austin Herbert, Nathanial Taylor and Rio Chilvers, who all ran well through the mud.
The under-11 boys and girls ran together – and they too took third place on the day thanks to the efforts of Freddie House, Joe Garner and Isaac Fell. Lottie Hemmings was the seventh girl home.
Now halfway through the series, Nene Valley have a number of athletes in line for individual awards.
Young gun Brill is currently joint top under-13 girl, while Megan Ellison leads the under-17 rankings.
Nicky Morgan appears to only have to remain on her feet in the final two races to win the FV 45 title, while James McCrae heads the men’s under-20s competition.
