English National XC, Sunderland, Sat 23rd Feb 2013

Photo courtesy of Mark Sherman

The English National Cross Country is regarded by many as one of the highlights of the athletic calendar. After successful efforts by senior men's and women's teams at last month's Northern Championships, Keswick AC once again showed that it has some considerable cross-country talent, in yet another major domestic cross-country competition at the weekend in challenging, muddy and snowy conditions in Sunderland.

Well done to Katy Livesey who has shown great potential this season with some fine performaces in the Cumbria League -stepping up to national level on Saturday Katy placed 132nd in a large field of 264 u13 girls, finishing in a time of 13 minutes and 58 seconds. The race was won by Katy Ann McDonald of Herne Hill Harriers in 11 minutes 26 seconds.

It was also Samuel Macy's first experience of the National who acquitted himself well in the u13 boys race, placing 158th out of 205 in a time of 14 minutes and 10 seconds. The race winner was Tom Kendrick of Tonbridge AC in 11 minutes and 7 seconds.

Hazel Davies, using the race as a tough training session part of her preparation for the London Marathon placed 192nd (out of 427 senior women) in 40:44. Louise Damen (Winchester & District AC) won in emphatic style in 29:31, a minute clear of the second placed runner.

And so to the final race of the day, the 126th edition of the Senior Men's English National XC.  Keswick AC has grown markedly in strength as a cross-country club in the last few years and this year saw the club take several keen senior men to the race, and the first time in a number of years that the club has fielded enough athletes for a men's team at the race.

The race for the 2013 national title turned into a hard fought battle between reigning 2012 National champion Keith Gerrard of Newham & Essex Beagles, and 2013 Northern Champs winner Steve Vernon of Stockport Harriers. Vernon who has represented GB at the World and European mountain running championships and won his fifth Northern title this year had to settle for second place, by a margin of only three seconds as Keith Gerrard became the first man to defend a National title since Glynn Tromans, covering the 12km course in 41 minutes and 21 seconds.

With a number of the Keswick AC men having their first taste of a National XC and a couple more their first experience of cross-country outside of the Cumbria League, the senior men's team placed extremely well in 20th out of seventy nine clubs. In a top 20 that includes some much larger and well respected athletic clubs, the performance bodes well for the club going forward and sets the standard for next year's event which is likely to be hosted in the midlands.

Photo courtesy of Adi Royle

The team consisted of Steve Hebblethwaite (70th, 45:18), Carl Bell (82nd, 45:43), Ian Davies (284th, 51:10), Josh Hebson (335th, 52:16), Chris Edis (464th, 52:46), Robin Orr (507th, 56:01), Simon Neville (610th, 58:10), and Albert Livesey (949th, 1:08:12). There were 1085 finishers.

There is a video of the race HERE.