A SMALL team of Bury AC runners made the long journey to London to compete in the English National Cross Country Championships last Saturday.

First to run on the very muddy Parliament Hill Fields course was Sophie Whittaker in the Under-17 Women’s race. Sophie coped very well with the conditions to finish an excellent 49th place out of a field of more than 250 finishers. The winner was Harriet Knowles-Jones of Warrington AC. However, a top 50 finish in the National is a significant achievement, running against the very best in the country.

Christie Cook was next to take on the challenging conditions in the Junior Women’s race. Christie produced a strong run and was rewarded with 73rd place out of over 130 starters.

The next local runner to compete was Heledd Rimmer in the U15 Girl’s race. By this time the course was becoming very heavy and Heledd managed the conditions well to secure 375th place.

Bury had three young athletes in the U13 Boy’s race with Ben Forrest once the club’s start performer. Skipping over the mud, Ben ran very well to finish a superb 21st place. Next home was Francis Woodcock in a very creditable 73rd place, followed by Oliver Donnelly finishing 242nd out of 395 finishers. Winner was Tommy Dawson from the Leeds club. Having a group of young runners performing so well against top competition bodes well for the long term prospects for Bury AC.

The final race of the day was the Senior Men’s event, with Charlie Hulston from Sale Harriers, winning to take the National title back to up to the North of England. Hulston joins an elite band of National Champions that includes David Bedford, Brendan Foster, Tim Hutchings and Eamon Martin, as he triumphed over a field of over 2000 club athletes.

This Friday sees the presentation evening for the Red Rose Cross Country League. Bury AC has seen the largest haul of medals over recent years. Gold medals have been won by Ben Forrest (U13 boys), Marcus Dey (U15 boys), Sophie Whittaker (U17 women), the U17 Women's Team and the Senior Ladies Team. Silver medals will be awarded to Francis Woodcock (U13 boys), Caitlin Cole (U20 women), Benn Heywood (U20 men), the U13 Boys Team and the U15 Boys Team. Bronze medallists include Katie Geelan (Vet women), the U15 Girls Team and the U17 Boys Team. The Red Rose is traditionally a very competitive league and this success underlines the current strength of Bury Athletic Club.

Bury's cross country runners next compete in Saturday's South East Lancs Cross Country League on the testing Boggart Hole Clough Course. Club members will be supporting the Bury Primary School Cross Country races taking place on March 3, 10, 17 and 31 at Broad Oak, St Gabriels, Derby and Bury Church High Schools.