Four ex Olympic athletes were amongst a huge field entered for the BVAF national cross country championships in Mansfield on 23 March. Nick Rose, who represented GBR in the 1980 Moscow and 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, won the Men's 50-54 age group by 22 seconds.
The M40-44 title was won by Dr Rob Hand from the NE Veterans club by just 2sec from Andy Wilton, Staff Moorland AC with Bill Foster from the famous Blackheath Harriers third and the defending champion, Julian Critchlow, finishing out of the medals after leading most of the way. The race was one of the most exciting and competitive in its 26-year history.
The women's race over a 5km course was won by Allison Hirst, the current BVAF 10k road title holder, after a great tussle with Helen Burrell from the local Redhill Runners club. Joan Lasenby from the Cambridge & Colridge club was first W40 home in third place overall. A delighted, but previously unknown Maria Holland from Norwich, took the W45 title. She explained that she accompanies her son Josh, a City of Norwich under-13 County representative on his training runs. Sibling rivalry and encouraging shouts from the sidelines helped her to stay close to a leading group until the sanctuary of the finishing line!
Other age group titles went to Gillian Dean from Radley Ladies W50, Carol Wolstenholme came down from Hallamshire to take the W55, Christine Lee from Gosford the W60 and the super Pam Jones from Ilford won yet another W65 championship by over two minutes.