The 17th running of this fiercely competitive event took place on Saturday 20 November 2004 over the rolling hills of Lloyd Park, Croydon. Despite continuous sleet and flurries of snow that made underfoot conditions difficult, the international teams from Scotland, N Ireland, Wales, Republic of Ireland and England rose to the occasion.
The 4-per team women and Men aged 70 and over led off over a 6km course. The current Irish Senior international, Niamh O’Sullivan, went quickly into the lead and held on to give the Republic its sixth consecutive individual win. Sonia Armitage and the current BMAF cross country champion, Sue Ridley, both in the blue vests of Scotland, chased hard but it was Margaret Deasy, in her first England representational, who came through to take the silver from Ridley. Clare Pauzer, running on familiar territory, and Andrea Dennison came in 4th and 5th for England. Kate Ramsey sadly had to make a last minute withdrawal giving reserve Lynn Emmett minutes to prepare. Carmel Parnell successfully defended her W45 individual title that she won in Cardiff last year, again leading the Irish team to victory.
Karen Marshall in N Ireland colours raced to her seventh consecutive individual victory coming in 8th to win the W50 title, what a performance from a 51-year old. The England Selectors had a difficult time picking the W55 team from such an outstanding array of talent. Led by the two Northerners, Susan Cariss and Carol Wolstenhome from Anne Roden and Jane Davies, all four were well clear of their international opponents giving England maximum points. Elaine Statham led the England W60 team of evergreen Pam Jones, Kath Stewart and Sue Lambeth to victory.
As the temperature dipped below 5c, the Men 70-plus teams were getting lathered up chasing the defending champion, Brian Ashwell for England. The two Scots, McFall and McCaskey chased hard but did not quite close in.
The second race for M55-69 over two 4km laps saw well matched international teams share the awards. The current M55 BMAF cross country winner, Brian Lloyd, was first over the line for England from Peter Murphy, having a great run for Ireland, and Terry Eakin N. Ireland getting the bronze. Martin Ford, the BMAF M60 gold medallist, won his age group from Dave Waywell and Peter Cartwright, Scotland. Steve James got away from the tenacious Fred Gibbs in the M65 race. James Reid, N. Ireland, won another individual and team bronze in this age group.
The course was well churned up by the time the M40-54 lined up. Paul O’Callaghan of Ireland led the charge up the first hill into the wood from Clive Bromhall, Dai Roberts, England, and the first M45 Andy Wetherill at the front of the pack. On completion of the first lap, Bromhall, Andy Wilton and Guy Amos were spearheading England. Nigel Gates, one of the great stalwarts of the England team, was the leading M50 in fourth overall following by a group that included two local athletes, Mike Boyle and Keith Newton. Jon Cordingley was leading the M45 race. Out they went into the teeth of the wind and sleet for the final circuit, by which time most of the large number of spectators had given up. Amos came through the gap for his first win in this major annual event holding off Bromhall by just one second. Gates, in 3rd found the testing course to his liking, leading a very strong England M50 team to victory. Andy Wilton came in just behind him. Brian Gardner had overhauled Cordingley to take the M45 title and raise the Scottish team to silver medals.
The Open Races were won by Daniel Moore, M40, Bristol AC. The England reserve, Caroline Hewitt won the 6km race. With some joggers taking over 55 minutes to complete the course, the Recorders had a difficult task identifying numbers in the dark and coping with the freezing conditions.