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BMAF Cross-country Championships, Liverpool, Sat 18 March, 2017

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This event was hosted by Liverpool AC at their Wavertree Park base. A glance around indicated a fairly flat, large grassed area with football pitches in the centre and mature trees around the perimeter. As the 12 noon start time for the women’s and M65+ race drew close, the forecast rain and wind arrived, but fortunately both fairly light. There was little shelter around the start area, and as I added my bag to others around tree bases it was obvious that many owners did not bother cleaning up after their dogs.

A jog around the course revealed it had been planned to take in all the slopes available and while it was mostly short grass and firm ground, there were some waterlogged areas to break the rhythm. There were also small branches on the grass from windfall and tree pruning to watch out for.

One hundred and eleven competitors surged forward on the gun, circling the football pitches field and then gradually becoming strung out over the two large laps of 2.5K each. Then a  final flat 250M effort to the finish funnel, approx.. 6.2 K run. Race champions were Helen Berry, W40 Holmfirth in 23m-45 and Nick Rose, M65, clocking 24m-12.

Bingley runners put in some excellent performances, rewarded by top team awards.

Leslie Watson             26m-26            8th W45

Steph Robson             26m-54            10th W45

Sue Becconsall            27m-21            3rd W55

Bryan Parkinson         27m-46            10th M65

Gerry Bell                    28m-08            12th M65

Mary Green                29m-06            6th W55

Peter Ellerton             30m-22            4th M70

Fred Gibbs                  32m-06            3rd M75

Individual bronze medals were awarded to Sue Becconsall and Fred Gibbs.

Gold team medals were awarded to Leslie, Stephanie and Sue for top W45 to 54 team.

Gold team medals also to Bryan, Gerry and Peter for top M65 to 74 team.

At 1pm, 118 men competed in the M35 to 64 8K race, covering the same route, but with an additional  large lap. Bingley was represented by Paul Lemmon, finishing 19th M50 in 32m-03. It’s disappointing we couldn’t have had three M50’s to make a team, you can never tell how the team results will pan out, but no team, no chance! I would have rated our chances of a Bingley M65 to 74 team gold as pretty low going into the race as Bryan was nursing an injury and I had not fully recovered from a flu-type virus – where my run came from on the day I have no idea. Thanks for having a go Paul!

The races were well organised by BMAF and Liverpool AC and results were promptly available for the presentation.

It was announced that the 2018 Cross-country Championship would be held at Forres, to the north-east of Inverness.

 

Report by Peter Ellerton, Mens Vets Rep.             22 March, 2017.