WYXC Series – Races 1-3 at Wakefield, Leeds & Cleckheaton Oct & Nov 2017
Bingley ladies have had a team at the first 3 or the WYXC series with 9 ladies running and at least 6 at each event. Regulars Ellie Kitchen, Lesley Watson, Becky Weight and Marisol Carrera-Vivar have featured, along with Eleanor Brown, Liz Haywood and Clare Smith, trying XC for the first time, and two ‘returners’ Anna Whitehead and Sally Robinson.
Ellie has run strongly being our first finisher so far, with Lesley close on her heels. Anna has been in the top third – a great performance after a year of two away from running. Marisol, as consistent as ever, followed close behind Anna’s younger legs, with myself coming in not far behind Marisol. I was pleased to be briefly in front of Marisol at Nunroyd Park but it didn’t last!
Eleanor is improving and was team counter in the first race. Liz, Clare and Sally are helping to make sure we have a team out and benefitting, as are we all, from some fast open running. All of us recognise the great value of the XC series in a training schedule – giving us those shorter fast runs (in endurance terms!) generally on a good open grass running (OK – there maybe mud sometimes!) which are great work to improve your speed.
Also great to see our U17 ladies out at the WYXC – Emily Field, Eliza Findlay and Katie Smith; junior results are reported separately. Senior ladies results so far :
| Saturday 14th Oct 2017 | Field | 141 | ||||
| Thornes Park, Wakefield | ||||||
| 24 | 0:23:24 | KITCHEN, Eleanor | SW | 519 | ||
| 25 | 0:23:32 | WATSON, Lesley | W45 | 524 | ||
| 62 | 0:26:07 | CARRERA, Marisol | W45 | 523 | ||
| 87 | 0:28:06 | BROWN, Eleanor | SW | 517 | ||
| 97 | 0:28:59 | HEYWOOD, Elizabeth | SW | 518 | ||
| 123 | 0:31:59 | SMITH, Clare | W40 | 521 | ||
| Sunday 29th Oct 2017 | Field | 138 | ||||
| Nunroyd Park, Leeds | ||||||
| 33 | 0:24:01 | KITCHEN, Eleanor | SW | 519 | ||
| 38 | 0:24:27 | WATSON, Lesley | W45 | 524 | ||
| 59 | 0:25:39 | WHITEHEAD, Anna | U20 | 516 | ||
| 68 | 0:26:39 | CARRERA, Marisol | W45 | 523 | ||
| 71 | 0:26:48 | WEIGHT, Becky | W55 | 526 | ||
| 84 | 0:27:24 | BROWN, Eleanor | SW | 517 | ||
| 121 | 0:32:09 | ROBINSON, Sally | W45 | 561 | ||
| Sunday 19th Nov 2017 | Field | 126 | ||||
| Cleckheaton | ||||||
| 26 | 0:22:26 | KITCHEN, Eleanor | SW | 519 | ||
| 50 | 0:23:57 | WHITEHEAD, Anna | U20 | 516 | ||
| 52 | 0:24:11 | CARRERA, Marisol | W45 | 523 | ||
| 62 | 0:24:45 | WEIGHT, Becky | W55 | 526 | ||
| 88 | 0:27:10 | HEYWOOD, Elizabeth | SW | 518 | ||
| 108 | 0:29:55 | SMITH, Clare | W40 | 521 | ||
The team results (4 to count) have been 9th, 9th and 8th with Bingley ladies tusselling with Ilkley, Valley Striders, Keighley & Craven and Wakefield, with the top slots being contested by the likes of Holmfirth, Leeds City, City of York, York Knavesmire and Skyrac. At Cleckheaton we got 8th place by one point so catching that runner in front can make all the difference. We need a team at Keighley on the 9th Dec to make sure we count as a team in the series so make sure you get there if you are entered – your club needs you.
A few pictures :
Sally – brand new spikes for the occasion.
Anna, Ellie and Lesley
Eleanor & Sally in matching spikes.
Only a little bit muddy at Nunroyd Park.
Clare, Liz, Becky, Anna & Marisol at Cleckheaton.
And a few action shots courtesy of Dave Woodhead, Woodentops. Ellie, Liz, Marisol (always smiling) and Clare.
British & Irish Masters Cross Country International, Derry, 18 Nov 2017
For Lesley Watson, the WYXC series had been part of her training and preparation to run in an England vest in the British & Irish Masters Cross Country International championships. Teams are by selection and Lesley, by focussing her training on 5k and 10k times and targeting the selection events, succeeded in being chosen to be travelling reserve for the England F45 team. She ran the Open race coming 10th (2nd F45) in a time of 26.21. Lesley was pleased with her first national team place, and by being a willing and available travelling reserve gained some great experience and should keep herself well on the selection list for future international events. Well done Lesley. May this be the first of many international opportunities.
Lesley (centre) in the England Team. Thanks to Mark Westman for the picture.
British Athletics Cross Country Challenge, Liverpool, 25 Nov 17
Vicki Merrick (Junior ladies / U20W, 75th, 22.06, No. 647) and Emily Field (U17W, 25th, 17.10, No.533) competed in the British Athletics Cross Country Challenge in Liverpool. The event was a European Cross Country Championship trial so both were running in high quality fields and both age groups ran a 4.4km race including muddy sections! Photos courtesy of the Merrick family.
