Saturday 6th November saw the National Cross Country Relays. Our senior men’s team travelled down to Berry Hill Park in Mansfield to run in extremely blustery and showery conditions.
This was a two lap parkland course which ran through a wooded area in addition to grassland. It had been meticulously prepared with lots of undulation and a fast finishing section.
Since its advent all the top British cross country runners have competed with some athletes involved aiming for international call ups.
Martin Reid did an excellent job of calming pre-race nerves by conducting and filming light hearted interviews with his team mates prior to the off. Look out for ‘Reidy’s Racechats’ on the club Instagram page. Apparently they have attracted interest from the powers that be at the BBC and Reidy looks set to join Clare Balding in the team for coverage of The World Athletics Championship in 2022.
‘Fighting’ talk from the lads prior to the start. Danny said “go hard or go home”. Tommy ‘Gun’ Harrison said “this is my kind of course and I am going all out and won’t be leaving anything on the course” !
Our guys were up against it but yet again rose to the challenge. Out of 144 teams they came home in 36thposition and would have been a place higher but for some confusion at one of the change overs. To finish in the top third of teams in a seriously hot national competition is a great achievement by our guys.
Harriers came home in 1hr 8 mins and 32 sec and individual times were Jonny Kay 15:45 Daniel Shaw 17:14 Tommy Harrison 17:32 Martin Reid 18:00. Jonny Kay finished in an excellent 18th position overall.
Jonny commented after his leg “the start was rapid – really quick. I was feeling really good coming down the hill after the first lap and made up about 10 places in the second lap. I am really pleased with my time”.
Great effort lads and congratulations from all at Bolton Harriers.
