From Luke Watkeys and Nicola Budding…
Photo credit Jann Smith
National Cross Country and Fell Championships: A Great Weekend for the Harriers
The National Cross Country Championships 2026 were held on Saturday, 21 February, in Hardwick East Park, Sedgefield. This marked the first time the championships had been staged in North East England since 2013. The course was undulating, with the ground soft underfoot and only a few challenging, muddy sections. Despite a chilly wind, conditions were ideal for the three Harriers who took on the challenge. Beth Rogers participated in the Junior Women’s race, covering 6.1 km (3.8 miles), finishing a fantastic 18th out of 107 in 21:26. Alison Bennett completed the Senior Women’s race, an 8.3km (5.2 miles) course, finishing 451st out of a field of 532 in 48:49. Dan McKeown ran the Senior Men’s race, a 12.4km (7.7 miles) route, coming 344th out of a field of 1046 in a time of 47:46.
Also on Saturday, the Doctors Gate Fell Race marked the start of the English Fell Championship season. Starting and finishing at the Queen’s Arms in Old Glossop, this 20.4 km (12.7 miles) route with 914m (nearly 3000 ft) of ascent saw a thrilling battle at the front. Picking up last year’s rivalry, our own Ben Rothery was neck-and-neck with Dark Peak’s Finlay Grant throughout, with Finlay just edging the win and beating the previous course record of 1:40:59. Ben took a superb second place, only four seconds behind, in 1:30:49. Sam Bentham secured eighth place (1:37:53), while Kate Archer and Jane McCarthy were the first females home for the club in a fantastic 2:19:05 (27th) and 2:19:07 (28th) respectively. Jane also claimed an impressive third in her age category.
In parkrun news, Samesh Chotai continued his successful parkrun tour, coming first at Cannon Hill in Birmingham (16:25). Stephen and Gaenor Coy headed to the coast for the Fleetwood Promenade parkrun, finishing in 18:32 (fourth) and 26:20 (60th and ninth gender category) respectively. Daisy Lowe travelled the furthest this week, taking on the Hackney Marshes parkrun, where she finished the course in 29:17 and first in her age category JW11-14.
Closer to home, John and Sarah Hayes represented the club at Cliffe Castle, finishing in 21:50 (second) and 30:17 (48th and 12th gender category). Lerryn O’Neill, running in her first-ever parkrun, also ran Cliffe Castle, finishing in 25:24, 11th overall and first female finisher, which is amazing considering her age category is JW10. Ethan Pickwoad travelled across to Skipton parkrun, where he finished in 15th position with a time of 21:47 and first in his age category JM11-14. Milena Morgan, who obviously enjoyed the mud so much at Roundhay Park PECO last week, decided to take on an even muddier Chevin Forest Parkrun, completing the course in an extremely speedy 22:10; not only securing 11th place overall but also first female finisher.
Lastly, on home soil at East Holmes Field parkrun, six Harriers ran out of 111 parkrunners, with Deborah Nicholson, the first Harrier home, in a time of 27:51 (tenth gender category).