From Petra Bijsterveld…
Photo credit Northern Athletics
The Northern XC championships 2022 took place at a familiar location, Pontefract Racecourse, on Saturday. With storm Malik at full strength the conditions could be called character building, though at least it was sunny, dry, and not particularly cold by January standards. Club tents were not allowed because of the wind, and actually even keeping the flag from taking off skywards was a challenge. When I arrived a large team of officials and volunteers were trying to keep the main marquee down, its large metal frame being buckled by the wind and presenting a genuine hazard. Safety was restored by removing all the canvas.
Running wise, despite it being a circular route to me it felt like you were battling a headwind about 90% of the time, and only had benefit from a tailwind for 10% of the course. It was bone dry underfoot so it could have been a lot worse!
Jemima was the best placed Harrier coming in a fabulous 5th place. Nathan Edmondson led the Harrier men home in 22nd.
Special kudos to Steve Gott who performed some ad-hoc tree surgery services, standing atop a trailer, at Harewood, where a falling tree threatened to frustrate his and Dan’s progress towards the race!
U17 women
(1 17:32 Jess Bailey, Leven Valley AC)
18 18:55 Emily Gibbins
53 20:57 Lucia Stoney
93 ran
Senior Women
(1 31:13 Eleanor Bolton, Ribble Valley)
5 31:53 Jemima Elgood
78 38:46 Rachel Carter
147 42:25 Sarah Pickering
228 50:17 Petra Bijsterveld
262 ran
17th team out of 33
Senior Men
(1 41:43 Hugo Milner, Derby Athletic Club)
22 44:39 Nathan Edmondson
183 51:51 Steven Gott
212 52:59 Dan McKeown
281 55:35 Tim Ashelford
357 58:19 Stephen Coy
414 1:01:16 Mark Iley
517 ran
21st team out of 39