THE National Cross Country Championships were held at Parliament Hill Fields in North London on Saturday. This is the traditional home of cross-country in the region and the notoriously tough course was the scene of Mel Batty’s famous win in 1965.
Gemma Holloway – in her first year in the Under 20 age group finished 8th – a fantastic performance which she’ll be aiming to improve on still further in her remaining years in this age group.
Thurrock’s only team to finish was the under 13 boys squad which closed in at an admirable 16th place. They were led, as always, by the talented Harry Parker 44th with Leon Wheeler just behind in 48th, his best run of the winter. Finley Lowe 140th ran well. Ben Prior, fighting off the effects of a cold, was 288th. There were 400 finishers.
In the senior men’s race, where there were over 3000 finishers, Alex Houghton had his best run of the season to finish 235th! He was in front of many of the top 15 County runners. Scott Rice ploughed through the mud to finish 669th – a pleasing effort.
Thurrock’s other finishers on the gruelling courses were in the under 15 girls where Hayley Instance battled to 65th. In the same age group Kiera Scott was 257th and Amy Raven 371st.
Amber Pullinger was the best of the rest finishing 184th in the under 15 girls race. In the same race Heather Peters was 243rd and Lucie Ball 303rd.
Other results: under 15 boys Jack Exley 168th; under 17 men Sam Smith 193rd; under 17 women Brooke Mensah 181st.
