Five super Striders battled through the rain, sleet and snow on Saturday to arrive at Alton Towers, in the nick of time, to compete in this year’s national cross country championships. They found the ‘event village’ pitched in an ocean of mud with all traces of grass long since obliterated. Nonetheless, the faithful Striders’ tent was erected and the ‘five’ huddled inside and prepared for the mud bath that was to follow. Disappointingly, the womens’ course was shortened from 8 to 6km (for safety reasons!) and our three ‘brave girls’ felt slightly cheated having made the long journey from Striderland. However, they entered the fray in good spirits and battled through the river of goo to the finish.
The mens’ course, too, was shortened but they did get to experience the delights of Mount Mud on two of the three laps. After much “blood, sweat, toil and tears” the ‘Elvet Two’ finished the 10km course.
Results
Men
Pos | Name | Club | Cat | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Steve Vernon | Stockport Harriers & AC | 35:11 | |
841 | Geoff Davis | 53:12 | ||
894 | David Gibson | 54:00 |
1302 finishers.
Women
Pos | Name | Club | Cat | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Louise Damen | Winchester & District AC | 23:49 | |
194 | Keri Pearson | 31:04 | ||
277 | Fiona Shenton | 32:34 | ||
378 | Susan Davis | 35:38 |
552 finishers.