Northern Championships CC

Spenborough's Jenny Walsh was an outstanding winner of the Northern Under 20 Women's Cross Country race at Pontefract Park on Saturday. Jenny, who represented Great Britain at under 20 level in the European Cross Country Championships last year, went to the front shortly after the start and always held a comfortable lead, eventually finishing 45 seconds ahead of Calli Thackeray from Hallamshire. As far as I am aware this is the first time that a Spenborough athlete has won a Northern Cross Country title.

Spectators watching the senior men's race witnessed a classic race where national champion Steve Vernon from Stockport beat England international James Wilkinson from Leeds. Behind the leaders Spenborough's senior men were led home by Kevin Ogden in 167th place followed by Jeff Hornby 297th,Gerard Skippings 418th, Ian Ogden 463rd and Roger Tolson 483rd. 687 runners completed the eight mile course inside the Pontefract race course.  

In the younger age groups under 17 girl Beth Ellis finished 23rd and Emma Wilkinson finished and 47th. Simon Bolland was the club's sole representative in the men’s under 20 race finishing 57th. Liam Stedman ran another good race in the under 17 boy's race finishing 29th of the 111 finishers. James Anthony finished 110th in the under 15 boy's race. 

Yorkshire County CC

Spenborough's Jenny Walsh was an outstanding winner of the Yorkshire Under 20 Women's Cross Country race at Thornes Park, Wakefield on Saturday. Jenny, who represented Great Britain at under 20 level in the European Cross Country Championships last year, went to the front of the combined senior and junior women's race shortly after the start and always held a comfortable lead. Jenny beat all of the senior women finishing well clear of Emma Clayton from Bingley who was awarded the senior title. 

 

Spectators watching the senior men's race witnessed an enthralling battle between world class tri-athletes Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee from Bingley Harriers. The brothers ran well clear of the field of over two hundred runners and could not be separated until the last half mile of the six and a half miles course when older brother Alistair sprinted away from Jonathan. Behind the leaders Spenborough's senior men were led home by Kevin Ogden in 70th place followed by Gerard Skippings 98th, Ian Ogden 167th, Robert Moon 176th, Mick Dransfield 187th and Edward Wilkinson 214th. The Spenborough team finished 18th of the 20 complete teams.

 

In the under 20 men's race Josh Woodcock-Shaw ran well to finish in 6th place and will represent Yorkshire in the inter counties race later in the season.

 

In the younger age groups under 17 girl Beth Ellis finished 6th and will be selected to represent Yorkshire in the Inter Counties Championships. Emma Wilkinson finished and 16th in the same race while Keavey Ward was the club's sole representative in the girl's under 15 race finishing 37th. Liam Stedman and Paul Davis ran well in a keenly contested under 17 boy's race, mixing themselves in the large leading group of runners before finishing 10th and 17th respectively. James Anthony and Jordan Hutchinson finished 34th and 51st in the under 15 boy's race. 

Frank Reddington

West Yorkshire CC

The final West Yorkshire Cross Country league of the season took place on Sunday at Thornes Park, Wakefield. 

Spenborough's senior men turned out a strong team to finish seventh of the thirteen teams. Junior runner Joshua Woodcock-Shaw led the team home in 22nd place, just ahead of veteran Kevin Ogden, 32nd. Other scoring runners were Simon Bolland 49th, Gerard Skipping 73rd, Oliver Carter 116th and Ian Ogden 120th.

Other Spenborough runners were Robert Moon 136th, Roger Tolson 138th and Michael Dranfield 141st. The race was won by Mark Buckingham from Holmfirth and Leeds City won the team competition.  

Jackie Carter was the only Spenborough senior woman and she finished 76th.

In the younger age groups Beth Ellis 4th, led the under 17 women's team of Mollie Flannery 19th and Katie Byrne 20th and to finish 3rd team.

Liam Stedman had a fine run in the men's under 17 race to finish 3rd.

In the under 15 boys race James Anthony finished 23rd and Jordan Hutchinson 29th, Keavey Ward 24th, was the only Spenborough runner in the under 15 girl's race.

Ashton Greenwood and Grace Lister had good runs to finish 10th and 29th in the under 13 girl's race. Matthew Crorken was 6th in the under 11 boy's race and Eve Lister was 31st in the under 11 girl's race.  

The first West Yorkshire Cross Country league took place on Sunday at Nunroyd Park, Guisley.

Spenborough's senior men's team has been strengthened by junior athletes now eligible to compete with the seniors. One such junior is Joshua Woodcock-Shaw who led the team home in 26th place. Ryan Dransfield 46th, Gerrard Skipping 63rd, Simon Bolland 86th, Oliver Carter 150th and Roger Tolson 156th were the other scoring runners. Veteran Michael Dranfield finished 167th. The team were 9th of the 19 teams and the race was won by Simon Deakin who led Leeds City to the team victory.

Amy Sharrad was the only Spenborough senior woman and she finished 42nd of the 102 finishers.

In the younger age groups Beth Ellis, 9th, led the under 17 women's team of Emma Wilkinson, Katie Byrne and Ciara Flannery to finish 3rd team.

Liam Stedman and Paul Davis ran well in the men's under 17 race to finish 9th and 17th.

James Anthony, 26th and Keavey Ward, 24th were the only Spenborough runners in the under 15 girl's and boy's respectively.

Ashton Greenwood ran a fine race to finish 9th in the under 13 girl's race. Georgie Calvert-Smith was 49th in the same race while Tobin Rhodes enjoyed his first league race to finish 30th in the under 13 boy's race.

The highest placed Spenborough runner in all of the races was Matthew Crorken who was 3rd in the under 11 boy's race. Callum Orange was 25th in the same race. Frank.

 CHRISTMAS HANDICAP

The Annual Christmas handicap race will be held on Sunday 18th December starting at 11.00 am. The race will be held on the Greenway.

This event is open to all Spenborough athletes.

Senior Race - 4.5 miles               Junior Race - 1.5 miles

Free entry with changing / shower facilities and refreshments at the track

All runners are requested to bring a small prize seasonable wrapped

A buffet will be held following the event and any food contribution would be appreciated

Runners will be set off at intervals with the slowest runners first, younger athletes will be set off with a group of slower runners.

Anyone wishing to participate should give their name to Frank Reddington or any club official.

RESULTS