Here is our in-depth look ahead to the biggest domestic cross-country race of the winter, which is staged at Parliament Hill on Saturday

The English National Cross-Country Championships may no longer be a world cross-country trial and it is no longer run over nine miles as it was for well over a century.
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The CAU Inter-Counties, which has British Championships status, is more important for some and the quality of the English National is now even less than the Liverpool Cross Challenge race as that is used for the trials for the European Championships where British success is rife.

However, what the English National does have is history – the first race dates back to 1876 – and size, as it's the biggest cross-country race in Britain - and that comes with atmosphere with big crowds watching the thousands of runners. It still means a lot to win the National even if it no longer guarantees a major team spot.

While the National traditionally had just three races (senior, junior and youth), it now has 10 with two younger male age groups (under-15 and under-13) combined with the five traditional women's age groups with the women joining the men since 1995.

The regions take it in turns to host the event and this Saturday (February 26) it returns to the most famous venue of Parliament Hill Fields and the expanses of Hampstead Heath.

Although 40 trees were blown down in the storms last weekend with a gust of 75mph recorded there, the course is reported to be safe and clear though likely to be far muddier than it was in the London Championships in November.

The tough muddy course with the backdrop of London from its highest points, was the venue for many of the best-known championships including Dave Bedford v Rod Dixon in 1973, Brendan Foster winning in 1977 and Julian Goater winning by nearly two minutes in 1981 (with Dave Clarke, Mike McLeod and future world record setters Dave Moorcroft and Steve Jones the next four to finish)!

Overall the entries are up with a total of 7967 compared to 7683 in 2020, although down on the heights of Parliament Hill in 2018 which was 9565.

Certainly the quality of the men's field no longer matches the 1970s and 1980s when in 1977 the medallists – Foster, Tony Simmons and Bernie Ford – had all finished in the first eight in the Olympics and in 1978 at Leeds when Ford beat ex-world champion Ian Stewart while future Olympic medallists Steve Ovett and Mike McLeod were just outside of the medals.

Senior men's winners at Parliament Hill
1957 Frank Sando
1961 Basil Heatley
1965 Mel Batty
1969 Mike Tagg
1973 Rod Dixon (Dave Bedford)
1977 Brendan Foster
1981 Julian Goater
1993 Richard Nerurkar
2003 Matt Smith
2006 Pete Riley
2009 Francis Tickner
2012 Keith Gerrard
2015 Charlie Hulson
2018 Adam Hickey

Below we pick out some of the favourites and their race numbers for indentification but it's worth noting that many clubs enter athletes without always checking their availability and the entries had to be in many weeks ago and athletes may have changed their plans or been ill or injured.

Timetable and contenders

11am: 55th under-17 women's 5km Championships - 381 entries
2020: 1 Maya Todd McIntyre 21:49; 2 Kirsten Stilwell 21:59; 3 Lara Crawford 22:11. 258 finished
TEAM: 1 AFD 119; 2 Blackheath & Bromley 119; 3 Shaftesbury Barnet 147

Area Champs results last month
Mids: 1 Isabelle Price 19:17; 2 Bethan Eve Horner 19:29; 3 Iris Downes 19:32
TEAM: 1 Wolverhampton & Bilston 39; 2 Charnwood 40; 3 Tipton 46
North: 1 Jess Bailey 17:32; 2 Ella Greenway 17:36; 3 Rebecca Flaherty 17:46
TEAM: 1 Vale Royal 115; 2 Rotherham 134; 3 North Shields Poly 204
South: 1 Hattie Reynolds 17:34; 2 Yasmin Kashdan 17:45; 3 Holly Lathwell 17:48
TEAM: 1 Windsor Slough Eton Hounslow 56; 2 Crawley 99; 3 Blackheath & Bromley 113

Athletes to watch:
Northern winner Jess Bailey – a brilliant second at the Cross Challenge in Liverpool in December against the under-20s, looks to have a good chance while reigning National under-15 champion Kiya Dee and Southern winner Hattie Reynolds should also challenge.

71 Isabelle Price (Wolverhampton & Bilson) - Midland champion. Best National 11th U13 2019.
87 Kiya Dee (Cheltenham) - 10 Liverpool (4 U17), 7 MK (3 U17), 9 Cardiff (5 U17) 13 NII. Best National 1st U15 2020
117 Yasmin Kashdan (Crawley) - Southern 2nd - National debut
205 Jess Bailey (Leven Valley) - Northern champion - 1 Nth Sch. 2 Liverpool (1 U17), 3 MK (1 U17). Best National 3rd U15 2020
218 Holly Lathwell (Luton) - Southern 3rd - 9 Mil K (5 U17)- National debut
236 Hattie Reynolds (North Norfolk) - Southern champion - 2 East (1 U17), 8 MK (1 U17). Best National 5th U13 2018

11.25am: 19th under-15 Boys 4km Championships - 557 entries
2020: 1 Lewis Sullivan 16:30; 2 Benjamin Peck 16:32; 3 Chris Perkins 16:52. 365 finished
TEAM: 1 South London H 62; 2 Tonbridge 140; 3 Windsor Slough Eton Hounslow 141

Area Champs results from last month
Mids: 1 Nathaniel Rowe 14:03; 2 Ash Burgess 14:12; 3 William Pridden 14:17
TEAM: 1 Birchfield 77; 2 Bromsgrove & Redditch 84; 3 Solihull & Small Heath 85
North: 1 Robert Price 13:56; 2 Oscar Schofield 14:17; 3 Matthew Clark 14:30
TEAM: 1 Wirral 117; 2 Vale Royal 152; 3 Keighley & Craven 157
South: 1 Alex Dack 15:11; 2 Owen Wallek 15:17; 3 Sam Plummer 15:19
TEAM: 1 Chiltern 58; 2 Cambridge & Coleridge 120; 3 Tonbridge 138

Athletes to watch:
Reigning National under-13 champion Alden Collier doesn't seem to be as dominant in his age-group two years on but should still place highly though Northern champion Robert Price looks favourite based on additional wins at Liverpool, Milton Keynes and Cardiff.

480 Owen Wallak (Brighton Phoenix) - Southern 2nd - first National
513 Alden Collier (Chiltern) - Southern 4th - 6 Liverpool, 4 MK - Best National 1st U13 2020
532 Nathaniel Rowe (City of Stoke) - Midlands champion - Best National 54th 2020
688 Alex Dack (Medway & Maidstone) - Southern champion - Best National 4th U13 2020
784 Oscar Schofield (Sale H Manchester) - Northern 2nd - 3 Liverpool. Best National 32nd U13 2020
795 Gianleo Stubbs (Shaftesbury B) - Southern 5th - Best National 2nd U13 2020
838 Henry Sheffield (Stroud) - 8 Liverpool, 5 Cardiff. National debut
898 Robert Price (Vale Royal) - Northern champion, 1 Liverpool, 1 MK, 1 Cardiff. Best National 17th U13 2020

11.45am: 52nd under-13 girls 3km Championships - 512 entries
2020: 1 Zoe Gilbody 15:00; 2 Shaikira King 15:10; 3 Scarlett Williams 15:19. 358 finished.
TEAM: 1 Tonbridge 136; 2 Wreake & Soar Valley 144; 3 Wolverhampton & Bilston 158

Areas
Mids: 1 Olivia McGhee 11:25; 2 Violet Rudkin 11:31; 3 Luan Power 11:33
TEAM: 1 Wreake & Soar Valley 28; 2 Stoke 51; 3 Leamington 96
North: 1 Grace Igoe 11:27; 2 Bailey Hughes 11:32; 3 Molly Carvell 11:33
TEAM: 1 Liverpool 23; 2 Rotherham 45; 3 Sale H Manchester
South: 1 Jemima Davey 11:42; 2 Isla Hall 11:45; 3 Katherine Haslip 11:45
TEAM: 1 Marshall Milton Keynes 65; 2 Chelmsford 79; 3 AFD 101

Athletes to watch (all making National debut):
The youngest girls age group is near impossible to predict as there have been so few major races in this age-group over recent years. Grace Igoe won the Northern title but was beaten by runner-up Bailey Hughes at Liverpool who should lead Liverpool to a clear team win. The South race was very close and the winner there Jemima Davey should again place highly.

1083 Katherine Haslip (Brighton Phoenix) - Southern 3rd
1230 Isla Hall (Jersey Spartan) - Southern 2nd
1236 Jemima Davey (Kettering) - Southern champion - 1 Eastern
1249 Molly Carvell (Liverpool) - Northern 3rd
1251 Isabella Doran (Liverpool) - Northern 7th - 2 Liverpool
1254 Bailey Hughes (Liverpool) - Northern 2nd - 1 Liverpool
1278 Katie Webb (Marshall MK) - Southern 4th - 2 MK
1324 Grace Igoe (Rotherham) - Northern champion - 8 Liverpool
1331 Olivia McGhee (Rugby & Northampton) - Midlands champion

12.05pm: 76th under-17 men's 6km Championships - 427 entries
2020: 1 Will Barnicoat 22:42; 2 Flynn Jennings 22:46; 3 Mohamed Ali 23:23. 287 finished
TEAM: 1 Windsor Slough Eton Hounslow 86; 2 Tonbridge 109; 3 AFD 200

Areas
Mids: 1 Alex Adams 19:45; Solomon Okrafo-Smart; 3 Charlie Neece 20:04
TEAM: 1 Rugby & Northampton 68; 2 Wreake & Soar Valley 74; 3 Birchfield 100
North: 1 Jacob Deacon 20:46; 2 Brandon Pye 20:59; 3 James Knockton 21:02
TEAM: 1 Wirral 76; 2 Morpeth 143; 3 Gosforth 174
South: 1 Edward Bird 19:38; 2 Luke Birdseye 19:51; 3 Hayden Gear 20:18
TEAM: 1 Poole 53; 2 Windsor Slough Eton Hounslow 76; 3 South London H 82

Athletes to watch:
Southern champion and Liverpool winner Edward Bird will be hard to beat having won the English Schools, UK School Games and the Schools International 3000m last summer. Poole should also fare well in the team with former National winner Will Rabjohns also likely to place highly. Northern winner Jacob Deacon also looks a good medal bet. Perhaps unusually none of the three medallists from the under-15s two years ago - Lewis Sullivan, Benjamin Peck and Chris Perkins - are entered.

1696 Jacob Deacon (Chorley) - Northern champion - 3 Liverpool, MK 1 U17 - National debut
1778 Brandon Pye (Houghton) - Northern 2nd - Best National 54th U15 2020
1821 Hayden Gear (M&M) - Southern 3rd - Best National 14th U15 2020
1847 Edward Bird (Poole) - Southern champion - 1 Liverpool, 1 South West. National debut
1850 Williams Rabjohns (Poole) - Southern 5th - Best National 1st U13 2018
1915 Ben Brown (Southampton) - 2 Liverpool - Best National 17th U13 2018
1928 Alexander Adams (Stratford Upon Avon) - Midlands champion - Best National 3rd U13 2019 (& 4th U15 2020)
2004 Luke Birdseye (Windsor SEH) - Southern 2nd - 30 Liv, 37 Mil K (9 U17). Best National 11th U15 2020

12.30pm: 19th under-13 boys 3km Championships - 510 entries
2020: 1 Alden Collier 14:21; 2 Gianleo Stubbs 14:22; 3 James Lewis 14:29. 385 finished
TEAM: 1 Chiltern 100; 2 Winchester 160; 3 Windsor SEH 193

Areas
Mids: 1 Fred Jones 10:11; 2 Archie Lane 10:19; 3 Eddie Lowe 10:26
TEAM: 1 Wolverhampton & Bilston 68; 2 Stoke 81; 3 Charnwood 100
North: 1 Evan Grime 10:26; 2 Charlie Jones 10:36; 3 Thomas Amaral 10:40
TEAM: 1 Trafford 58; 2 Wirral 66; 3 Sale Harriers Manchester 106
South: 1 Jake Meyburgh 10:17; 2 Lucas Elmqvist 10:36; 3 Caspian Holmes 10:38
TEAM: 1 Blackheath & Bromley 65; 2 Brighton & H 86; 3 Windsor S&EH 95

Athletes to watch (most making National debut):
Normally the under-13s are hard to predict but Jake Meyburgh has won everything so far and has even run a sub-16 parkrun. Northern winner Evan Grime looks a firm choice for a medal and he was also first Englishman in Liverpool. Southern runner-up Lucas Elmqvist is unusual in that he actually competed in the under-13s two years ago just past his 11th birthday and he was a brilliant 19th despite giving two years to most of his opponents.

2140 Lucas Elmqvist (B&B) - Southern 2nd - Best National 19th 2020
2309 Caspian Holmes (Herne Hill) - Southern 3rd -
2454 Evan Grime (Salford) - Northern champion - 2 Liverpool
2580 Jake Meyburgh (Windsor SEH) - Southern champion -
2595 Fred Jones (Wolverhampton & Bilston) - Midlands champion.

12.45pm: 56th under-15 girls 4km Championships - 498 entries
2020: 1 Kiya Dee 18:35; 2 Grace Roberts 18:57; 3 Jessica Bailey 19:10. 395 finished
TEAM: 1 Vale Royal 77; 2 Windsor SEH 106; 3 Blackheath & Bromley 156

Areas
Mids: 1 Zoe Gilbody 14:38; 2 Shaikira King 14:51; 3 Isla McGowan 15:26
TEAM: 1 Wreake & Soar Valley 15; 2 Rugby & Northampton 69; 3 Wolverhampton & Bilston 87
North: 1 Lottie Langan 15:28; 2 Lilia Harris 15:32; 3 Isabella Waugh 15:39
TEAM: 1 Rotherham H 30; 2 Stockport 103; 3 Salford 133
South: 1 Katie Pye 14:59; 2 Ella Davey 15:01; 3 Grace Tuesday 15:07
TEAM: 1 Blackheath & Bromley 73; 2 Lewes 124; 3 Windsor SE&H 134

Athletes to watch:
Zoe Gilbody starts favourite having won the National two years ago and won the Midlands title and won at Cardiff but the runner-up in those three races team-mate Shaikira King beat her at Liverpool and did set a mile age-group record last week. Those two should be out ahead and lead Wreake and Soar valley to victory with the Southern and Northern winners Katie Pye and Lottie Langan possible medal challengers.

2708 Katie Pye (AFD) - Southern champion - Best National 46th U13 2020
2825 Lottie Langan (City of York) - Northern champion - Best National 24th U13 2020
2952 Grace Tuesday (Lewes) - Southern 3rd - National debut
3022 Lilia Harris (Rotherham) - Northern 2nd - 4 Liverpool. Best National 20th U13 2020
3026 Isabella Waugh (Rotherham) - Northern 3rd - Best National 6th U13 2020
3162 Ella Davey (Windsor SEH) - Southern 2nd - 24th MK - National debut
3187 Zoe Gilbody (Wreake & Soar Valley) - Midlands champion - 1st Cardiff, 2nd Liverpool. Best National 1st U13 2020
3189 Shaikira King (Wreake & Soar Valley) - Midlands 2nd - 1st Liverpool . Best National 2nd U13 2020

1.05pm: 30th Junior women's 6km Championships - 233 entries
2020: 1 Amelia Quirk 25;33; 2 Isobel Fry 25:38; 3 Giorgia Chattwood 26:03. 131 finished
TEAM: 1 Bracknell 55; 2 AFD 56; 3 Herne Hill 65

Areas
Mids: 1 Rosie Hamilton-James 22:11; 2 Louise Hackett 22:17; 3 Lizzy Edge 22:40
TEAM: 1 Charnwood 31
North: 1 Abbey Brooke 21:09; 2 Samantha Mason 1:12; 3 Ellen Kearney 21:18
TEAM: 1 Liverpool H 31; 2 Salford 64; 3 Houghton 73
South: 1 Harriet Bloor 22:15; 2 Pippa Roessler 22:18; 3 Ellen Weir 22:39
TEAM: 1 Cambridge & Coleridge 120; 2 AFD 123

Athletes to watch:
Not everyone eligible is running such as Southern winner Harriet Bloor and it looks open. Now 20 Alex Millard has not run a junior race all season but she was a fine fourth in the BUCS and only just missed making the European under-23 team with a 13th in Liverpool in December.

Based on her Liverpool under-20 run Alice Garner, who missed the area championships, should also be to the fore along with Ellen Weir if she cam match her European form. Midland winner Rosie Hamilton-James ran well in the shorter BUCS 6km though that was won by Southern fifth-placer Megan Gadsby. Lara Crawford has barely raced but has previously medalled in all three younger age groups with a second the last time the race was at Parliament Hill.

3203 Alice Garner (AFD) - 14 BUCS, 3 Liverpool, 51 Eur, 4 Mil K. Best National 39th U17 2020
3207 Pippa Roessler (AFD) - Southern 2nd - 34 Liverpool. Best National 7th U17 2020
3213 Megan Harris (Basildon) - Southern 4th - 13 Liverpool, 1 Eastern. Best National 4th U15 2019
3255 Megan Gadsby (Norwich) - Southern 5th - 1 BUCS 6km, 20 Liverpool. Best national 16th U15 2018.
3296 Ellen Weir (Hercules Wimbledon) - Southern 3rd - 6 Liverpool, 14 Eur, 5 MK, 4 Card, 5 NII 14:29. Best National 23rd U17 2020
3307 Alexandra Millard (Invicta East Kent) - 4th BUCS, 13 Liverpool snr, 10 MK snr
3400 Charlotte Alexander (Tonbridge) - 9 BUCS 31:32, 2 MK. Best National 2nd U15 2017 (3rd U17 2019)
3409 Abbey Brooke (Wakefield) - Northern champion - 18 BUCS 6km, 67 Liverpool snr. Best National 8th U15 2017
3358 Lara Crawford (Salford) - Best National 2nd U15 2018 (& 3rd U17 2020 & 3rd U13 2016)
3359 Samantha Mason (Salford) - Northern 2nd, 33 BUCS. Best National 21st U17 2020
3413 Rosie Hamilton-Jones (Westbury) - Midlands champion - 4 BUCS 6km, 17 Liverpool. Best National 28th 2020

1.30pm: 89th senior women's 8km Championships - 1475 entries
2020: 1 Anna Moller 32:59; 2 Jessica Judd 33:20; 3 Bronwen Owen 33:45. 920 finished.
TEAM: 1 AFD 48; 2 Leeds 58; 3 Highgate 159

Areas
Mids: 1 Katie Holt 28:35; 2 Lily Partridge 29:15; 3 Kate Maltby 29:22
TEAM: 1 Birchfield 43; 2 Charnwood 50; 3 Stoke 80
North: 1 Eleanor Bolton 31:13; 2 Sophie Tarver 31:19; 3 Georgia Taylor-Brown 21:26
TEAM: 1 Vale Royal 72; 2 Hallamshire 74; 3 Sale H Manchester 116
South: 1 Jess Gibbons 28:16; 2 Niamh Brown 9:06; 3 Beth Hawling 29:13
TEAM: 1 AFD 51; 2 London Heathside 79; 3 Basingstoke & MH 83

Athletes to watch:
The only medallist from 2020 returning is Bronwen Owen, who has barely raced in the last two years but has won a National title in her youth and run well on muddy courses. Midlands winner Katie Holt is not entered though here may be an error in the City of Stoke listing as one runner is listed twice though it is Southern champion Jess Gibbon who looks favourite. Fourth two years ago she was a superb 11th in the Europeans after a Liverpool fifth and she also won at Milton Keynes.

Amelia Quirk beat her by a second at Liverpool and the three-time winner at younger age groups is entered but she is also entered for the UK Indoor Championships 3000m at the weekend too. Eleanor Bolton should lead the Northern challenge while BUCS champion Kirsty Walker could medal if she could replicate her form from Greenford.

Former National winner Lily Partridge is gradually improving her fitness but it would be a shock to see her win a medal and former runner-up Pippa Woolven is also improving but probably needs longer to reach peak form. Olympic triathlon medallist Georgia Taylor-Brown is entered and she has experience of winning as she led home the 2014 junior race.

4009 Niamh Brown (AFD) - Southern 2nd - 25 Liverpool - Best National 1st U17 2016
4105 Lily Partridge (Birchfield)- Midlands 2nd. Best National 1st 2015 & 2016
4159 Amelia Quirk (Bracknell) - 4 Liverpool, 12 Eur U23. Best National 1st U20 2019/2020 (& 1 U17 2017) 4525 Lauren Hayes (Hallamshire) - Northern 4th - 9 Liverpool, 43 Eur. Best National 2nd U20 2009
4710 Bronwen Owen (Leeds) 4767. Best National 1st U15 2011 (& 3rd 2020)
4767 Beth Hawling (London Heathside) - South 3rd - 20 Liverpool. Best National 12th 2018
4999 Jess Gibbon (Reading) - Southern champion - 5 Liverpool, 11th Eur, 1 Mil K, 3 Cardiff. Best National 4th 2020
5007 Kirsty Walker (Reading) - 1 BUCS , 18 Liverpool. Best National 6th U17 2017
5019 Eleanor Bolton (Ribble Valley) Northern champion - 4 NI Int, 8 Liverpool, 26 Eur. Best National 6th 2020
5057 Georgia Taylor-Brown (Sale H Manchester) - Olympic Triathlon 2nd - Northern 3rd. Best National 1st U20 2014
5264 Nicole Taylor (Tonbridge) - 34 Liverpool, 8 MK. Best National 12th 2019
5457 Sophie Tarver (Wirral) - Northern 2nd - 16 Liverpool. Best National 8th U20 2017
5469 Pippa Woolven (Wycombe Phoenix) 14 Liverpool, 11 MK> Best National 2nd 2019

2.20pm: 74th junior men's 10km Championships - 343 entries
2020: 1 Zak Mahamed 36:27; 2 Joshua Lay 36:42; 3 Samuel Moakes 36:56. 195 finished.
TEAM: 1 Shaftesbury Barnet 133; 2 Tonbridge 166; 3 AFD 242

Areas
Mids: 1 Ethan O'Shea 26:29; 2 James Wardle 26:37; 3 Skip Snelson 27:02
TEAM: 1 Birchfield 38; 2 Charnwood 64; 3 Newcastle Staffs 79
North: 1 Joshua Dickinson 28:43; 2 Rhys Ashton 29:08; 3 Max Creasey 29:19
TEAM: 1 Chesterfield 32; 2 Trafford 57; 3 Vale Royal 67
South: 1 Harry Brodie 25:39; 2 James Kingston 25:51; 3 Louis Small 26:01
TEAM: 1 Windsor Slough Eton Hounslow 56; 2 Ashford 69; 3 Tonbridge 81

Athletes to watch:
Matthew Stonier, who was 20 in September will be very hard to beat. In 2020 he won the Inter-Counties, the Southern and English Schools titles and so only needs the national to add to his domestic collection. Third in the BUCS and 23rd in the European under-23 suggests he will be a big favourite.

Another already 20 is Sam Charlton and back in 2019 he did the Northern, National, Inter-Counties and English Schools quadruple and could well win a medal in his last run in the junior age group judging by good runs in the BUCS, Europeans and Liverpool, albeit behind Stonier in all three.

Will Barnicoat, who is not 20 until March next year, was a place behind Stonier in the BUCS and was a superb 10th in the European under-20 and he is the reigning under-17 champion and has won medals in all three of his past Nationals.

Charlie Brisley is another 20-plus challenger and was 11th in the Southern senior and ran a sub-50 10 on the road just six days earlier. Of those who ran in the area championships, Northern winner Joshua Dickinson looks the most likely medal challenger based on his BUCS 7th.

5502 Will Barnicoat (AFD) 5519 - 4 BUCS, 2 Liverpool, 9 Eur U20. Best national 1st U17 2020 (& 2nd U17 2019 & 2nd U15 2018)
Louis Small (Ashford) - Southern 3rd - 12 Liverpool, 12 MK, 4 Cardiff - Best National 2nd U15 2019
5527 Harry Brodie (Bedford) - Southern champion - 9 Liverpool, 26 MK. Best National 56th U20 2020
5575 Ethan O'Shea (Charnwood) - Midlands champion - 1 BUCS 8km. Best National 15th U15 2017
5584 Ned Potter (Chichester) - 9 BUCS, 43 Liverpool Snr, 22 Mil K snr. Best National 142nd U13 2015
5655 Matthew Stonier (Invicta East Kent) - 3 BUCS , 7 NII, 12 Liverpool, 23 Eur U23, 6 Mil K Snr. Best National 6th U17 2019
5668 Joshua Dickinson (Leeds) - Northern champion - 7 BUCS. Best National 2nd U15 2017
5691 Charlie Brisley (Newham & EB) - 11th Southern Snr, 18 BUCS, 58 Liverpool snr - Best National 3rd U15 2017
5746 Liam Rawlings (Shrewsbury) - 3rd Liverpool, 25 Eur U20, 2 Mil K - Best National 4th U17 2020
5797 James Kingston (Tonbridge) - Southern 2nd - 17 Liverpool snr, 25 Eur U23, 10 MK, 5 Cardiff. Best National 10th U17 2019
5801 Matthew Taylor (Tonbridge) - Southern 5th - 35 Liverpool. Best National 3rd U15 2019
5813 Sam Charlton (Wallsend) - 16 Liverpool snr, 25 Eur U23 13 Mil K snr, 5 Card snr. Best National 1st U17 2019

READ MORE: Why the English National is the stuff of champions

3.00pm: 134th Senior men's 12km Championships - 3031 entries
2020: 1 Calum Johnson 43:36; 2 Joe Steward 43:59; 3 Linton Taylor 44:13. 1700 finished.
TEAM: 1 Tonbridge 246; 2 Leeds 280; 3 Bristol & West 301
9 man TEAM: 1 Tonbridge 535; 2 Bristol & West 640; 3 Highgate 650

Areas
Mids: 1 Doug Musson 37:48; 2 Jack Grey 37:58; 3 Jack Millar 38:00
TEAM: 1 Bristol & West 91; 2 Notts 125; 3 Tipton 271
North: 1 Hugo Milner 41:43; 2 Nigel Martin 41:50; 3 Daniel Haworth 42:17
TEAM: 1 Salford 141; 2 Leeds City 149; 3 Hallamshire 151
South: 1 Andy Coley-Maud 47:41; 2 Ben Alcock 47:46; 3 Alex Teuten 47:49
TEAM: 1 Southampton 131; 2 Highgate 221; 3 Tonbridge 230

Athletes to watch:
Defending champion Calum Johnson was only 11th in Parliament Hill in 2018 but the mud should suit him judging by his Nottingham success in 2020 when he claimed the title. Based on 10km and 10,000 times, Emile Cairess however would be the big favourite should he run even though his last cross-country was back in 2019, a year he was second in the National to Mahamed Mahamed who also beat him in the 2018 Junior race at Parliament Hill.

Mahamed has raced lightly after an underpar run at Liverpool but did run 28:14 for 10km in January. His younger brother Zak is the reigning under-20 champion and another potential winner and their Southampton team won the Southern title without them and would be near unbeatable if they did run.

Tonbridge defend both team competitions and again have a solid squad.

The three area champions – Hugo Milner, Doug Musson and Andy Coley-Maud – should all place highly
Olympic triathlon double medallist Alex Yee is entered but has not run a cross-country since 2019 and it's hard to see him being encouraged to risk all on Parliament Hill's mud where he was third in his only National appearance seven years ago.

The 2018 National winner the last time it was at Parliament Hill Adam Hickey is entered but only has a slow parkrun early January to his name in 2022. Another National winner is Olympic marathoner Ben Connor who was first home in the 2017 National but his last cross-country race was back in 2019.

6128 Ben Alcock (Bedford) - Southern 2nd - Best National 17th U20 2013
6320 Zak Seddon (Bracknell) - Southern 10th - Best National 10th U17 2009, 10th U15 2008
6395 Jack Gray (Cambridge & Coleridge) - Midlands 2nd - Best National 4th U17 2010
6397 Thomas Keen (Cambridge & Coleridge) - 3 BUCS 8km - Best National 3rd U17 2018
6693 Ben Connor (Derby) - Best National 1st 2017 (& 3rd U20 2011)
6697 Hugo Milner (Derby) - Northern champion - 1st Cardiff, 1st MK, 9 Liverpool. Best National 3rd U13 2012
6907 Calum Johnson (Gateshead) - 8 Liverpool, 17 NII, 1 NE. Best National 1st 2020
6945 Andy Coley-Maud (Guildford & Godalming) - Southern champion - Best National 2nd 2018
6996 Andrew Heyes (Hallamshire) - North 5th - Best National 2nd 2015 (& 3rd 2014)
7392 Alex Yee (Kent) - Olympic Triathlon champion - Best National 3rd U17 2015
7418 Emile Cairess (Leeds) - joint British 10km record-holder - Best National 2nd 2019 (& 2nd U20 2018)
7432 Phil Sesemann (Leeds) - Best National 4th U15 2008
7852 Doug Musson (Notts) - Midlands Champion - Best National 3rd U20 2014
8147 Nigel Martin (Sale H) - North 2nd - Best National 11th 2019
8184 Joe Steward (Salford) - Best National 2nd 2020 (3rd U20 2015, 2nd U17 2013)
8312 Mahamed Mahamed (Southampton) - 22 Liverpool, 4 Hannut. Best National: 1st 2019 (1 U20 2018, 1 U17 2015)
8313 Zak Mahamed (Southampton) - BUCS 2nd, 1 NII, 15 Liverpool, 9 Eur U23, 2 Mil K, 4 Cardiff. Best National 1st U20 2020 (& 2 U15 2015 & 2016)
8317 Alex Teuten (Southampton) - South 3rd - 21 Liverpool - Best National 2nd 2017
8327 Adam Hickey (Southend) - Best National 1st 2018 (& 2nd 2016)

» Key: Eur = Europeans; MK = Milton Keynes, NII = Northern Ireland International, Nth Sch = Northern Schools

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