James West and Hannah Nuttall triumph at Ribble Valley 10km
RIBBLE VALLEY 10km, inc North of England Championship, Clitheroe, Lancashire, December 29
After a close race with Jacob Cann, James West came out on top with 28:43, a time that was comfortably a personal best.
The 28-year-old Tonbridge runner is the reigning UK champion 5000m outdoors and 3000m indoors, but has rarely been seen on the roads. Apart from a couple of Podium 5km races in 2023, West’s previous road outings were back in 2016.
In contrast, Cann is a regular racer over 10km but his 28:46 here was 16 seconds faster than his previous best, set at Telford two weeks earlier.
Another regular on the roads has been Birchfield’s Omar Ahmed who seems to be somewhat below his best times from earlier in 2024 and found 29:02 good enough for an isolated third place.
It was another asylum seeker, Biruk Aduna Kebede, who took both under-20 and Northern championship titles with his fifth-placed time of 29:23.
The women’s race saw Hannah Nuttall, who is also the UK 5000m champion, defeat the 2023 winner Jess Warner-Judd by eight seconds in 31:53.
Surprisingly this was a personal best by well over a minute for Nuttall, who was 10th in the European 5000m championships earlier this year, a distance at which she is ranked second for 2024 with 14:52.65.
Warner-Judd won this event in 2023 with 32:43 and was significantly quicker this year with 32:01 but ran considerably faster over the distance elsewhere in both years.
Warriors Pentathlon matriarch Emily Haggard-Kearney was left a minute down in third, but second in the Northern championship, behind Warner-Judd.
Overall: 1 J West (Ton) 28:43; 2 J Cann (NEB) 28:46; 3 O Ahmed (Bir) 29:02; 4 S Stirling (Falk) 29:17; 5 B Kebede (CleM, U20) 29:23; 6 M Ramsden (B’burn) 29:23; 7 R Allen (Leeds) 29:30; 8 J Escalante-Phillips (C&C) 29:36; 9 F Ross-Davie (Garscube) 29:36; 10 B Quinton (Warr) 29:37; 11 J Sagar (Leeds) 29:38; 12 S Ghafari (High) 29:44; 13 C Coulson (Hough) 29:47; 14 H Johnson (Hali) 29:56; 15 J Martin (Hallam) 30:00; 16 L McCourt (Morp) 30:11; 17 J Gilbert (Ken, M40) 30:11; 18 D Bebbington (B’burn) 30:12; 19 M Bostock (Leeds) 30:16; 20 D Connolly (Mercia) 30:20
M40: 2 M Dillon (Ampt) 32:30
M45: 1 M Jenkin (Bide) 32:41
M50: 1 S Shaw (ESM) 34:00
M55: 1 F Rafferty (S’port W) 35:04
M60: 1 G Goodwin (Acc) 36:34
U20: 2 F Oycomurchu (Chich R) 30:35
TEAM: 1 Leeds 37; 2 Blackburn 61; 3 Horwich RMI 127
Women: 1 H Nuttall (Charn) 31:53; 2 J Warner-Judd (B’burn) 32:01; 3 E Haggard-Kearney (Warriors) 33:07; 4 C Dannatt (Camb’ly) 34:05; 5 H Townsend (Leeds) 34:22; 6 C McKnespiey (Leeds) 34:51; 7 S Stockton (Leeds, W35) 35:05; 8 K Ballantyne-Chalmers (Leeds) 35:16; 9 M Stenhouse (R&N) 35:18; 10 S Bent (Salf) 35:18
W40: 1 A Hollingworth (Newc St) 37:09
W45: 1 E Renondeau (Vale R) 37:56
W50: 1 D Jepson (Fylde) 38:54
W60: 1 C Flitcroft (Prest) 45:08
W65: 1 E Christie (Cambus) 49:04
W70: 1 G Brierley (CleM) 50:09
TEAM: 1 Leeds 37; 2 Border 622; 3 Preston 1094
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BUNTINGFORD YEAR END 10, inc BRITISH MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS, Hertfordshire, December 29
Alex Milne won overall in 51:29 as the veterans’ championship was not particularly noteworthy for good performances among the younger age groups.
The first M35 athlete was fourth-placed Mark Sampson with 54:36 and then Matthew Bennett down in ninth overall in the open race with 55:56.
One the best of the leading men on an age graded basis was Kevin Sambridge, whose 57:34 took the BMAF M50 title but his rating was headed by top M65 Paul Mingay whose 62:52 notched up 91.53 on the age graded tables.
It was a similar story in the women’s section where Tabitha Woodhouse won the open race overall in 58:45, while the top veteran was Katy Woodward, whose modest 61:02 took the British Masters W40 title.
The best of the women on an age graded basis was top W65 Lynda Hembury with a 96.06 per cent rating for her 73:00 to go second on the 2024 ranking lists.
Top W60 Sarah Gee, however, ran 67:06 to go top of her British rankings for the year and scored 93.55 percent on the tables and third on the all-time W60 lists.
The Reading Road Runner is a former double London Marathon W45 age group winner with a best of 2:38:14, who spent 14 years out of the sport to raise a family and pursue a technical writing career before returning in September 2024.
Gee said: “I came ninth woman, with only 45 years old or younger runners ahead of my 67:06, which is my official time, although my own watch was three seconds quicker as I took three seconds to cross start.
“I was very pleased as it was my first 10-mile for a long time, but the course was hillier than I thought it would be and very twisty through a housing estate for one mile both out and back.
“I felt good at six miles and I am better over 10km and 10 miles than shorter distances so I really enjoyed the latter half of the race. However, I did need the end when it came.”
Overall: 1 A Milne (HW) 51:29; 2 M Waddington (Wat J) 52:58; 3 M Elbayan (Lut) 54:15; 4 M Sampson (Hunts, M35) 54:36; 5 S Pedley (B Stort) 54:54; 6 M Roberts (NHRR) 55:16
M40: 1 D Magalela (L Eaton) 57:22
M45: 1 S Prosser (Herts P) 57:11; 2 K Francos (Wat J) 57:12; 3 L Marshall (Newark) 57:42; 4 D Branfoot (Harrow) 57:45
M50: 1 K Sambridge (Wat J) 57:34; 2 T Farrer (Huts) 58:21; 3 S Mann (Norw) 58:39
M55: 1 J Armas (26.2RRC) 60:08
M60: 1 A Jordan (St Alb) 64:14
M65: 1 P Mingay (Col H) 62:52; 2 K Murray (Serp) 63;35
M70: 1 P Hough (S&SH) 71:33
M75: 1 R Bloom (Herts P) 83:31
Women: 1 T Woodhouse (Herts P) 58:45; 2 K Woodward (Wat J, W40) 61:02; 3 S Delderfield (VoA, W40) 62:07; 4 R Doherty (Higham, W35) 62:56
W45: 1 H Turner (Dac) 65:58; 2 H Buller (R’side) 66:33
W50: 1 A Farrell (Tun W) 69:09
W55: 1 V Simpson-Thomas (B Stort) 70:46; 2 S Dixon (Camb H) 71:50
W60: 1 S Gee (Read RR) 67:06; 2 D Steer (St Alb) 76:52
W65: 1 L Hembury (Tring) 73:00; 2 M Grace (Yate) 75:32
W70: 1 D Kesterton (Steel) 77:47; 2 Y Gordon (FVS) 78:42
HEREFORD COURIERS CHRISTMAS 10km, December 29
Overall: 1 C Jones (W Tempo) 31:44; 2 M Brunnock (W Tempo, U20) 31:58; 3 H White (Here, U17) 32:47
Women: 1 C Elliott (Sale, W35) 38:30;
W40: 1 D Morris (Builth) 38:45
W55: 1 N Morgan (Chep) 42:07
SERPENTINE LAST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH 5km, Hyde Park, London, December 27
Michael Clark, the English National under-17 cross-country champion from September, lowered his personal best to 14:56, as regular winner in this monthly outing, Ollie Garrod was drawn to 15:05, his fastest for three years.
Further down and taking the women’s section was under-17 Inter-Counties winner Olivia Forrest with her 42nd victory of the year, albeit in one of her slower 5km times at 17:04.
However, it was second home who caught the eye as Brentwood Beagles team-mate Madison Kindler, in her first outing over the distance, went second on the under-13 UK 5km lists for the year with 17:22.
This is just behind another Brentwood runner Summer Smith’s 17:14 and the pair now lie second and third on the all-time under-13 lists.
Another prolific racer was also out in the park as multiple British age group record-holder and champion Clare Elms ran 18:51 to take the W60 age group.
Overall: 1 M Clark (Norw) 14:56; 2 O Garrod (Belg) 15:05
M60: 1 S Corfield (SoC) 18:05; 2 A Green (Northants Tri) 18:05
U15: 1 I Gibson-Dunt (St Alb) 16:25
Women: 1 O Forrest (B’wood, U17) 17:04; 2 M Kindler (B’wood, U13) 17:22
W50: 1 A Farrell (Tun W) 20:19
W55: 1 A Critchlow (W4H) 19:29; 2 S McDonald (S Lon) 19:54
W60: 1 C Elms (Kent) 18:51; 2 R Baker (Camb H) 21:23; 3 L Woolhouse (vets) 21:40
U15: 1 H Woodley (B’wood) 17:50
AYLESBURY BOXING DAY 5km, Buckinghamshire, December 26
Overall: 1 T Fell (VoA) 15:44
M40: 1 S Buckle (St Alb) 16:31
M50: 1 N Hughes (Chilt) 17:35
U15: 1 L Blighton (Bic) 17:13
Women: 1 A Wright ((Sale) 17:42
W65: 1 L Hembury (Tring) 22:53
BOXING DAY CROSS-COUNTRY, L’Ancresse, Guernsey, December 26
Chris Bain, a 1:51 800m man, moved up from second last year to win comfortably from Richard Bartrum.
Overall: 1 C Bain (Guern) 24:47; 2 R Bartrum (Guern) 25:21
Women: 1 N Petit (Guern) 31:04
CHESTER ROUND THE WALLS MT RACE, Cheshire, December 26
Overall (4.25M, MT): 1 J Morrison (W Chesh) 21L05; 2 G Morris (AFD) 21:15; 3 E Palmer (Vegan) 21:26
Women: 1 C Fuhlhage (USA) 24:06; 2 I gelder (Morn) 24:26; 3 S Hunter (Ack) 24:53
W60: 1 W Collins (Denbigh) 29:52
CLEVEDON BOXING DAY 4, Somerset, December 26
Felix McGrath, the Midland cross-country sixth placer, moved up from third last year to win in 18:58 and did so by heading 2023 second placer Jack Millar, who was third in that race.
Claire Hammett, who was eighth in the London Championships, took the women’s section in 22:15.
Up the age groups, Judy Orme comfortably ran the fastest recorded four-mile time by an over-70 woman, with a 29:56 clocking but it will not be recognised by The Power of 10 as the race only had an ARC licence. Her time comfortably bettered her 2023 time of 30:57.
Overall: 1 F McGrath (B&W) 18:58; 2 J Millar (B&W) 19:10; 3 B Hamblin (N Som) 19:34; 4 J Williamson (S’burn) 19:35; 5 T Loughlin (T Bath) 19:36; 6 W Cheek (N Som) 19:49
M40: 1 R Stewart (B&W) 20:22
M50: 1 H Evans (P Bryn) 21:42
M60: 1 S Burgess (Avon VR) 24:13
M70: 1 T Hutchison (T Bath) 27:10
Women: 1 C Hammett (THH) 22;15; 2 F Bradley (W’bury) 22:23; 3 D Bruce (B&W, W35) 22:39; 4 B Raftery (Tring RC, W40) 23:03; 5 J Heffer (B&W) 23:14; 6 J Meek (Win,W45) 24:13
W45: 2 J Sanzo (B&W) 24:33; 3 J Gallagher (N Som) 24:36
W50: 1 D Powell (Cleve) 26:27
W55: 1 N Morgan (Chep) 25:48
W60: 1 L Porter (Bitt) 26:58
W70: 1 J Orme (Portis) 29:56
CHRIS CARTER BOXING DAY RUN, Preston Park, Brighton, East Sussex, Decembner 26
Overall (4.5 M approx): 1 Z Hale (B&H, M40) 23:43; 2 D Miurray (Macc) 24:33; 3 Z Wattar (B&H, M40) 25:48
Women: 1 E Proto (Lewes, W35) 28:01
W60: 1 C Ulliott (B&H) 35:35
EAST HULL HARRIERS BOXING DAY 10km, Humberside, December 26
Overall: 1 D McKinnon (Goole) 32:03; 2 G Dalton (E Hull, U20) 32:05
Women: 1 S Willshire (CoH) 38:42
W45: 1 N Curgenven 39:21
GLYNNEATH 5, Glamorgan, December 26
Dewi Griffiths had things very much his own way when winning in 23:23 from Swansea team-mate Guy Smith.
Apart from a 15:26 Swansea Bay parkrun just before Christmas, this was Griffiths first outing since a 2:12:47 marathon outing in Amsterdam at the end of October, his best for five years.
For the statistically minded, the last time he raced over five miles was back in 2006.
Overall: 1 D Griffiths (Swan) 23:23; 2 G Smith (Swan) 26:31
M65: 1 I Lloyd (Swan) 29:06
Women: 1 E Mattey (P Bryn) 28:51; 2 F Williams (P Talbot) 30:13
GREENCASTLE 5, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, December 26
Conall McLean, the 2020 Ulster Schools Cross-Country champion won in a personal best 24:07.
Overall: 1 C McLean (Candor) 24:07; 2 J O’Farrell (Newry) 24:53; 3 N Johnston (Anna) 25:01
M40: 1 E Mullan (Omagh) 25:14
M55: 1 M Smith (Mallusk) 29:07
M60: 1 T Hughes (Strive) 29:58
Women: 1 C Whoriskey (Derry) 28:41
STAR & GARTER 5km, Stockport, Greater Manchester, December 26
Overall: 1 Z Rose (Stock, U17) 16:26
Women: 1 B Brennan (B’hall, W45) 19:09
WITHAM BOXING DAY 5, Essex, December 26
Overall: 1 J Grange (Chelm) 24:50; 2 S Strange (Ton) 25:33
M60: 1 C Ridley (Col H) 29:37
Women: 1 N Frisby (S’field) 30:23; 2 J Stretton (S’field) 30:27; 3 K Sheekey (Col H) 30:30
W40: 1 L Colman (S’end) 30:48
W50: 1 S Bilbie (S’field) 31:48
W60: 1 D Fisher (S’field) 37:57
HILLINGDON AC CHRISTMAS MORNING RUN, Ruislip, Middlesex, December 25
Despite nine-time winner Rob Thompson being short of training leading up to the race, he managed to share the lead for over half of the distance, Gavin Collett reports.
Then James Laing powered clear for his fifth victory in 16:14, to maintain the Thompson/Laing monopoly that has dominated since 2010.
Back in sixth place overall, Catriona Paterson retained her women's title in a 18:56, the fastest since 2012 and the eighth fastest ever in an event promoted by Hillingdon AC since its inception in 1966.
Overall (3.2M): 1 J Laing (Hill) 16:14; 2 R Thompson (Hill) 16:35; 3 D Thompson (Hill) 18L25
Women: 1 C Paterson (Hill) 18:56
TILLI 10km, Tillicoultry, December 29
Overall: 1 J Crowe (Centr) 29:57; 2 J Burns (Shett) 30:10; 3 C Milne (Centr) 30:21; 5 A Thomson (Fife) 30:36; 5 A Marshall (Centr) 30:58; 6 E Narbett (C’thy) 30:59
M40: S Livingstone (Cors) 32:53
M45: D MacDonald (I’ness) 33:43
M55: S Cairns (HBT) 36:12
M60: C Upson (Cambus) 37:03
M65: C Graham-Marr (Centr) 41:27
M70: J Scott (Edin) 43:19
U18: D Fletcher (Loth) 35:00
TEAM: 1 Centr 9; 2 Shett 53; 3 Dund H 54
Women: 1 N Scott (Edin) 33:58; 2 N Lang (C’thy) 34:46; 3 R Dnaldson (Bella H) 35:18; 4 G Lindsay (PHRC) 36:04
W40: H Leigh (I’ness) 37:44
W50: J Dickson (Fife) 39:33
W60: K Aubrey (Helm H) 44:38
W60: F Wood (L’gow) 49:08
TEAM: 1 Fife 39; 2 Centr 44; 3 Cors 53
Multi-terrain
BEECRAIGS FESTIVE HANDICAP, Linlithgow, December 26
Overall (14km): 1 Robbie Simpson 47:40; 2 Thomas Wilson 53:13; 3 Grace Molloy (W) 55:18; 4 Elliot Sedman (M40) 55:19; 5 Steve Feltbower (M40) 55:13; 6 Andrew Brown 56:55
M60: Colin Meek 67:18
Women: 1 Molloy 55:18; 2 Amy Ritchie 61:27; 3 Rebecca Wathery 63:00; 4 Malgorzata Mandula (W40) 70:28
W50: Fiona Kelsall 79:41
W60: Ada Stewart 86:09
Handicap: Robert Rogerson (M60) 71:19
Fell running
JUBILEE PLUNGE, Llangynhafal, December 29
Overall (3.2km/467m descent): 1 A Watkins (Mercia) 11:23; 2 J Gomes (Mercia, M40) 11:26; 3 Andy Mearns 12:25
M50: S Smithies (Calder V) 13:11
M60: M Jones (P’atyn) 16:11
Women: 1 C White (Mercia) 13:04; 2 K Baugh (Denbigh) 13:20; 3 E Retallick (Denbigh) 14:20
W60: E Collins (Denbigh) 17:13
GUISBOROUGH WOODS HILL RACE, Guisborough, December 27
Overall (8.8km/376m): 1 J McKenna (N’land F, M40) 38:06; 2 Aidan Rigby 39:11; 3 O Shaw (Loft) 39:33; 4 S Leadley (Loft) 41:44; 5 S McDougall (M&C) 41:39; 6 S McLoughlin (N Yrk M) 42:46
M45: I Rowan (Esk) 43:34
M55: A Bushby (CoH) 45:33
M60: J Rogers (CoH) 47:15
M65: N Ridsdale (Esk) 49:27
TEAM: 1 Loft 41; 2 Esk 75; 3 Scar 83
Women: 1 K Richmond (Pick) 50:19; 2 E Harrison (T&S) 51:36; 3 R Vincent (Tyned, W45) 52:21; 4 K Struthers (N Yrk M) 55:20
W50: H Butterworth (T&S) 57:44
W60: J Cordingley (Esk) 63:17
W65: C Glover (Wharf) 63:23
U20: H Darwin (W Ang OC) 60:59
TEAM: 1 Loft 33; 2 N Yrk M 35; 3 Pick 48
WANSFELL, Ulverston, December 27
Overall (2.5M/1400ft): 1 T Simpson (Amble) 20:26; 2 G Dale (Amble) 20:30; 3 J Wright (Amble) 20:46; 4 C Allmond (Amble) 21:14; 5 H Cooling (Howg) 21:18; 6 J McAtear (Eden) 21:36
M40: R Jebb (Helm H) 22:04
M50: Craig Tweedie 24:35
M60 D Wilson (Bowl) 28:15
M70: Peter Haines 35:38
U18: R Ashworth (Amble) 21:49
TEAM: 1 Amble 6; 2 Amble B 21; 3 Helm H 41
Women: 1 E Pannone (Amble) 24:55; 2 B Halcrow (Amble) 25:14; 3 H Smith (Salf, W40) 26:38; 4 R Hare (Amble) 28:06
W50: J Darigala (B Combe) 35:22
W60: I Graham (Derw) 35:34
U18: E MacPherson-Littler (Bowl) 33:13
TEAM: 1 Amble 7; 2 Amble B 27; 3 Helm H 31
TWO TURTLE DOVES, Totley, December 26
Overall (7.75km/260m): 1 D Haworth (Mat) 32:26; 2 A Smith (C’thy) 34:54; 3 W Burton (Hallam) 35:41; 4 J Dale (VPH, M40) 35:57; 5 M Prince (H&R) 36:09; 6 E Collinge (Alta V, W) 36:31
M50: C Jeffery (Dark Pk) 39:47
M60: B Foreman (Mat) 43:34
M70: A Whitehouse (Totley) 45:59
Women: 1 Collinge 36:31; 2 A Pearse (Steel) 37:22; 3 J Mosley (Penn) 40:43; 4 A Wainwright (Dark Pk, W50) 42:41
W60: N Rafferty (Steel) 53:40
W70: W Dodds (Steel) 59:13
BARF TURKEY TROT, Trassey Track, Mourne Mountains, December 26
Overall (5.5M/1500ft): 1 J Millar (Mourne) 40:02; 2 E Lennon (C’thy) 40:03; 3 A Crutchley (Newc) 40:19; 4 J Mcatee (Mourne) 40:37; 5 Ryan Stewart 42:12; 6 N McCartan (BARF) 42:54
M40: Paul Rooney 44:14
M50: W Fleck (B’mena) 47:46
M60: P Coffey (Phys) 56:00
M65: S Murdock (Mourne) 62:39
M70: P McGuckin (Lunch) 63:12
U21: J Muckian (Slieve G) 44:55
Women: 1 K Wilton (Jog Lisb, W50) 50:25; 2 R Magee (Newc) 50:48; 3 N Hell (N Belf) 54:03; 4 Kirsty Walker 57:58
W55: S Farnan (BARF) 60:42
WHINBERRY NAZE DASH, Rawtenstall, December 26
Overall (6.4km/229m): 1 A Worster (Calder V) 27:07; 2 R Hope (P&B, M50) 24:45; 3 J Palmer (Skyrac, U17) 224:49; 4 A Norman (Alt, M40) 25:21; 5 J Ormrod (Ross, U21) 25:23; 6 Craig Shearer 25:33
M55: B Shaw (Darw D) 29:17
M60: N Hartley (Rams) 32:06
M70: C Davies (Sadd) 34:09
Women: 1 M-M Hindle (Bing) 29:45; 2 Emma Richardson 30:55; 3 T Duffy (Ross, U17) 31:25; 4 H Goldswain (Dock) 31:33
W40: H Dalgleish (Ross) 33:17
W60: D Gowans (Tod) 33:45
W65: P Hardman (Lyth) 34:20
W70: M White (Horw) 39:12
DEVIL’S CHAIR DAWDLE OR DASH, Stiperstones, December 26
Overall (3M/800ft): 1 Holmes (Mat) 21:39; 2 M Jones (Dark Pk) 21:45; 3 A Yapp (Lud) 23:08; 4 D Elliot (Shrews) 23:08; 5 J Stuart (Mercia, M40) 23:56; 6 T Hancock (Shrews) 24:00
M50: Simeon Lloyd 28:46
M60: J Langton (Mercia) 29:50
M70: D Thomlinson (Mercia) 39:38
U18: Matthew Marsh 27:06
Women: 1 S Willhoit (Mercia) 24:40; 2 C Stuart (Mercia, U18) 27:20; 3 M Preece (Tel) 28:29; 4 Ruth Shaw (SY TC) 29:05
W40: H Fras (Shrops S) 32:02
W50: M Peffers (Clwyd RR) 34:03
W60: G Evans (Shrews) 37:14
CRUIM LEACCAIN, Torlundy, Fort William, December 26
Overall (6M/800ft, all L’ber): 1 R Downie 47:59; 2 I Foggo 50:24; 3 F Mackenzie 52:17; 4 R Shaw 53:04
M40: J Tedham 53:14
M60: H Mackintosh 57:52
M70: J Treasurer 74:57
Women: 1 L Walter (L’ber, W40) 60:51; 2 A Blackhall (L’ber, W50) 61:18; 3 P Bowater 62:32
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