North East Masters Cross Country Championships Acklam – 1st Feb 2025
by Brad Wight
Another cracking day for Team Crook… A short drive down to Middlesbrough to race on one of the NYSD courses, a lovely little route which was a 50/50 split between grassy fields and woodland trail with a good mix of mud and firm ground, a few ups and downs but nothing you’d really describe as a hill. The terrain reminded me of the Pie & Peas route which lots of you will be familiar with.
The Ladies and Men Over 65 went first, two laps totalling 6km. Drama at the start as Captain Lisa realised she was still wearing her road shoes… Dean and Chris Dobson sprinted over and grabbed her spikes and Lisa started a good 100 yards behind the rest of the field – memories of Sarah Attwood at the North-Easterns! Lisa was off like a rocket and caught the back marker very quickly. Us lads stood at the half way point to cheer them on and it didn’t take long for the front runners to come in view. Jen Berry from Wallsend was in the lead closely followed by Sarah Attwood with another Wallsend Harrier in 3rd. There was a massive gap back to 4th. Kimberley and Lisa were running very well as were our MV65 team of Geoff, Mark and Andy T.
Off round they went again and the positions remained unchanged. Sarah with a solid run to finish 2nd overall and 1st V40. Wallsend took the team title with Crook 2nd, and Lisa 2nd V35. Our V65s took gold in their category too!
We were up next, the senior men run 3 laps of the course for an 8km race. I went off way too fast as usual but this time was able to hang on and push a consistent pace all the way round. Reaping the rewards of Dry January I think! The course suited me as I absolutely love running on undulating woodland trails in the winter. I ran with a group of six runners for the first two laps but kept my pace up and moved ahead as they gradually tired.
I knew we had to beat Wallsend, New Marske, Darlington, Houghton and two teams from Middlesbrough & Cleveland to have any chance of a medal so made a real effort to keep in front of those vests. A very fast Elvet Strider flew past me in the last half a mile but I managed to keep the rest at bay. I was first counter for the club, closely followed by Dean, and Chris Dobson in his first XC race ran a solid race to back us up. I was convinced we hadn’t done enough for a medal but Sarah persuaded us to wait for the results and we were pleasantly surprised to be announced as 3rd in the V35-44 category!
Wallsend won, Middlesbrough & Cleveland A 2nd, seemingly Darlington’s 3rd runner hadn’t finished and we beat the other teams.
Not a bad day out, nine runners brought back eleven medals. Can’t complain!
There’s more Masters action on March 15th if anyone fancies joining myself and Sarah at the British Masters XC in Glasgow? There’s a couple of seats in my car, I’ll be leaving early in the morning, maybe get a parkrun in somewhere en route, then heading back straight after the racing as we’ll need a quick turnaround for the club Presentation Night that evening! Let me know if you’re interested.
Brad
