Gallery
Ashley Harrell and Ruth Senior take honours at Norfolk Cross Country Championships in Thetford
The start of the Senior Men's race at the Norfolk Cross Country Championships. Picture: Tony Payne - Credit: Archant
City of Norwich Athletic Club's Ashley Harrell led home a record turnout at the Norfolk Cross Country Championships in Thetford on Sunday.
Ashley Harrell won the Senior Men's race. Picture: Tony Payne - Credit: Archant
Competitors were not put off by the cold, breezy, conditions and it was Harrell who proved a cut above the rest of the field winning the senior men's 10.8km race in 37:18. He eventually pulled away from team-mate James Senior (37:59) with Simon Millett (Norwich Road Runners) in third place in 38:10. In the senior women's 8km event Ruth Senior (CoNAC) made the most of her return from the USA with a fine run and a time of 26:12. She edged away from Mabel Beckett on the final lap of the largely woodland course. Colleen Mukuya (Great Yarmouth) had a fine run to take the 3rd spot in 26:43.
The championships, organised by the Thetford Athletic club and Athletics Norfolk, were about more than just individual success. There were record numbers of competitors and something for everyone. There were events for under 11s through to age 70 plus.
One of the closest races of the day was the under 17 men's event where in the finishing straight Tom Greenacre sprinted ahead of Jack White with the finishing line in sight. Will Mahoney was third in a clean sweep of the placings for City of Norwich.
The ever popular masters races produced worthy winners. Competing with the seniors Gary Crush won the masters age group title in 39:28. The first of the female masters to finish was Juliette Watkinson (Wymondham) in 30:56.
Ruth Senior leads the Senior Women's race home. Picture: Tony Payne - Credit: Archant
You may also want to watch:
Abigail Durand was an impressive winner of the under 15 girls race in 16:08. She was one of five North Norfolk Harriers to win individual championships. Many of the team titles were shared out between a number of clubs, which is great for the sport. This surely a result of the resurgence and popularity of cross country running recently.
As a result of the championships teams will be selected to represent Norfolk at the inter counties event in Birmingham later in the season.
Most Read
- 1 Work started on four new homes without permission
- 2 Woman has heart attack and dies in ambulance waiting for a hospital bed
- 3 Murder investigation launched after body of man found in Norwich flat
- 4 Flight bound for Norwich turns back to Aberdeen
- 5 Jets heard roaring over Norwich for training exercise
- 6 Christmas craft, food and gift fair returning to Norfolk estate
- 7 Holt Hall for sale after years of uncertainty
- 8 Man who died after a medical episode in Hopton identified
- 9 Banham Zoo welcomes birth of two tiger cubs
- 10 Who can get a Covid booster jab and how can I book one?
It is worth noting that Dani Nimmock missed the championships to compete in the Telford 10k road race. She finished with the outstanding time of 33:47, which would place her among the 20 fastest runners in the country.
Next week sees the staging of the county Sportshall championships for young athletes at Sportspark in Norwich.
Katie Goldsmith - Under 17 women's winner. Picture: Tony Payne - Credit: Archant
Millie Solway - Under-20 women's winner at the Norfolk Cross Country Championships. Picture: Tony Payne - Credit: Archant
Tom Greenacre winner of the Under 17 men's race. Picture: Tony Payne - Credit: Archant
Under 15 girls winner Abigall Durand from North Norfolk Harriers. Picture: Tony Payne - Credit: Archant
Under 15 boys winner Charlie Wakefield of Ryston Runners. Picture: Tony Payne - Credit: Archant
The start of the Under 17 boys and Senior ladies race at the Norfolk Cross Country Championships. Picture: Tony Payne - Credit: Archant
The start of the Under-11s race at the Norfolk Cross Country Championships. Picture: Tony Payne - Credit: Archant
The start of the Under 15 race at the Norfolk Cross Country Championships. Picture: Tony Payne - Credit: Archant
