Race Date: 08 January 2022
When Jo Gleig responded to Richard Pegg’s appeal for volunteers she hadn’t read the job description (there wasn’t one, ed.) so, after having already stood in the rain at Hillsborough Parkrun, it was a quick trundle over to Kiveton Park to be ready for the first race, U13 boys, at 11:00. Her job was at marshalling point M12, controlling a public path crossing the course, and holding her position until the final race finished some five hours later with an option to help clear the course afterwards. I think Jo was a little surprised to find out what was involved but these are county championships with medals to be won, Inter-Counties places at stake and that coveted Yorkshire vest to be earned and, as we all know, a Yorkshire vest is a valuable commodity worth far more than a GB vest.
Second Strider Zanthe Wray returning to competition after having had a baby last summer.
With heavy rain forecast, I received a call the night before from one of our leading ladies. “Have you got some 12mm spikes that you can let me have? And a spike key?” The preparations were wise for, as the hosts put it “The testing nature of the course ….harsh terrain and ground conditions – a mixture of ice and deep mud… should ensure that the athletes who are selected to represent Yorkshire in the Inter Counties Cross Country in March will be up to whatever challenges Prestwold Hall (near Loughborough) has in March”.
Striders were up for the challenge and turned out in force with complete A, B and C teams in both the women’s and men’s events. Our leading lady was Caroline Brock who finished in the top twenty which is a fine performance given the quality of the opposition. Our A team gained a creditable 9th with most of our local rivals unable to field complete teams. Our men, 10th in the team event, were led home by Phil Cooper in 42nd place and again we dispatched most of our local rivals. No medals for Striders but Jo got a free packed lunch for her assistance.
A report cannot fail to congratulate a resurgent Hallamshire Harriers who swamped the field to bring home both Women’s and Men’s trophies with a host of individual medals across the age groups. If you train on the track on Thursday you will encounter many of these younger athletes and future stars.
As a team event, every place counts so when some of the senior Striders lost count how many laps they had to do there was some confusion at the finish. This resulted a “coming together” at the finish line with Sam Brown swallowing mud and “having a conversation” with the race referee afterwards. Fortunately it all ended in smiles and handshakes with an extra position gained.
Sam Brown aquaplaning to success.
Women’s Results (8.24km)
| Pos | Time | Name |
| 19 | 0:29:24 | BROCK, Caroline |
| 35 | 0:31:18 | WRAY, Zanthe |
| 66 | 0:35:05 | HERRING, Jacqui |
| 76 | 0:36:44 | DAVIES, Harriet |
| 79 | 0:37:02 | GREENOUGH, Caroline Rowena |
| 88 | 0:38:15 | SCOTT, Kate |
| 89 | 0:38:18 | CIVICO, Charlotte |
| 95 | 0:38:53 | WREN, Clare |
| 102 | 0:41:05 | CLARK, Karen |
| 106 | 0:43:53 | MCKEOWN, Katelyn |
| 108 | 0:45:05 | MCAULEY, Vikki |
| 110 | 0:45:58 | SMITH, Rosie |
Men’s Results (11.2 km officially)
| Pos | Time | Name |
| 42 | 0:34:48 | COOPER, Philip |
| 66 | 0:36:54 | BROWN, Samuel |
| 68 | 0:36:55 | MIDDLEMAS, Paul |
| 79 | 0:37:56 | JONES, Ben |
| 83 | 0:38:34 | KIRBY, Seth |
| 85 | 0:38:43 | MAIR, Luke |
| 94 | 0:39:22 | FISHER, Adrian |
| 98 | 0:39:40 | MOAT, Jordan |
| 109 | 0:40:09 | BENT, Daniel |
| 128 | 0:41:30 | HOLT, Tim |
| 137 | 0:42:15 | BAGGALEY, Malcolm |
| 140 | 0:42:31 | BASSINDALE, Tom |
| 144 | 0:42:44 | SCHOFIELD, Neil |
| 153 | 0:43:09 | BOOKER, Nicholas |
| 155 | 0:43:12 | KILCOYNE, John |
| 157 | 0:43:20 | BURNS, Nick |
| 168 | 0:44:29 | GREENOUGH, Martin R |
| 176 | 0:46:16 | MCAULEY, Adam |
| 183 | 0:47:28 | DANSON, Jim |
| 187 | 0:48:35 | MILLS, Lee |
| 191 | 0:50:31 | PEGG, Richard A |
| 195 | 0:51:25 | RYAN, Des |
| 200 | 0:56:34 | EBERLIN, James F |
The Long and Winding Road
Link to full results Yorkshire XC Champs 2022