Race Date: 29 October 2023
Why run cross country? They say that it builds endurance and mental toughness (whatever that is? Ed), improves running form and core stability, gives your VO2 Max a boost and is also a great team builder as every position can count. It is doubtful whether these points were in the mind of many as they climbed the hill for the final lap as recent heavy rain made this one of the toughest South Yorkshire League courses seen for some time. They say that it’s the same for everyone but when the slowest men were out for around an hour, different factors come into play. And as for building team spirit, being urged to give it one final push when you have in fact been lapped and have to go around again is only funny after the event whilst nearly everyone has gone home by then anyway. (At least the tent was still there and your bag wasn’t just left on its own. Ed.) They say be careful what you wish for but the 64 year old men can’t wait until next year when they can run the shorter course with the ladies.
First Steel City man home was Naeem Stevens. The photograph depicts a deceptive amount of grass.
| Pos | Name | Cat | Time |
| Women | about 6,200m | ||
| 2 | Abbie Pearse | FS | 25:55 |
| 13 | Simone Young-alls | FS | 28:22 |
| 14 | Sarah Moss | FV45 | 28:23 |
| 15 | Sarah Thorne | FS | 28:30 |
| 19 | Fran Robbs de la Hoyde | FS | 29:37 |
| 24 | Yasmine Chaffer | FS | 30:45 |
| 30 | Fiona Jeffries | FV55 | 31:19 |
| 39 | Jacqui Herring | FV45 | 32:50 |
| 64 | Caroline Greenough | FV45 | 35:06 |
| 85 | Louise Rowley | FV65 | 37:57 |
| 98 | Jo Gleig | FV55 | 41:47 |
| Men | about 10,000m | ||
| Pos | Name | Cat | Time |
| 20 | Naeem Stevens | MS | 40:35 |
| 32 | Liam Brennan | MV35 | 42:14 |
| 47 | Louis Wood | MV45 | 43:50 |
| 61 | John Kilcoyne | MV35 | 45:14 |
| 65 | Malcolm Baggaley | MV35 | 46:00 |
| 68 | Chris Ireland | MV55 | 46:13 |
| 72 | Tim Erskine | MV45 | 46:29 |
| 74 | Neil Schofield | MV45 | 46:43 |
| 75 | Chris Lawson | MV45 | 47:00 |
| 84 | Jed Turner | MV55 | 48:48 |
| 87 | Ian Stinson | MV45 | 49:16 |
| 93 | Chris Boland | MV35 | 49:59 |
| 99 | Paddy Treehowes | MV55 | 51:27 |
| 102 | Connor Brown | MS | 52:06 |
| 110 | Tom Cossham | MV45 | 53:55 |
| 120 | Lee Mills | MV45 | 55:27 |
| 134 | Peter Brown | MV55 | 59:37 |
| 135 | Andrew Rowland | MV55 | 59:39 |
| 139 | Anthony Bell | MV55 | 63:48 |
| Men V65 about 6,200m | |||
| Pos | Name | Cat | Time |
| 10 | Chris Reece | M70 | 39:47 |
An unwritten rule for cross country is only do any sort of taper unless you’re going to win so it’s clear that with our ladies packing well, some had been taking it easy the week before. Winner of the ladies race was Eve Pannone (Hallam) 24:53 whilst first man home was Alex Ediker (City of Sheffield) 34:50. Link to provisional results. South Yorkshire Cross Country League Race 2 Longley Park . There were 120 women, 142 men and 15 M65+ competing.
Fran Robbs del Hoyde enjoying the sunshine.