Race Date: Saturday 19th October 2024
Heavy rain at Graves Park on Saturday morning had competitors rummaging in the kit bag for their 12mm spikes with tricky conditions underfoot in places on the approximately two mile course as the sun then made its appearance providing perfect conditions for spectators. With a second cross country fixture on its doorstep within seven days, Steel City had an excellent turnout fielding five women’s and four men’s teams.
Lucy Broom defying the team manager’s crystal ball as her 15:24 should have had her in the B Team. (Mick Hall Photography)
At the sharp end the standard is high with a mad start where the leaders seek the glory of the fastest leg; Euan Brown (Hallam) 10:09 and India Pentland (Darlington) 11:49. The wise elect not to get involved with Rob Byers “being a bit more sensible this time around!” learning from his Norfolk Park experience last week. Old hand Louis Wood summed things up well “the usual insanely fast start but managed to resist temptation to nail it from the gun and actually passed half a dozen runners in final third”.
Louis Wood on the first leg working his way through the field with about a mile still to go. The Bingley athlete was later seen on the ground near the cafe clutching his hamstring. He eventually finished in last place some six minutes behind Louis but making sure that his team-mates at least got to have a run. (Mick Hall Photography)
Steel City’s women worked hard throughout with the A team moving through the ranks from 16th after the first leg to finish in 11th place and getting some bling finishing third in the South Yorkshire Championships behind Rotherham A and Rotherham B so second SY Club.
Girls on Top. Podium finish for Steel City with Sarah-Jane wearing her number on the front of her vest this time.
Women
| Posn | Club | Leg A | Time | Leg B | Time | Leg C | Time | Total Time |
| 1 | Trafford AC | Ava Clough (4) | 12:15 | Bethany Reid (1) | 13:14 | Sarah Clough (1) | 12:19 | 37:53 |
| 11 | Steel City A | Caroline Brock (16) | 13:33 | Sarah-Jane Brown (13) | 13:56 | Sarah Thorne (11) | 13:29 | 40:59 |
| 20 | Steel City B | Yasmine Chaffer (25) | 14:58 | Emily Green (24) | 15:28 | Frances Roberts (20) | 15:14 | 45:40 |
| 24 | Steel City C | Kate Scott (35) | 17:04 | Lucy Broom (29) | 15:24 | Josie Hill (24) | 15:48 | 48:37 |
| 28 | Steel City D | Laura Rangeley (31) | 16:37 | Nicola Ross (33) | 16:57 | Victoria Johnson (28) | 16:57 | 50:32 |
| 33 | Steel City E | Jo Gleig (40) | 19:18 | Ann Marie Mulvey (37) | 17:16 | Carol Beattie (33) | 21:35 | 58:10 |
34 Complete Teams
Men
| Posn | Club | Leg A | Time | Leg B | Time | Leg C | Time | Leg D | Time | Total |
| 1 | Hallamshire A | Euan Brown (1) | 10:09 | Tommy Power (1) | 10:18 | Jamie Richardson (1) | 10:38 | Alfie Manthorpe (1) | 10:15 | 41:21 |
| 16 | Steel City A | Rob Byers (19) | 11:42 | Ben Naisbitt (15) | 11:57 | Steven Cahill (16) | 12:31 | Naeem Stevens (16) | 11:47 | 47:59 |
| 36 | Steel City B | Louis Wood (32) | 12:55 | Malcolm Baggaley (33) | 13:50 | Chris Laws (35) | 15:48 | Jonathan Smith (36) | 14:31 | 57:05 |
| 38 | Steel City C | Chris Ireland 42) | 14:59 | Jim Rangeley (38) | 14:45 | Jed Turner (38) | 14:37 | Michael Pearson (38) | 14:13 | 58:36 |
| 39 | Steel City D | Ben Baxendale (40) | 14:42 | Robin Nelson (40) | 15:30 | Paddy Treehowes (40) | 15:30 | Maz Kaczmarczyk (39) | 14:55 | 01:00:39 |
43 Complete Teams
Link to Northern XC Relays 2024 Results
Members of the Woodbourn Road Thursday track group may have spotted Georgie Beeden now sporting a Leeds vest having moved from her previous club who sometimes struggle getting teams out and it is suspected that taking over on Leg B in second place was a new experience for her too. Saturday also saw International Alfie Manthorpe’s Hallamshire debut also having moved “…. as my previous club weren’t competitive” – having the correct “footprint” and turning out teams is just so important. Next on the agenda are the BMAF Masters Cross Country Relays on 26th October with the second South Yorkshire Cross Country League fixture at Longley Park (12mm spikes required) the day after.
Steel City debut for Ben Naisbitt. (Mick Hall Photography)