Stubbington Green Runners

After being held at Birmingham last year and in Leeds in 2004, the 2006 National Cross-Country Championships returned once again to the south and the legendary Parliament Hill course, on Hampstead Heath.

Past national title winners on the infamous north London course have included Olympic marathon silver medallist, Basil Heatley in 1961, world record holder Dave Bedford (now the Race Director of the London Marathon) in 1971 and Olympic 10,000m bronze medallist, Brendan Foster in 1977.

In a welcome change to the dark, wintry days leading up to the championships, bright and sunny conditions provided a good view of the capital from the top of Parliament Hill with the London Eye, Telecomms Tower and St. Paul's Cathedral all visible.

Shortly after arriving, we pitched the club tent in a sheltered spot, well out of the way of the strong wind that was gusting over the exposed hilltop. The position provided an ideal vantage point to see the start of each race in the distance and watch the runners pass by as they began their second laps.

In the Stubbington camp there was an air of anticipation and excitement at the prospect of seeing whether Andy Vernon could finally win the national junior mens' title, having come so close in previous years. This was the Stubbington second claimer's last race before moving into the senior ranks and so would be a fitting end to his brilliant junior career.

In the race, run over a distance of 10-kilometeres, Andy didn't have it all his own way, with Adam Hickey, another excellent young GB prospect, pushing him hard all the way. However, being two years older and slightly more experienced, Andy was able to pull away towards the end of the second lap and a final kick for the line ensured that he became the 2006 Junior Mens' National Cross-Country Champion, winning by six-seconds from Hickey in an a time of 32 minutes 49 seconds.

Following good performances at The Southern Cross-Country Championships at Exmouth, at the end of January, and in the Hampshire League earlier in the month, a slightly disappointing run saw Mark Le Gassick place 114th in the senior mens' 12-kilometre race, crossing the line in a time of 43 minutes 38 seconds.

Tor Duffin was the second Stubbington runner to cross the line in 233rd place, in a time of 46 minutes 6 seconds. A good run by Ray Gunner resulted in him taking the third team spot, finishing in 419th place in 49 minutes 28 seconds. Just over a minute behind Ray was Alisdair Ewing, taking 484th position in 50 minutes 36 seconds.

Chris Hall found it tough going in the mud, finishing in 554th place in a time of 51 minutes 42 seconds and Andy Simpson was the sixth scorer, finishing in 587th place, clocking 52 minutes 29 seconds. Peter Riley, of Leigh Harriers & AC, was the race winner in 38 minutes 53 seconds.

Overall, Stubbington's six-to-score mens' team finished in a very respectable 36th place (out of 99 complete teams) with Aldershot Farnham & District AC the only other Hampshire club to place higher, in 16th position.

Other Stubbington results in the senior mens' race were as follows; John Flynn (717th, 54.37), Mike Harper (756th, 55.14), Chris Vernon (773rd, 55.33), Phil May (953rd, 58.45), Eric Beck (1077th, 1.01.29), Gordon Westley (1149th, 1.03.43) and Steve Wylie (117th, 1.05.05) There were 1290 finishers.

The senior ladies race, run over a distance of 8-kilometres, was won by Liz Hall of Herts Phoenix AC in a time of 32 minutes 59 seconds. Sadly, in a race where there were 444 finishers and 47 complete teams, there were no ladies to represent Stubbington Green Runners & AC.

There was local interest, however, in the 5-kilometre, under-17 ladies' race, with another former Stubbington youngster, Becky Gough. Becky, who now runs for Team Southampton, has recently returned to training following illness and injury and, in a strong field, finished in a promising 19th position (out of 156 finishers) with a time of 21 minutes 46 seconds. S Edwards, from Kettering Town Harriers, won the race in 19 minutes 9 seconds. Click here for photos.