The 2011 Inter-Counties Cross-Country Championships were held at Cofton Park, Birmingham last Saturday. Among the thousands of runners from all over the country there were a number from Beverley Athletic club who had been selected to run for Humberside.
Competing against the best in the country is a great experience and with 200 – 300 runners in each race there was a great atmosphere.
Beverley’s Julie Donald ran in the 8000m senior ladies’ race. Although she has been competing in road races for over 10 years she only took up cross-country running at the end of last year. “It was a great experience,” she commented afterwards, “and it was an honour to be competing against the top cross-country runners in the country.”
Eleven Beverley Athletic Club Juniors also travelled down to Birmingham. For some of them it was the first time that they had been selected to represent their county. They all rose to the challenge and were a credit to their club and their coaches, Neil and Rona Sergeant. There was only one race which did not have a Beverley runner in it.
Jessica Chapman and Nicole Dawson distinguished themselves by being the first Humberside runner to finish in their respective races.
Although Humberside did not win any team or individual prizes valuable experience was gained and everyone enjoyed an active day out in the fresh air.
Beverley Athletic Club finishing times:
Senior ladies 8000m
Julie Donald 38.18
Senior men 1200m
Jonathan Leskiewicz 44.31
Under-13 girls 3000m
Jessica Chapman 12.50; Dayna Arnott 13.35; Morgan Dennis 13.36; Kelly Dawson 13.49.
Under- 13 boys 3000m
Luke Chapman 13.06.
Under-15 girls 4000m
Nicole Dawson 17.44, Elizabeth Evans 20.11.
Under-15 boys 4500m
Ethan Dalton 19.42.
Under-17 women 5000m
Kendall Arnott 25.41
Under-17 men 6000m
Tom Hoyle 23.28
Under-20 men 8000m
Andrew Harding 31.51.
Above Nichole Dawson, Below Jessica Chapman who both made debuts at County Level
