INTO BATTLE, LADS—A MAMMOTH CHALLENGE AWAITS IN OUR NATIONAL CROSS TITLE DEFENCE
It’s often said that defending a title is harder than winning it. After our unexpected triumph in last year’s National Cross Country Team Championship—the first in our club’s 142-year history—we now face a formidable challenge as the championships return to their traditional home at Parliament Hill Fields.
Whenever the championships are held at Parliament Hill, entries are massive, and this year is no exception. We’re doing our part with a record entry of 34 runners, determined to defend the title we claimed in September at Weston Park in Shropshire. Hard to believe, but a staggering 215 teams have entered, meaning a potential field of over 2,400 runners!
Of course, only the positions of each team’s top six runners will determine the championship outcome, and competition for those spots within our squad is expected to be just as fierce as it was at Weston Park.
A key difference from last year’s late summer scheduling is the likely underfoot conditions—expect a mud-fest on parts of the course, which could lead to some surprising performances.
LEADING CONTENDERS
Who are the main threats to our title? Naturally, last year’s runners-up, Highgate Harriers, will be strong contenders, especially on their home course. Rumours suggest their local rivals, Shaftesbury Barnet, have been preparing all winter with this race in mind.
While Highgate and Shaftesbury may lead the charge, Southern clubs have dominated national endurance events in recent years. Expect Aldershot, Tonbridge, Bedford, Cambridge & Coleridge, and Hercules Wimbledon to be in the mix once again.
Interestingly, this year’s area championship races have provided little indication of the likely outcome, as none of the top contenders fielded their strongest squads—including us, as we only managed bronze in the Midland event.
Despite Southern dominance in recent years, Leeds City—National champions two years ago and current National Road Relay champions—are always a threat. Their chances could hinge on whether international marathoners Emile Cairess and Phil Seseman compete. If they do, they’ll be serious contenders.
One thing is certain: we’re not giving up our title without a fight. We’re coming in force, with only one of last year’s gold-medal squad, Max Davis, missing due to injury.
SAME AGAIN
As in Shropshire, our team will be spearheaded by international steeplechaser Will Battershill and cross-country specialist Jack Millar, both in excellent form.
Will has been sharpening his speed on the indoor track ahead of a summer campaign where he aims to make the UK team for the European and World Championships. He has already lowered his outdoor PBs to 7:53 (3,000m) and 13:39 (5,000m).
Jack, meanwhile, has taken a more traditional approach, winning his third consecutive South West title and finishing a strong 13th as part of a four-man England team at the Belgium Cross Cup in Hannut. He followed this with his best run of the winter, placing third in the UK Cross Challenge at Leeds behind Scotland’s top-ranked Logan Rees and 2023 National champion James Kingston.
Both Will and Jack finished in the top ten at Weston Park (4th and 8th, respectively). With an even larger and more competitive field this time, replicating those performances—or bettering them—would give us a great start.
Backing them up will be club road captain Kurt Taylor and Pete Le Grice. Like Will, they’ve skipped most of the cross-country season but are in marathon mode. Pete clocked an impressive 2:14 in December’s Malaga Marathon, while Kurt is preparing for a serious shot at the London Marathon after an experimental 2:20 debut last year.
The goal? Stay within 15–20 places of Will and Jack to give us four finishers in the top 30 of the enormous 2,000+ field.
But remember, it’s six to score. Even if Will, Jack, Kurt, and Pete deliver, it could all come down to the last two scorers. Competing for those crucial positions are three of last year’s gold medallists—Milan Campion, Ben Robinson, and Joe Morrow—along with Felix McGrath, Flynn Jennings, and Luke Burgess.
Given their recent form, any of them could break into the top 50 and disrupt our rivals’ scoring. Felix has been particularly sharp, taking silver behind Jack at the South West Champs, finishing 5th in the Midlands, and winning the latest Gwent League race. Ben matched that feat with a dominant win in last weekend’s Gloucester League event.
Young Flynn narrowly missed making the British U23 team for the European Championships after finishing 8th at the Liverpool trial. He then placed in the top 20 at the BUCS Champs, just ahead of Joe, who recently set a 5K road PB of 14:17 at the Armagh International.
IMPRESSIVE BACK-UP
Few realise there’s also a nine-man team competition for clubs that don’t make the top three. While we’d be disappointed not to medal, why not go one better and treat this like a 12-man event, building momentum for April’s National Road Relay—our other big target?
Our strength in depth is remarkable. Among those who could push into the top 100 are our evergreen team captain Owain Jones and recent Bermudan international recruit Dage Minors, who finished 4th and 5th at the South West Champs. Former Midland champion Johnny Thewlis and Bristol University graduate Alex Stewart add further depth.
On paper, this is the strongest squad we’ve ever taken to the National. Now, let’s prove it by bringing the title back to the South West once again. Opportunities like this don’t come every year—so let’s leave our mark on Parliament Hill!
Mike Down (Team Manager)
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