The British and Irish Masters Cross Country International is an annual celebration of cross country running at its best. Hosted this year by Northern Ireland the home nations teams poured into Belfast last Friday praying for the good weather to hold for a full day of competition for athletes from 35 to 80+.
Qualification for this event was held in Crewe at the end of September. Both Fiona Jeffries and I were very happy to come in the top three runners in each age group there, earning an England vest and national representation.
Saturday dawned sunny and with a gentle breeze. This is Ireland. I had heard that rain is the default position. If it’s not raining yet it will be shortly, we’re told. The team coach gave us views over the South East of the city including the iconic Stormont Parliament Building which sat in its glory whilst Parkrunners jogged into the grounds for their regular Saturday run.
Billy Neill Country Park in Dundonald is dedicated to William Neill, 1929-1997, a fourteen times capped right half for Glentoran. The soccer pitches were built on different rising levels which provided us with the elevation we needed to burn off the opposition whilst burning off our hamstrings and quads into the bargain.
Dot and Sue Haslam, W70 battle it out.
Each race was organised according to age groups with my group, W65-W75 and M65-M80 first; three laps of two kilometers rising through the levels and descending back to the start for each lap. The five nations were separated into pens which gave the spectators blocks of red, green, blue and white national colours to watch and support as the klaxon sounded. In my last home nations race in Glasgow last year I was roundly beaten by Scotland and Ireland so I had to pull something out of the bag if we weren’t to have a replay of the event. My strategy was to run my own race at a pace I could manage and neither take the lead too soon nor drop too far behind. It worked well and soon Sue Haslam for England and I were working off one another to push the pace and isolate ourselves from the other nations. After the second lung bursting lap I made my final ascent and knowing my sprint finish is not my greatest forte, used the descent to gradually lift the pace towards the final upward push into the funnel, a few seconds after Sue. At every moment I expected my rivals would thunder past leaving me in their wake.
In all the confusion after the end I had no idea who was ahead and who behind and no idea of positioning until the results were published later in the day so it was with great surprise and joy I learned I was runner up and silver medalist in 29:03 to to Sue Haslam, Scarborough RC in 28:55. Maggie Statham-Berry finished fourth W70 in 30:35 giving us a decisive England team win and W70 team Gold medal. Ann White, Scottish champion last year finished in 31:30. My tactics paid off and the disappointment from recent races dispelled.
Fiona Jeffries powering up the hill to the top of the course.
Fiona Jeffries, a relative newcomer to international athletics gave a strong performance in a very talented W55 group to finish in 15th place in 27:50. Like me Fiona gave her all in the race, proud to wear her national vest and compete alongside the finest runners in the home nations.
The 2025 Home International will be held in Roundhay Park in Leeds. The qualifying race will be at the end of September in Crewe. Check the BMAF website for more details if you’d like to run with us next year.
A huge thank you to John Rothwell, coach, who has put in time and energy to support my development in cross country running.
Also to Donovan Blake, MSc Exercise and Nutrition Science, who has been helping me with strength, conditioning and nutrition.
Thanks also to Sally Fawcett, physiotherapist for her help with active recovery;
To Matt Rimmer at myRacekit North for his support with kit, and Stuart and Debbie at Accelerate for providing the inspiration and knowledge which got me started as a total beginner some fifteen years ago.
England Masters Cross Country team 2024.
Ireland swept to victory in the championships with 74 points.
England were second with 67 points.
Scotland were third with 54 points,
N.Ireland was fourth with 36 points and
Wales were fifth with 17 points.
Full results can be found on myresults.com
Race Report by Dot Kesterton – 20th November 2024.
