Weekend update

The weekend saw the English Schools cross country championships survive the increasing cull of events at Sefton Park in Liverpool. Paul Pollock and Becky Briggs were impressive winners in the Bath Half Marathon.

Paul Pollock (handicap -4.2) continued his purple patch with a convincing win at the Bath Half Marathon in an impressive 64:14 on a windy day. Jamie Crowe (handicap -6.0) was second in 64:38 and Jonathan Cornish (handicap -4.5) third in 65:17. Young Becky Briggs (handicap 1.6) also impressed with a useful 74:34.

At the English Schools Cross Country Championships (ESAA) in Sefton Park, Liverpool, Olivia Mason (handicap 1.2) and Matthew Stonier (handicap -3.7) were among the winners as they both claimed senior titles.

Mason was an impressive winner in the senior girls race, finishing 11 seconds ahead of Molly Canham (handicap 2.9), while in the battle for third, Charlotte Alexander (handicap 2.6) came out on top, narrowly pipping Shannon Flockhart (handicap 2.6) to the line.

In the senior boys race, Stonier picked up from his win at the Inter Counties the previous weekend to claim the title, edging it from Joshua Dickinson (handicap -4.0). Stonier, the South of England champion, rounded off a fantastic start to 2020 in which he has won all but one race this calendar year. Nic Harhalakis (handicap -3.3) reached the podium after a solid performance, rounding off the top three.

The tightest finish of the day came in the junior girls race (pictured) as Zoe Gilbody (handicap 2.8) was awarded the victory ahead of Jessica Bailey (handicap 4.2) after both clocked the same time. In a dramatic finale following 3000 metres of racing, both athletes lunged for the line in the hope they would gain the all-important advantage. By the narrowest of margins, Gilbody sealed the title, Bailey was given second place.

Some of the other big events over the weekend included:  

Other results from the weekend are on the following links: 

parkruns

Road/multi terrain

Track

Cross country