Stags Do the National Cross Country Relays

The English Cross Country Relays took place on Saturday 4 November in Berry Hill Park Mansfield, where they have been staged since 1989. Over a thousand teams entered the ten races, including two from Barnet, in the Junior Women and the Junior Men.

It rained. It rained all the way to Mansfield, the whole time there, and all the way back. The ground was wet, slippery, and muddy. "If in doubt, it's probably 15mm" was never more applicable. Each team member runs one lap of the twisting course over grass, through woods, around ponds, and up and down hills.. A truly technical course in tough conditions for the "proper cross country " enthusiast, and very spectator-friendly with many opportunities to view and cheer on runners at different points on the same lap.

Our Young Stags are at the bottom of their U20 age group, which spans three years, and were competing against very good athletes, including GB Internationals, and against some very strong University teams.

Thanks to great runs from all of them, the Junior Men finished in 57th place out of 81 starting teams, while the Junior Women were a brilliant 18th out of 46 - results to make the club proud.

Junior Women (3 x 2.5K): 18th team: Barnet & District AC 30.07

Emma McCluskey 9.28; Charlotte Harris 9.21; Florence Humphrey 11.18

Junior Men (3 x 3K) 57th team: Barnet & District AC 32.02

Noah Clarke 10.49; Joe Ward 10.25; Callum Sydenham 10.48