It was a very successful day for the Isle of Man contingent at the Lancashire Cross-Country Championships at Witton Park in Blackburn.
A total of 12 medals – individual and team combined – were won by Manx Harriers and Northern AC, which makes it the third most successful day ever at this event over the past 32 years.
A summary of the medals won – very much subject to confirmation is:
- U11 Boys – Leighton Curphey GOLD
- U13 Boys – Manx Harriers Team SILVER
- U13 Girls – Bella Quaye BRONZE
- U13 Girls – Manx Harriers Team SILVER
- U15 Boys – Harry Stennett SILVER
- Women – Gail Sheeley V55 GOLD
- Women – Emma McMullan V45 SILVER
- Women – Manx Harriers Veteran Team BRONZE
- Men – Sam Perry U20 SILVER
- Men – Sam Perry Overall Senior BRONZE
- Men – Northern AC U20 Team GOLD
- Men – Russell Collister V55 SILVER
There were also some great performances from athletes who narrowly missed medals, with Seamus Hall 4th in the U13 Boys and Max Hammal 4th in the U15 Boys, and Max very nearly catching the bronze medallist.
Manx Success at Witton Park
A number of our runners received Lancashire invitation letters to run in the Inter Counties Championships at Nottingham in early March.
Anyone finishing in the top 6 in the races for U13 and upwards is automatically selected, with the remaining places discretionary.
Weather conditions were excellent, cold but dry all day and hardly a breath of wind.
The ascent and descent of the ‘saucer’ hill was muddy but the main field not too bad underfoot.
Sam Perry’s third place overall in the men’s race was a brilliant performance.
In the 30-plus years that athletes from the Isle of Man have been competing at the event, only Keith Gerrard (winner twice) and Ollie Lockley (2nd last year) have ever finished higher in the men’s race.
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