News
26th February 2025
Road and Cross Country Round Up
Five Burton athletes made the trip to London for the English National Cross country. Taking place at the iconic Parliament Hill venue, with great views from the top of the hill of the London skyline. The first race with Burton interest was the under 15 boys. Ewan Withnall had been unbeaten this cross country season and was looking for his first national medal. Lewis Boyce was running in his second national of the year after competing in last year’s delayed race at Weston Park in September. Withnall had gone down with illness in the week but was hoping he had recovered for the race. Quickly it looked like he hadn’t fully recovered when he couldn’t stay with the leaders after the opening hill. He was 7th on the first lap and had dropped to 10th as he came to the last 200 metres. Summing up his last energy he finished strongly for 7th. Boyce had started well, in the top 3rd of the field at half way. He kept working on the second lap coming home in 119th in a field of 343.
As the races continued, the mud got worse, with many spectators falling over just watching. Alyssa Lindsey was running in her first national and the biggest race of her cross country experience In the first year of the age group, she set off in a determined mood and battled round the tough course coming home in 256th. A good performance on such a tough course.
Last race for Burton was the under 15 girls 4k race. Amelia Nettleton had run at Weston Park but sister, Charlotte had missed the race with injury. Here they both got their customary slow start as they went up the hill, towards the back of the field with just a few inches between them with Charlotte leading. They liked the tough muddy course and were up to half way at the end of the first lap with Charlotte now a foot ahead of Amelia. When they came back into view approaching the finish Amelia had moved 15 metres ahead as Charlotte was struggling with the heavy mud. Turning into the finishing straight the ground improved and Charlotte chased her sister down, before the long straight saw her fade but Amelia just couldn’t close her down. Charlotte was 72nd and two seconds back Amelia 74th in a field of 306.
While Withnall missed out on a medal he has won the Martyn Naughton Trophy for the Highest finish in the national, which he will get in November. Now his attention switches to the Inter County race on 8th March at Wollaton Park, Nottingham where he will look for that elusive first national medal and look to wrap up winning the cross challenge. He will compete alongside 14 other Burton Athletic club runners, a new record for the club of selected runners.
On Sunday in Seville, Joao Vieira de Jesus ran the Seville Marathon finishing with a time of 3h37m18s.