SEAA XC Championship Race – Beckenham Place Park – Saturday 25th January 2025. Words: Mark Tennyson, Photo: Nicole Brown.
What a fantastic day of Championship racing at the South of England (‘The Southern’) Cross-Country Championship at Beckenham Place Park on Saturday. The SEAA deserved some good fortune after its Inter-Counties and Masters Cross-Country Championships in December was cancelled due to stormy weather. ‘Soft’ muddy conditions and rolling hills awaited the participants of the ten races…
Juniors – 6km
The Under 17 Men achieved the G’s best individual result of the day with Ollie J placing ninth. Abel D (24th) also placed well in this age category. Approaching the last long climb Ollie was outside of the top twenty and timed his effort superbly to move through the field on the long uphill section. He then continued his strong running during the fast muddy descent and beyond to the uphill finish.
In the Under 17 Women’s event, Isabel W competed well for 68th place.
Seniors – 15km
This was the fourth edition of this Championship event at Beckenham Place, since its move from the iconic venue at Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath. It is the longest race of the winter calendar and is not for the faint of heart.
Seven G’s toed the line, although they managed to finish with eight. Ollie G arrived late, grabbed his number and bolted for the start line in hot pursuit of his teammates and the rest of the field.
Nick Lightfoot led the G’s charge finishing a very respectable 70th in 49:40. Sub fifty minutes over this distance is decent, very decent indeed. Nick Tearle (180th) was next in 54:21 followed by Ollie Gosden (272nd) who had given the competition a huge advantage in 57:46.
Ian Acreman (289th), who made his club debut at this event last season, had one of his strongest runs, stopping the clock at 58:17. Mark Tennyson (336th), who had won the M60 title at the Vets AC Champs the previous weekend, ran well to record a time of 59:50. The final team place in the six-to-score event went to Bushy Parkrun specialist Lee Lintern, finished in 1:03:58. Charlie Alger (505th) and Brian O’Kane (608th) – who used the event as part of his ultra training for the SDW100 in June – both ran very well.
The seniors placed 21st of the 42 clubs to complete a team. This was way below par for the G’s, who last season were sixth and had their highest ever finish of fifth in 2023. Nevertheless it was credit to the eight who ran and who helped preserve a run of G’s team finishes at every ‘Southern’ since 2010 (barring 2021 of course).
Welsh Cross-Country Championship – Pembrey
Also on Saturday, Tom Foster finished ninth at Pembrey Country Park to equal his highest ever finish at these championships. The event returned to Pembrey after three seasons in Brecon. Tom said that the course was different this year to previous editions and was even ‘flatter’ than usual and had fewer sand sections as it never really gets muddy there. The course was four laps and the only real obstacle was the wind. It’s a very fast 10k course with winner Dewi Griffiths covering the ground in a rapid 31:31 and Tom doing the same in a quick time of 34:06.
BMAF Indoor 3000m Championships – Sheffield
On Sunday David Williams, who usually partakes in cross-country, swapped his spikes for an indoor track pair to help him place sixth in the M60 ‘A’ race in 10:21:24. This is Dave’s fastest time over this distance since the 2022 summer season. The race was won by M60 Mile world record holder, Andrew Ridley, (set at Guildford’s track at Spectrum last summer) in 9:41:46.
‘Southern’ XC Post-race reflections…
Mark Tennyson
“I’m really proud of the way the lads stepped-up yesterday. With Ollie being delayed, we were only seven and my pre-race ‘motivational’ speech was ’we’re only seven, it’s six-to-score, if you’re feeling rough, tough!! Nobody drops out!!’
Excellent course, soft going, very muddy – fatiguing. Nice racing conditions. Sunny. People were happy and the crowd support was terrific.”
Nick Lightfoot
“It sure was no American style cross country! Always an amazing experience flying off the start with 500+ other people around the course that is just as gruelling as it is muddy where the least worst option is always to go through the muddy sludge to save some seconds. That hill in the back reminded me of running in the Rocky mountains for a brief moment.”
Ian Acreman
“A fantastic event and race ran over a fabulous and challenging XC course. Encouraging shout outs from those spectating were much appreciated. I opened my GGAC XC account at the SEAA XC Champs at Beckenham last year so it was great to make a return this year and see some improvement. Tremendous team spirit amongst a GGAC team so small. A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon of XC racing, and definitely an event for the 2026 diary.”
Brian O’Kane
“Towards the back of the field but I enjoyed it – good ultra training. Really appreciated the support out on the course.”
Nick Tearle
“Outstanding event in lovely sunshine. Schoolboy error: I didn’t walk the course as I thought I remembered it but it was two years ago… so lots of haziness. Completely forgot the big hill at the far end and first go up it was a bit of a shock. Second time round more prepared. Cracking course with a bit of everything and the crowd, including Callum and his mate, were helpful with the support. Seemed to go very quick and the 12mms were spot on to give a bit of purchase to the sloppy bits. Again I didn’t walk the finish beforehand so I didn’t know where to start the sprint. But the uphill provided lots of opportunity to surge past the alien vests on the run in. And nice of Ollie to join us eventually! Thanks to Nicole forthe pre-race tactics and general hilarity.”
Ollie Gosden
“Great course with mixed ground with undulation as well. Failed with the 5 p’s as ever but tagged on the back of the field on arrival. Always good to be part of the G’s.”
Charlie Alger
“A glorious day, a cloudless blue sky
Helped the Gees and all participants fly
The course, good to firm, a mix of green and of brown
Over six hundred senior men in search of the crown
How much we all loved the Southern Champs
A keen but small showing from GGAC
Did their best again the South of the Country
So good to be able to call oneself a Gee
To turn up and race amidst such bonhomie
How much we all loved the Southern Champs”
Thank you ALL for your above contributions.
The G’s have two fixtures remaining to conclude their winter cross-country season. Firstly they travel to Epsom Downs on 8th February for the final Surrey League match, before a trip to London for the National Cross Country at yes, the iconic venue… Parliament Hill Fields.