There was an extraordinary display of strength in depth from Aldershot, Farnham and District AC's senior women in the Saucony English National Cross Country Relays on Saturday (2 November 2024).

They may not have won the title – that honour went to Southern area rivals Belgrave Harriers – but they provided the next two teams of three to finish the undulating course in Berry Hill Park, Mansfield, Notts.

Conditions were good for the 10-race championships in one of the most exciting events in the winter calendar, with fellow team members, club officials, and supporters lining the circuit to cheer on their teammates.

In a reprise of the 2023 senior women's race, Belgrave Harriers claimed team gold in 29:39 for their 3x3K legs to retain their trophy by almost a minute from Aldershot, Farnham & District AC (30:37) and the Aldershot 'B' team (30:52). A total of 106 teams finished all three stages.

The senior men ran 4x5K and Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers made rapid progress, after starting in 15th position, to seize the initiative on the third stage and hold on for victory in 1:00:10. The men's rostrum was completed by Bedford & County AC (1:00:29) and Cambridge & Coleridge AC (1:00:44). There were 164 senior men's teams competing.

The remaining eight races were for junior athletes and the winning teams were: Under-20 men: Radley AC; U20 women, University of Birmingham AC; U17 men, Salford Harriers; U17 women, Lincoln Wellington AC; U15 boys, Cambridge & Coleridge AC; U15 girls, Aldershot, Farnham & District AC; U13 boys, Preston Harriers and U13 girls, Brentwood Beagles AC.

Full results via the runABC race listing here.

Photo courtesy Mark Hookway of Tonbridge AC