Two athletes from the south took their first senior titles at the English National Cross Country Championships at a new venue – Bolesworth Castle in Cheshire – on Saturday (25 February). James Kingston (Tonbridge AC) became the first ever senior national cross country champion for his Kent club and Sarah Astin (Belgrave Harriers) is only the second senior women’s winner from the famous London team after Belgrave Life Member, Birhan Dagne, took gold in 2004.

The senior men's race – the 135th English National Cross Country Championships and the oldest and one of the most prestigious titles in the world – came down to a final sprint finish. Jack Gray (Cambridge & Coleridge AC) tried numerous efforts to break the 2023 South of England champion but Kingston hit top gear and was cheered on to a six-second margin of victory by his vocal club mates.

Gray was delighted with his silver medal reward for his industry on the 12K course. The bronze medal went to another promising youngster, David Stone (Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers) who was second last year in the junior under-20 race. Stone had to have his timing chip passed to him during the race and had the presence of mind to bend down and sweep it close to the mat at the finish to ensure it recorded his position!

Leeds City (108) took the team gold medals from Cambridge & Coleridge (177) and Tonbridge AC (214). There were 1,473 finishers in 1:47:13 and the winner's time was 36:01.

Sarah Astin was possibly an even more surprise winner from the 773 finishers in the 90th women's race. Gemma Steel (Charnwood AC) provided the sternest opposition but Astin powered away from the former European champion on the uphill finish to win by five seconds, with Niamh Bridson-Hubbard (Blackheath Harriers) third.

Steel was pleased to lead Charnwood (68) to the team trophy ahead of Aldershot, Farnham & District (97) and Hallamshire Harriers (102). The winner ran 29:28 and the final runner completed the course in 1:11:58.

Earlier there had been eight age group races and all the results can be viewed via runABC South's comprehensive race listing here.

Image of Bolesworth Castle courtesy Mark Hookway, Tonbridge AC