The thirty-seventh edition of the Junior Men's English National Cross-Country Championships took place at Newark and Notts Agricultural Showground, and this was the first time Newark and in fact the first time Nottinghamshire had hosted the race. Provincial Insurance Company were once again the sponsors and the course consisted of two laps of approximately three miles and the start and finish making six miles.
Early on the first lap the lead group included Richard Carter (Brighton & Hove AC), the previous year's Youth's champion Paul Taylor (Copeland AC) and David Miles (Gosforth Harriers). At the end of the first lap Taylor led the field from Carter, Miles, Northern champion Kevin Lamb (Derby & County AC), Andrew Pettigrew (Windsor, Slough & Eton AC) and Graham Clarke (Manx AC).
Towards the end of the first lap Carter made his move and opened up a gap of 30 metres on Taylor, Lamb, Gary Crowther (Salford Harriers), Miles, Midland champion Paul O'Callaghan, Pat Chester (Thames Valley Harriers) and David Dudley (Liverpool Pembroke Harriers).
Carter looked strong on the second lap and extended his lead, with a mile left O'Callaghan had moved into second 60 metres behind Carter with Taylor third. In the last half mile O'Callaghan faded and was caught by Taylor and Crowther. Crowther then got the better of Taylor before the line, Carter won in 29:01, 6 seconds ahead of Crowther with Taylor third.
Carter told Barry Smyth at Athletics Weekly: "I've won everything going from the front so there was no reason not to this time, even with the strong wind".
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