The one hundred and fifteenth English National Cross-Country took place for the first time as Aston Gate Estate, Bristol. The race was sponsored by View From. The men's course was 12km and was mostly flat but contained some uphill and downhill sections
Sam Haughian (Windsor, Slough, Eton, & Hounslow AC) was hot favourite for the men's race with the Inter-Counties title won at Wollaton Park to his credit. Other challengers were expected to be Southern champion Emile De Jong (Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers) and Northern champion Andy Caine (Tynedale Harriers).
In the team race Northern champions Bingley Harriers were the favourites but Emile De Jong was hoping to lead Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers to the title despite being pipped by Aldershot, Farnham and District to the Southern team title.
The weather on the day wasn't kind to the runners as strong winds, sleet and snow made parts of the course challenging.
First to show in the race were Dave Taylor (Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC), Matt Smith (Tipton Harriers) and de Jong. At the end of the first lap Haughian and Smith led but Haughian began to break clear. De Jong, Will Levett (Vauxhall AC), Allen Graffin (Belgrave Harriers) gave chase. As the second lap was completed Haughian's lead had stretched to 100 metres with De Jong and Graffin running shoulder to shoulder and Smith a further 100 metres back.
On the third lap Haughian continued to dominate the race, Graffin was able to move away from De Jong, with Smith in fourth. Haughian went on to win by 25 seconds from Graffin in 39:26. De Jonge grabbed a bronze medal. After the race 22-year-old Haughian said "That was a race I wanted to win, I was running well on the second lap, but didn't rush to the front at the start, I was seeing how it was on the first lap and looking for a good point to make a break, then pushed it hard down the long straight with the wind behind me, then I kept working against the weather."
Home | 1876-1914 | 1920-1939 | 1946-1999 | 2000-present