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MASTERS ATHLETICS CROSS COUNTRY
British and Irish Masters W35: Claire Martin, Julie Briscoe, Louise Rudd (ENG)
Cross Country and Natasha Adams (ROI) contested a very close race for
3 laps. Briscoe and Martin swopped the lead frequently
International 2013 with the others content to follow behind. Three times
winner Martin did not want to give up the medal too easily
Words: Phil Lee and on the last lap made a decisive break which she held
Pictures: Jeremy Hemming to the end. Adams was able to open up a gap on Briscoe
for the silver medal.
http: //imagetogo.net/go/?27272 1. Claire Martin Eng 20:28, 2. Natasha Adams ROI 20:35
3. Julie Briscoe Eng 20:40
ENGLAND won all but one of the Team Gold medals Team 1. England (1,3,4) 8 pts 2. Republic of Ireland
at Cardiff on November 16th 2013. Their nemesis (2,7,8) 17 3. Wales (9,11,12) 32 4. Scotland (5,13,17 ) 35;
was once again the M35’s. Despite team manager Northern Ireland (10,15,16 ) 41
Harry Matthews thinking that they finally had a strong M35
team they lost out on gold, yet again, to the Republic of W40: In winning the overall race Miranda Heathcote
Ireland and Wales piped them for the silver. (ENG) also won this age group with a healthy advantage
over the second place finisher, she also excelled with a
In the individual gold medals England claimed 10 while great 6th place in the English National XC out of a field
host nation Wales and Republic of Ireland each got 2 and of 708 runners (ED).
Scotland won the remaining gold medal.
Racing for the other medals were Kathy McCourt, Jackie
Cardiff was resplendent in the Welsh colours with many Carthy (ROI) and Emma Rogers (ENG) In what was a
individuals waving the flags of the Principality. close run battle McCourt was able to lead Rogers over the
Unfortunately it wasn’t that Cross Country had suddenly line with Carthy just missing out on a medal.
been catapulted into national prominence but more that the 1.Miranda Heathcote Eng 20:21 2. Kathy McCourt ROI
National RU and Football teams had home fixtures that 21:32 3. Emma Rogers Eng 21:38
day. Which is a shame as the battles in Bute Park were just Teams 1. England (1, 3, 6) 10 pts 2. Republic of Ireland
as enthralling as the ones in the sports stadiums. (2, 4, 7) 13 3. Northern Ireland (5, 8, 11) 24 4. Wales (10,
13, 16) 39 5. Scotland (14, 15, 19) 48
Race 1 6K W35+ and M65+
The first race of the day set the scene for what was to be
the norm for the rest of the day. A group of runners, from
different nations and age groups, set out at a fast pace, in
almost perfect conditions, on the flat course. Amongst the
group were Claire Martin, Julie Briscoe, Miranda
Heathcote, Louise Rudd (ENG), Natasha Adams (ROI)
and Fiona Chisholm (SCOT}. As the race progressed the
lead changed hands with each lap, although there was
never much between any of them. On the final lap each
runner accelerated up the long straight on the turn for
home with Heathcote being first over the line from last
year’s winner, Martin with Adams in third place.
Overall winner Miranda Heathcote with W35 W45 winner Philippa Taylor
winner Claire Martin
W45: Once again the race was dominated by runners from
England as Clare Elms and Philippa Taylor fought out a
thrilling battle at the front of their age group and the race.
They were joined on the early laps by Carmel Crowley
(ROI) and Gail Griffiths (ENG) before they lost touch with
the leading duo as they raced it out for the gold medal.
Over the line it was just Taylor from Elms with Crowley
winning the race for 3rd spot.
1. Phillippa Taylor Eng 21:03, 2. Clare Elms Eng 21:04
3. Carmel Crowley ROI 22:00
Teams 1. England (1. 2, 4) 7 pts 2. Republic of Ireland (
3, 8, 13) 24 3. Northern Ireland ( 5, 9, 11) 25 4. Wales (7,
10, 17) 34 5. Scotland ( 12, 16, 19) 47
W50: Previous double winner of the race Fiona Matheson
(SCOT) was going for the hat-trick and set off with purpose
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