Young Athletes Report by Paul Austridge

The iconic National cross country champs returned to the North East for the first time in over a decade, with East Hardwick Park, Sedgefield, County Durham playing host. The weather was not cold, blowy but dry and the course more challenging than it first appeared.

Fifty one Blackheath & Bromley young athletes had made the long journey up north, as well as thirteen in the Senior Men (8) and Senior Women (5). Most of the youngsters were on the team Coach, which after a couple of fuel/comfort stops arrived in time for a shake out run at the Country House hotel we were staying at, before a swim in the hotel spa and a little time to relax. 

Dinner was good and the evening was complete with coach Mike Reeves motivational challenge for each athlete, giving them the opportunity to speak positively about the person sitting next to them.  

A full choice of breakfast the next morning before for a short journey to the course and some brilliant racing, that ultimately saw BBHAC win superb team gold for the under 17 boys and team silver for the under 13 boys.

Five of our large under 15 boy squad toed the line and placed 14th team with Johnny Lee placing an impressive 25th backed up by Ricardo Cervera-Tomlins (90 places higher than last year ), Benj Evans (150 places higher than 2025), Jack Barlow and JP Bremerkamp completing the squad. 

Our under 17 girls placed team 12th with strong runs from Naimah Mossi, Aoife McDonagh, 
Niamh Stanley all inside the top hundred and Charlotte Stevens and Lily Bridgeman just a few places behind .

The under 15 girls made the top 10 with an eighth place team finish. Evie De Bruyn led the team home in 33rd, backed up well by Harriet Hughes, Sofia Mossi, Alba Homans-Yau, Eva John, Beth McGillivray, Lily Day,  Amelie Ramdeen (90 places higher than 2025), Aoife Stanley, Elliot Amos and Isabella Jenkins back to racing after injury, completing the squad. 

Our U13 girl went one better placing seventh team with Jazzy Stephens coming a very strong 31st 
(50 places higher than 2025) backed up well by Lucy Junginger, Sofia James, Zara Lett and 
Elsa Matthews all making the top hundred. Holly Tallack,Ella Nixson, Molly Sedgwick, Arianne Paranjpe and Alice Bunn completing the strong large squad.

Team silver for our under 13 boys with a superb and gutsy sixth place finish for Zach Evans 
(60 places higher 2025) with Emery Aldridge not far behind and year young Luc Jones and Anthony Streich completing the scoring four. Great runs by Fletcher Kelly, Haydn Kenny and Alex Coe all making their national debuts. 

National team Gold for our under 17 boys with a superb individual 3rd for Joe Scanes and a fast finishing fourth for Joseph Hill, backed up superbly by Oliver Ward in 35th and Ben O’Grady in 38th. Showing our strength in depth in this age group Aniket Iyenger was 41st and Kian Farrell not far behind with 
Nathan Clark and Madalitso Valema-Mwanza completing the strong squad. 

Our U20 teams were both just one athlete short of a scoring team but this didn’t stop a superb top 20 finish for Jed Starvis in 19th with Harry Fage just missing out on victory in the 1K bicarb challenge and Mark Constable finishing despite carrying a legend injury. 

Strong runs from Cary’s Firth and Kyla Dervish in the under 20 girls completes our very impressive Young athlete result round up. 

Back to the hotel for downtime, including swimming and sauna before a lovely three course meal and then our awards, quiz and bingo evening This year we awarded prices for the most improved athletes from the South of England to the National cross-country champs, winning Adidas kit generously donated by Joe Scanes and Club kit .

The most improved awards this year went to

U13 girls Zara Lett
U13 boys Anthony Streich 
U15 girls Evie De Bruyn 
U15 boys Johnny Lee 
U17 girls Lily Bridgeman 
U17 boys Aniket Iyenger

A great weekend was had by all but huge thanks to past president Dave Cordell and daughter Alice Cordell for missing breakfast, to get to the course early, to pitch the club tent in the perfect spot. Huge thanks also to Lynda Poyroo for finding and booking the posh hotel, Claire Austridge for organising and chaperoning the weekend and coaches Andy Frankish and Mike Reeves for all their chaperoning and coaching duties, Karen Barlow (expert lifeguard duties too) and Tim Soutar for their chaperoning duties, along with Steve Starvis who devised and perfectly delivered the quiz. 

Already looking forward to the 2027 version. It is worth noting that this event is normally around the February half Term, to avoid missing this great weekend please don’t book your half term holidays yet.

In the Senior events, the Senior Women achieved a high impressive 4th place, led home by Niamh Bridson-Hubbard in 9th, Andrea Clement in 12th and Ailbhe Barnes and Millie Smith packing well in 38th and 42nd respectively. Gracie Horton was 248th.

The Senior Men were a respectable 36th in the 6 to score format with scorers Dan Kennedy (262nd), Will Reedman-White (289th), Dave Adams (300th), Micah Evans (382nd), Ian Scott (594th), and Barry Horgan (863rd). President Steve Pairman (879th) and Chris Martin (1012th) completed our contingent.