Lotto Cross Cup, Brussels 20th December 2015

This event, which as usual provided high standard competition, took place on an unseasonably warm & sunny day.
England had full teams in both senior and junior categories, and the North had a full senior women’s team but a depleted senior men’s team.
However, the commitment and performances of our athletes again demonstrated the importance of the North providing this “stepping stone” opportunity for area athletes, to test themselves against not only the England runners, but some of the best European athletes.
The event provides a full programme of races for all ages, as part of the Belgian Cross Cup Series, with the senior women’s race, at 1:30 the first event for the Northern athletes.
Selection for both teams had been based upon performances at the Sefton park Cross Challenge. The North women’s team was: Alex Bell (Pudsey & Bramley), Sophie Cowper (Lincoln Wellington AC), Claire Duck (Leeds City) and Amelia Pettitt (Vale Royal U23).
Claire & Alex, were making their debut for the North, and Claire had a great run to finish 12th, and 3rd GBR athlete. Alex was only 11 seconds behind Claire, in 15th place just 1 second ahead of Amelia ( having passed her in the finish run in). Sophie finished 24th to complete an excellent set of performances.
Alex & Amelia were the 5th & 6th GBR athletes to finish, with the race winner, former Euro Cross Champion, Fionnula McCormick – Britton.
The men’s race followed at 2:00pm, with our 2 North athletes – Carl Avery (Morpeth) making his first appearance for the North & Carl Hardman (Salford). Danny Cliffe having been deservedly selected for the England team as a late replacement; Jack Morris (U23), the 4th selected athlete had been unable to make the travelling commitment needed for the event.
The North were well represented in the England team, with Nick Swinburn 4th (Morpeth) and Jack Morris 6th (Stockport) being the first two England team scorers home. Carl Avery had a great debut for the North, finishing 14th and third GBR athlete. Carl Hardman had a solid run to finish 24th.
Thanks to all the North athletes for being great ambassadors for the area and the sport.
A big thankyou to Sally Malir (women’s team manager) & Kevin Hussey (men’s team manager, and second car driver for the North).
Sally’s daughter Georgia completed the England clean sweep in the junior women’s race, with a fine 4th place.

Results (Top 25)

Senior Women
1 29 MCCORMACK-BRITTON FIONNUAL 84 IRL sen NA 20:07
2 31 KOSTER MAUREEN 92 NED sen NA 20:14
3 230 DELESA DERARTU DEBELA 19 ETH sen NA 20:23
4 1 CARTON LOUISE 94 BEL sen ACME 25 20:27
5 2 DEJAEGHERE VEERLE 73 BEL sen AVR 20 20:40
6 224 SMALL LOUISE 19 GBR sen NA 20:48
7 21 DEADMAN KATE GBR sen NA 20:49
8 22 ARTER CHARLOTTE 91 GBR sen NA 20:50
9 9 BELETE ALMENSH 89 BEL sen VAC 17 20:50
10 37 CHEPKWONY BETTY 95 KEN sen NA 21:07
11 4 TRUYERS IMANA 93 BEL sen AVT 15 21:08
12 33 DUCK CLAIRE 85 GBR sen NA 21:10
13 19 HULLS KATE 85 GBR sen NA 21:19
14 6 VANDENBUSSCHE HANNA 87 BEL sen MACW 13 21:20
15 32 BELL ALEXANDRA 92 GBR sen NA 21:21
16 34 PETTITT AMELIA 95 GBR sen NA 21:22
17 3 VAN ACCOM SOFIE 89 BEL sen ACHL 11 21:30
18 20 TASCHIMOVITS NAOMI GBR sen NA 21:33
19 5 VAN DE VELDE JULIE 93 BEL sen FLAC 9 21:44
20 36 KIPROTICH GLADYS 90 KEN sen NA 21:56
21 7 DEWILDE CHARLOTTE 94 BEL sen DCLA 8 22:11
22 35 COWPER SOPHIE 90 GBR sen NA 22:14
23 227 SCHOUTEN ESTHER 93 BEL sen VMOL 7 22:26
24 18 SCAUNET VANESSA 96 BEL sen OEH 6 22:43
25 187 HOST SANDRINE 75 BEL sen RFCL 5 22:58

Senior Men

1 265 TASAMA FAISA DAME** 87 ETH sen VAC 32:19
2 46 ERENG PATRICK 87 KEN sen NA 32:44
3 20 D’HOEDT JEROEN 90 BEL sen CABW 25 32:47
4 24 SWINBURN NICK 88 GBR sen NA 32:53
5 47 KURUI DICKSON 90 KEN sen NA 32:58
6 27 MARTIN JACK 88 GBR sen NA 33:01
7 1 KIMELI ISAAC 94 BEL sen OEH 20 33:08
8 236 EL HACHIMI ABDELHADI 74 BEL sen SMAC 17 33:09
9 4 MICHIELS YANNICK 91 BEL sen VMOL 15 33:10
10 264 KORIR EVANS 19 KEN sen NA 33:13
11 2 DE BOCK THOMAS 91 BEL sen OEH 13 33:17
12 6 RUELL KIM 87 BEL sen RESC 11 33:21
13 5 CASTEELE STEVEN 94 BEL sen KKS 9 33:23
14 43 AVERY CARL 86 GBR sen NA 33:24
15 10 BRANDENBOURG MICHAEL 86 BEL sen RFCL 8 33:26
16 50 LICHT DENNIS 0 NED sen NA 33:26
17 25 CLIFFE DANIEL 90 GBR sen NA 33:28
18 3 BASEMANS DRIES ADRIANUS 92 BEL sen DCLA 7 33:36
19 40 NILSSON DAVID 87 SWE sen NA 33:39
20 26 STUDLEY DANIEL 92 GBR sen NA 33:44
21 9 STROOBANTS JESSE 80 BEL sen DCLA 6 34:04
22 258 MOUKRIME TARIK 92 BEL sen RFCL 5 34:09
23 8 VANDERLINDEN LAURENS 95 BEL sen DCLA 4 34:17
24 44 HARDMAN CARL 83 GBR sen NA 34:28
25 32 BEROK MOHAMED 89 MRT sen NA 34:36

Report & Photos Steve Gaines