Lichfield Running Club certainly finished this year’s cross country season on a high! After a tightly-fought final race at Sinai Park, the combined team were crowned winners of the Derby Runner Cross Country League for 2023/24, with both the combined and men’s teams finishing first on the day too!

The preceding week’s weather had turned the already tough course into a quagmire, which made the hills even more challenging than usual, but our runners gave their all, recording some fantastic times and placings.

No fewer than seven men finished in the top twenty positions (out of a field of 106 finishers). It was another first place for Matt Orford, who flew round the course in 37:19, followed by Andy Evans (3rd – 39:18), John Doyle (6th – 40:56) and Matt Allan (9th- 41:57). Esther Hunt was first woman home for the club, crossing the line in 4th place (47:47); furthermore she finished 3rd in the competition overall and 1st in her age category. What a great achievement! Congratulations also go to Adrian Jelley, who picked up 1st place in his age category after a consistent first season for the club. After a nail biting wait, the results were in and LRC were announced as competition winners – a brilliant end to a great season!

Full results on the day as follows:

Men: 1st: Matt Orford; 3rd: Andy Evans; 6th: John Doyle; 9th: Matt Allan; 13th: Tom Bissett; 17th: Wayne Asprey; 18th: Owen Davis; 25th: Dave Sanders; 30th: Adrian Jelley; 51st: Nick Parkes; 60th: David Gould; 86th: James Taylor.

Women: 4th: Esther Hunt; 32nd: Ruth Kennedy-Green; 38th: Gillian Peck; 43rd: Jess Webb; 55th: Abbi Storer; 59th: Georgina Orford; 60th; Carina Allan; 68th: Marian Lowther; 69th: Charlotte Wesley.

We’d like to send a huge ‘thank you’ to our captain, Owen, for his dedication in getting a team together for each and every event and to all our runners and supporters who turned out, whatever the weather, baked cakes, collected entry fees, carried the kit…….we could go on. Cross country really is a team effort, and what a great team you are! Here’s to continued success next season!