Perfect weather, perfect conditions and some superb performances made it a splendid day out for Liverpool Pembroke Sefton at the Northern Cross Country Championships at Pontefract Race Course. The best individual performance went to Toby Loveridge in the Junior Men`s race. Together with Mark Shaw of New Marske Harriers they gradually detached themselves from the rest of the field and were locked tandem-like to the finish with the international Shaw just having the final edge. A minute down Jai Vernon-McGuigan was having the race of his life. After a long lay off he stormed home ninth. Team medals were on the cards and Ben Costello(24) and Sean Kirkbride(66) duly obliged lifting LPS to second spot. Eddy Rimmer was 74th. Both Toby and Jai have put themsleves in contention for a Northern representative match in Belgium later in February.
There was further excitement for LPS as the Under 17 Men replicated their older club mates. Warren Turner(17), Ryan Blackwell(27), James Grundy(30) and Kyle Nicholls(50) unexpectedly took silver, with James Loftus(67), Rob Parkinson(101) and David Reece(102) in reserve. An excellent example of team running. Jonathan Bride(141) was a lone ranger at U15 level but the U13 Boys squad of Liam Bibby(31), Jack Crook(55), Joe Martin(65) and Josh Forrest(78) also acquitted themselves well finishing fifth team. Max Cotterill was 167th. The other males to appear were Seniors Sammy Rashid(212) and Chris Pedder(326).
Although only a handful of girls turned out there were a couple of delightful performances in the shape of a very dogged and determined Morag Molyneux, 11th in the U13 category and yet another classy run from Rosie Johnson 7th in the U15 race. Georgina Hannaway was 121st here. Senior, Kirsty Longley, still recovering from an excellent run for the North in Cardiff the previous week, had to settle for 28th on this occasion.
Charles Gains
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