National Cross Country Championships, London
Three MACs ventured south to London last weekend to be part of the supporting cast at the 2025 National Cross Country finals at Parliament Hill. Regarded as something of an iconic venue in cross country circles, the course features rolling hills and plenty of clag.
It also has excellent transport links (all aboard the 1995 tube stock!) so no issues with parking this year.
With the men’s field stretching to nearly 1800 participants the course did get a bit pinched at points, and disappointingly there were plenty of folk skipping outside of the tapes searching for a drier line. Hopefully they’ve been unable to sleep due to the burden of guilt.
Greg Hopkinson lead us home in 386th pace and a respectable time of 55:28, followed by myself (555) and Ben Meakin (656). Second claimer Jay Bird donned his Ripley vest and really got his money’s worth, taking in the sights and sounds of Hampstead Heath and knee sliding along the finish straight for 1771st position.
Demonstrating the quality at the front end, Richard Slade of Chiltern Harriers AC won in a scarcely believable time of 43:52.
