The Brighton & Hove boys had an enjoyable time at the National Cross Country Championships on Saturday 21^st February. The club put a total of 15 runners out in the under 13, under 15 and under 17 age groups. Although the weather was un-seasonally kind to the team conditions at Parliament Hill were muddy under foot.

The days events kicked off with the under 15 boys at 11:05. Liam Hurley was the first to complete the 4.5 K course in 60^th place of the 398 finishers with a time of 16:57. Considering Liam is a junior at this level this bodes well for next year. The rest of the boys were Tom Wilmot 129^th in 17:45, Alex Rice 229^th, 18:45, Charlie Noakes 325, 19:58 and Harvey Noakes 331, 20:05. The 'stick with it at all costs' award for the day must go to Charlie Noakes who managed to lose a shoe, spike himself, go back for his shoe and still finish. The team came 28^th of the 47 teams that scored

Next off were the under 17's at 12:20. James McCarthy led the boys home finishing the 6 K race in a time of 22:19, 70^th of the 285 finishers. Second home was Will Gray 112 in 23:07 then Kieran Silsby 153^rd in 23:54 and Chris Woolcott 221^st in 25:06. The team came 18^th of 27.

Of the three races the most drama came from the youngest age group in their 3 K race. The under 13's went off at 2 o'clock. Barry Sides got stuck in traffic on the way to the meet and just managed to get Lewis to the course as the rest of the boys were going down to the start, not the best warm up. Star of the day Tom Poole led the boys over the line 44^th of the 356 finishers in a time of 12:50. James Hobbs lost a shoe at the half mile mark, bit of a theme here, threw it to Pete Wickam as he went past him and carried on. Jamie Oliver followed Tom in 59^th place with a time of 12:58. Tom Stewart-Green came 230^th in 14:23, Lewis Sides 267^th in 14:50, Harry Sullivan Jones 296^th, 15:13 and James Hobs with one shoe finished 325^th in 15:49. The under 13 team finished 22^nd of 42.

For full results go to www.englishcrosscountry.co.uk.