The location for the 2005 World Cup Middle Distance race, competitors would face a great contrast between technical mine-works and fast runnable forest, interspersed with rhododendron and holly bushes, forcing runners to find a fine balance between full-paced running and keeping in contact with the map; the perfect combination for a Middle distance race.

The rain which had engulfed the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park at the Sprint Finals had returned and it was a drizzly morning which runners were faced with as they arrived at the assembly field. It would be tough conditions out in the forest, with the banks of the mine-works churning up under the persistent flow of runners.

As the early starters began to enter the finish arena to give an indication of a possible winning time, it was evident that this would not be a simple race. Many on both the Men’s and Women’s courses struggling to break 10min/km pace, despite it being a relatively short Middle distance course at only 5.5km and 4.5km respectively. This was clearly a technical challenge of the highest calibre. The seniors would have to watch out for the junior elite as well with both the M/W 18’s and 20’s running the same courses as the Elite field.

The Women’s race was an extremely close fought contest, with the times slowly creeping down below the 50-minute mark as the later starters began arriving in the finish after tackling a brutal run-in up a muddy, cultivated field (into a head-wind no less). The juniors would not replicate Fiona Bunn’s race at the sprints on Saturday, with Helen Ockendon (SROC) the closest to challenging the Elite women, taking the Junior title in a time of 43.38. The first senior woman to challenge the 40-minute barrier was ex-GB international Rachael Rothman (SYO) –  who had competed at the World Cup Middle distance race on Leith Hill in 2005 and clearly knew what it would take today – posting a time of 39.59 at the finish. Her time would be closely tested by her teammate, and current British Long Distance Champion, Kim Baxter (SYO) who would fall just shy of Rothman’s mark in a time of 40.21. However, the best was yet to come, in the form of Lucy Butt (SARUM). Starting just 2minutes behind Baxter, Butt caught her 2-minute woman, coming in to a clear winning margin in a time of 38.03, the fastest of the day. She would be challenged by the FVO duo of Anastasia Trubkina and Fanni Gyurko, who would surpass Rothman’s time but only just, coming in at 39.37 and 39.21 respectively – though they were ineligible for the final podium. But neither could do enough to displace Lucy Butt from the top-step of the podium and sealing a maiden senior British title.

The Men’s race was an equally tight affair. The early starters would struggle to break the 50-minute barrier, with GB team coach Edward Nicholas (AROS) posting an early time of 45.33 to be one of the only in the first block to do so. Nicholas would hold onto 1st until the last Junior Elites began arriving into the finish, firstly in the form of Andrew Barr (EUOC) would be the first to go below 40 minutes, in 39.20. Barr would be just pipped to the post by Joe Woodley (ShUOC), who would win the junior title in 39.05. These times would stand until the very final Elite starters began to enter the arena. Peter Bray (SN) would be the first to challenge in a time of 39.15 (good enough for 8th on the day) before being eclipsed by Peter Hodkinson (NOC), who dropped the winning time still further to 37.29; but still two-minutes shy of the predicted winning time of 35-minutes. The crowd did not have to wait long before this mark would be bettered, with the Saturday’s Sprint Champion Kris Jones (SBOC) demolishing Hodkinson’s time to take what seemed an insurmountable lead in 34.09. It was only British Long Distance Champion Graham Gristwood (FVO) who was left in the forest who could attempt to knock Jones out of contention for his second gold medal in as many days. It was not to be, with Gristwood falling just shy and having to settle for 2nd place in a time of 34.17. The final drama was still to come, with Alasdair McLeod (CLYDE) piping Hodkinson for 3rd place by a mere 5-seconds, in 37.24, to take his second podium of the weekend.

Thank you to the organisers for what was a fantastic event, the courses clearly provided the challenge necessary to crown a worthy champion.

Full provisional results for the British Middle Distance Championships can be found here

Item posted by Jennie Taylor, Marketing Manager on behalf of William Gardner (SHUOC)