Race Date: Sunday 17^th November 2024

Penistone Showground is a large, undulating, open expanse with hardly a tree in sight to provide cover from the stiff breeze blowing straight up the course. Alongside the chilly conditions the main talking point was the usual cost/benefit analysis of footwear at this venue. Spikes for the best grip on the predominantly grass course or a more comfortable stud to deal with the 300m or so stretch of tarmac/stony path.

With banners bending in the breeze, at the end of the first ‘medium’ lap will Kate Scott catch Debbie Richards from Sheffield RC? (Ash Molloy)

With the British and Irish Masters XC Championships held in Belfast the day before the stars were away on International duty allowing others to gain an extra point or two in the vets categories. Otherwise, spectators were treated to some excellent intra Steel City contests, the closest in the women’s event with Caroline Brock pipping rival Sarah Thorne by a single second. That’s two – one to Caroline in the league this year. In the men’s event it was nip and tuck between Louis Wood and Tim Erskine with Tim striding away on the downhill with Louis regaining the advantage on the climbs to eventually get a 15 second gap on the final lap.

A great competition between Louis Wood and Tim Erskine. (Louise Rowley)

Whilst masters athletics may be just a mere sideshow a look through the results shows that only six of the thirty five Steel City competing were actually Seniors. (Although M35’s aren’t really vets).

Women 6400m