An exciting day of racing unfolded at Sefton Park for the UKA Cross Challenge, sponsored by SportsShoes.com, as Britain’s leading endurance athletes battled for selection for next month’s European Cross Country Championships in Portugal.
A commanding performance from Cari Hughes (Cardiff) saw her go one better than her runner-up finish in 2024, securing victory in Liverpool and confirming her place for December’s European Cross Country Championships. The Welsh athlete was part of an early lead trio with Poppy Tank (City of Plymouth) and Izzy Fry (Newbury), before decisively going clear of Tank on the final turn to claim the senior women’s title.
Hughes said: “I am over the moon with that. I really didn’t know what to expect coming into the race. It has been a difficult two weeks leading up, as there were some issues my body wasn’t ready for, so to come here and take the win, I cannot believe it. I am so happy.”
In the senior men’s race, the Morpeth Harriers duo delivered a superb one-two. Scott Beattie produced a confident and controlled display, outkicking training partner Rory Leonard to take the Liverpool crown. Richard Slade (Chiltern), the reigning English National Champion, crossed the line in third, followed by Jacob Cann (Western Tempo) in fourth.
Leonard said: “Nothing worse than being beaten by your best mate! Buzzing for him. It was a bit pedestrian in the first half mile and thought I don’t race like this so I threw in a hard 400m, saw Scott coming and waved and then proceeded to go straight past me!”
After her breakthrough 2024 season, Megan Harris (Chelmsford) ran an impressive race to claim the U23 women’s title in 18:46 on a heavy and muddy course. Emily Parker (Poole AC) and Mia Waldmann (Reading AC) took second and third, respectively. India Barwell (Lincoln Wellington) secured the fourth automatic selection spot for the Novuna GB & NI U23 team.
The U23 men’s race was controlled from the front as Matthew Ramsden (Blackburn) dominated the two-lap contest to seal victory and earn his first international vest. A tight battle for the remaining podium places saw Joel Doye (Woodford Green Essex Ladies) finish narrowly ahead of Sam Hodgson (Windsor Slough Eaton & Hounslow), with Finley Proffitt (Trafford) taking fourth.
In the U20 women’s race, Innes FitzGerald (Exeter) carried on her fine form from Cardiff, delivering a commanding performance, storming to victory in 14:11 – almost a minute clear of Lizzie Wells (Colchester) and Isabel Holt (Blackburn), who claimed second and third in a close finish. Zara Redmond (Kilbarchan) and Eliza Nicholson (Blackheath & Bromley) completed the automatic team qualifiers for Lagoa.
The 2024 European U20 Cross Country Champion said: “There is something I just love about cross country, I just come here every year and I am stressing about it as it is Liverpool, it is a big thing. Then I come out here and I have so much fun, and a bit of mud is always good for me.
“There is a lot of pressure going into it, going there to defend the titles but ultimately I want to have fun. It is the last race of U20 and I know stepping into the senior races it suddenly gets bigger pressure so I want to go there and have fun, and enjoy it. Fingers cross I will be in a good place fitness wise to defend that title.”
The U20 men’s event came down to a thrilling sprint finish, with Michael Clark (City of Norwich) edging out Cardiff winner Will Rabjohns (Poole AC) to secure the Liverpool win. Alex Lennon (Sutton & District) followed in third, while an elated Jonson Hughes (Rotherham), followed by Quinn Miell-Ingram (Radley), completed the top five.
Clarke said: “This whole month we have been planning I know it would go down to the home straight between me and Will, and if I am going to have enough energy at the end of the race to out kick him. I did. I was smart; I didn’t go out the front as hard as I wanted to. I reserved and I used it so well and made that final kick.”
Next stop in the Cross Challenge Series is Parliament Hill, London on the 7 February. The full Novuna GB & NI team for the 2025 European Cross Country Championships will be announced later next week.
Full results featuring the U17, U15, U13 and U11 races can be found here.
