SONNY ALLEN, who, this season, came 3rd In the Southern 'Under 17' Cross-country Championships, on the 24th of January, then 4th in the Inter-Area London Cross-Challenge at Parliament Hill, on the 7th of February, was crowned National Champion, at Hadwick East Park, Sedgfield, Durham, on Saturday (21/2). 156 finished the race and Allen won in 16:17 from Aldershot & Farnham's Kitty Scott, 2nd in 16:26.
The Men's team finished 10th in the scoring but they had some high placings out of the 1300 runners that took part and they were 44th Flurry Grierson (40:31); 48 Terry Fawden (40:35); 80 Chris Rainsford (41:47); and 102 Rob Wilson (42.34). The winner was Hugo Milner of Derby AC, who had won the London Cross-Challenge, on the 7th of February at Parliament Hill. His time for winning the National was 37:07.
In the Women's race in which 531 finished Highgate's Hannah Viner, came 32nd in 31.19 and Ex-Highgate Harrier now in Yorkshire Becky Penty was 63rd in 32.47. The winner was Lucy Jones of Herne Hill Harriers in 28:54.