Second-best is big step up for Heyes

Hallamshire’s Andy Heyes produced a superb run in the National Cross Country Championships in London – going one better than last year to finish runner-up.
Hallamshire's Andy Heyes, centre.Hallamshire's Andy Heyes, centre.
Hallamshire's Andy Heyes, centre.

After suffering with illness prior to Christmas, Heyes returned to action with a bang, making light of the heavy conditions at the famous Hampstead Heath to coming behind Sale’s Charlie Hulston.

Prominent throughout at Parliament Hill, Heyes could not hold Hulston who forced the pace from the halfway mark.

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Notts AC won the team race from Bedford with Leeds City finishing third.

It was a fine performance from an under strength Leeds team who have the remarkable record of have been in the top three for 13 consecutive years. Even more remarkable, Simon Deakin has been a counter in each of those 13 teams and has just completed a stint as team manager. Yesterday he was the third Leeds runner in 43rd place. Leeds were led home by Danny Davies (29th) and their other counters were Carl Smith (42nd), Joe Townsend (50th), Mike Burrett (86th) and Michael Salter (105th).

Lily Partridge (Aldershot) won the women’s race and led her club to the expected team victory over Bristol with Rotherham repeating last year’s bronze medal performance.

Yorkshire and Northern champions, Rotherham are a model of consistency.

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Sam Johnson led them home in 19th place and Annabelle Grady (33rd), Jess Fawcett (52nd) and Robyn Lanceley (85th) completed the counting quartet to put them almost 100 points ahead of fourth-placed Herne Hill.

At Under-17 level City of Sheffield’s James Gormley held on well to take the silver medal with Holmfirth’s Lewis Byram just missing a medal in fourth.

In the Under-15 girls race, Tilly Simpson was narrowly outsprinted and took the bronze medal, a superb performance in her first year in the age group. Amelia Lancaster (City of Sheffield) also had a fine run to finish fourth.

In the youngest age group, the Under-13 section, Leeds City’s Tommy Dawson followed the fine traditions of his club to take the title with plenty in hand.

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In the Yorkshire and Northern Championships Dawson was runner-up to City of York’s Josh Dickinson but this time he overturned those earlier results in style with Dickinson finishing seventh in a field of 400.

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