Race Report – Sportsshoes.com National Cross Country, Parliament Hill Fields, February 22nd
7 min readA classic in every sense
When everybody from the past champions watching to the newly crowned winners describe the conditions as ‘testing’, ‘horrendous’ and ‘energy sapping’ one thing is for sure, this year’s National was muddy to say the least! Regarded as arguably the home of cross-country runner, Hampstead Heath has been the scene of some epic battles over the years, but few have been quite as muddy as 2025. The testing, mud-sodden hills produced a classic test of strength, speed and tactical awareness from the moment the first gun set the U17 women on their way to the final runner crossing the line more than eight hours later. And to make things even more interesting this year, the first to the top of the hill in the senior men’s and senior women’s race was rewarded with a king or queen of the mountains vest just to make that mad dash from the lido up for the long, energy sapping first climb even trickier. Here’s how the action unfolded:
U17 women
Lucy Wilkinson (Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow), the silver medallist in the Southern, went one better to take the first title of the day. It also set the scene for what was about to occur in many of the races. Just one or two would be able to handle the conditions! She certainly was one of those as she opened up a commanding lead in the first five minutes and never looked troubled as she eased away for a big win. “That was horrifically muddy,” she said. “The only mildly solid bits were when you went up hill, so that wasn’t much fun.” Incredibly, this was Wilkinson’s first ever win in a cross-country race at any level. “I haven’t even won a county title,” she revealed before adding that she was really surprised to feel so good as she’s only just returned to running after being on crutches for four months. Truly amazing!
Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow won the team.
U15 boys
If Jake Ireland (Macclesfield) had been told beforehand he’d win thanks to his finishing sprint, he’d have laughed. “I’m not a good sprinter,” he said afterwards having done just that to ensure the win. “I got outsprinted at the Northerns so I’ve been practising my last 100 metres, even so I couldn’t quite believe it when I got away from Yaried [silver medallist, Yaried Alem (Leeds)].”
Cambridge and Coleridge won the team.
U13 girls
Mia McGoldrick (Settle) used her fell running strength to good use as she stamped her authority on this race early on. She quickly opened up a 100-metre lead on the chasing pack and never looked like she would lose that advantage. “I didn’t think I would win though,” said McGoldrick. “I thought I could make the top 10, so I’m very happy with that.” Next up for the life-long fell runner is the English Schools.
Liverpool Harriers won the team.
U17 men
“It was an absolute mud bath out there,” said the jubilant winner Alex Lennon (Sutton and District). “At one point we were all running so slow we looked like zombies,” he laughed. The victory was a bit of a surprise as in his own words he’s had an up and down season, “but I’m a London lad so I know the course; I bet I’ve raced here four or five times already,” he said. So, he used that local knowledge to good effect and when he did make his move, he thought: “I’ve got this!” He had, even finding time for a victory wave in the style of England footballer Cole Palmer.
Lennon also led Sutton and District to the team title.
U15 girls
For many, this promised to be the most competitive race of the day. And while perhaps the U13 boys’ event could claim that title, it was certainly exciting. It was tough to call with just a kilometre to run as a north v south battle was unfolding in front of the huge crowd that cheered the runners on from just about every part of the course. Gabrielle Pinder (North Marske), the Northern champion ran stride for stride with Kitty Scott (AFD), the Southern gold medallist and U13 champion a couple of seasons ago. It was Pinder who triumphed. “We’re used to hills where I’m from,” she laughed. “But it was so difficult out there as there were no breaks in the mud,” she added, again highlighting just how demanding a course this was.
Aldershot, Farnham & District easily won the team title.
U13 boys
Just nine seconds covered the first five and a mere three seconds separated first from third. But in the end, it was Zakariya Rush (Solihull and Small Heath) who prevailed thanks in part to his strong final straight, but more because of his bravery to take the race on with half a mile to run.
Preston Harriers took the team title.
U20 women
The prize for the most relaxed looking winner of the day must go to Isabel Holt (Blackburn). Always in the perfect position, she made her move to win as the field made its way through the woods for the final time. “I felt strong going up the hills, although I do have to say it was a very tough course,” she said, echoing the thoughts of just about every runner.
Blackheath and Bromley Harriers won the team.
Senior women
Sometimes everything just clicks into place and you feel great. That was the conclusion of winner Jessica Gibbon (Reading) who beat Amelia Quirk (Bracknell) by a comfortable 42 seconds. “But if you’d asked me beforehand, I’d have put my money of Amelia as she beat me the other week,” laughed Jessica. “But today, I just felt great. I was only about 12 th at the top of the hill but almost immediately found myself in the lead (after those who had made the mad dash to be queen of the mountain eased off).” Normally a runner who likes to surge late in a race, she explained: “I thought ‘just go for it’. I like to get the best out of myself and tend to do that on the big occasions, so I wasn’t worried about taking the risk.” It does, of course, help she knows the course well as she won here in 2022. “So I have good memories of the place. Next up is possibly the Bath Half Marathon and then a summer of road racing, her preferred surface. More than 1000 women toed the line in the almost century-old event, and it was Hester Hill (London Heathside) who was first to the top of the hill before finishing 236th.
Leeds City ran out team winners.
U20 men
This was a classic race in every sense. Five or six athletes could realistically claim they had a chance of winning with just a couple of kilometres to run, but as so often is the case fortune favours the brave. Matthew Pickering (AFD) hit the front and went for it. “Mind you, that move was almost by accident. I just went because I felt so good. And I do love cross. I love to make people hurt.” He did just that as pretty much instantly the chasing pack splintered, although not quite enough to allow Pickering to ease back. “I can’t thank my coach, Mick Woods, enough for this. He’s done everything to get me ready for what is the most prestigious title you can win. Thanks Mick!”
Tonbridge were the team winners.
Senior Men
By the time this race started – the final event in an action-packed programme – the course was cut to pieces. It was tough to stand let alone try and run the sub five-minute miles needed to be a contender. It would take something pretty special to win and Richard Slade (Chiltern) was more than up for that job. Ignoring the manic dash to the top of the hill, where the mountain king was crowned Slade bided his time and followed the pace set by Jack Gray (Cambridge and Coleridge). One by one the field was whittled down to just Slade and past winner – an ominously easy looking – James Kingston (Tonbridge). The two ran stride for stride for the best part of 6km, slowly building up a commanding lead on the chasing pack. “I let James do a lot of the work,” said Slade afterwards. “I know that’s a bit wrong, but when I made my move, I wanted it to be decisive.” He hit the front late on and while it perhaps wasn’t game over as Kingston was the 2023 champion, it did look like Slade had plenty in hand. “Given I’ve never even finished in the top 100 of anything like this before I did not expect to win,” he said, “but I have had a good winter and I did think top 10 was possible.” For Slade 2025 has seen him make huge improvements, highlighted by a seventh place in Spain recently, so what’s his secret? “Solid mileage; more than 80 miles per week and great coaching (from Matt Seddon). Plus, I’ve been a bit more dedicated. In the past you could count in single digits the amount of training I did on my own, but it’s different now.” As ever, the race proved to be hugely popular with more than 2500 hurtling up the hill – always an impressive sight. This year, it was perhaps even quicker as that king of the mountain vest was awarded to the first to the top (as long as they finished), and that was Isaac McAdam (Swindon) who was 822nd.
Bristol and West comfortably won the team title, along with the nine to score trophy.
