The Lotto Cross Cup de Hannut, Sunday 22 nd January 2023, Hannut, Belgium
The Lotto Cross Cup de Hannut is an annual cross country running competition that takes place in Hannut in the Belgian province of Liège. It holds permit meeting status from the European Athletic Association and attracts top athletes from Europe and Africa. Typically held in January or February, the competition was created as a men’s only event in 1941 and in its first decade a number of Belgian champions competed, including Gaston Reiff and Marcel Vandewattyne. It became increasingly international in nature and the 1950s saw Olympic medallists top the podium, such as Derek Ibbotson, Gordon Pirie and Franjo Mihalić. Despite the growth of foreign competition, Gaston Roelants(the 1964 Olympic steeplechase champion) was dominant at the competition in the 1960s and two more Belgian Olympians, Emiel Puttemans and Vincent Rousseau, extended the national-level success from the mid-1970s through to the 1990s. A women’s race was introduced in 1977 and attracted high level foreign competition from 1990 onwards.
England frequent Belgium most seasons to compete in various venues whichever fits the England Cross Country schedule for that season. This season we visit Hannut for the Cross Cup event in January. With a range of successes over many seasons including victories in all ages at the various Cross Cup venues we will once again travel to Belgium with expectation of success. More importantly enabling all the athletes to gain experience and confidence in an event which has been held since the 1940’s. A twisting winding multi-lap typical Belgian course will test our athletes once again.
Senior Men (Eamonn Martin)
Jack Gray, Cambridge & Coleridge. Coach: Mark Vile
Jack has run for England many times and steps in very late for Hugo Milner who has a minor niggle that will prevent him racing. Jack ran the Valencia 10k last week so is race ready. He finished 9th in the Inter-counties cross country last March and was 21st at the Liverpool European cross trial in November having finished 11th in the Cardiff cross challenge (October) and 10th in the home countries international in Milton Keynes on November.
Ellis Cross, Aldershot Farnham & District. Coach: Mick Woods
Ellis gained fame in May of this year defeating Mo Farah into 2nd place in the Vitality London 10k winning in 28m 40s. He was 3 rd in the European Clubs cross
country in Portugal in February 22. He came 2nd in the Great South Run in October clocking 47m32s for 10miles. He followed that by running the fastest on leg 3 in the ECCA Cross Country relays in November (3rd fastest of the day) he then went on to finish 14 th at the Euro Cross Country Trial in Liverpool and secured a 2nd reserve slot. However, Ellis was drafted into the team at late notice as 2 nd reserve and had a fine run in Turin with little mental preparation to be 4th senior man to finish in 37th place.
Joe Wigfield, Liverpool Harriers. Coach: Craig Winrow
Joe was 1 st home on leg 1 at the ECCA National Cross Country relays at Mansfield in November having had a lean racing season prior to this after missing the whole of 2021. He previously won the BUC’s cross country in 2020. Joe then made the Euro Cross U23 team at the Liverpool trial in November finishing 10 th (3 rd U23) and followed that with a superb 13 th place in the European Cross U23 in Turin where the GB U23 team won Gold Medals.
Ned Potter, Newham & Essex Beagles/Loughborough. Coach: Sonia McGeorge
Ned was 9 th in the Junior Mens National Cross Country in February 22 AND has showed good from as he has stepped up to the Senior Ranks. 16 th place in the European Trial at Liverpool in November (8 th U23) meant he missed out on selection for the U23 European Team despite having beaten athletes 2 weeks before the trial who made the team when he won the Birmingham League. He recently won his Sussex County championships again beating a strong field to show he is in good form currently.
Senior Women (Sue Lamb)
Sarah Astin, Belgrave Harriers. Coach: Geoff Watkin
Sarah finished 10 th (7 th Senior) in the European Cross Trial at Liverpool and just missed out being part of the GB team in Turin. This was an impressive performance off the back of PB’s this summer in 1500 and 3000 on the track. Sarah’s Cross Country season started at the prestigious Atapeurca XC, in Burgos, Spain in November and along with last year’s 4 th in the Southern and 13 th National Cross Country sees a good Cross Country season ahead.
Amelia Quirk, Bracknell AC. Coach: Mick Woods
Amelia’s start to the Cross Country season saw her finish 2 nd in the Cross Challenge in Cardiff behind Pamela Kosgei from Kenya. Her 6 th place in last year’s European Trial at Liverpool and 12 th place U23 finish at the European Cross Country gives Amelia great Cross Country experience backed up with her 5000 PB on the track this summer.
Alexandra Millard, Invicta. Coach: Bill Foster
A great season so far for Alex with her podium 3 rd place in the European U23 XC in Turin. Alex started her Cross Country season in the Dublin Open International finishing 3 rd and then went on to win Milton Keynes running for England in the Home Countries. Her great form continued with an 8 th place finish at Liverpool (3rd U23) gaining her GB selection in the European Cross Country Team. Alex has had a successful 2022 winning the Junior National Cross Country Title, 4 th in the BUCS, 10 th in Elgoibar running as a Senior for England. PB’s in 800/1500/3000/5000 and winning the 3000 at the Loughborough International.
Lauren McNeil, Hallamshire.
Lauren’s first Cross Country race this season was in the European Trial in Liverpool where she finished 19 th /7 th U23 and just missing out on GB selection. Lauren has had a positive year gaining PB’s in 3000 & 5000 on the track and 5K and Half Marathon on the road. Lauren also finished 2 nd on leg 1 in the ERRA National Road Relays close behind Abbie Donnelly.
U20 Men (Keith Holt)
Luke Birdseye, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow. Coach: Shireen Higgins
To say Luke is enjoying an excellent cross country season is an understatement. Luke started his season back in November with victory this year’s Home Countries International when representing the South of England. This was followed up with a 3 rd place in Liverpool which booked his place on the team for the European Cross-Country Championships in Turin where he finished in 5th place. As the second eligible junior in Turin Luke has satisfied the selection criteria for the World Cross Country Championships in February.
James Dargan, Aldershot Farnham & District. Coach: Mick Woods
James enjoyed a good 2021 – 2022 cross-country season with the highlight being his silver medal in the ESAA English Schools Championships in March. James clearly likes the English Schools Championships as he won gold in the 3000m in July before going on to take silver in SIAB Schools International T&F Competition a week later in Belfast. James was 13 th in Liverpool which in this case is a lucky number.
Jacob Deacon Chorley ATC. Coach: Katie Hewison
Jacob is another one of our fine crop of younger juniors. He finished 3rd in the ECCA Under 17 National Cross Country Championships in February before concluding his season with another 3rd place in the Under 17 Inter-Counties in March. Jacob has clearly taken a step up this season with a 4th place finish in Liverpool which booked his place on the team for the European Cross Country Championships in Turin where he finished in 28th place.
Daniel Maydew, Wells City H. Coach: Simon Prior
Daniel has put down a marker this winter with a much- improved run in Cardiff (4th Englishman) Sadly, a chesty cold has delayed his progress this winter but he is now back on track and looking to maintain his development and upward trajectory.
U20 Women (Barbara Cutting)
Rebecca Flaherty, Bingley.
Rebecca finished 3 rd in the English Schools Track & Field Championships in the 3000. In last season’s cross Country season she was 3rd at the North of England Championships following this result she was 5 th in the Inter Counties. This season Rebecca has continued to improve finishing second in the World Mountain & Trial Running Championships in the Junior group. At the Cross Country Trials she finished 5 th thus gaining selection for the European Cross Country Championships ultimately finishing 18th.
Yasmin Kashdan, Crawley AC. Coach: Vince Golding
15th in U17 English Schools Cross Country Championships 2022, National Cross Country Championships 2022 4th U17, 2nd U17 9th overall at the Cross Country Challenge at Milton Keynes, 1st U17 South of England Inter Counties Championships and Sussex County Champion 2023 U17
Innes Fitzgerald, Exeter Harriers. Coach: Gavin Pavey
Innes won all schools races in 2022 including the Schools International Athletic Board 3000m and the Cross Country Championships. This cross country season she won the Cardiff Cross Country Challenge in October. She then won the European Cross Trial at Liverpool gaining selection for GB Junior team at the European Cross Country championships in Turin where she finished an excellent 4th place.
Hattie Reynolds, City of Norwich. Coach: Tim Ash
Hattie won the South of England Championships in the under 17 age group this form carried on as she finished second in the National under 17 Championships also. This Cross Country season she has picked up where she left off last season finishing 7 th at the recent Cross Country Challenge at Milton Keynes. At the European Cross Country Trials she finished 13th. With these good results Hattie finished second in the South of England Inter-County Championships under 20 in December.
