Report from Crossags

Conditions at Crossags Farm in Ramsey were most untypical for Round 2 of the Manx Gas Cross Challenge on Sunday 11th November. The hilly and challenging course is often extremely wet and muddy, but on this occasion conditions were excellent both overhead and underfoot – ideal for fast and exciting racing.

Defending champion John Halligan secured his second win of the season in the Senior/Veteran Men’s race with a characteristically well-judged run. After a cautious start that saw him back in 6th place midway round the first of the three laps, he gradually upped the pace to build a comfortable lead on lap 2 after which he was never in danger of being caught. The real excitement came with a thrilling battle between 4 athletes for second place. At the top of the climb on lap 3, Ed Gumbley, Darren Gray and Nigel Armstrong were virtually together with Gianni Epifani only a few metres in arrears. Gumbley and Gray showed impressive speed on the steep descent through the fields to edge away from Armstrong who in turn opened up a small gap on Epifani. A final sprint for the line saw Gumbley just nudging ahead of Gray to take 2nd place. Behind this group, early leader Tony Okell may well have seriously challenged the leaders had he not sustained a nasty gaping cut just below his shoulder when he took too tight a line through one of the fast downhill corners on the first lap. Although he must have been in considerable pain, he gamely continued the race to finish 6th.

Ryan Fairclough of the host club Northern AC was the only competitor in the Junior Men’s race, and continued his magnificent track form of last summer with a fine run over two laps of the course.

There was a disappointing turnout of only 4 competitors in the Senior/Veteran Ladies Race. Gail Griffiths was unchallenged in the absence of her main rival Sarah Nelson, running strongly throughout to win by almost 3 minutes from Bridget Kaneen. Ann Cain took 3rd place, whilst not far behind Bethany Clague continued her recent spectacular improvement with another excellent run.

The most exciting finish came in the Short Course race. Conor Delanbanque led narrowly from Michael Haslett in the closing stages of the 1-lap race, but 400 metre specialist Haslett used his sprinting speed to good effect to reel in his younger rival. At the line they couldn’t be separated and the result was given as a dead heat.

In a pleasing reversal of recent trends there was a good turnout in the Under 17 age group races. Tom Richmond proved that his talent is not restricted to the track with a fine run to win the Men’s race from Tom Bateson and Jordan Cain. In the corresponding Ladies race Gemma Astin eased to her second victory of the series more than a minute clear of Island Games team-mate Rachael Franklin. Bronwen Kaneen ran well to finish 3rd in her first appearance of the series.

In the Under 15 Girls race, Sarah Astin was in magnificent form winning by a minute and a half from Hannah Scarlett who just held off Polly Rogerson to take 2nd. Indeed, Sarah finished only 10 seconds behind elder sister Gemma in the concurrently run Under 17 race. They can both look forward with confidence to the UK Cross Challenge event in Liverpool a week on Saturday.

Jack Garrett gained revenge for his defeat by Adam Young in the 1st Round with a hard-fought win by 6 seconds in the Under 13 Boys race with Shaun Moore not far behind in 3rd. In the Under 13 Girls category the highly talented Alice Ashe made a most welcome return from injury to take the win by 20 seconds from Alexandra Ross with Clara Nathan completing the top 3.

Will Morris took another victory in the Under 11 Boys, but Harvey Neale and Conor Caley also ran extremely well and were much closer to Will than they were last time out. The Under 11 Girls race turned into a repeat of the last round with Rebecca Nathan just edging out Katie Astin – this promises to be a battle royal all season! Alicia Oates showed great improvement to take 3rd.

Newcomer Jamie Garrett took a great win in the Under 9 Boys race, ahead of Patrick Cox and Conor Davies who had another sprint finish just as they did at Nobles Park. Danielle Barton turned the tables on Aimee Cringle with a fine win in the Under 9 Girls with Anna Clarke Smith taking 3rd place.

Many thanks go all at Northern AC and Crossags Farm for their usual friendly hospitality, and to all who helped out on the day. Round 3 will be hosted by Western AC at Glen Lough Camp Site in Glen Vine on Sunday 9th December, with racing getting under way at 2pm. All are welcome.