Congratulations to Jess Gibbon who was crowned senior women’s National cross country champion for a second time this past weekend with a ruthless display.
The victory mirrored her win from 2022 when the nationals was last held at the Parliament Hill venue.
Jess has enjoyed a very solid winter season, representing GB and England, along with a BB&O championship win as well as Hampshire and Oxfordshire League victories for the club, however this race just highlighted what an immensely talented athlete she is.
The Parliament Hill venue is regarded by most at the home of cross country, a true test of physical and mental ability with its punishing hills and always muddy terrain and Saturday was no different. For Jess however she almost made it look easy as she virtually had the race won after 5 minutes, after ascending the opening hill, she pushed into the lead and from there she just continued to push away and won with a huge 41 second margin to claim the senior women’s title once more and cement herself as one of the club’s best ever athlete over cross country.
Pleasingly Anna Godfrey, Abi Farnworth and Shirley-Ann Dix were also on hand to ensure the ladies fielded a team as they placed 29th. Anna enjoyed a very solid outing herself in a field of 830 finishers, she battled through the tough conditions to take 209th. It is also so good to see Abi back running regularly and she can be very happy with her efforts around the 8km course to finish 383rd whilst Shirley-ann closed out the scoring quartet when she crossed the line in 492nd.
It was very pleasing to see Isabelle Craven and Alyssa Wilson line up for the under 13 girls and the experience they will have gained from their race will hold them in great stead going forward. Isabelle placed well with a pleasing effort as she claimed 160th position, whilst Alyssa closed out her race in 233rd, both girls doing very well over one of the hardest courses in the country.
Disappointedly we did not field any athletes in any of the other age groups. With only 6 female athletes in action across 5 age groups, it is disappointing to say the least, particularly for such a huge and iconic race - the pinnacle of the season almost. The potential is without doubt there at the club to field athletes and teams in all age groups and to do very well even at this level, as club/team competition is such an important part and definitely played a part of our senior athletes who raced this weekend - none more so than Jess, who always was out racing for the club as a youngster and through to the senior age group, as part of a team and helped gain the experience she was able to draw on this weekend towards her emphatic victory.