Anyone know what the course is like at Sunderland?
And the big question, Who's in for the individual & team medals?
Personally, I think Dom Bannister is the man to beat, with the Leeds, salford, Sale, Altrincham, NEB, SBH, Bedford & Tipton all team contenders. What do you think guys? Who's in form?
Heard its hilly and sure to be muddy as its on a reclaimed slag heap/mine and doesn't drain very well. Its also apparently narrow in places and those who ran NE champs there recently said they thought the course would struggle to cope with a National.
Bannister's coming into form but Tickner is the man to beat. He's won everything domestically this season. I think Riley is doing it too so he will be up there & that'll probably be the top 3. Leeds have got to be favourites for the team again with Bedford, Tipton and Notts the closest challengers.
Seniors:
1. Tickner
2. Riley
3. Noad
Juniors:
1. Deighton
2. Minshull
3. Mellor
Course is a dog, uneven, rutted, very muddy and lots of surface water, it is also very narrow in places and has sections of gravel path. Not sure who I would tip, Dominic Bannister maybe?
Can't see anyone beating "The Damonator" in the senior womens.
Yeah yeah yeah, this is all very good but surely the most important question is where's the best post race bash in Newcastle going to be?!
Why on earth would you expect anyone to win other than Frank Tickner?
murakami wrote:
Why on earth would you expect anyone to win other than Frank Tickner?
because Pete Riley won last year my a country mile and is using the race as prep for london marathon again. With the world xc picks all away though, other than Riley, no evidence anyone else will get close to Tickner unless Tromans comes out of retirement
1 Noad
2 Tickner
3 A Jones
4 Riley
5 Abyu
Won't Noad be in South Africa. What about Lobb as a dark horse to make the top 3. Always runs well on the mud and hills.
Tickner
Tickner
Baker
Hennessy
Wells to win the team with a record low score
f wrote:
Tickner
Tickner
Baker
Hennessy
Wells to win the team with a record low score
Theres six to score not four!
Hard to look past Leeds, Salford, Morpeth, Notts and possibly Bedford for the senior mens medals. Cant see many of the southern teams getting 6 good uns up to sunderland. Would be surprised if any of the World Cross selections are allowed to run just 2 weeks before mombassa
If you add Marriott to that 4 they've nearly got a team that could win it. just need one more guy who can finish top 80 or so and that would probably be good enough to challenge Leeds.
yeah, because theres not any roads or trains or stuff.
Leeds seemed to do ok getting down last year so don't see it will be any different the other way round.
1st, 4th, 6th & 8th were southern teams last time it was held in the north (Leeds 04).
Its probably easier for most southern teams to get to Sunderland than to Exeter for the Southern champs.
In the mixer:
Leeds, NEB, Bedford, Notts, Sale, Altrincham, Morpeth, Belgrave
Add Salford, Aldershot, Bristol, Tipton & Shaftesbury to that as well.
Pics of Herrington Country Park, Sunderland. Looks bloody grim up north
Ran round the course this morning. It is starting to dry out a little in parts but other parts are still very very wet and it is still going to churn up badly. If we have no rain between now and next Saturday it might not be a total quagmire!!!!
Just been for a run round the course myself and it looks to be drying out a little.
On a side note, wheres everyone staying and who's up for a piss up after??
now you're talking! whats the local view on these important factors?