OVER 600 runners gathered at Cassiobury Park to take part in the first Chiltern League Division One cross-country meet of the season, but it was Watford Harriers' Julian Critchlow who once again stole the show with a sensational performance.

Critchlow topped the senior men's field of 326 competitors to storm home in first place, some 15 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor, A McKenna of Milton Keynes, to finish in a time of 27.49 minutes.

The victory is the latest success in what has been an excellent season so far for the recently-turned-veteran runner, and he puts much of his fortune down to good old fashioned hard work.

He said "Of course I am pleased at the way the season is going, I certainly increased my training leading up to it and I am glad that it is paying dividends.

"I think having turned 40 and being eligible to compete in the veteran's competitions has given me a new lease of life and a new focus in athletics."

Julian also recently won his first British title, crowned British Men's Veteran Cross-Country champion, after 20 years in the sport, an achievement he is evidently proud of.

He said: "To win the British title was a great for me. I had already picked up a Silver medal in the European Veterans Marathon in Malta in April, but what I really wanted was a title."

His performance in the recent Veteran's cross-country championships in Swansea, where Julian won his title, certainly caught the eye of the English athletics selectors.

Not only was Julian called up to the English squad to take part in a home international in Falkirk, Scotland, on Saturday November 10, he has also been appointed as Captain of the England team.

"Obviously it is a great honour to captain England," Julian added.

"Right now, I am focusing on performing well in the international before turning my full attention to training for the world veterans half-marathon in Italy in April."

Elsewhere in the cross-country meeting, Matt Normington claimed an impressive eighth place in the senior men's race on his cross-country debut, 11 seconds ahead of team-mate Chris Wood in tenth.

In the under 17 girls race, Kyla Bowen la Grange produced one of her best ever performances to finish in third position in a time of 19.17 minutes.

Harriers also enjoyed a successful under 17's race, with John Beardsworth, Dan Chambers and Paul Yeomans all putting in good performances to finish in fifth, 14th and 17th respectively.

Meanwhile, Watford's Adam Bowden, of Harrow Athletics Club, was a convincing winner in the Junior Men's race, with his time of 28.18 minutes the third fastest overall of the day.

Harriers Results: Senior Men: J Critchlow (1) 27.49, M Normington (8) 29.41, C Wood (10) 29.52, M Adcock (25) 31.01, M Bradley (51) 32.22, N Harris (58) 32.47, P Illing (76) 33.39, M Orton (91) 34.19, J Collie 103) 35.09, G Mayoh (124) 36.07, A la Grange (128) 36.22, M Grimsdale (142) 37.20, D Robertson (155) 38.25, R Spicer (156) 38.29, G Charlstrey (174) 40.54.

Under 17 men: J Beardsworth (10) 23.23, D Chambers (14) 23.37, P Yeomans (17) 24.02, P Fusi (28) 26.00, J Van Tromp (35) 27.18.

Under 15 boys: O Jepson (23) 18.29, S Tear (24) 18.47, J Etchells (35) 19.49, R Coulson (40) 20.10.

Under 13 boys: C Dalton (7) 12.24, W Fulton (19) 13.14, R Van Tromp (25) 13.34, J Lloyd-Jones (35) 14.20, M Elgey (37) 14.24, D Sills (38) 14.26, J Critchlow (39) 14.29, K Peel (53) 16.44, A Tyerman (54) 16.51.

Senior ladies: K James (22) 27.34, R Liddle (46) 30.49, S Yeomans (48) 31.52, C James (58) 34.07.

Under 17 girls: K la Grange (3) 19.17.

Under 13 girls: H Green (22) 14.30, A Kiddle (39) 16.35, A Coulson (45) 18.01, H Samson-Barry (46) 18.02, L Williams (47) 18.09.

October 19, 2001 12:25

Marc Dodd