Kettering Town Harriers successfully staged the historic Charity Cup meeting at Wicksteed Park in good conditions for Cross Country, following the downpours of the previous two years. Organiser Martyn Winstone was pleased by a late surge in entries, especially for the races for young athletes, which, in a change to last year's programme, were combined for boys and girls. A field of 75 for the Under 11 race certainly kept the recorders and timekeepers on their toes!
Rugby & Northampton and Corby AC took most of the honours in the younger age groups, though there was an excellent third place fo KTH's Ben Tierney in th Under 13 Boys race. Gina Diaz-Santana took silver in the Under 15 Girls, a feat matched by Liam Kirk in the equivalent Boys race, where the Harriers lads took the team prize.
There was more success for Kettering in the older age groups. Imogen Stokes just edged out Sophie Munn for a KTH 1-2 in the Under 17 Women whilst Hayley Munn, who is getting back to her best form, was clear winner of the Senior race, also taking gold in the County Under 20 category. On the male side, Jake Waples ran superbly to take the Under 17 Men's , whilst Jonathan Goringe picked up the County Under 20 honours.
The main event, the Senior Men's race, went to a runner in the black vest of Birchfield Harriers but Ben Sharman, who retained his title, was for many years seen in the red and white of Kettering, before moving to university in the West Midlands. Rugby and Northampton took the team prize.
Full results can be found here.