Two category wins and record turnout as Nene Valley Harriers shine at Derby

Nene Valley Harriers enjoyed a hugely satisfying start to the cross country season at Derby with a winning display in the opening fixture of the North Midlands League.

A record 75 athletes turned out for the club, turning Mark Eaton Park red, white and blue as the vests of the club just kept coming and coming.

The girls provided the day’s biggest highlights, winning both the under-13 and under-17 age groups.

That was a highly impressive achievement, given the calibre of many of the other participants.

Flo Brill led the under-13s home, finishing as runner-up in a hotly contested battle, while Lottie Hemmings (8th) and Sophie Reeves (16th) completed the three-girl scoring team.

Megan Ellison ran a mature race as she came home third for the under-17s, making light of the testing 4.6k circuit with a 17.59mins run. Ellison received strong support from Josie Fortune (12th) and Ellie Piccaver (14th).

An exceptional turn out by the Nene Valley senior ladies saw 13 athletes on the start line. The Harriers finished fifth out of the 29 clubs in action, and with the strength in depth that they now possess confidence is high that they can improve on this placing as the season develops.

Nicky Morgan was the first Harrier home, finishing 32nd in 29.01mins, with a typically gutsy run over the 6.5km course.

Morgan has been rewarded for her good form over the past couple of years with a call up into the England veterans squad for a home counties cross country international in Glasgow next month.

The rapidly improving Laura Grimer and Ruth Jones, who impressed on her return from career threatening injury, were the other scorers.

Such was the club’s strength in depth that their second three finishers would have been good enough for eighth position as a team, and the third trio home would also have been in the top half of the team stakes had more than one scoring team been permitted per club.

The Harriers’ under-11 girls claimed sixth position, with Nora Brill, Evie Blow and Evie Hemmings all impressing, while the under-15 girls were eighth thanks to Katie Tasker and Hana Ray, who both secured top 20 finishes.

Meanwhile, Nene Valley’s under-13 boys were the pick of an impressive bunch in the male categories with the team finishing as runners-up.

Sam Oakley’s third place was a clear highlight, but with Kai Chilvers (17th), Adam Blackbird (18th), Jacob Bush (19th) and Hugo Brill (21st) all finishing well, there was no doubting the strength in depth of the squad.

Matt Church led the under-13 boys into third place with a strong run, coming home 14th. Matt Dowling was just two positions further back, with Ben McCann completing the scoring team with 25th place

Brad Allen (7th), Keilin Spurdens (20th) and Mapheso Mukatuma (22nd) helped the under-17 boys into fourth place, while the under-11s were fifth. Jack Haunch, Kyle

Warrener and Toby Bush made up the scorers.

Five runners scored per team in the senior men’s race, and Nene Valley were pleased to finish sixth out of 30 teams.

The impressive Michael Channing was the first Harrier home in 32nd position, covering the three-lap 10km course in 35.47mins.

Nathan Tweedle was 50 seconds further back in 38th, with Bradley Spurdens hot on his heels.

Ollie Slater took 69th place and Sam Hunt completed the scoring team two places further back.