The 2009 PSUK Cross Country Championships were staged by Cumbria Constabulary at Lowther Estate where the organisers were blessed with a dry spring day; some 400 plus athletes competed over a course set within the beautiful and splendid undulating grounds of Lowther Castle and alongside the River Lowther.

The course, a lap course (each lap 2.2 miles long) for both men and women was undulating taking in fields, a wooded area and trails.  The women ran two laps and the men ran three laps.

The women went off first, Natalie Farrow (Humberside) led the field from the start and down the steep decent before entering the wooded area towards the castle for the first lap, closely followed by Sarah Simmonds (West Midlands) and Emily Klee (West Yorkshire) . These three were in turn being pursued by Christine Howard (Derbyshire), Katherine Reeves and Sharon McHugh (Metropolitan) and Jo Fletcher (Gloucestershire).  Farrow continued to lead the field out of the wooded area on the initial lap chased by Simmonds and Klee.  As they approached the final climb of the first lap Simmonds took the lead off Farrow leading the field pass the finish and into the final lap.  Simmonds pulled away from the field entering the wooded area, on exiting the woods Simmonds was being chased by Klee.  As they got to the top of the gradient after the woods, Klee took control of the race pulling away to take the Championships in a time of 28 mins and 44 secs.  Farrow timed her race well, taking Simmonds as they ascended the final climb before the run in to the finish, to take second place with Simmonds finishing third.  Howard ran strongly to finish fourth overall and also take the leading Vets Championship.

Other strong performances came from Sally Broome (Gwent), Katrina Kemp (Leicestershire), Gaby Waring (North Wales) and Heather Mitchell (West Yorkshire) who won their respective age categories.

The Metropolitan ladies retained the overall Championship team title, with the host force, Cumbria taking the Minor Forces team title and the Metropolitan taking the Veterans team title.

In the men’s race, James Brown (Metropolitan) shot off from the start leading the field down the steep decent and into the wooded area for the first time.  Brown was followed closely by Benedict Whitby (City Of London), Steve Cairns (Vet 40) (Lothian & Borders) and Peter Tucker (Metropolitan).  On exiting the woods for the first time Whitby had taken control of the race with Cairns and Tucker in pursuit.  These positions remained unchanged to the finish, Whitby pulling away to take his first PSUK cross-country Championships in a time of 35min and 49 secs – narrowly avoiding disqualification after being paced by his Commissioner in the finishing straight! 

Behind these three - Brown, Guy Heyes (GMP), Rob Jackaman and Iain Campbell (Vet 45) both (Metropolitan) and Paul Cardy (Hampshire) were having their own private battle with Heyes timing his run well to finish fourth splitting the Metropolitan team.

From this group, Campbell finished eighth overall also taking the leading Vets Championship, with Nigel Bedell (West Yorkshire) finishing three places behind to take the Vets 40 category.  Other top performances came from Peter Orme (Derbyshire) and Des Michael (Hertfordshire) both winning their respective age categories. With David Needham (South Yorkshire) winning the Vets 60 prize.

Just like their female colleagues, the Metropolitan retained the overall Championship team title and also took the Veterans team title, with Norfolk taking the Minor Forces team title. 

All competitors should be congratulated on their efforts and the organisers on a successful and well supported Championships.

Full Race Results

Final Places

Men's Open Race

Full Race Results