Twell to defend title in Gateshead

12 November 2009

The first race of the 2009/2010 McCain Cross Challenge, to be held on the testing course at the Riverside Bowl in Gateshead on Saturday 14 November, signals the start of the winter cross country season and will gauge early season form ahead of the European trials.

The race, which has a newly introduced ‘home international’ ingredient added to it, will see 2008 Champion Stephanie Twell defend her title, the three-time European Cross junior winner also making her debut racing for Scotland.

The International aspect of the muddy battle is set to draw crowds to the venue for the third year running, with added excitement from age-group races where U20 athletes such as Nick Goolab, Charlotte Purdue and Louise Small continue their development against high quality fields.

 Athletes familiar to the McCain series including Mark Draper, Mike Skinner, Helen Clitheroe, Gemma Miles, Scott Overall, Andy Vernon and Ricky Stevenson will also contest the Tyneside course with eyes on a prize pot of £1100.

The five month long series, which concludes at the Birmingham final on 13 March, incorporates trial races for the 2009 European Cross Country Championships and 2010 World Cross Country Championships to be held in Dublin and Poland respectively.

McCain Cross Challenge Series

Saturday 14 November Riverside Bowl Gateshead

Sunday 28 November Sefton Park, Liverpool (inc European Cross trials)

Sunday 17 January Blackweir Field, Cardiff

Saturday 23 January Green Mount College, Antrim

Saturday 13 March Birmingham (Inc World Cross trials)