10 November 2007

International cross-country racing returned to Gateshead after an absence of 10 years and with it came the opening fixture of the UK Cross Challenge.

And it was success all the way for Britain’s Hayley Yelling (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Harrow) who had thought about pulling out on the eve of the race due to a niggling knee injury but after treatment decided to take her chance against a star-studded field assembled for the 7.3 kilometres over five-circuits of the Riverside Bowl.

The senior men’s race was won by in-form Burundi-born Jean Ndayisenga (Birchfield Harriers) two weeks after his runaway victory in Birmingham but on this occasion his victory was much narrower after shadowing Tom Humphries (Cannock & Staffs) throughout the 8.7km clash.

With Steph Twell (Aldershot, Farnham & District) contesting the senior event, where she finished runner-up behind Yelling, victory in the Junior Women’s race went to Jessica Coulson (Stockport Harriers) who pulled away from the field before the midway stage of the 4.5km race.

The North East had plenty to cheer about in the Junior Men’s Race when Ricky Stevenson (New Marske) eased home to win the 7.3km contest by 15 seconds.