02 February 2009

The Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland Team were utterly dominant at the Cross Country Junior International in Lisbon, Portugal on Sunday. Continuing in the same vein of December’s European Cross Country Championships in Brussels, the junior women’s team filled all the leading places.

Louise Small (Aldershot, Farnham & District) led the way coming home in 15:12, she was followed home by Sophie Coleman (Phoenix AC) in 15:28, Nicola Hood (City of Glasgow Victoria Park) in 15:33 and Lilly Partridge (Aldershot, Farnham & District) completed the 1-2-3-4 finish, coming home in 15:50.

The GB & NI junior men’s team were also in imperious form.  Nick Goolab (Belgrave Harriers) went some way to making up for a disappointing European Cross Country Championships, where a cold restricted him to 65th, by winning in 24:36.

He was followed home by Chris O’Hare (Edinburgh AC) in 24:58 and Thomas Farrell (Border Harriers & AC) in 25:02 to complete and all-British podium. James Wilkinson wasn’t far behind, coming home 6th in 25:30.  The international match also featured leading juniors from hosts Portugal and Spain and Team Leader John Nuttall was pleased with the approach of the GB & NI team.

“The course wasn’t easy by any means. It was very wet and rutted and the weather was changing every ten minutes, but the athletes coped very well.” He said. “It’s a good bit of international experience for the athletes. They coped with it and acquitted themselves well and it should put them in good stead for the Inter-Counties and perhaps onwards to the World Cross Country Championships in Jordan in March.”

Results can be dowloaded below.