The second weekend of the year meant the exciting the prospect of a combined Midland Women's and Birmingham Men’s XC league fixture. With a challenging course set by Luke Gunn and BUCS A team selection on the line, Warley Woods did not disappoint.
With BUCS just three weeks away, BUAC took a convincing win in the women’s race.
Elsa Palmer was first home (3rd), closely followed by Mia Atkinson (4th) and Hannah Seager (5th). Rosie Hamilton-James (7th), Beth Sykes (9th), and Freya Stapleton (10th) completed the top ten. Ellen Weir (11th) and Georgie Campbell (14th) were close behind, followed by Maddie Mastrolonardo (28th) and Abigail Saker (29th). Katie Hopkins (40th) and Tash Mundell (49th) ensured that all of the BUAC finishers were in the top fifty.
The Men’s race was also a shootout with dark horse Will Brown first BUACer home (4th overall) capitalising on his good form demonstrated the week prior, at the combined Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire County Championships. Cross Captain Elliot Moran was 7th, chased home by Sam Burkitt in 10th. Ed Blythman (12th) managed to find some knee lift to hold off Larry Ryan (13th) in the finishing straight. Joe Blacknell (14th), Kristian Imroth (15th), Tommy Shaw (18th) and William Newcombe (20th) packed more red vests in the top twenty. Jack Johnson had an amazing return to form after an Achilles injury to come 21st. Finley Proffitt (27th) was chased home by Jethro McGraw (28th). There were also impressive races from Matthew Clutterbuck (43rd), Sam Hopkins (52nd), Ben Squire (60th) and Aidan Banfield (72nd).
