National - Cross Country Championships - Parliament Hill Fields on 21/02/2009 12 Km (Senior Men)
The 2009 National Cross Country Championships returned to its 'spiritual home' at Parliament Hill Fields in London. On a gloriously sunny day Wallasey had 11 male and one female runners. Julie Barbat ran her first 'National' and described the course as 'ideally suited for hippos!'. Julie completed the 8km course in 51:34 for 508th place. The runners are also thankful to Ann & Bob Brimage also made the trip assisting as race officials. Wallasey's men finished 72nd out of 112 complete teams in the 6 man event, Greg Jones, Tony Barbat, Matt Williams, Phil Cuthbert, Andy Rogerson, and John Armstrong being the counters. Andy had led half way through the first lap before losing and retrieving a shoe. The course which included plenty of mud and several hill climbs was testing for the 1455 runners who managed to complete it, other runners from Wallasey who managed this were Keith McLaughlin, captain Dave Walton, Pat Riley, Stan Williams and Paul Thelwell (running his first National).