19 February 2011	NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS - ALTON TOWERS
	It was great to have the National so close to home again, and local rivals Staffordshire Moorlands AC are to be commended for bring the event to North Staffordshire, but anyone who started, let alone finished a race at Alton Towers will know how tough it really was! City of Stoke had another pretty good turn-out, without really firing on all cylinders. The exception to this rule was an outstanding run by U15 Lucy Holt who zipped over the quagmire to a brilliant 9th place, the best individual result by any Staffordshire competitor on the day.  Top 100 places in age-group are extremely hard to come by in the National, and Seb Duffy in the senior men, India Mellor in the U13 girls, Natasha Clowes in the U15 girls, Mike Harding in the junior men, Callum Hulme in the U17 men, and Ryan Lander and Joel Mann in the U13 boys should be particularly proud of their performances. Top junior women's competitor Kate Holt was unlucky to hurt her ankle, and withdrew from the race whilst very well placed. Hopefully she will be back in action again quickly.  Well done to everyone though, in more than 30 years of running the National Cross Country it was as tough as I can remember!   Thanks also to team managers George Cooper (and Iris) and Alan Morris, particularly George for getting the club tent up so close to the Loos and the entrance/exit.  Plaudits also have to go to the organisers and officials. It was hard enough watching and running let alone doing the job they have to do for 5+ hours. Many thanks to everyone involved. Full results Photos from Mick Hall  Photos from Bryan Dale Keeping checking back as Bryan works his way through all week!
	Stoke AC Results: U13 Girls 56 India Mellor 15.32 101. Megan Cogan 16.05 313. Emilia Berrisford 18.47 U15 Girls 9. Lucy Holt 15.37 83. Natasha Clowes 17.07 133. Tasha Stone 17.40 U17 Women 111. Lucy Hayes 25.55 140. Sammey Jo Daley Davies 26.55 149. Aimee Hargreaves 27.10 Junior Women No competitor Senior Women No competitor U13 Boys - team 27th/33 teams 72. Ryan Lander 9.41 73. Joel Mann 9.41 257. Robroy Gregory 10.55 315. Alex Lightfoot 12.02 U15 Boys - team 25th/30 teams 137. Ashley Wyatt 19.33 153. Korey Hallet-Blanch 19.48 273. Liam Baggley 21.42 277. Nick Stoddard 21.49 326. George Steventon 26.07 U17 Men - team 14th/21 teams 76. Callum Hulme 26.19 122. Alex Brecker 27.27 150. Louis Wrigley 27.59 169. Kris Washington 28.17 188. Sam Botham 28.49 197. Tom Hendricken 28.56 U20 Men 100. Mike Harding 33.10 159. Joe Broome 36.47 168. Rob Cook 37.53 Senior Men - team 28th/95 teams 88. Seb Duffy 39.33 165. Tom Gayle 41.16 313. John Danahay 44.19 353. Steve Bazell 45.08 369. Andy Allen 45.23 1181. Richard Barrington 62.53