Around a dozen runners from Richmond and Zetland Harriers completed the Nationals on Saturday, February 21.

The English National X-C Championships were held in the grounds of Temple Newsam Hall near Leeds and the course was a mixture of testing hills with stretches of rough pasture and cloying mud - a good test of strength for all the contestants. A total of more than 4000 runners took part in the day's nine races, ranging from 3K to 12K, the first starting at 11 am and the last finishing just after 4.30 pm - another impressive day in the athletics calendar and a must for all serious runners.

RZH results: Under 15 Boys - 214th Chris Andrade; Under 17 Men - 88th Nick Zissler; Under 15 Girls - 98th Scarlett Gray & 209th Katie Roberts; Junior Men - 121st Edd Richards; Under 13 Boys - 29th Douglas Roberts; Senior Women - 43rd Andrea Woodvine & 179th Fiona Hughes; Senior Men - 264th Ken Harker, 702nd Shane Gray, 789th Mike Brooks & 1328th Neil Piper.

Grete Buck was the sole Harrier competing in the Snake Lane 10 mile Road Race the following day, another training race with the London Marathon in mind. Grete reported "not fast but felt fairly good about the run...had a 15 second walk at each drink station but apart from that I didn't stop...my time was 1:34:11 and my position was 550th (with another 72 behind) and 3rd out of 6 in LV0/60 classification...I am happy about this as I feel my training is coming together at last - speed is the next issue!"

This weekend there is the usual mix of X-C, Fell and Road Running. On Saturday there is the sixth fixture in this year's Reebok Series at Woolaton Park, Nottingham; incorporating the Inter-Counties X-C Championships where the Club has three athletes - Douglas Roberts, Nick Zissler and Andrea Woodvine - representing Yorkshire. On Sunday there is the final NYSD X-C League meeting at Richmond School with the first race at 1pm. Another reminder to parents and spouses, brothers and sisters - if you're not competing then you're needed to help - marshal, officiate or make the tea - telephone Mike Brooks on Richmond 01748-824040. Also on Sunday there is the Raincliffe Raider Fell Race (5 miles & 700 feet climbing) from Scarborough RUFC and the Chester-le-Street 10K Road Race