This years Cross Challenge Series kicked off in Cardiff on Saturday November 8th which will be followed by fixtiures in Liverpool (Sefton Park) on November 22nd, London (Parliament Hill) on 7th Feb 2026 and finally in Nottingham Wollaton Park) on March 7th 2026. Making the trip down to Cardiff for the first in the Series were Blackburn Harriers Isabel Holt, Abigail McAndrew, Matthew Clark and Jenny McAndrew. Sixty seven athletes lined up for the U17 and U20 Women’s race which Isabel was running in and what a fine race she had, coming home as 2nd in the U20 Women’s race and 3rd overall with a time of 15.22 behind Beth Lewis in 2nd (15.19) and Innes Fitzgerald who won the race in 14.29. A very happy Isabel spoke to the Harriers after her race as she told us that it was a “Great day out at the Cardiff cross challenge and I’m really pleased to have come away with 2nd place. Was a tough but fun course and lots of learning opportunities to take away too. I’m excited for Liverpool now! “ One hundred and twelve athletes started the U17 and U20 Men’s race which had Matthew competing – a week after being part of the Silver Medal winning team in Mansfield at the English National cross country relays. Matthew had a good run. coming home in 44th spot, posting a time of 17.50 – just four seconds separating six places. Abigail was next up in the Senior Women’s Mile European Trials which had twenty three athletes on the start line. Abigail – who had run the fastest Leg in Blackburn Harriers Senior Women’s 6th place at Mansfield – had another fine race finishing in 10th spot (5.15) – the winner Holly Dixon running 5.02. Abigail spoke to the Club after her race, telling us that she was ‘Really happy with my race and 10th with the seniors at euro trial, stayed there aslong as I could and managed to finish strong“. Jenny also decided to run and lined up in the Senior Women’s won by Kenya’s Cynthia Chepkirui with Kenya’s Sheila Jebet in 2nd and Canada’s Ceili McCabe in 3rd. Jenny ran ran 31.50 and enjoyed the day, telling the Club afterwards that “It was a great experience, the Atmosphere was fantastic and I somehow made it safely over the huge log jump!”
U20 Women’s Podium – L-R – Isabel Holt – Innes Fitzgerald – Lizzie Wellsted
Abigail & Jenny McAndrew
Over in America, David Holman was running in the NCAA D11 Southeast Region Cross Country Championships on Saturday November 8th (RESULTS). This was David’s third cross country race of the season – having run the Paul Short Run on October 3rd and the South Atlantic Conference Cross Country Championship on October 25th. David’s college (Wingate) had 7 finishers in the first eleven places, with David placing 11th overall in a time of 31.57.90 for the 10k course. Speaking to the Harriers after his race David told us that he was “Pretty happy with that to say it was a 10k. Cross country finished and time to focus on some indoor training now.”
On the road, and it was the second race in two weeks for Ellen Sagar-Hesketh as she makes her return to training and racing after having her baby. A week ago, she ran her first race in a year when anchoring the Senior Women’s B team at the National Cross Country Relays in Mansfield. On Saturday November 8th she took part in the CraggRunner Sprint 5k at Barrowford – running 20.54 for the 5k course and placing 6th overall. U17 Peter Sagar Moss also ran in the Men’s race and came home as third U17 with a time 17.56. (RESULTS)
Ellen after the race with Lola
