This has been some year for Blackburn Harriers Matt Ramsden. It has been a year with some real highlights and some periods of having to deal with injuries – the bane of every athletes life for sure. In the last twelve months, Matt has set new personal bests for 1500m (3.46.23); 5000m (13.48.12); 5k (13.44); 10k (29.23); 10000m (29.16.07). Then in October he represented England in the Corsa dei Castelli 10k in which he placed 4th (29.25) and backed that up by winning the U23 Cross Challenge at Sefton Park – a win which secured his selection for GB at the European Cross Country Championships on December 14th in Portugal, where he placed 6th overall and first GB counter. Matt joined the Club as a 11yr old back in 2014 and is now in his 11th year as a Blackburn Harrier, having progressed each year, securing wins and titles at County and Regional level. That progression has continued and today, Matt got the news he was waiting for, confirmation that he had been selected to compete in the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee in January 2026. Matt’s Coach – Noel Finucane – spoke to the Club about the announcement that he had been selected and told us “When I came to the Harriers in 2018, Matt was already a talented 15 year old, but I had seen lots of teenagers with potential only to see them fall away. The difference is Matt was committed and totally focused on being the best he could be. He has had a series of injuries and accidents but this Made him even more determined . He is a dream to coach as he listens and does everything we ask. Matt deserves every plaudit coming his way. I can only see him getting better, as he has been on a limited mileage whilst developing.”
Photos courtesey of Graham Smith
On news of the confirmation, the Club asked Matt for his thoughts and what was going through his mind when he got the call, telling us “If you’d have told me in September I’d be going to the World Cross I think I would’ve laughed on the spot. It has been a tough 18 months of constant disruption to training but these are the rewards that make it all worth it. I was going to Liverpool Cross in November with the goal to make that Euros team and it has all gone from 0 to 100 quite quickly since then. As an athlete you know deep down where you think your capabilities are and I’m just over the moon to have had a strong run at the Europeans and now a chance to compete against the worlds best! I have too many people to thank for their help and support both on and off the track and hopefully I can do everyone proud in Tallahassee!” We are sure he will.
Photos courtesey of Graham Smith
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