We glance again at some of the difficult English Nationwide Cross Nation Championships as runners battled towards brutal climate in 1972
As anticipation builds for the 2025 English Cross Nation Championships, set for February 22 at Parliament Hill, it’s price reflecting on some of the memorable and difficult editions within the occasion’s lengthy historical past – held 53 years in the past in 1972.
That 12 months’s race, the final to be hosted at Sutton Park (March 4), remains to be etched within the reminiscences of all who participated, due to the brutal climate circumstances that took a dramatic flip over the course of the day.
What started as tolerable winter climate shortly changed into an arctic-like storm. By afternoon, the rain turned to sleet, then to snow, and the temperature plummeted, turning the course into an unforgiving battlefield.
Whereas excessive climate is commonly a part of the cross nation expertise, 1972’s circumstances had been on a completely completely different degree. Runners struggled towards a robust headwind and icy floor, with many needing medical consideration and a visit to the hospital after ending the race.
The officers additionally needed to endure the onerous circumstances. Tragically, Tom Owen, an official from Liverpool, handed away from a coronary heart assault whereas travelling residence after the occasion.
On the time, the ladies’s race was held individually, every week earlier at Excessive Wycombe. However for the boys, it was a very brutal check.
Because the circumstances worsened in the course of the senior race, runners needed to full three laps of a gruelling nine-mile course, and because the storm intensified, the officers’ tent turned a refuge for these in search of shelter and first assist after ending.
For individuals who managed to cross the end line, the ordeal didn’t finish there. They confronted a further mile-and-a-half stroll to the altering rooms.
The occasion earned the headline: “Arctic climate turned ‘Nationwide’ right into a grim survival check” in AW.
Welshman Malcolm Thomas, competing for Thames Valley Harriers, triumphed within the race, having improved on his second-place end from the earlier 12 months. Dave Bedford, who had gained the earlier 12 months, was unable to compete on account of an Achilles damage and was as an alternative a spectator.
With most runners falling at some stage in the course of the race, even Thomas took a tumble a few mile earlier than the end line.
Invoice Robinson of Gateshead completed second, 36 seconds behind Thomas. Robinson had beforehand solely been ranked twenty third within the Nationwide and clearly the powerful climate circumstances suited him. Allan Rushmer, a three-time Commonwealth medallist rounded out the highest three.
The Nationwide Cross Nation Championships has an extended 149-year historical past and the one different instances the occasion was cancelled earlier than 2021 was in the course of the world wars.
Hugo Milner (Graham Smith)
Nevertheless, the Covid pandemic noticed the 2021 occasion referred to as off and in 2024 it was postponed because of the automobile parks being affected by torrential rain and flooding – the primary time climate had compelled the cancellation. It was rescheduled for September 2024, with Niamh Brown and Hugo Milner taking the senior titles.
Looking forward to 2025, the Championships will return to Parliament Hill on February 22. Let’s hope the climate is rather more forgiving than it was in the course of the unforgettable 1972 version.
You will discover all of our unique protection from the 1972 Nationwide Cross Nation Championships by way of the Athletics Weekly archive.
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