AN historic cross-country race ended with an historic result last weekend.
Exactly 100 years ago Highgate Harrier Charlie Ruffell won the National Cross Country Championships in Bucks.
Ruffell went to war months later, but a century later the Herbert’s Hole Challenge was held over a similar course to commemorate that event and it was another Highgate Harrier who won it.
Two-time Scottish Steeplechase champion Ryan McKinlay only got in the field after sending a personal email to the organisers on the eve of the race, but his time of 36:24 wasn’t bettered.
It was equalled though, by former Chiltern Harrier Tom Beedell as the pair raced home in one of the most dramatic climaxes in recent years.
McKinlay, who led his club to gold in the London Cross-Country Championships 24 hours earlier, said: “It was very hard because I didn’t have fresh legs, but it was important for me to honour the memory not just of Charlie but all the men who raced that day, and the great athletes from other clubs who went off to fight in the war.
“It really brings it home to you, what those guys did. Running was a way for me to pay my respects.”
McKinlay and Beedell led home a field of 255, with Chiltlern Harrier Eddio O’Gorman third in 38.15.
Philippa Keast won the ladies race in 45:04, followed by Chiltern Harriers vets Ali Young (45:39) and Sandra Reynolds (46:43).
Race organisers Harriers also took both mens and ladies team awards.
The scoring team members were O’Gorman, Alistair Melville-Smith, Richard Quantrill, and Andrew Wiseall, Ali Young, Sandra Reynolds, Ellie Bates and Lean Ni Chiobhain.
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