Athletics & Running Sports Section

PSUK Cross Country Championships

Devon & Cornwall

Wednesday 22 March 2006

This event took place in Perranporth, Cornwall. The ladies race started at 13.15 hours, men's at 14.15 hours. The course will be approximately seven miles in length for men and five miles for women and incorporates running on the beach, up the sandbanks, in the dunes, more beach and of course, to a degree, in the surf.

Race Report

by Lancashire runner, Steve Broadbent

Perhaps one of the most enjoyable Police Sport cross country events in many years - in more ways than one.

Due to the distance, for the first time, six of the north of England police forces joined up and chartered a coach to take nearly 50 runners to this very nice beach resort in Perranporth, Cornwall. Members of Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, GMP, West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire forces travelled the 350 miles making good camaraderie from the start.

We travelled down on the Tuesday, arriving around 5pm in good time for a quick training run along the magnificent two mile long sandy beach. There were around 350 runners from UK police forces in Perranporth and all of the restaurants and eating places were filled to capacity that evening.

On a cold beach warming up - Lancashire ladies team, (from left)

Gail Hickson, Sue Harrison and Julie Yates - Don't miss the start ladies!

Race Day

The ladies race started at 1.15 pm and the men at 2.15 pm. The course started on the beach and travelled the two mile lengths on the flat before rising steeply onto very undulating sand dunes. After about 1.5 miles there was a steep sandy decent back onto the beach before rising again into a second lap. After a further decent the course turned back toward Perranporth and a 1.5 mile flat run to finish. The ladies course was 5 miles (one lap of the dunes) and the men's 7.5 miles.

What a tremendous cross country course. So different from the usual mud, grass and tree roots! The sandy decent was phenomenal. Deep soft sand not dissimilar to a 'scree slope' but made of sand.

Julie Yates storms in to a brilliant finish

Results

Despite some of our top Lancashire runners being unable to attend the Championships due to duty restrictions the Lancashire team who did go had great race with many recording personal best times over the distance. PC Ian Pudge and PC Rod Graham (Pennine Division) and PC Steve Broadbent (Northern) were the first three home followed closely with PS Paul Johnson (Central) and retired (Pennine) PS Phil Levens. In his debut PSUK championship event, PSCO Martin Dandy ran a great race.

In the ladies race Julie Yates and Sue Harrison (HQ) had excellent runs recording one of their best championship times. In her debut PSUK national event Gail Hickson (Southern) ran a good course.

The main men's event the Metropolitan Police dominated the field winning the open team but were followed in second place by much small force, Cheshire.

Christine Howard from Derbyshire won the ladies race almost a minute ahead of second place Sara Simmonds from the Metropolitan Police.

Hawaiian Presentation Evening

The day was rounded off nicely with a well organised presentation ceremony, Hawaiian theme night, dinner and dance at the local beach club.

Aloha, Aloha, Hoi - What's going on 'ere in Perranporth then?

Who needs to go to Hawaii?

Lancashire Team and Results

Many of the Lancashire runners on a reckie of the course on the morning before the race

Men's Race