Comments from around the country
A big thank you for Saturday. By far the best National I have attended in over 50 years. From parking / tents / tracks.... everything was absolutely great! Colin Kirkham Coventry
Hi Mick, I wanted to drop you a short line to congratulate you on bringing together such a fantastic event at Wollaton. Unfortunately I didnt see you on Saturday before having to travel to London, but what I did see was an extremely well run and organised event. Everybody had a smile on their face and the sun just finished off the day brilliantly.
I appreciate the amount of work you personally and your team put in to make this happen. I hope you are justifiably proud of the event and the way the day went.
Once you have had an opportunity to recover it might be worth while having a quick meeting at Wollaton Hall just to debrief on the event. Congratulations once again.
Regards, Nigel Hawkins, Nottingham City Council
I just wanted to join other colleagues from the Council in congratulating both you and your team in delivering such a large event so seemingly effortlessly. It is a real credit to you, your volunteers and all at Notts A.C. As a veteran of managing some large events well done!!
Regards, John Pell, Nottingham City Council
Please pass on the thanks from Tonbridge Athletic Club to all of those who made it possible to host the championships on Saturday. It was a terrific day with courses that were an excellent mix of fast running and other elements to negotiate.
Once again the Tonbridge contingent had a terrific day, with a record numb of starters across the ten races, with a total of 111.
As you know we try to make the championships a real occasion for the club and in total we had more than 200 at the championships. Mark Hookway (Tonbridge AC)
What a venue! I thought the old Wollaton Inter Counties was a decent course, who knew there was all that extra land! Think the very central venue probably contributed to the depth too. Dont think I ran too far below last years performance level when I was 29th. On reflection, perhaps we should keep it in far flung corners of the country to flatter me! Richard Burney (Liverpool H)
Ok no probs my own stupid fault, will know better next time,( on being told that as he had not been recorded as he did not wear his chip on his ankle) had a fantastic day being in that sort of field anyhow. Roger Grand (Staffs Moorlands)
Just like to say thank you for such a fantastic day, great venue, fantastic organisation and wonderful weather, what more could you ask for. Colin Shuttleworth (Clayton le moors harriers)
Just got back from todays race at Wollaton Park. What a great day, perfect conditions and fantastic arrangements. One of the best for many years. Thanks from all at Wilmslow Running Club.
Nick Bishop
Hi Nick and Mick
It's not difficult to respond to the commitment you showed - well done to both of you!
Regards, Mike Talbot
Hi Mick, I hope that you have recovered from Saturday, in my opinion that was the best national ever!
Fantastic job mate well done to you and all the crew at Notts and thank you for making my day so special a truly remarkable day for me. Many Thanks, Pat Carlan ECCA President
Many thanks, I bet you are shattered today. Great event though all good comments on social media and from runners. Regards, Richard Inchley
Well done Mick! A great days athletics - the only glitch I picked up on related to first aid response, thankfully the medical condition wasn't life threatening (A knee injury). Photo of the start of the men's race attached. Regards, Steve Gaines
Just a note to thank all concerned with yesterday's National. What a great day out I had. The weather, course, organisation and the racing were all superb. Well done to all concerned. I appreciate how much hard work goes on to deliver these events. Thanks again, David Lisgo
Couldn't agree more David...what a fantastic day, credit to all involved..certainly something to be very proud of... Regards, Mark Johnson
Congratulations on a great National . Once again I think Nottinghamshire showed the rest how to put on a cross country event. Regards, Gareth Bagguley
Congratulations Mick for your significant input into organising such a hugely enjoyable National XC yesterday with nearly 5000 finishers which was awesomely impressive.
Kind regards, Tom McCook, Birchfield Harriers
Records a plenty were created at Wollaton Park, Nottingham when the Saucony English National Cross Country Championships were staged there. On a sunny but windy day over 10,000 athletes and spectators attended the Championships creating a fantastic atmosphere and the local organisers Notts AC and Nottingham City Council put on a great event. As well as the overall big number there were a number of record fields of finishers from the 10 races in the programme.
It is now 20 years since the Men and Women combined to stage a joint Championships and a total 4686 finishers was recorded across the 10 events for a new record total. There was a number of individual race records with the under 17 Women getting things going in race 1 where 211 athletes finished. There were further records in the Junior Womens race where 134 finished and the Senior womens Championship where 708 came home and increase of 58 on the previous record.
However for the long term future of the Championships the numbers running the 2 under 13 categories was particularly pleasing as 431 finished in the Girls race and 385 in the Boys again both record size fields. There were large numbers in the under 15 events also but not records this time with 355 and 346 for the respective Girls and Boys events. Numbers were also good but no records in the under 17 Men where 272 finished and Junior Men where 187 crossed the finish line.
The huge field that lined up for the Senior Mens Race was spectacular to see and the 1657 who finished wearing timing chips though not a record compared well with 1790 finishers at Luton in 1995 or the 1948 finishers at Newark in 1996 when all restrictions on entries were lifted but a great number indeed. Also 127 Clubs finished a Team at Nottingham the best number since 1999 at Newark when 133 closed in.
So a fantastic with the great history of the National maintained. Ian Byett, ECCA Hon Sec
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Mick, Great job on Saturday, fantastic course and organisation. I really enjoyed it and might even do some training before next year. Tim Woodthorpe
Great day for the lads, the Club, the City and particularly you, well done Mick.
Mike Talbot, West Bridgford.
Hi Mick, Just wanted to say what a fantastic event you put on on Saturday. The atmosphere was electric, and I thought the course was absolutely brilliant. Inspired move with the logs! Simplest way of putting it is that when I talked to my mates from around the country loads of them said it was just the best XC course they had ever seen.
Also thanks a lot for the great support - you were one of the few people I could actually hear above the din from the crowd! It was seriously useful getting position updates as well.
Cheers, Peter Hodkinson
Dear Official, On behalf of the President, Mr Pat CARLAN, Chairman John Temperton and all the Officers of the England Cross Country Association, may I take this opportunity to thank you all for your efforts yesterday with good competition under reasonable Cross Country weather conditions in Nottingham, thus making the 2014 English National Cross Country Championships the success that it was with many complementary remarks from both athletes and spectators being made to the organisers and to officials of the ECCA.
Almost 5,700 athletes crossed the finish line during the day so well done to you all
I trust that all the arrangements for refreshments were to your satisfaction and that you were all able to enjoy some of the racing during the afternoon. Also I trust that officials parking were acceptable
Again many thanks for all your support at these championships.
Graham Heeley, ECCA Officials Secretary.
Another quality day with Notts AC, great team showing. Stuart Spencer, Notts AC
Well done today it all went excellently. Rita Brownlie, Bromsgrove Midland XC President
Well done today. Quality big man x Carl Emery, Mansfield
Just wanted to congratulate you on an amazing National Mick such a good course great atmosphere and top notch organisation you deserve a medal. Xx Jenny Reed, Matlock
Great National. Best ever, big thanks to you and Notts AC. Ken Allen, Attenborough
Congratulations on the event today Mick. All Heanor RC enjoyed the day. Rob Rainsford, Heanor
Great event, well done all round. Simon Rouse, Farnsfield.
Great job with the course. Andrew Warburton, Beeston
Hi Mick, Just want to congratulate you on behalf of Ripley RC for putting on a splendid event on Sat. You even managed to organise the weather!!!! My participating members all thought it was a super course and Jerry Bateman our president who has run in numerous nationals said he thought it the best yet. He also had a works colleague who just went along to watch and is not an athlete who also commented on how well organised it all was.
I know how much hard work has gone into putting it on and you really have done Nottingham proud. It certainly showcased the area beautifully. Pat and I had a splendid day and though I would have loved to have run it it was nice to see it from the other side.
Brilliant event. Many thanks for all your hard work. Please pass our thanks on to your team.
Eleanor Robinson, Ripley.
Hi Nick, We had lots of comments from a wide variety of people and all were good - well organised, lovely course etc.etc. Kate Else, Newark
What a great race that was! Enjoyed the course from start to finish. How did those of you who entered get on? I'd add that it also hosts a North Mids league race on a different part of the grounds again, which was a great race this year too. Sam W
Was a great course. Thanks to Notts AC for hosting a good National. I didn't quite perform as well has would have liked but really enjoyed the experience. Fellzebra
It was a great course, well set up. I have to say that having been to a number of Inters and an English Schools there, Wollaton Park has to be the best Cross Country venue in the country.
For a venue to be able to boast 2 top notch Championship Courses on different sections of the park is incredible. I hope to go back again and complete Dan Witton
Have to agree with you there. It's a long time since I ran the inter-counties there but it was by far and away the most enjoyable course I've run on. The Heathens
Ian - I didn't pick up anything but positive comments. I also took a few shots of the first bend in the Senior Men's race and they show that everyone seemed to have a clear run through.
John Temperton
What a great event, Well done to Notts AC for hosting and the City Council. Loved it. Hope it returns there in a few years time. Never ran with hurdles too! Chaddy the Owl
I ran. I think it was the best course I've ever done and I've run hundreds of cross countries in my 20 years of running. Some real nice variety on it. Shame I wasn't really fit for it. Only started really trying on the last lap. Detritus 21
Poor run but great day out, great to be part of the spectacle that is the start of the men's race! Not enough mud for my liking but got that last year and at the Midlands a month back! Ba-ba
Wow. Compliments indeed from Richard and others on here. As I said earlier it was a bit experimental but was a corker and what a wonderful day. I will pass these remarks on to Mick Robinson and the rest of the Notts organisers. They will be so pleased that it went down so well. Wolly is a great place to run and although we don't have the fells I never get bored of a run out in the park. Corniceman
I spoke to Mick briefly as the senior men's race was finishing and he quite rightly seemed pleased with how it had all gone. There aren't many venues available for an event of that size, but Wollaton has consistently come up trumps for Inter-Counties, Midlands and now National champs.
If anybody from Trafford AC is reading, the amount of litter you left behind when you cleared off was disgraceful. Dominion
Please pass on to all the members of Notts AC and to all the other clubs and outsiders who helped on the day and the many days before Saturday. I understand that you met the dead line of 2-00pm on Monday for sight clearance.
All thought the refreshment arrangements were the best for many years. Unfortunately I did not get to the lunch but did see some old faces out on the course. I understand it was a gallery not to be missed.
Again well done to all those involved. Best wishes, Graham Heeley
I hope Notts AC have received congratulatory comments on the organisation of the National. I couldn't stay for the senior womens' and senior mens' races, but up to that point I thought the entire day was excellently organised in terms of the programme, marshaling, facilities, car parking etc.
Dennis Hackett
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