Reebok Inter Counties Cross Country championships -Wollaton Park, Nottingham - 10 February 2001

Lincoln Wellington's Rachael Nathan produced the finest individual cross country performance in the club's history when winning the under 15 girls race at the Reebok Inter Counties meeting at Wollaton Park, Nottingham. Despite a cavalry charge start with almost 300 of the best runners in the country around her the Wellington youngster was soon in contention and was clear by halfway alongside the highly rated Lynsey Jepson of Leicester. In the closing stages it was the strength of Nathan which proved decisive and she went for the line in impressive style to record a memorable victory. Although the top ranked under 15, Katrina Wootton of Bedford, was missing this was a tremendous performance and she will now attempt to consolidate her position amongst the top athletes in her age group with positive performances at the National Championships at Durham on Feb 24th and the English Schools Championships at Chelmsford on March 10th.

Further back in the same race Natasha Johnson produced another good performance to finish 86th and with Nicola Hale 120th and Emily Taylor 146th Lincoln Wellington provided all four scorers for the county team. Backing up this quartet were Alice Thomas in 191st place and Carly Gilbert 269th thus confirming the strength of this age group at Lincoln Wellington.

There was the best possible start to the day when the Lincolnshire U20 men's squad took the team title in their race - the first time a Lincolnshire team has ever been successful at the Inter Counties. An amazing run from Grantham AC.'s Steve Ablitt gave him the silver medal with team-mate Ian Boneham also having a great run to cross the line 15th. The Wellington duo of Matt Bowser and Tom Doe completed the winning quartet with the former disputing the lead till halfway before fading to finish 19th and the latter hanging on well to 39th spot to clinch the gold medals despite being disappointed with his position. The remaining Wellington performances were not quite at the same level but there was plenty of praiseworthy effort throughout an afternoon of the highest quality competition.

In the under 13 boys race Josh Stone had a hard run to finish 77th. He had only managed a few hours sleep after arriving home in the early hours from a school visit to France and this was a good effort. Tom Herbert kept going well to finish 264th. Jason Lovell fared best of the Wellington squad in the under 15 boys race and crossed the line 220th. Daniel Burton and Ian Kimpton were together in 236th and 237th respectively with Shaun Dunn a little further back in 282nd.

Rebecca Cansdale has been improving steadily in recent weeks and 146th in the under 17 women's race was another very sound effort and placed her some way ahead of team-mate Vicky Roach who finished 192nd. Jason Hall competed well in the under 17 men's race before finishing 184th and Jamie Dixon enjoyed his run to finish 210th after being drafted into the team at the eleventh hour.

Four Wellington athletes contested the under 13 girls race with Sarah Kimpton finishing 189th ahead of Kelly Gilbert 201st, Rachel Humberstone 246th and Liz Samways 285th.

Annette Bell is in marathon training and was well pleased with 132nd place in the senior women's race. Claire Gregory was going well until a bad bout of stitch caused her to lose ground and she eventually crossed the line 178th.Kathy Warhurst was close behind her in 200t h with Charlie Donald completing the Wellington quartet in 261st. Simon Bell was a little disappointed with 225th in the senior mens race but Dean Houlton was entirely satisfied with his effort to come back 273rd.

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