NEHL Thornley Hall Farm, 27th September 2025
Thornley Hall Farm used to be synonymous with a mudfest in February, but a re-jigging of the North Eastern Harrier League calendar saw the 2025-26 season open there on a bone dry course. The course conditions weren’t the only new feature. It is a working farm, so with one field being home to sheep, the organisers made the most of another by having the runners zig-zag up and down it. This made it feel slightly contrived, but running up and down the same field not only made up the distance, but it made the course longer than usual too – I made it over a kilometre longer than previous years (for the 3 lap version). Also missing from previous years was the leap over the gate! So, all in all, a very different experience – but still a tough one to start the season with.
It was the young girls who got the day underway, with Danielle O’Brien running in the under 11s and Charlotte Kerr now in the under 13s. Both performed well, with Charlotte in particular making light of running in her new age group.
There was a 13 strong ladies team, with Steph Towers, Cagla Erdas and Becky Webster all making their Harrier League debuts for the club. There was a wide range of age and experience in the team, with representatives of all Monday night groups taking part. One of the more experienced cross-country runners is Nicki O’Brien. Just like her daughter Danni, Nicki is a strong runner who can keep going over the hills, and she led the team home with a very good run. Sarah Kerr made up time from the medium pack to finish next, with Julie Cross and Holly Porter completing the four counters.
The schedule means that the men are off before all the women have finished, which I always feel means that the ladies don’t get the same level of support and encouragement on the course as we do, as they all stay to cheer us on. And, as most supporters were gathered at the top of the hill near the club tents, it definitely helps us keep going – even if it means that they don’t see us looking our best (especially on lap 3 were the hills just get steeper!).
Roberto Marzo managed to arrive just in time to make the start line, and it was he who was first home. Anton Mirafsari was next in, though for some reason he is missing from the results. There was an impressive run from Mark Anderson, who, despite being full of cold and with his dodgy knee strapped heavily, came through the field from the medium pack, clocking a time 4 seconds faster than Roberto. Unfortunately Ari Hodgson, despite a brave effort, had to withdraw after 2 laps. Chris Jones and myself were there to make up the numbers.
The Claremont kitchen was very well stocked with a variety of goodies, which helped round off a good day’s racing and an excellent start to the cross-country season. I am sure that colder, wetter, muddier challenges lie ahead, but that is all part of the fun!
| Under 11 Girls | ||
|---|---|---|
| Position | Runner | Time |
| 43 | Danielle O’Brien | 8:15 |
| Under 13 Girls | ||
|---|---|---|
| Position | Runner | Time |
| 29 | Charlotte Kerr | 18:44 |
| Women | ||
|---|---|---|
| Position | Runner | Time |
| 58 | Nicki O’Brien | 34:21 |
| 79 | Sarah Kerr | 35:00 (Medium pack, actual time 32:40) |
| 88 | Julie Cross | 35:21 |
| 106 | Holly Porter | 36:16 |
| 127 | Aoife Monaghan | 36:45 |
| 153 | Sonja Fenske | 37:33 (Medium pack, actual time 35:13) |
| 170 | Steph Towers | 38:07 |
| 198 | Tara Hipwood | 39:27 |
| 209 | Jenny Roberts | 40:00 |
| 224 | Yana Bevan | 40:33 |
| 253 | Cagla Erdas | 42:05 |
| 270 | Gill Milne | 44:00 |
| 326 | Becky Webster | 52:00 |
| Men | ||
|---|---|---|
| Position | Runner | Time |
| 103 | Roberto Marzo | 44:48 |
| ??? | Anton MIrafsari | ? |
| 180 | Mark Anderson | 47:16 (Medium pack, actual time 44:44) |
| 201 | Tom Tinsley | 48:19 |
| 231 | Chris Jones | 49:40 |
| DNF | Ari Hodgson |
