Twixmas Cross Country at Alice Holt Forest
On Sunday, 29th December, Alice Holt Forest, a historic royal forest in Hampshire renowned for its beautiful trails and diverse wildlife, provided the perfect setting for a Twixmas cross country run. This race, part of the Southern Cross Country League, is open to local running clubs in Hampshire and Southern England.
The race was a resounding success, attracting over 400 participants from 24 local running clubs, all eager to burn off those extra Christmas calories! The 5-mile course featured a variety of undulating tracks, paths, and trails around the forest. The Alice Holt course is known for its challenging terrain, which becomes progressively hillier and muddier.
Steph Erskine of Alton Runners shared her experience: “I loved the little river section, followed by a steep, muddy, slippery bank. I didn’t realise there was a rope to grab hold of to haul yourself up, so I did a bit of running on the spot instead! My legs were definitely moving, but I wasn’t—it felt like that most of the way around.”
An impressive 44 yellow vests represented Alton Runners at this fixture, along with our usual strong support team. As always, it was a fantastic cross country turnout by Alton Runners.
The race was won by Dylan Poulton of Alton Runners, who took the lead at the 2-mile mark and never looked back, making it three wins from three for this season’s cross country. The first female Alton Runner to cross the line was Molly Byrne, who was the 21st female overall. It was a strong club performance with many brilliant individual efforts. As a team, Alton Runners finished joint second, just behind Liss Runners.
A huge thanks to Craig Tate-Grimes, the Race Director from Farnham Runners, and all the volunteers from different clubs who helped out. Ian Urquhart of Alton Runners said, “A very muddy course, how cross country should be—thoroughly enjoyed it. Well done to everyone who took part and to the marshals for their support along the way.”
The next cross country fixture is in the grounds of Chawton House on 19th January, hosted by Alton Runners. This will be the fourth round of this season’s Southern Cross Country League. The 5-mile course follows a variety of undulating tracks, paths, and trails around the estate.
In the Hampshire Road Race League, the next fixture is the Stubbington 10k on 12th January—always a popular race and the perfect way to kick off the New Year and work off any lingering festive indulgences!
Article by Lydia Andrews
02/01/2025