2024 BBO Provisional Results
The provisional results for the 2024 Berks, Bucks and Oxon (BBO) Cross Country Championships are now available under the Results section of the website pending outstanding queries. If there are any queries regarding the results, please can Team Managers or runners send a message via the Contact page selecting the BBO - Results Enquiry subject line.
This year the Championships were held in the spectacular setting of the medieval moated Broughton Castle near Banbury, and it was apparently the first Cross Country race to be held there since 1979.
This year we moved entries to an online system for the first time, using OpenTrack, which played a part in approximately doubling our entry numbers since 2022, to 440 this year. A big thank you to everyone who entered. We are absolutely delighted with this upwards momentum in interest, and it was also reflected by an increase in the number of clubs who took part too, with many different clubs, schools and universities being represented. It was heartening to see a good number of Buckinghamshire athletes entered, which in recent years has been fewer than the Berkshire and Oxfordshire totals, and we would love to see more Bucks runners in 2025.
The standard of athletes was very high, with county, area and national champions taking part, as well as international athletes, such as Jess Gibbon, BBO Treasurer and winner of the Women’s Race. We welcomed teams from Oxford University Cross Country Club (representing Oxford University AC) to the event for the first time since 2015. They entered over 80 athletes and also used the fixture as their Varsity Selection race, ahead of the Oxford v Cambridge Blues matches in December. We also granted the opportunity for them to host their annual match versus the RAF team, who were welcomed to race as guests.
The Entries system and team selection process was simplified, with the first 3 runners to score, or 6 in the Men, and this was generally met with positivity from those who took part.
It was a perfect autumn day, with bright blue skies in the morning, and occasional light showers later, with a bit of a chill towards the end of the day. We were absolutely delighted to see a fantastic turnout and the day unfolded smoothly and with a good number of supporters. The conditions underfoot were solid as the only rainfall in the last several weeks fell the night before. The courses were designed to be challenging, with various technical parts. Even the term ‘brutal’ was heard being bandied about, but nonetheless everyone we heard from enjoyed themselves, calling it ‘proper Cross Country’.
The BBO Committee this year agreed to include Under-11 athletes for the first time, and this was well-received by several clubs that helped boost the number of runners for all the junior age cvategories.
The prize-giving ceremonies were very well attended near the front lawn of the Castle, across the moat, and the stylish BBO medals were, as always, cherished. Our host, Martin Fiennes, 22nd Baron Saye & Sele, kindly handed out the Under-20, Senior and Veteran Women’s and Men’s medals and trophies, including what must be one of the largest shields of any race, for the Men’s Overall Team prize. It dates all the way back to 1914 which gives some idea of the long history of the Association.
The inaugural Under-11 trophies were handed out by long-standing BBO stalwart (over 50 years’ service) Maxwell Cowlin (BBO Vice-President) after whom the girls’ trophy was named. The Under-11 Boys’ trophy was named in honour of the late Major John Hamilton (1918-2024) who sadly passed away in January, after agreeing to become the first ever BBO Ambassador. He was one of the last few surviving veterans of Dunkirk, as well as being an age category world record holder on the rowing machine, and a man still doing 400 sit-ups a day when he was over the age of 100. He was a deeply inspiring man, a stalwart of keeping fit, making good friends, and he strongly believed in the spirit of healthy competition and consistent application in what we do. We feel he would have been proud of everyone who took part today, and he will be missed.
The BBO Association was the host organisation at this year’s Championships. We firstly thank Martin Fiennes for so generously opening his wonderful parkland for us to use – a real treat – and being such an engaging and supportive presence. I am deeply grateful to all my colleagues on the BBO Committee for their inexhaustible efforts over the last several months. We are, of course, so grateful to all the officials, timekeepers, recorders, marshals and volunteers who made the Championships possible. As we all know, they are the lifeblood of the event. We encourage people to offer to help in future, if they feel so inclined, either by way of on-the-day assistance or perhaps a role on our Committee. Do please consider this ahead of next year’s Championships. It’s involved, but it’s good fun and seeing a day like today was a real joy and delight.
I wish to also make very special mention of Dene Stringfellow, who stepped down as BBO Chairman in June of this year. He took on the role several years ago and has confidently steered the Association through some rather lean times, to where we find it now in excellent health, with something of a buzz about it. We thank him for his indefatigable commitment to the BBO and the wider running community in Oxfordshire. We all know how much he has given, which continues to surprise us at every turn – and his support during this year of the handover has been immense.
In closing, our thanks also go to Lynne Nike, who is stepping down as BBO Secretary after three years in the role. She has been so dependable, thoughtful, upbeat and helpful, and will be really missed.
We wish them both very well in the years ahead.
The 2025 BBO Championships will be held on the third weekend of November (15th/16th), so mark your diaries accordingly. Please do encourage your team’s/club’s members to take part and we look forward to seeing you again then.
Happy running in the meantime and do please feel free to reach out if you feel the call to do so. We’d also love to receive any good photos or videos of the day that you’d like to share with us, that we could use on social media.
Benedict Pollard
Chairman