Holloway and Hazell out in front as Brize and Leeming lead the field

A CHILLY Halton warmed quickly as the RAF Athletics Cross Country Championships burst into life with some combative running and fast finish times.

In a men’s field of 59 athletes, AS1 Max Hazell took the win, crossing the line in a speedy 32 minutes and 52 seconds.

finish times making up a team result – RAF Leeming took the win with the lowest cumulative total points of 58. RAF Halton were not far behind with 72, while RAF Wittering came third with 82 points.

at all sorts of weird and wonderful times. Being away from family, I’ve used the training as a good distraction and have been hitting 90 to 100 miles a week, my highest mileage in years.” l To find out more about RAF athletics, follow @RAF_Athletics on Instagram.

With an electric race pace, Hazell was quickly followed by Cpl Adam Baker in 33 mins 3 secs, with Wg Cdr Ben Livesey completing the top three with a time of 33:15.

Livesey was also the first vet across the line, while in the U23s race – incorporated in the men’s senior race – AS1 Jack Clark came home first in 36:30s. AS1 Josh Benton came second in 38:14 and AS1 Liam Brennan was next with 40:21.

In the station standings – with the first four recorded

In the women’s race Cpl Gemma Holloway was triumphant in a time of 30:30, with Cpl Helena Schofield not far behind in second with 31:1 and hot on her heels was Sgt Molly Betmead coming in with 31:10s, sewing up the top three positions. The first female veteran to cross the line was Sgt Angela Bell in a time of 33:34, while in the U23s race (also incorporated into the women’s senior race), Cpl Summer Benson was first in 41:38, while AS1 Emily Cantley was runner-up in 43:58 and AS1 Rebecca Bracher third in 46:6.

In the station standings, RAF Brize Norton took a resounding win with the lowest total of 28 points, RAF Wittering came second with 105 and not far behind them, RAF Lossiemouth with 114.