Leeds City Athletic Club delivered an outstanding performance at the English National Cross Country Championships 2025, held at Parliament Hill Fields, London, on Saturday (22 February 2025).
The senior women’s team dominated the competition, securing the National Championship title, while the senior men narrowly missed out on a team medal, finishing a close fourth. With young athletes making a strong impression in their national debuts, the future looks incredibly bright for Leeds City AC.
The senior women’s team delivered a remarkable victory, edging out Aldershot Farnham & District by just four points. Leeds City AC’s team score of 89 secured the prestigious title, demonstrating their depth, strength, and ability to perform under pressure at the highest level.
Team results:
1st – Leeds City Athletic Club – 89 points
2nd – Aldershot Farnham & District – 93 points
3rd – Thames Hare & Hounds – 161 points
Top Individual Performances:
* 11th – Jennifer Walsh
* 17th – Georgia Malir
* 24th – Dominique Corradi
* 37th – Katrina Ballantyne
* 80th – Ellie Hobbs
* 105th – Charlotte Van Zelst
* 190th – Hannah Stroud
* 195th – Mia France
* 265th – Georgina Beeden
The senior men fought valiantly and were agonisingly close to a podium finish, securing 4th place in an intensely competitive field. Star performer Harry Butler moved through the field like a freight train, relentlessly powering past competitors to finish an impressive 28th place, leading the team’s strong showing.
Top Individual Performances:
* 28th – Harry Butler
* 38th – Graham Rush
* 42nd – Sean Flanagan
* 50th – Adam Baker
* 52nd – Joshua Woodcock-Shaw
* 53rd – William Tighe
* 68th – Gavyn Chalmers
* 98th – Linton Taylor
In the Under 17 Women’s section Poppy Henson proved that she is not just one of the top young athletes in Yorkshire, but a genuine star in the making. Racing against the nation’s best, she delivered a fearless performance, holding her own from the gun and pushing hard over the challenging course to finish an incredible 6th place. Teammates Anna Schlossan and Sophia Hidayat also showed grit and resilience, gaining valuable experience by finishing 126th and 138th respectively.
Yaried Alem demonstrated his exceptional talent and racecraft in the Under 15 Boys, with a phenomenal 2nd place finish, making him the national runner-up in his age group. His brave and tactical racing was a testament to his ability and consistency, proving that he is one of the most exciting young endurance runners in the UK today.
The team finished 17th overall, with solid performances from:
* 101st – Alexander Smith
* 201st – Joseph Booth
* 225th – Ben Bedford
* 299th – Woody Beaumont
Evie Hodgkinson made a strong national debut in the Under 13 Girls, finishing an impressive 69th place as Leeds City AC’s sole competitor in the category. Her ability to compete on such a big stage at a young age bodes well for future success.
A determined effort in the Under 13 Boys from the youngest Leeds City AC competitors saw them tackle the tough, muddy course with resilience, setting the stage for future achievements.
Top Individual Performances:
* 103rd – William Reynolds
* 113th – Caleb Emmett
* 223rd – Callum Holmes
Ruth Friend once again confirmed her place among the very best young runners in the country, delivering an excellent 20th place finish in the Under 15 Girls. Her performance was a masterclass in competitive racing, proving she has both the endurance and tactical awareness to be a force at the national level for years to come.
The team finished 26th overall, with strong supporting performances from:
* 169th – Harriet Williams
* 233rd – Talitha Hodgkinson
* 260th – Astrid Gamesby
The dominance of the senior women, combined with the depth in the senior men’s squad and the exceptional performances from the younger age groups, signals a golden era ahead for Leeds City AC. With role models like Jen Walsh and Harry Butler guiding the emerging stars like Poppy Henson, Yaried Alem, and Ruth Friend the club is well-positioned for continued success in the years to come.
Leeds City AC’s athletes and coaches should be immensely proud of their achievements at this year’s Championships, proving once again that they are among the very best in the country.
With the National Cross Country Championships set to be held in the north next year, Leeds City AC will have their sights firmly set on even greater success. The club will be gunning for overall team titles in the Senior Women, Senior Men, and Under 15 Girls categories, while also aiming for individual silverware. With the strength and talent across all age groups, Leeds City AC is ready to make a statement when the National comes up’t north in 2026.
Leeds City Athletics Club trains at The John Charles Centre For Sport, Middleton Grove, LS11 5DJ. Find out more about the club at: www.leedscityac.org
This post is based on a press release issued by Leeds City AC
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This is brilliant news. Many congratulations to all our wonderful Leeds cross country runners and especially to the Senior Women’s Team, our Champions.