Anglo-Celtic Plate 100k successes for England team

It was another hugely successful Anglo-Celtic Plate 100k race for the England Athletics team with team gold for the women and team silver for the men.

Additionally Shaun Dixon secured silver in the British Championships, whilst Kelsey Price led home the women’s team with a British Championship win and a completely English podium 1,2,3 with teammates Belinda Houghton and Katy Young completing the British Champs top three.

Women's 100k

The women’s team worked together excellently throughout, holding the top four spots for most of the race and working together before the lead exchanged hands a few times in the middle of the tough course at Mallory Park in Leicester. With 21 laps to complete, each with multiple hairpin turns, windy conditions and two significant climbs per lap, experienced 24hr runner Kelsey Price (RunHead AC, David Bone) ran her own race and looked in control from the moment she hit the front of the leaderboard. Given she grew up close to the racing circuit there was phenomenal home ground support for Kelsey, who was also celebrating her selection for the 24 hour World Championships this October.

Belinda Houghton (Fylde Coast Runners, Mike Gratton), in her first race beyond marathon distance, looked one of the most experienced on the field, and spent a significant few laps in the lead of the event and kept pace with leader Kelsey, within a couple of minutes, for most of the 100km. It was a spectacular performance and hopefully the first of many ultra distance outings for Belinda.

Completing the women’s podium was Katie Young (Fulham RC, Neil Bryant), who is an accomplished trail athlete but was taking on her first road ultra, but once again it didn’t show. Working well with the others in the England team, Katie was our captain - showing leadership in the lead pack and making sure Team England came home with the gold medal. Both Steph McCall (Clapham Chasers, Geoff Watkin) finishing in 5th, and Jen Wood (Paddock Wood AC, Jamie Stephenson) in 6th, ran consistent and strong races, with Steph covering her furthest ever distance and Jen running a big PB on a tough course. Any three of the five English runners would have secured team gold with five runners in the top six.

Men's 100k

The men’s race saw an early lead by Rob Payne (Caistor RC, Robbie Britton), with a strong chasing group including eventual winner Henry Hart of Scotland, 2024 winner Jarleth McKenna and others. Whilst Payne felt the hills, wind and heat in the second half, he battled on valiantly to remain a scoring member of the team, with British 24 hour record holder Matt Field (Bad Boy RC, Nathan Flear) also enduring a tough 100k but coming through for the team. Marius Posa (Belgrave Harriers, Charlie Dickinson) battled in the top five, unfortunately succumbed to a hamstring injury on one of the hairpin bends, but remained track side to support his team mates throughout. Dan Summers (Westbury Harriers, Marcus Scotney) was a consistent strength for the team, smiling on every lap and making sure team England had an additional scorer if needed, such is the drama of 100k racing it can all change in a second.

In his first event over 50km and first road ultra, Shaun Dixon (South West Vets AC) - like Houghton - looked every bit the composed and experienced ultra runner. In control in the first half of the event, Dixon slowly moved up the field until he was in the podium spots. Such was his calm climb through the ranks the runner himself didn’t seem to believe the support team when they let him know what a great race he was running, but when targets were painted on the athletes still ahead, Dixon picked them off one by one and broke the tape under 7 hours to take second, lead the team to a silver medal and hopefully start a long road ultra career ahead.

Support team

No ultra distance team success would be without top class support on the sidelines and team lead Robbie Britton was joined by Niamh Cameron, Aly Dixon and Dr. Matt Long as they ensured athletes had exactly what they needed each and every lap, adapted to any problems that arose, crushed ice for bandanas with a wonderfully small pink hammer and provided the information, energy and encouragement when needed.

For the second year in a row England secured team gold and a full podium in the women’s race, but Scotland secured men’s top spot and team gold. Until next year!

Results:

Women

1st: Kelsey Price 7:44:21
2nd: Belinda Houghton 7:49:57
3rd: Katy Young 8:05:47
5th: Steph McCall 8:26:39
6th: Jen Wood 8:49:56

Men

2nd: Shaun Dixon 6 7:25:14
7th: Rob Payne 7 7:25:14
8th: Matt Field 8 7:21:36
16th: Dan Summers 10 7:56:16
dnf: Marius Posa