October 2025: Performance round up

From U23 to masters teams and road running to the start of the cross country season, England teams have been putting in strong performances throughout October. Let’s look back on some of the highlights from the past month in our October performance round up.

Masters athletes impress on the roads, trails and European stage

The Forest of Dean Autumn Trail Half Marathon played host to the inaugural Masters International Trail race, which saw lots of outstanding performances over the challenging 13.1 mile course. England athletes impressed through all the age groups with Lee Gratton (Rugeley, John Danahay), and Ellie Monks (Southampton, Peter Haynes) posting the fastest times of the day in the men’s and women’s races respectively.

This year’s masters representative marathon between England and Wales took place in Abingdon, Oxfordshire as part of the Abingdon Marathon. There were tight contests across the age categories and brilliant performances from some athletes making their England debut.

Taking home a grand total of 132 gold medals, 102 silver medals and 77 bronze medals, the European Masters Athletics Championships in Madeira was definitely one to remember for Great Britain! With age groups ranging from V35 to V90, the European Masters Athletics Championships is the perfect demonstration that athletics is for people of all ages.

Battling for podium places on the road

A strong team of athletes represented England at the Corsa dei Castelli point to point road race in Trieste, Italy. Both teams of U23 athletes finished in second place overall and Rebecca Flaherty (Bingley Harriers, Matt Seddon/Andy Henderson) secured an individual spot on the podium clocking 34:04 for third place.

On home soil, the streets of Manchester played host to the England Senior Half Marathon Championships in October as part of the Manchester Half Marathon. The men’s race saw a close race for the top spot with Joe Wigfield (Wirral AC) narrowly taking the crown setting a new course record and personal best of 62:04 in the process. In the women’s race, Lily Partridge (Birchfield Harriers) made a decisive move in the latter part of the race and stormed to victory with a new personal best of 69:34.

Club camaraderie was on show throughout all the races at the 2025 ERRA National Autumn Road Relays. There were impressive battles for the titles as teams from across the country raced around Sutton Park to claim victory for their club in the Men’s 6 Stage, Women’s 4 Stage and Young Athletes’ 3 Stage Road Relays.

Starting the Cross Country season strong

The first England Cross Country team of the season rose to the occasion in Roeselare, Belgium at the Cross Cup. The races all began with a frantic charge, which the England athletes negotiated well. Zoe Gilbody (Telford, Sarah Benson) secured the top spot in the junior women’s race followed by teammate Isabel Holt (Blackburn, Andy Henderson). Will Rabjohns (Poole AC, Mark Pauley) and James Kingston (Tonbridge AC, Mark Hookway) also finished in silver medal position in the junior and senior men’s races respectively.

Intense battles in Italian mountains for England

England Athletics were represented by ten athletes at one of Italy’s most iconic international mountain relay events, the Trofeo Vanoni Relays. There were strong performances from all the England athletes on the steep course with the men's teams finishing 5th and 14th and the women's 9th and 16th.