Team announced for EnergyVision CrossCup de Hannut

The EnergyVision CrossCup de Hannut is an annual cross‑country running event held in Hannut, located in the Belgian province of Liège. Recognised as a permit meeting by the European Athletic Association, it regularly draws leading athletes from across Europe and Africa.

Traditionally staged in January or February, the competition began in 1941 as a men‑only race. During its early years, it featured several prominent Belgian runners, including national champions Gaston Reiff and Marcel Vandewattyne. As the event grew, it attracted an increasingly international field, and by the 1950s Olympic medallists such as Derek Ibbotson, Gordon Pirie and Franjo Mihalić were claiming victories. A women’s race was added in 1977, and from the 1990s onward it too began attracting strong international competitors.

An England team travel to Belgium in most seasons to compete at a range of venues that align with the England Cross Country schedule. The classic Belgian course - twisting, winding, and raced over multiple laps - will provide a familiar but demanding test for our athletes once again.

The following England Team has been selected to follow in their footsteps this Sunday 25 January:

Senior Men

• Jenson Connell (Leeds City/Leeds Beckett University, Andrew Henderson)
• Ed Buck (Newark AC, Bill Taylor)
• Richard Slade (Chiltern Harriers AC/Bath University, Matt Seddon)
• Jack Millar (Bristol & West/Thames Hare and Hounds, David Bedwell)

Senior Women

• Niamh Bridson Hubbard (Blackheath and Bromley Harriers AC, Philip O’Dell)
• Eleanor Curran (Leeds City AC, Joe Townsend)
• Jess Gibbon (Reading AC) pictured
• Rebecca Flaherty (Bingley Harriers and AC/Oxford University)

U20 Men

• Michael Clark (City of Norwich AC, Jane Clarke)
• Luke Dunham (Herts Phoenix AC, Andy Hobdell)
• Jonson Hughes (Rotherham Harriers, Andrew Henderson)
• Jack Marwood (Salford Harriers and AC, Ian Grime)

U20 Women

• Maisey Bellwood (Keighley & Craven AC)
• Sabrina Coppola Johansen (Aldershot Farnham & District AC, Mick Woods)
• Tilly Nickell (Team Bath, Luke Gunn)
• Evey Powell (Abingdon AC, Bernard Wilkins)

Team biographies

Senior Men

Only last weekend Jenson Connell competed in Elgoibar, Spain for England and finished 20th having struggled on the last lap after twisting his ankle. Jenson was fifth in the U23 Liverpool Euro Trial Cross Country and then went on to finish 36th in the European U23 Cross Country in Lagoa, Portugal in December. He ran strong legs for his club in both the National Cross County relays at Mansfield and the National Road Relays.

Last weekend on his England cross country debut in Elgoibar, Spain Ed Buck was first England athlete home in 12th place. Prior to that Ed was 13th in Liverpool Euro Trial - probably his best cross country race although he was also ninth at Cardiff. He has been running well on the roads and was ninth in the Great North run and seventh at the Telford 10k in 29.00. This will be his England Cross Country debut.

Richard Slade had a big breakthrough in the 2024-2025 season running very well for England - on three occasions being first man home then winning the English National Cross Country title. He has continued this by finishing third in the Liverpool Euro Trial and competing for the GB&NI team in the European Cross Country where he finished 38th in Portugal.

Having run last weekend in Elgoibar - finishing 19th after he recovered from Christmas flu - Jack Millar will be hoping to improve in Hannut and turn the tables on some on his England counterparts. A seasoned cross country runner, Jack was 12th in the Liverpool Euro Trial. He was third in the Home Countries International last February, fifth in the Inter Counties in March and ran solid legs for his club in the Midland and National Road Relays in October.

Senior Women

Niamh Bridson Hubbard had an excellent run in the European Cross Country Trial in Liverpool finishing 11th, a very much improved race from Cardiff where she finished 20th. Niamh kicked off her Cross Country season in the ECCA National Cross Country Relays bringing her team in to third place. Niamh had a solid summer last year, gaining a 3000m PB on the track.

Eleanor Curran finished 17th in Liverpool at the European Cross Country Trial and started her Cross Country season running first leg at the ECCA National Cross Country Relays in Mansfield. Eleanor had a positive summer season, gaining her a PB in 1500m on the track and running close to her personal best in 3000m, 1 Mile on the track, and 5k on the road.

Jess Gibbon finished seventh in Liverpool at the European Cross Country Trial and just narrowly missed out on selection for the European Cross Country Championships. Jess started her cross country season running in Cardiff, where she finished 11th. Jess was the 2025 ECCA National English Cross Country Champion and finished second - running for England in the Home Countries at Leeds last season. She followed her great winter form into the road, gaining a 10k PB.

Rebecca Flaherty finished fifth U23 in the European Cross Country Trial - gaining selection for the European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa, Portugal where she finished 21st. Rebecca finished 23rd in Cardiff and finished on the podium in third place at last season’s ECCA England Cross Country Championships. She had an amazing summer season gaining PBs in 3000m and 5000m on the track, 5k, 10k and HM on the road.

U20 Men

Michael Clark made a real breakthrough last year with a fourth place finish in the ECCA Saucony English National Championships. An excellent track season set Michael up for a very productive cross country season. A win at Sefton Park secured his place in the European team in Lagoa, Portugal and the World Cross team in Tallahassee, Florida. A very creditable 20th place in Tallahassee is the highlight of his season so far.

Luke Dunham has made an excellent start to the winter season with a very creditable sixth place in Liverpool which led to his selection for the European team in Lagoa, Portugal and the World Cross team in Tallahassee, Florida. Clearly on an upward trajectory from 10th in the ECCA Saucony English National Championships last year, and third in CAU Inter County Championships (including British Athletics Cross Challenge), to making the GB teams.

Jonson Hughes is enjoying a stellar cross country season; a third place finish in Cardiff and his fourth in Liverpool secured his place in the European team in Lagoa, Portugal and the World Cross team in Tallahassee, Florida. Jonson is on an upward trajectory!

Jack Marwood is natural cross country runner with a third place finish in the ECCA Saucony English National Championships, a fourth place finish in the UK Athletics Cross Challenge Leeds (including Home Countries International and Celtic Plate) and a seventh place in Hannut last season. Whilst his current season has not quite gone to plan, Hannut will give him an opportunity to shine.

U20 Women

Maisey Bellwood is having an excellent cross country season. At the Liverpool fixture of the British Athletics Cross Challenge, Maisey finished in seventh, which secured her selection in the GB & NI team for the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee. At the Cardiff fixture, Maisey finished ninth, and was fourth in last year’s National Cross Country Championships at Parliament Hill. This will be Maisey’s England cross country debut.

Sabrina Coppola Johansen is having a solid cross country season with a fourth position in the U17 age group at both the Cardiff, and Liverpool fixtures of the British Athletics Cross Challenge. Last October, Sabrina made her debut for England cross country in Roeselare, finishing seventh. Sabrina is an athlete who is advancing well this year.

Tilly Nickell gains her first England cross country vest following her seventh position in the Cardiff fixture of the British Athletics Cross Challenge. Tilly did compete at Liverpool and was in the top ten, when with 1km to go, she rolled her ankle and limped in. Last year, Tilly finished sixth in the National Cross Country Championships at Parliament Hill and was selected to represent GB & NI U20 team at the Loughborough International - finishing fourth in the 3000m steeplechase.

Evey Powell is another athlete who is making her England cross country debut following solid performances at the Liverpool and Cardiff fixtures of the British Athletics Cross Challenge. Other notable performances for Evey include finishing fifth at the English Schools' AA Cross Country Championships and fourth in the 1500m at English Schools' AA Track and Field Championships.

Senior Men's Team Manager Eamon Martin said:

"Over many years, England athletes of all ages have enjoyed success across the various CrossCup venues, and we make the trip once again with confidence and high expectations. More importantly, the event offers valuable experience and helps athletes build belief in themselves at a competition that has been running since the 1940s."

His fellow team managers are Sue Lamb (Senior Women), Keith Holt (Junior Men), and Jo Newcombe (Junior Women).