Team announced for Roeselare CrossCup

With winter fast approaching, England open the cross country season by travelling to Belgium to compete in the Lotto Cross Cup in Roeselare on 26 October. Traditionally England have taken teams away at the beginning of the cross country season to help athletes prepare for the European trials which once again take place in Liverpool’s Sefton Park in November.

The Lotto Cross Cup is an annual series of international cross country running competitions in Belgium which started in 1982. The series comprises Belgium's foremost cross country competitions, including the World Athletics permit meeting in Brussels (Lotto Cross Cup Brussels) and the European Athletics sanctioned meeting in Roeselare (Lotto Cross Cup van West-Vlaanderen) - Belgium's only world and European level meetings.

England have frequented most of the Belgium Lotto Cross Cup events over the years and enjoyed a great deal of success.

Team

Senior men

James Kingston (Tonbridge AC, Mark Hookway) is a previous winner and was 2nd in last winter’s National Cross Country behind Richard Slade. He has been progressing well over a few years now having represented GB at the U23 Europeans the last two years and competing in the 2024 World Cross Country. He has run well in the Southern and National 6 Stage Road Relays for his club Tonbridge AC - recently showing fine form at shorter distances going in to this winter.

Richard Slade (Chiltern, Matt Seddon/Richard Slade) ran for England a few times last winter - excelling in these races and leading the team home. This was new venture for him and he kept his fine form going to the end of the winter, culminating in winning the National Cross Country at Parliament Hill. His progress was maybe unexpected but he has shown he is consistent and is aiming to make the European Cross Country team in November’s trial.

Jacob Cann (Weston Tempo/Horsham Blue Star) ran for England last winter and came an excellent 10th in Elgoibar, Spain in January. He followed that with 6th in the Home Countries/Celtic Cross event in Leeds before finishing 12th in the Nationals. He recently ran the 2nd fastest leg in the Midland 6 Stage Road Relays. He ran a 1500m PB of 3:38.25 last summer and got his 5,000m time down to 13:33.81s and 3,000m down to 7:52.36.

Chris Coulson (Morpeth/Newcastle Uni, Nathan Shrubb) has been showing gradual progress over recent years. Last winter he was 14th U23 in the European Cross Country Trial at Liverpool and was also 14th at Temple Newsam in the Home Countries/Celtic Cross country event. He was 22nd in the BUCS Cross Country at Cardiff and in the summer improved his track times at 1500m, 3000m and 5000m, also running 29.39 for 10,000m at the UK Championships in Birmingham. He has recently run the Northern and National Road Relays where he clocked 16:20.

Senior women

Charlotte Dannatt (Camberley, Kyle Bennett) has had an impressive summer season gaining significant PBs in 3000m, 5000m and 10,000m on the track along with 5k and 10k PBs on the road. Charlotte was BUCS 10,000m champion and finished 8th in the UK championships where she gained her PB. Last season Charlotte earned a 13th place finish in the National Cross Country and 7th place at the BUCS Championships in Cardiff.

Megan Gadsby (City of Norwich) won the U23 trial at Liverpool last season - gaining her selection in the GB team for the European Cross Country in Turkey. This also ensured her England selection to compete in Elgoibar, Spain finishing in 11th place in a strong International field. This was followed by a win in the Southern Cross Country Championships, 8th in Home Countries in Leeds and 5th in the Inter Country Championships.

Elle Twentyman (Rugby & Northampton AC) had a great winter season last year - finishing 7th in the National Cross Country at Parliament Hill and 7th in Home Countries in Leeds. Elle is a successful mountain runner who took silver in the British Mountain Running Championships, was first in the English Fell Running Championships and 7th overall in the WMRA World Cup Series.

Holly Weedall (Vale Royal, Dean Miller) has had a great summer season gaining track PBs in 1500m, 3000m, 5000m and 10,000m and also 5k on the road. This gained Holly selection in the FISU World Championships in Germany. Holly is kicking off the season representing England at Roeselare. Holly finished 10th U23 at the European Cross Trial at Liverpool, and was part of the winning team in the recent ERRA 4 Stage Road Relay Championships.

U20 men

William Rabjohns (Poole AC, Mark Pauley) enjoyed an excellent cross country season in 2024-2025 with great performances in Elgoibar - where he finished creditable 4th - and a 2nd place in the CAU Inter County Championships. William took this good form into the summer where he took gold in the England U20 800m Championships which qualified him for the European U20 Championships in Tampere. There he finished first before being disqualified; he didn’t have the medal around his neck but he had the knowledge that he crossed the line first.

Jake Stevens (Invicta East Kent, Donald Carter). His 2024-2025 cross country season was limited by injury but he concluded with a close bronze at the UK Athletics Cross Challenge Leeds (inc. Home Countries International and Celtic Plate). He was edged out by Quinn Miell-Ingram and National Cross Country Champion, Matthew Pickering. Jake is now back in good shape and looking to make this cross country season special.

Alex Lennon (Sutton & District, Nick Hancock) had an exceptional cross country season last year with an almost perfect set of results. Alex opened up with a 2nd place in the Surrey County Championships in January before ending the month with a 1st place finish in the South of England Championships. This started a run that saw Alex add the National Cross, Inter Counties and ESAA English Schools' titles to his CV.

Myles Fraser (Blackburn, Andy Bibby) had a solid cross country season last year with 2nd places in both the Lancashire County Championships and Lancashire Schools' Championships. Myles really came to notice in the Home Countries international where he finished a close third to Matthew Clark and was given the same time as the 2nd placed athlete, Luke Dunham.

U20 women

Zoe Gilbody (Telford AC, Sarah Benson) won the English Schools' Cross Championships and the British Cross Challenge race in Glasgow early 2025. In addition, Zoe was runner up in Elgoibar and also at the Inter Counties' Championships. On the track Zoe became the English Schools' and England Athletics champion at 3000m, the latter securing her selection to represent GB&NI at the U20 European Championships finishing 12th the final of the 3000m.

Isabel Holt (Blackburn, Andy Henderson) is the current U20 ECCA Cross Country Champion. Earlier in 2025 Isabel finished 3rd in Elgoibar on her debut for England and 4th at the Home Countries International in Leeds. On the track, Isabel has improved her 1500m, 3000m and 5000m times and represented England at the Home Nations 5k in Cardiff. Recently Isabel clocked the fastest time for U20 women at the Road Relay Championships.

Katie Pye (Aldershot Farnham & District) gains her first England cross country vest following her win at the U17 Inter Counties' Championships. Other notable cross country performances in 2025 include a win at the South of England Championships and 3rd at the English Schools' AA. In the summer Katie has shown excellent form on the track at 1500m, 3000m and 5000m and represented GB&NI at the U20 European Championships at 5000m. At the National Road Relay Championships Katie clocked the 2nd fastest time for an U20.

Lucy Wilkinson (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow AC) also gains her first England cross county vest following her fine win in the U17 women’s race at the ECCA National Championships in February this year. Other notable cross country performances in 2025 include 3rd at the Home Countries International and 2nd at the South of England Cross Country Championships. Lucy’s good form has continued throughout the summer representing England on the road in Italy finishing 3rd in the 5k race. On the track Lucy has improved a PBs at 1500m and 3000m.

Team Managers

• Senior Men: Eamonn Martin
• Senior Women: Claire Martin (standing in for Sue Lamb)
• Junior Men: Keith Holt
• Junior Women: Jo Newcombe