Yelling rolls back the years
Hayley Yelling (57), back in the frame
At a sunny Liverpool former European XC champ Hayley Yelling showed a glimpse of her past when she came out of ‘retirement’ to win the McCain Cross Challenge. The race doubled-up as the selection race for the 2009 European Cross Country Championships that take place in Dublin in a fortnight…
Yelling, who announced her retirement in 2008, made a stunning come back to high level domestic competition winning the senior women’s race, maintaining a confident lead throughout. Ever visible in her bright pink kit she crossed the line to take the win and automatic European Cross Country Championships selection with only three weeks of intensive training behind her.
She said: ”I’ve been doing a little bit of running. I’ve been running five times a week recently and I’m just really enjoying it. Maybe relaxing is the way forward, I’ve got nothing to prove, no pressure and I just wanted to enjoy myself. I didn’t expect to do well; it’s a bit of a shock.”
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The king of consistency Mike Skinner took the men’s senior title after battling with Ben Whitby for much of the late stages. An exciting finish for the crowds gathered in the park saw Skinner take the edge on the final muddy uphill climb against both Whitby and Moumin Geele (who finished second has recently gained UK residency but does not hold a full passport and is therefore not eligible for selection).
The men's race at Liverpool, with Mike Skinner (67) prominent
