We set the scene for one of the most anticipated events of the year the London International Cross Country

Earlier this month an England cross-country squad led by Eamonn Martin was thwarted in their attempt to race in Elgoibar when their flight from Gatwick to Bilbao was cancelled. On Saturday (Jan 20) Martin organises the London International Cross Country and he will be praying for better luck when the athletes and spectators descend on Parliament Hill for one of the most eagerly awaited events of the season.

With short laps, tight bends and sharp climbs, Martin has devised a course that is devilishly challenging and spectator friendly. The idea is to mimic some of the atmosphere and excitement that unfolds every summer at the Night of the 10,000m PBs at the same Hampstead Heath venue. Weather permitting, there are also plans for a big screen, a marquee filled with fans for runners to race through and alcoholic drinks, plus a live stream for those who cannot make it.

In the spiritual home of cross-country running, Martin aims to puts on a show that brings the sport into the modern era. Pure spectacle aside, the event incorporates the Home Countries International and British Athletics Cross Challenge, together with the trial for the World University Games in Oman and World Cross Country Championships in Serbia. For the latter, the winners of the senior mens and womens races will earn automatic selection into the GB team.

Theres something fantastic about running in the centre of London, says Niamh Bridson Hubbard, one of the senior womens contenders this weekend. I lived right by Hampstead Heath for a year and its such a great place to run. Its amazing being at the top of Parliament Hill as well as you forget youre in the centre of the city. You come up all the mud and hills and get to the top and you have this great view of the city. Its pretty cool.

One of Bridson Hubbards rivals in the womens race is Sarah Astin. The 30-year-old won the English National title at Bolesworth Castle near Chester in 2023 and says: I do love Parliament Hill and its easy for me to get there, which it makes it even better. When I won the National last year it was great but if it had been at Parliament Hill it wouldve been a very different experience. I would have had more friends and family there watching in London whereas winning at Chester it meant I just had to do a long-ish journey home after the race.

Astin adds: The short lapped nature of the course sounds really exciting. I love these kind of cross-country races, which you usually find in places like Belgium and Spain but not so much in Britain.

READ MORE: Bridson Hubbard chases World Cross slot

Eamonns probably been to lots of races around Europe and the rest of the world so I think hes trying to bring this kind of spectator-friendly course concept to Parliament Hill. Its not a full-on trial race with, say, the first four picked for the World Cross but it still is a trial race and there will be a lot of people in the mens and womens races who will be trying to win.

After his victory in the mens race at the Liverpool Cross Challenge followed by a fine fourth place at the European Championships in Brussels, Hugo Milner is among the leading mens contenders on Saturday. Primarily a triathlete, though, he is not sure whether the World Cross will figure in his plans this spring.

He says: Initially I was meant to go to Australia on a triathlon training camp at the start of January but Im now going on January 31. Then Ill be there for five weeks. So I thought I may as well do one last cross-country race before I go. I enjoy cross country and its good to see where I am against the best in the country. Im probably not going to taper for it but I wont lose anything from it (training-wise).

READ MORE: Hugo Milners 2024 plans

Eamonn sent me a course map and it looks like itll be very hilly, starting where the National Cross used to start and then doing a few laps around near where the track is. Im not sure how muddy itll be as the senior mens race isnt the last race so it probably wont be too churned up when I run. But the best runner will still probably win and with some tough conditions it should be good fun.

The senior mens event looks like being potentially the race of the day, with Milner taking on Mahamed Mahamed, steeplechase specialist Will Battershill and ultra-runner Tom Evans. Look out for Jamie Crowe, too, who won at last Saturdays Cross Challenge in Renfrew, Scotland.

When it comes to the age-group races, Innes FitzGerald and James Dargan are the stand-out names in the under-20 categories. This will be FitzGeralds first cross-country race since winning the European under-20 title in Brussels and whereas there is no trial element for juniors at Parliament Hill, the 17-year-old is thought to be interested in running in the World Cross in March.

During his career Martin won the London Marathon and broke the British 10,000m record. He also won the English National title twice himself and clearly has a passion for cross-country. Its shaping up really well, he says ahead of this weekend. I have got prizes in the top three for the seniors of 2000, 1000 and 500. Its a separate prize from the Cross Challenge because we have plans in year two if it all goes successfully to make it more international. I wanted to establish a good prize pot and to push it out there.

Just imagine being a British runner who comes along, wins it, gets some prize money and gets selected for the World Cross. It doesnt feel like a bad days work, does it?

Originally, the event was supported by On, but last month Martin discovered they would be unable to get fully involved in the event due to a sponsorship clash. Due to the meeting being part of the Cross Challenge series, it means British Athletics, who are sponsored by Nike, could not use branding from a rival shoe brand at the event. Whats more, the event was originally scheduled to be a full trial for the World Cross in Croatia in mid-February. Until, that is, World Athletics moved the championships to Serbia in late March.

Despite these hurdles, Martin has galvanised the cross-country fraternity and is looking forward to welcoming everyone to an exciting event on Saturday. Indeed, the event could fill the void left by the Great North/Edinburgh International, which was traditionally televised by BBC over the festive period or in January but has not taken place post-pandemic.

READ MORE: Sarah Astin relishes Parliament Hill opportunity

Current athletes aside, there will also be some legendary runners from yesteryear among the spectators such as Dave Bedford and Julian Goater. In 1970, Bedford famously won the Southern senior mens title at Parliament Hill before audaciously tackling the junior mens event 20 minutes later, which he also won in style. Goater, meanwhile, demolished a world-class field at the 1981 English National at the same famous venue by almost two minutes.

Parliament Hill has seen plenty of historic performances over the years and an exciting new chapter could be written this weekend.

London International Cross Country teams

Senior men
England Alfie Manthorpe, Jack Gray, James Kingston
Scotland Angus McMillan, Jamie Crowe, Scott Stirling, Harry Henricksen
Wales Tom Wood, Mike Ward, Ben Miles
Northern Ireland Chris Fielding, Coneal McCambridge, Craig McMeechan, Andrew Milligan
Eastern Counties Edward Blythman, Callum Charleston, James Connor, John Millar
Midland Counties Thomas Bentley, Charlie Davies, Jack Millar, Kurt Taylor
Northern Athletics Hugo Milner, Matt Ramsden, Tom Humphries, Tommy Power
South of England Jeremy Dempsey, Sam Hodgson, Mahamed Mahamed, Tomer Tarragano

U20 men
England William Rabjohns, James Dargan, Quinn Miell-Ingram, Jake Stevens
Scotland Connor Bell, Logan Beagley, Angus Wright, Hamish McKay
Wales Henry Evans, Rhys Llewellyn, Tudur Harper Lloyd
Eastern Counties Tom Bongaerts, Harry Hewitt, Oscar Graham-Pereira, Ben Peck
Midland Counties Michael Banks, Harry Bond, Ash Burgess, Andy Jeavons
Northern Athletics Edward Hobbs, Liam McCay, Alex Poulston, Will Sutcliffe
South of England Noah Campion, Harry Johnston, Ethan Primett, Mark Ruby

Senior women
England Niamh Bridson Hubbard, Phoebe Barker, Amelia Quirk, Ellie Wallace
Scotland Kirsty Walker, Lynn McKenna, Holly Page, Scout Adkin
Wales Alaw Evans, Lauren Cooper, Martha Owen
Northern Ireland Orla Duffy, Hannah Gilliland, Robyn McKee, Edel Monaghan
Eastern Counties Holly Fisher, Lizzie James, Rebecca Murray, Lauren Nichols
Midland Counties Julie Emmerson, Amy Fuller, Megan Marchant, Penny Oliver
Northern Athletics Ellie Curran, Lauren McNeil, Emilia Platt, Rosie Woodhams
South of England Niamh Brown, Holly Dixon, Charlotte Dannatt, Katie Hughes

U20 women
England Eliza Nicholson, Innes FitzGerald, Jess Bailey, Isobelle Jones
Scotland Mille McClelland Brooks, Natasha Phillips, Jessica Inglis, Amy Teasdale
Wales Ben Rawlinson, Caitlin Jones, Maddison Griffiths
Eastern Counties Madeline Barker, Lucy Jones, Isabel Mansley, Amie Read
Midland Counties Aria Abberley-Barker, Jade Charlton, Bethan Homer, Maisi Trueman
Northern Athletics India Barwell, Isabel Holt, Amelia Lane, Beth Rogers
South of England Jenny Leggate, Maddie Hughes, Lauren Russell

Teams aside, there are a number of individual athletes competing as part of the Cross Challenge series. They include Sarah Astin, Alice Goodall, Phoebe Law, Beth Kidger, Will Battershill and Tom Evans. In the BUCS 4km trial races, meanwhile, look out for runners like Khai Mhlanga and Sam Mills.

Timetable
10.45 U13 girls 3km
11.00 U13 boys 3km
11.15 Open womens & BUCS 4km trial
11.35 U15 boys 4km
11.55 U15 girls 4km
12.15 Senior women 10km
13.00 Senior men 10km
13.40 U20/U17 women 6km
14.05 U17 men 6km
14.30 U20 men 8km
15.00 Open mens & BUCS 4km trial