Athletes from across the UK completed two laps of the challenging 2000m course and fought for medals across the different categories.

With selections for the Home Countries international taking place immediately after this event several athletes were out to record good times.

The short distance over a well prepared course saw some excellent races despite the biting winds.

The closest finish came in the M35 category where just two seconds stopped Wolds Vets AC from catching Halesowen. Mansfield’s quartet finished fourth, Faz Fahy leading them out and returning in a time of 15.03.

John Wood took over from Fahy and recorded 16.41 before Mark Jenkins (16.14) and Carl Emery (15.56) both returned to racing after long lay offs.

The largest field of the day was in the M40 category where a comfortable victory was secured by the team of six from Herne Hill Harriers.

The race for silver was closer with Sunderland Harriers holding off Tipton Harriers who took bronze.

Mansfield had two teams in the M40 category – the A team finishing in 13th position and the B team in 18th.

First two runners - Doug Ross and Steve Grainger – finished just one second apart from each other, Ross recording 14.37 and Grainger 14.38.

John Farquharson clocked 15.16 on the third leg and Rob Smith came back from the fourth leg in 15.38.

The last two runners both clocked sub 15 legs with Darren Hodgkinson in 14.56 on fifth and Pete Stafford anchoring the team home in 14.45.

Trevor Hiscox led out the B team bringing them back in 16.19 to be followed out by Julian Wood who clocked 18.04 before handing on to Tim Raynor.

Raynor returned in 15.52 and passed the baton to Dave Peet who went one second quicker in 15.51.

Steve Davies, on fifth, recorded the fastest B team leg with 15.32 and Richard Massey responded to his late call up with a sub 20 minute last leg in 19.53.

Victory in the M50 category went to Oxford City with Wirral AC in second and Barnet and District taking the bronze medal.

Alan Maddocks led the Mansfield quartet out and returned in 17.44 handing over to Geoff Brown who ran 18.52.

Terry Ashmore went out third to record 19.03 before John Hall anchored the team home to 11th place himself recording the fastest leg in the team with 17.11.

Mansfield’s only medal of the day came in the W45 category where Tina Green, Maddy Collinge and Jane Stafford took silver in a race won by local rivals Redhill Road Runners.

Tina led the team out recording 19.36 for her leg handing on to Maddy who ran 20.23 and Jane anchored them home with 19.41.