Roeselare – CrossCup Competition 2025 – Team Announcement
7 min readEngland Cross Country Association Team Announcement
Roeselare – CrossCup Competition
Sunday 26th October 2025
Roeselare, Belgium
Team managers:
– Senior Men – Eamonn Martin
– Senior Women – Claire Martin (Standing in for Sue Lamb)
– Junior Men – Keith Holt
– Junior Women – Jo Newcombe
The Lotto Cross Cup is an annual series of international cross country running competitions in Belgium . The inaugural season was in 1982–1983. The series comprises Belgium`s foremost cross country competitions, including the IAAF 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. Roeselare is the first meeting in this season’s England Cross Country program and it takes place on Sunday 26th October in the Belgian city of Roeselare which is situated in the Flemish province of West Flanders.
This industrial city in West Flanders came through a revival in the 19th century with the completion of the Roeselare-Leie Canal. In the decades that followed, Roeselare would be described as the Manchester of Belgium, and has a port on the canal still bustling with activity. Flanders has always had a reputation for producing world-class cross-country runners such as Vincent Rousseau and Tom van Hooste. They also enjoy a distinguished position in the cycling world, but Roeselare is front and centre, having produced Belgium’s first Tour de France winner, Odile Defraye (1888-1965) champion in 1912. British success has been limited in the series but with one notable exception, our own Roger Hackney took the top spot in the 1988 – 89 season.
With winter fast approaching England open the cross country season by travelling to Belgium to compete in the Lotto Cross Cup – Roeselare on 26th 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. England have frequented most of the Belgium Lotto Cross Cup events over the years and enjoyed a great deal of success.
Team Selection
Senior Men
James Kingston – Tonbridge AC – Mark Hookway
James was 2nd in last winter’s National Cross Country behind Richard Slade (James is a previous winner). He has been progressing well over a few years now having represented GB at the U23 Europeans the last 2 years and competing in the 2024 World Cross Country. He has run well in the Southern and National 6 stage relays for his beloved club Tonbridge AC recently showing fine form at shorter distances going in to this winter. He competed in the British Trials 5000m in the summer as he improved his track times also.
Richard Slade – Matt Seddon
Richard Slade ran for England at cross country a few times last winter excelling in them and leading the team home. This was new venture for him and he kept his fine for going to the end of the winter culminating in winning the National Cross Country at Parliament Hill. His progress was maybe unexpected outside but he has shown he is consistent and is aiming to make the European Cross Country team in November’s trial. He also ran in the British Trials 5000m in the summer.
Jacob Cann – Weston Tempo / Horsham Blue Star
Jacob ran for England Cross Country last winter and came an excellent 10th in Elsgoibar, Spain in January. He followed that with 6th in the Home Countries/Celtic cross event in Leeds before finishing 12th in The National. He recently ran the 2nd fastest leg in the Midland 6 stage road relay. He ran a 15000 PB of 3m38.25 last summer and got his 5000m time down to 13m33.81s and 3000m down to 7m52.36.
Chris Coulson – Morpeth / Newcastle Uni – Nathan Shrubb
Chris 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 time sat 1500/3000/5000 and also ran 29.39 for 10,000 at the UK Championships in Birmingham. He has recently run. The Northern and National Road relay where he ran 16m20. He is in a position. Now with University to kick on with his running.
Senior Women
Charlotte Dannatt – Camberley – Kyle Bennett
Charlotte has had an impressive summer season gaining significant PB’s in 3000, 5000 & 10000 on the track along with PB’s in 5K and 10K on the road. Charlotte was BUCS 10000 Champion and finished 8th in the UK championships where she gained her PB. Last Cross Country season Charlotte finished with a 13th place finish in the National Cross Country and 7th place finish in the BUCS Championships in Cardiff.
Megan Gadsby – City of Norwich – Mick Woods
Last Cross Country season saw Megan win the U23 trial at Liverpool gaining her selection in the GB team for the European Cross Country in Turkey. This also gained Megan England selection to compete in Elgoibar, Spain finishing in 11th place in a strong International field. 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
Elle 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 finishing 2nd in the British Mountain Running Championships, 1 st in English Fell Running Championships finishing with 7th overall in the WMRA World Cup Series.
Holly Weedall – Vale Royal – Dean Millar
Holly has had a great summer season gaining PB’s 1500, 3000, 5000 & 10000 and also 5K on the road. This gained Holly selection in the FISU World Championships in Germany. Holly had a positive Winter season kicking off the season representing England in this race (Roeselare). Holly finished 10th U23 at the European Cross Trial at Liverpool. Holly was part of the winning team in the recent ERRA 4 stage championships.
U20 Women
Zoe Gilbody – Telford AC – Sarah Benson
Zoe 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 later securing her selection to represent GB&NI at the U20 European Championships finishing 12th the final of the 3000m.
Isabel Holt – Blackburn – Andy Henderson
Isabel 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 at the Road Relay Championships.
Katie Pye – Aldershot Farnham & District – Mick Woods
Katie 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. 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 – Winsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow
Lucy 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 3 rd in the 5km race. On the track Lucy has improved a PBs at 1500m and 3000m.
U20 Men
William Rabjohns – Poole AC – Mark Pauley
William enjoyed an excellent cross country season in 2024 – 25 with excellent 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 finished 1 st in the England U20 800m Championships where qualified him for the European U 20 Championships in Tampere where he finished 1 st 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
Jake’s 2024 – 25 cross country season was limited by injury but he concluded the season with a close 3 rd UK Athletics Cross Challenge Leeds (inc. Home Countries International & Celtic Plate). He was edged out by the inform 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
Alex had an exceptional cross country season in 2024 – 25 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 1 st place finish in the South of England Championships. This started a purple patch that sore Alex add the National Cross, Inter Counties and ESAA English Schools titles to his CV.
Myles Fraser – Blackburn – Andy
Bibby Myles had a solid cross country season in 2024 – 25 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.
