Kat Matthews starts triathlon “off season” with podium in County Cross-Country Championships

Plenty of Britain’s best triathletes got stuck into the various Cross Country County Championships at the weekend – and made their mark.

Hugo Milner, who ran a 28:47 10km after the swim and bike at the WTCS Grand Final in Torremolinos late last season, has already excelled in the XC sphere this winter.

He was runner-up in the Liverpool Cross Challenge in November and then helped animate the European XC Champs when up against none other than two-time Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen.

Milner is currently on a warm-weather training camp but last weekend it was the turn of Kat Matthews, Olivia Mathias and Jonny Brownlee among others to take in a high-octane muddy test.

Tri stars to the fore

Matthews, who sealed the $200,000 jackpot for topping the overall women’s standings in the IRONMAN Pro Series in 2024 as well as finishing in the top 10 of the T100 Series en route to #4 in the world, was in action at the Leicestershire XC County Championship.

And though she’s recently started her triathlon “off season” that didn’t stop her from taking on some muddy trails on a weekend when the UK was hit by heavy snow and rain.

She was up against Mathias – and the pair of them both made the podium.

But it was Gemma Steel (Charnwood AC) who pipped Mathias (Newark AC) for top spot.

‘For the pure love of it’

Matthews, running for Thames Hare & Hounds, took third and said afterwards on her Instagram page: “Got dropped. Stuck at it.

“XC County Champs. Goal: Selection for Inter-Counties in March. For the pure love of it 😆🤩!!

“XC Running 🙌 The challenge, personal effort, competition, the whole spectrum of exercising to elite performance… it has everything. Simple, healthy endeavour for all.”

Also involved in Leicestershire were two other names synonymous with swim, bike and run.

Luke Pollard, who guided Dave Ellis to gold at the Paralympics last summer and was awarded the MBE in the New Year Honours, was third in the senior men’s race while triathlon legend Tim Don won the V40 category.

Meanwhile, talking of triathlon legends, both Jonny and the recently-retired Alistair Brownlee cut their teeth in cross country races in Yorkshire.

And Jonny was in action at Lightwater Valley near Ripon on Saturday before jetting off to sunnier climes for some triathlon training.

He finished 19th in his Bingley Harriers vest as City of York AC’s Angus McMillan took the title.

[Thanks to Duncan Shea-Simonds for the photo – and the info on Luke Pollard and Tim Don]