European Cross Country Highlights Athletics

The European cross-country

champions, John Brown of Great

Britain. Ukraine win set! Paula

Radcliffe is coming home! The

champion in Europe.

The nine times European champion,

unbelievable. Great to win, she is a

huge talent.

Hayley yelling comes back from

retirement to win for the second

time. A fantastic run from Philander

Britain. Paula Radcliffe, goals for

Great Britain. Mo Farah takes the

gold medal at the cross country

Championships.

Welcome to the 2017 European Cross

country Championships, traditionally

a happy hunting ground for British

athletes, especially in terms of

team medals. This year's event is in

Samorin, 12 miles south-east of the

capital Bratislava on the banks of

the Danube River. There are men's

and women's races. Under 23 and the

senior's with team medals also up

for grabs. The mixed relay is new

this year, flat and fast, with some

artificial obstacles which may

favour those with track pedigree.

Plenty to look forward to over the

next hour.

A strong squad for Great Britain,

led by two-time redirect sky and

5,000-metre champion Andrew

Butchart. Turkey have their king in

imports, they have become the

dominant force in European Cross

country, the winners are both senior

titles are here to defend their

crowns. It could be the age groups

where there is most competition with

plenty medal hopes for Britain.

After success at the world Cross,

the mixed relay makes its first

appearance at European level. A few

minutes away from the senior men's

race. It may be difficult

individually. We have a strong,

Turkish contingent. Andrew Butchart,

leading Great Britain. Gary

Griffiths having a wonderful period

in his career. The senior men get

underway. The usual charge to the

fall. Two short laps first and then

six longer laps of around 1500

metres. That will at up to 10,000

metres cross-country running. It is

not difficult, but it will suit

quicker people. It is flat and fast.

Conditions underfoot are very good.

The cold weather has meant that the

ground hasn't cut up, it is firm

underfoot. Some obstacles for them

to contend with as they go around

but by and large it is a course

which is a bit different to that

which many would have faced

including Alex Teuten. Andy Prichard

going through strong, British

contingent in here, Gary Griffiths

has come off the brilliant marathon

performance in the autumn. Ben

Connor. Tom Lancashire. A lot of

experience in this British team.

They will be hoping that maybe they

can give something to think about.

They will be the prerace favourites

individually and in the team race.

Two small laps. Since big laps.

Hannah England joining me. Plenty of

success in the last few years. The

Turkish had been able to call on the

former Kenyan 's who have

transferred to Turkey. They have

dominated in recent years.

Yes. It

adds an unusual element to the race.

Traditionally, we haven't seen it. I

sometimes find it a bit frustrating

but here we go. We are already

getting... You can almost decided is

going to be a given race, that they

will have a heavy influence on the

results. It doesn't always happen. I

like to keep hope we might still get

an interesting race.

Varying reports

as to the fitness of Aras Kaya, won

last year. The defending champion.

We have heard he had a few problems

last year. He was going to go to the

under 23 race and in the end he

didn't run anything. Aras Kaya went

on to win. The two of them are

effectively the champion from 2015

and 2016, both called Kaya. We will

keep up-to-date with who is who.

Very strong contingent.

They've decided, though, they will

let the early pace beset by others.

The Spaniard is already up there, he

fancies his chances, adult Michelle,

he wants to give the Turkish athlete

something to think about he said. --

Adele chow. Andy Butchart went off

very quick with Callum Hawkins. He

got involved with Kaya.

In the end, Andy Butchart just

finished outside the medals. Setting

the pace in the early stages.

They've just dropped off a bit, the

pack is saddening. I think they will

be happy about it. -- the pack is

settling. Aras Kaya has gone down! I

wonder whether he just got clipped

from behind.

The Belgian athlete might have just

clipped his heels. He went down and

is struggling to get back involved.

Probably in about 20th position,

maybe not that far back, maybe 15th

also. TOWIE Griffiths leading, Great

Britain going well. Andrew Butchart

is there as well.

Tom Lancashire. A lot of the names

that we thought would be up there in

the top ten, 12, 15.

There is the defending champion,

Aras Kaya. A little further back we

would have seen Aras Kaya as well.

Great Britain easily winning. Only

three to count, bit of a change from

previous years, always four. They

have changed it to make it three.

Theoretically to give more teams a

chance of getting involved in the

medals. Dewi Griffiths looking

comfortable. They are probably

wondering where on earth the Turkish

athletes are. It's no surprise to

see Andy Butchart having a go. Great

Britain leading in the team race

with seven points. Hang on a minute,

Dewi Griffiths is just stopping.

Dewi is holding his groin area. If

he even has a slight injury I would

be rugby tackling him to say stop.

He has a year ahead of him. He has

qualified for the marathon, he needs

to... The team will do well without

him today. For him this was a big

opportunity but if he is injured, he

needs to stop. It is pointless

keeping going. He is only going to

risk further injury. I am trying to

see whether he is trying to get

running again. Anyway, that leaves

them in front. These three starting

to pull away a bit, it is terrible

news for Dewi Griffiths. Let's hope

it is not too serious.

Heartbreaking. My worry is that he

is so tough in such a team player

that I really hope he can make that

smart call today. Perhaps it is the

cold weather. It is very cold.

Perhaps just a muscle strain, that

is what we can hope for. That it

won't impede his preparations for

the marathon in the spring.

Laps to

go. Plenty of time. -- two laps to

go. Another 11 minutes of running,

something of that nature. You can

see in the background, I am not sure

he is getting much closer. Aras Kaya

Has had to work hard to even give

himself a chance. 12-15 seconds

behind the leaders. Mecchaal Sensing

it. Ben Connor struggling a bit.

Andy Butchart still in bed.

Those are the first to six.

Quite a good gap between the

leaders. 12 seconds to Aras Kaya.

That is the same as the previous

lap, he's made no ground on that

lap. We will look to the British

third counter. As I said, I think

Tom Lancashire was going in the

wrong direction in terms of

position. Dewi Griffiths dropping

out, that may well also be... One

time that the senior men have to

work hard in the team race.

It is

incredibly competitive, the senior

men's race. You see a lot of

countries come very well prepared.

Britain have as well. It is hard

when you lose one of your front

runners like him. Hopefully it is

just a nickel, not an injury. A lot

can change. Like you said, still ten

minutes of running here. A lot of

people go through bad patches, go

backwards and then forward.

Tom

Lancashire is the third counter.

They are not that far away, only 11

points behind Turkey. It is very

close for the medals. The positions

are changing so much that Andy

Butchart is now third. Mechaal

pushes on. Ben Connor leading the...

Not the chasing group at the hanging

on group in fourth place at the

moment. May well come into some

threat from behind us. Aras Kaya has

moved into seventh position past his

team-mate. Mechaal, now, what a

story it would be for him to come

and win this. He was talking a good

game for these championships. Most

people were looking elsewhere for

the winner. Thought he would run

well, thought he would be close to

the medals. But this is a real push

from him, now. Still got plenty of

running to do. Andy Butchart has got

to stick in. He needs to make sure

he stays strong, there are some

athletes particularly Aras Kaya who

may have continued to surge in the

latter stages. At the moment, it is

Spain first, Turkey second and Great

Britain third.

Mechaal isn't making any ground up

but I can't figure out why he is

looking behind every 20 metres. He

is leading the race, he is doing

something right. I would love to see

him relax a bit more and focus on

running hard.

If the person behind you is going to

catch you, you will know without

having to look round as he is

probably well aware, now. You are

right. It is starting to get on my

nerves. Look at Ozbilen, thinking

enough is enough. That is a sign to

the person behind, when you look

around, Legrand, the ground, the

person behind things you are not

that confident. -- look behind, look

behind, look behind. That is a brave

move for Ozbilen. Beginning of the

last lap he is leading. Two laps to

go. I am hearing the bell. I think

it is one big lap and then the home

straight which is why it says two

laps to go. Ben Connor in fifth

place.

That gap to the leaders is now 20

seconds.

Despite his fall, he is in seventh

place but he will not be able to

close that gap. You wouldn't think.

Another look behind, there's no

danger. Andy Butchart still in third

place. He is starting to tire a bit.

Safe in third, a big gap between him

and the chasers. Only another two or

three minutes of running to go. In

this European Cross country

Championships. Ozbilen of Turkey

needs. Not the athlete we would have

expected to be out there, his two

team-mates, Aras Kaya and the two

champions from the year before had

not had a good day. Ali Kaya not in

great shape. Aras Kaya took a fall

in the early stages and hasn't

recovered. He is giving chase.

Moving into about fifth position.

You can see him in the background.

He will run out of time. What about

Mechaal? The indoor European

champion, we thought we might have

enough from him. Missed out at the

World Championships at 1500 metres.

It cannot find the strength to

unleash a bit of a sprinter. He

can't stay close enough to Ozbilen

at Ozbilen is the one that will, we

here for the win. Not the person who

you would have expected. His

preparation for this was Istanbul

marathon. That was one of his last

races, not the sort of thing that is

ideal preparation. He has done

superbly well. He has grabbed hold

of the race in the last lap and made

his move when he needed to. He kept

the pressure on Mechaal and he has

finally buckled and accepted the

silver medal. Ozbilen of Turkey.

They retain their title as a nation

as they have done in recent years.

It is a different name, Ozbilen, the

champion for 2017. Mechaal jogging

across the line. He takes the silver

medal for Spain.

Waldo and Andy Butchart, taking the

bronze medal.

Waldo and Andy Butchart, taking the

bronze medal. -- well done Andy

Butchart. Ben Connor is the next to

cross the line, good performance in

six of the Great Britain. The

defending champion after the fall, a

little bit of applause, and maybe

for himself. Just crossing the line

there in seven.

A brave run from Michelle, and she

nearly pulled it off, and great to

see Andy Butchart converted into

third. He could have used the summer

season as an excuse not to turn up.

I am sure he has big focuses this

year but he has applied himself

today and it's a tremendous response

from him.

They all start piling

across the line.

We are looking for the next British

contender, Tom Lancashire. Third

across the line the Great Britain.

-- for Great Britain. A fine win in

the end from Ozbilen. A good run

from Ben Connor as well as Andy

Butchart to finish in the top ten.

Ingebrigsten in 11th as we go

further down. Tom Lancashire, the

third British runner. A gold medal

for Turkey. Great Britain and

Northern Ireland are secure in third

with 35 points and take the bronze

medal.

Ozbilen came back and showed us how

it was done, but I kept my plan well

and I'm happy just to get that

place. I've been out for the past

month, but this is still my base

phase before the Commonwealth games

and I'm not in the right shape yet

and I'm peaking at a later date and

I have room for improvement.

Let's

pick out into few names as we go

through the start list here.

Goretzka, great to see her leading a

strong team. That is a very good

Turkish team which will do well, and

Bobocel from Romania. Mc Cormack

setting a record four appearances in

the female event, and she will be

hoping she can wind the clock back.

The senior women are poised and at

the ready.

The British girls look ready for

some fun.

On your marks.

The senior women get underway and an

intriguing race in prospect. The

defending champion from Turkey, and

the former Kenyon, who was dominant

last year. Will she try and do the

same here going from the start or

will some of the other contenders

and the British contingent, led by

Gorecka, and Gemma Steel and Steph

Twell, a lot of experience, and

backup from lots of other talent. An

intriguing racing prospect. One

small lap of 450 metres then they

head onto the big lap the five times

and that will complete all of this

hard, fast running on this course,

which was and I wouldn't say it was

a great con -- cross-country test

but it is the traditional winter

test and it is cold with the wind

blowing hard but there are some

obstacles for them to negotiate but

nothing to difficult and nothing to

break up the rhythm. It is the terms

that do that. Lily Partridge up

there for Great Britain, but they

have already settled down as they

make their way around this first

small lap. Come on, Hannah, what

would you do today? If they go off

hard, do they go with her or let her

go or do they think she is in not

sure which form and this is the year

to maybe not Challenger?

I would say

you have to give it a go and go with

her. Which is easy for me to say sat

here. She had a great world

championship and she has been mixing

it with all sorts of athletes on the

track season outdoor and I think she

has to have the confidence to go for

it. The last couple of years we have

seen the likes of Bobocel from

Romania, and Gemma Steel, and these

guys, maybe take it to the Turkish

girls. They have nothing to lose.

I'm not saying they were handing it

to them, and it's hard work to run

with the leader, but it's worth

taking a risk and seeing what

happens because sometimes the

Turkish athlete can be unpredictable

and you never know what will happen.

. So, the early stages, and there

are five women already pulling clear

of the pack another one there who

had a good progression on the track

as well, the tall, Swiss athlete.

The pressure is on Jan to take it on

to her. I'm sure they have been

going on the all-weather training

and they will have run this scenario

over and over in their head. The

nerves might dissipate because it is

familiar. This is what they were

preparing for and what they were

ready for.

The defending champion

with a big lead. Just extending the

lead, but the battle for the lead is

impressive. A great race by the

Romanians. The chase is on.

Charlotte Taylor having a fabulous

run. Steph Twell not far behind

either. Still chances for the

British athletes. And they are doing

very well. Charlotte Taylor having a

cracking run ahead of Steph Twell

and Gorecka, who won the British

trials but on completely different

ground. That is what cross-country

doors. It is horses for courses will

stop there she is, and making good

progress. Still time here, but

Charlotte Taylor is moving well.

This is the battle for silver and

bronze. And you just wonder that if

Grovdal breaks, if she could get

away. But she is working really hard

to get onto well -- onto her. Bahta

is the better exponent on the track

at 5000 metres. And there is

Charlotte Taylor now. It looks like

a big gap and these two are working

well together. Grovdal is pushing on

and Bahta is pushing on as they take

the bell. The leader, Can has one

more lap to complete. She is clear

in the lead was last year. Maybe not

quite as dominant as last year and

her teammate is nowhere to be seen.

And it is Grovdal, the

bronze-medallist from last year, who

is contending second with Bahta, and

then a bit of a gap to Charlotte

Taylor. Charlotte is having a great

race, trying to push on in fourth

place. Schlumpf is ahead of the next

group of athletes. Steph Twell is

into the last lap as well. So, the

leader comes to take this tricky

water jump the last time. The ice

bath as we now call it. A little

downhill section meaning they can

take off or miss it out completely,

which you might want to one a day

like this when it is covered in ice.

Here is the battle for second place.

Bahta and Grovdal locked together.

You might have thought Bahta would

want to sit and wait. Not the

quickest on the track but she has

good speed. Grovdal is no slouch.

Neither of them with total

confidence in the finishing kick

which is why they look as though

they may be to break the pace.

Grovdal was the leader, but Bahta

finds herself a metre ahead of her

teammate. Those two are ten seconds

ahead of Charlotte Taylor of Great

Britain in fourth.

It's a great

battle between second and third,

going hammer and tongs. It is great

to see people throwing moves at each

other and trying to see who has got

the most and it will be a great

finish for those two.

Into the

closing stages for Can of Turkey.

She has got great pedigree in terms

of European racing now. She is the

European 10,000 metres champion on

the track from Amsterdam in 2015.

She will be the first person to

defend the title from Fionnuala

McCormack. Here is the battle for

second and third. Bahta and Grovdal,

long way behind Can, who has just

the last turn to make an alternative

home straight and repeat the feat of

last year. No surprise that she

comes home to take the title. She

was the prerace favourite. Not sure

it was as dominant performance as

last year but whenever you win any

title by this sort of distance

you've done pretty well. So Can of

Turkey takes the medal and repeat of

last year. Defends her title in fine

style. All smiles and she will be

delighted with that. A bit of a hard

run out there today. A great battle

for the silver medal, and Grovdal

just finishes ahead of Grovdal.

Sweden ahead of Norway will stop and

it might well be a scrap for fourth

place. With Charlotte Taylor trying

to hold of Barca, and there is

Schlumpf, and it looks like it will

be Barca of Romania coming in. That

was a very good finish with

Charlotte Taylor coming in behind

the German in sixth place. And

Schlumpf in sevens. Just waiting for

the other British athletes to cross

the line. Emilia Gorecka and Steph

Twell. Great Britain with those

three finishing together they do not

need the four counters, so Gemma

Steel will be the third counter, not

Steph Twell but all four of them the

top ten. The gold medal goes to Can

from Turkey. A good performance from

the British team with Charlotte

Taylor excellent in sixth. Eight,

ninth and tenth. There is the

British team. Led by Charlotte

Taylor. And a great performance from

her. Emilia Gorecka and generally

other counters. Steph Twell not far

behind, and again the British women

coming out on top. 23 points for

Great Britain and Northern Ireland,

head of Romania, who packed up

really well. Turkey might be

disappointed with their bronze

medal. 54 points but they do have

the individual gold-medallist. Some

great performances there and it's

been a good year for it.

After the

races are won and the medals are

gained the record is broken and the

punches thrown. After the hard

yards, the hard games are done, the

Giants conquered and the trophies

edged for ever. After the legends

have taken their bow there is only

one thing left to decide. The BBC

sports personality of the year 2017,

live from Liverpool.

The distance they are going to

compete over -- over in this under

23 race is 8230 metres exactly. 85

entrants and 24 different countries

hoping they can pick up a team

medal. So the British team have

Daniel Jarvis. And Mahamed Mahamed,

his first attempt in the under 23

is, and he will be right there.

Chris Olley, Joe Steward -- Joe

Steward and Jack Rowe. It will be

tough for Great Britain to follow

Mahamed Mahamed through. That is as

far as the team raises concern. --

the team race is concerned. Away

they go. One short lap and they will

head out onto the big lap, five

times around that. The big sprint,

and it's only 64 people, actually,

80, it was 64 in the women's race.

No need to get the elbows out too

much although they have started

quickly. Mahamed Mahamed leading the

charge from Britain on the left of

the picture and he has got himself

involved nice and early. And it will

take a while for it to settle down

with one or two of the others who

were expecting to figure who have

decided not to start quite as

quickly. They don't really need to.

It's amazing how quickly it settles

down after the sprint at the

beginning. Sometimes a little

unnecessary. You have the days of

the world Cross country where they

do that and they don't slow down and

they just keep going at that pace

and you have to be careful. But in

this one they will slow down. The

Swiss runner having his glory moment

at the front, just wondering why

everybody else is not joining him,

and that may be because you are

going a bit too quick.

Going well with Mohamed Mohamed

starting to push on at the front.

That is a good move to make. You are

getting into the part of the race

where you really don't want to have

too many people hanging around.

Crippa us is thinking the same

thing. France packing very well

indeed. Chaplin only having a bit of

a struggle. Crippa won't see his

team-mate but he might see that this

burst is having an effect. Mayo is

thinking that he needs to cover

this. He is one of the main rivals.

Plenty of running left in this. An

early bid from Crippa but decisive.

He looks good. Look at the pressure

he has put on the other guys, they

do not look as good as Crippa in the

front. Maybe he has a poker face,

maybe he is working harder than it

looks. They are coming back to him.

Two laps to go?

It is not short.

This is a long bid for home. He

looks confident. He has the

experience. I don't see Mayo giving

up easily but he looks like he is

working harder at the moment.

Crippa

one of the prerace favourites. But

that big effort, was that too early?

Did he get a bit overexcited? He was

obviously feeling good. But this

race is far from over. The two

Frenchmen are starting to hunt him

down. I like Gressier, he is that

typical... Not a great track

exponent, typical cross-country

runner. Crippa perhaps a bit more

pedigree. A bit more of a

thoroughbred. He is the European

under 23 5,000-metre champion. He

knows what it is like to win a title

in this age group. On the track it

isn't different matter. He will have

pace but I'm not sure how much pace

Gressier has. You might want to try

to get ahead of the Italian before

the closing stages. -- he might

want. What about the other

Frenchmen, Hugo Hay? He is just

hovering, not doing anything, not

getting involved in this title. He

made a big effort to get onto the

two of them. It looks as though he

is having to work a bit more to hang

onto them. Closing stages, three men

in contention.

Hay just drifted up

very nicely past those guys. Perhaps

going through a bad patch but

capitalised on that momentum going

through the field. He needs to hold

onto these guys.

Jimmy Gressier is

making a big bid. Still got a bit of

work to do. Gressier is sprinting

for home. Still got another turn to

make. Into the home straight. It

looks as though he has got this one.

No challenge coming from his

team-mate Hay and Crippa has given

this one up completely. He went too

early. The Frenchman will finish out

on top, what a shock. Gressier

finally wins a medal at the European

Cross country Championships. The

under 23 champion. Look at his

team-mate, Hugo Hay. He is jubilant

in second place. France with three

in the top four, Crippa just hung on

for the bronze medal. But it will be

France who get double gold.

Individually and in the team race.

What a performance from Jimmy

Gressier. Covered the first move by

Mayo and then covered the move by

Crippa. He had enough strength to

push on in the closing stages.

Congratulations, twice forth in the

junior ranks but is now champion.

Gressier taking the gold by just two

seconds from his team-mate Hay.

Perhaps Crippa disappointed to win

the -- win the bronze medal. Faded

on the last lap, Mahamed Mahamed.

The third British counter. Good news

for Great Britain. They just managed

to sneak a head of Spain to take the

bronze medal.

France, just seven points. Great

performance from them to take the

gold. The British under 23 men will

be delighted they have got on the

roster with a bronze medal.

Let's enjoy the under 23. This will

be a great spectacle. As you said,

you will be interested to see how

the rest of the British contingent

do.

Amy Griffiths, gesture and

Phoebe Law have won 18 gold medal as

juniors in 2014. They're getting

another chance to get together as a

team to get another medal. Hopefully

they can do that today.

How many

officials does it take to start a

race? There is a three, one to hold

the clipboard, one to hold the gun

and one to hold the loudspeaker. The

loudspeaker has been duly held, good

job, mate. Away we go. In the

women's under 23 race. A real front

running bonanza we could see here.

It would be really interesting. The

likes of Mola, there are others in

here, a very good Danish athlete. --

the likes of.

Great Britain very well represented.

The individual medal in terms of

Jess we would hope the Germany is

the favourite. To take the team gold

medal. Great Britain won't want to

be too far away. Only three to

count. We are an favour of the

German quartet. If they were to

falter, Britain will be hoping they

can steal it. Certainly 18 medal up

for grabs. Four laps, six

kilometres. Jessica Judd. Amy

Griffiths you can just see.

Neale also right up there. This is

the first interesting thing. I was

wondering whether Klosterhalfen,

having had her fingers burned by

Reh, at their Championships might

think I will do something different.

But it is very hard to get a leopard

to change their spots. Klosterhalfen

already to the fore. And Reh

thinking this is a bit early, but I

know I need to keep my eye on you

and gesture at the same. At the

moment Klosterhalfen started

brilliant, she is a massive talent.

She has had a phenomenal couple of

years. The times that she is

producing at such a young age on the

track is incredible. But it is about

that expectation. That despite her

young age, people will say, she has

got to contest for medals.

Absolutely. With the times. At least

she is halfway there. She has got

the times. It is about honing the

tactical ability. She is hard as

nails. Time and again she goes off

the front. Half the impressive times

she has done on her own at the

front. That is very intimidating and

that is a way to run races, we have

seen people do that internationally.

Maybe that will have to be had

tactic because that is her strength.

Jessica Judd clear in third. Trying

to go with Jess to hang onto that

possible medal. Neale and Griffiths

packing well behind Jessica Judd. I

would say Great Britain probably

leading the team standings at this

point.

That is great from Britain.

We need to keep an eye on this third

German girl to see what she does.

Fascinating to see this domestic

rivalry playing out on the European

stage. Jess is eating into that gap

a tiny bit. You could have maybe

these two will get a bit tactical

and lose sight of the race overall

and watch each other. That would

give Jess and in. Perhaps they will

exhaust each other, trying to race

each other and not remember about

the rest of the field. Jess will put

absolutely everything out there

today. What a result she gets, it

will be the maximum of her

potential. And that whatever result.

I would not want to raise her flat

out on a six K calls, she has every

chance of getting back up to these

girl that may be giving them a scare

-- six kilometre course.

A really

good performance from Reh, the

writing was on the wall a bit at the

German championships when this

happened. A repeat performance.

Beating her more famous team-mate,

Klosterhalfen, she will be secure in

second place. Great Britain's Jess

Judd running another strong race.

Very clear in third. Bronze medal is

hers. A long way ahead of her

team-mates. It will be a leaner ref

who will take this title, I am

pretty sure. -- it will be Reh. Lots

of these at the end. Judging pace

perfectly well well. -- judging her

pace perfectly well.

Brauer keeping Company with Neale

and she needs to be aware. Moller.

As they enter the last lap. Position

is becoming settled.

Deadly group starting to come

through. -- a big group starting.

Watching these two disappear into

the distance. Reh putting a bit of

pressure up and opening up the gap.

Jess Judd. A lonely race as Hannah

was saying, couldn't get in terms

early on. And once these two moved

away, she was pretty much on her

own. For a while it looked as though

she could hang on, keep them within

sight, within striking distance but

not now.

These two have worked

incredibly hard over the last couple

of laps. Two or three kilometres,

these German girls have pushed each

other away from Jess, benefited a

lot from having each other's

company. Curious, for me, it is my

racing style versus Klosterhalfen,

but she has a fast 800 metres

personal best, surely, sit, take a

ride. Cooking is changed over eight

country race versus a track race,

but it is a gut instinct, that push

and that lead. A clash between these

two with very similar running

styles. It looks like Reh will come

out on top today.

Klosterhalfen, you

can see that she is trying to raise

up one last effort. She gets good

times. Partly because she is just so

strong. It is that change of pace

that she struggles with. I think

Reh, look, she doesn't have the same

times in terms of personal bests

that Klosterhalfen does. But in

these one-on-one races like this, as

we see here, Reh has just got that

bit of power the Klosterhalfen

doesn't have. She is putting it to

good effect. They have had the race

between them since the start. It

will be Reh to take the gold medal

in the women's under 23. Germany one

and two, Klosterhalfen, the former

junior champion yacht not able to

convert it to a gold medal in the

under 23, they were one and two in

the same position in the German

championships. And so it has turned

out in the European. Jessica Judd, a

long, lonely battle for Jessica Judd

but a good bronze medal for her. Has

to watch the two Germans run away

from her in the last two kilometres.

A very tired Jess Judd coming across

the line. It has been a hard days

work for Jess, hopefully she is OK.

Great Britain doing really well.

Neale rallying to get ahead of Amy

Griffiths. That will pretty much

cement them in the gold medal

position.

Reh, really dominant performance.

Hard work. There is the smile.

Congratulations. The hugs for the

British trio.

What a display by

Britain, once again, at the European

Cross country Championships.

I'm

really happy with the way I ran it,

couldn't have done any more. I am

exhausted but really happy.

In terms

of the team race, Great Britain

confirmed not by much in the end.

It wasn't good enough to back up the

one that two finish for the Germany

team. Great Britain, once more

taking the gold in the under 23 and

Germany, the silver. There is

Premier League football on five

live.

An in-depth look at the contenders

for BBC sports personality of the

year.

If you are enjoying the racing

today, Chiudinelli and in the New

Year: -- tune in.

Over 100 athletes taking part, 26

different countries. A late change,

Phoebe Barker having come in

overnight. Wallace has had to pull

out. Harriet Knowles-Jones leads the

team, one of the prerace favourites

having won a medal at the last

championships. This is last year in

the race in the under 20s before

moving through to the seniors or the

under 23 is in future years. She has

won a medal. On the last two

occasions. Can she turn it to go

this time?

Just a bit of a gap beginning to

appear. Harriet Knowles-Jones moves

alongside Lau, this very good Dutch

athlete tucked in behind. Trying to

stay with them. They are starting to

stretch a little bit. Sclabas

working hard to stay. Working very

hard, look at her action. I wouldn't

like to see her on a muddy course,

either. She has plenty of movement

going on, even on a course like

this. Sitting in fifth place. Along

with hungry, Toth.

Hughes. 15th. And 20th.

To be fair, they will have to keep

moving through. Although I can see

she is already doing that. This

could be a closer fair this year. We

do so well in this junior women's

event normally, great history

individually. As well as the team

race. It would be a surprise if we

didn't do well in the team race.

They are heading out on the last of

the big laps. Still just the four of

them.

Seven second gap and then the others

going through. We are watching for

the positions, that team race. The

Dutch are doing well. Also in the

top ten for them. They will be

looking for their third counter. It

could well be tied in terms of the

team competitions. Britain with such

a good record in this. They will be

looking for individual glory but

they will want a team gold medal.

Harriet Knowles-Jones for the first

time trying to break up this group

and take this. She is having to work

hard, to break it up. The two

medallists from the European

5,000-metre championships last

summer chasing her. For the first

time a real gap appearing. Great

Britain are leading. Last lap in

terms of the team race. The

Netherlands not able to find a third

counter, they are in sixth place. A

reasonable amount of breathing space

for the British team. Working hard

but needs to keep going on this last

lap, positions can change quite

significantly. But the good news is

at the front, Harriet Knowles-Jones

with a five, six-metre lead that is

growing all of the time. There is no

response from those behind. She has

only got about maybe a little over

800 metres running left.

They turn into the finishing

straight. That is where you see the

gantry ahead and Juno -- and you

know that you have done everything

you need to do and that is a

significant victory for Harriet

Knowles-Jones. Surprise me that she

has got ahead of both of the two

track specialists. So Harriet

Knowles-Jones with a lot of British

support, even though we're out in

Slovakia. Plenty of people make an

app -- annual pilgrimage to these

championships partly because Britain

gets so much success. The under 20

women's race won by Harriet

Knowles-Jones. The first time she

can call herself the European

cross-country championship --

champion. Well done to Harriet

Knowles-Jones. In a tight sprinter

get the silver medal, and she has

been rewarded with a silver for Can

for Hungary. And we will watch for

the next British athletes -- Toth

from Hungary. It will probably be

Karl Cook -- Cari Hughes. Mhlanga

then. Three counters, and that is

enough, so we can pretty much

confirmed that Harriet Knowles-Jones

is the individual gold-medallist and

Great Britain will win the team race

as well. A gold for Harriet

Knowles-Jones, the European

cross-country champion. The third

time of asking. Three individual

medals in her three years in the

junior ranks. Toth with a good

silver medal ahead of the German.

And all of the British team packing

in well with four in the top 12.

Confirming their position as

champions again in the under 20s.

Confirmation of the team race with

Great Britain winning comfortably

with a good silver for Italy and

Spain finishing ahead of the

Netherlands who could not quite find

a good third counter to get

themselves amongst the medals. So

once again Great Britain, and not

the first time we have taken both

medals.

I knew it was my last junior

international so I knew I wanted

that win and I'm so pleased. I did

not know how far I came in I just

went straight for it and I don't

know where the rest of them came in.

I am so chuffed. Second and third

two Reeva tape and to have the

national anthem played, that is so

exciting -- to break the tape.

A very special moment for one of our

top junior athletes finishing her

junior career on a high. The highest

position she can attain, winning a

gold medal for Britain and Northern

Ireland.

ANTHEM PLAYS.

So the men will be next, the under

20 men. And probably one of the big

names in the sport, in Europe,

anyway, to look out for, the

defending champion, Jacobin

Ingebrigsten, from a famous

Ingebrigsten family from Norway.

They have four laps, six K. Jake

Heyward had a great run there.

Richardson. And Matt Willis. So the

junior men get underway. Six

kilometres. For long laps, and you

don't have to worry about the short

one. A big sprint. Some people think

that he might have a chance of

picking up a medal here, Rusu.

that he might have a chance of

picking up a medal here, Rusu. Will

be interesting to see the tactics

from Ingebrigsten. You do not have

do absolutely sprint and you can see

that they are settling down a little

bit already. Ingebrigsten just

waiting and waiting as we see the

rest of the field are starting to

struggle to stay with them. Gonzalez

of Spain are joining the top group.

He is the one trying to hang onto

them. Ben Dijkstra is struggling a

little. Suddenly the pace has picked

up, and that big group is completely

blown apart, so it is down to just

five at the moment. Ingebrigsten is

the defending champion. It is the

two Frenchmen who are setting the

pace. Barbarossa of Turkey there.

Gonzalez working hard there.

This is

crunch time. Five people for three

medals. He will be giving it

everything at this stage. And it is

great to see the Spanish guys have

stuck together. And they would have

been hoping to start at this rate.

So it is Matthew Willis as the first

British counter and it's a great run

if he manages that. Hopefully Ben

can be inspired by having him in

front to make an start to work

together. And the Turkish guy is

going for it. Must be getting near

to the finish because that is an

aggressive move.

A little bit early

for me. He is probably thinking it

is smart because he went outkicked

them. He still has a long run here.

Still another turn to make then into

the home straight. He is the Balkan

cross-country champion but

Ingebrigsten still looks pretty

calm. And Gilavert has gone into the

bronze position. They are the last

turn. Ingebrigsten has surely got

enough here, the defending champion.

He eases his weight and Barbaros has

done enough to take the silver. But

it is a Ingebrigsten of Norway who

defends the title successfully with

a big sprint finish. Barbaros with

the silver and Gilavert taking the

bronze ahead of his teammate. And

just crossing the line and Ben

Dijkstra is behind. And it will be

an anxious wait for the British

contingent to see if that is going

to be good enough to win a team

medal for them. And I thought that,

it looked pretty comfortable for

Ingebrigsten but may be harder work

than he expected. He had to wait and

wait and Barbaros, just a second

maybe gave him some doubts but he

looked comfortable when he eased

past.

It is hard work when you are

having everything to you --

everything to lose and the pressure

is on you. Anything other than a win

would be an upset, but those guys

did take it to him and I'm sure it

wasn't easy.

In terms of the British

team, Matt Willis, 14th and Ben

Dijkstra was 17. Spain have

definitely won the team race.

The gold medal goes to Ingebrigsten,

defending his title, which he won

easily last year. A bit moral battle

this year. Barbaros just to seconds

behind. Matt Willis was the first of

the British athletes in 14th head of

Ben Dijkstra, who faded when the

pace got going. The third counter

was Will Richardson in 25th. Scott

Beattie just behind him. And Jake

Heyward in 30th.

Those are the results of the team

race and the last lap put paid to

the British chances as they finished

in sixth. Spain take the gold medal

ahead of France and it was pretty

tight. Turkey coming through and

there is written in sixth place. The

Mixed Relay is about to get

underway. 11 teams.

On your marks.

The first-ever mixed relay at the

European cross-country

championships. Teams of four with

women going first then they

alternate. Lilly Courtney going on

the leg for Britain.

Roughly 1500

metres on each leg. Charlie Grice

was meant to be in the team but he

had to pull out in the week and Tom

Marshall stepped in, so it will be

Sarah McDonald with Tom Marshall and

Cameron Boyek may have every chance

of winning the race. Strong teams

from the Czech Republic in

particular, and Germany will hope to

go well and Turkey am sure. Millie

Courtney deciding she will not hang

around. And given the shape she was

in all of this year and she still is

at the moment that is the right

thing to do.

This is a great run

from Millie. Great strength. This

sort of hard effort will suit and

you might as well put the pain the

others. They are thinking, really,

you want to go that hard? She would

be ale to hold it into the finish

with that strength.

Millie Courtney

is trying to hang on as Spain take

the initiative. Parreira of Spain

doing a good job as they come

towards the end of the first lap and

head towards the changeover. Millie

Courtney is trying to hang on and

keep Britain in the race. They want

to win the gold, never mind a medal.

These three teams have pulled clear

on the first lap and the clock is

ticking towards five minutes. They

have an extra bit to run from the

start line. That 1500 metre best for

Vrzlova means she's doing a good job

for her team. Courtney is doing well

and she cannot get to root --

detach. We thought the Czech

Republic would be going well. It

might be Holusa on the next leg and

then want next. -- Sasinek next.

Hopefully they can latch on and it's

a really strong run from the Czech

Republic to open up the gap.

At the

front, Germany I had a bit, then

Czech Republic, Spain and Great

Britain. You would have been

surprised if we said this is how it

would going to end up at the start.

The Czech Republic with a strong

team they have a lucid come the last

leg. Cameron Boyek has had a good

season so far, indoors as well. He

needs to be a bit patient. He's got

back involved, and he needs to get

settled and if he feels good in the

last couple of hundred metres maybe

push on.

This is an important leg

for the Czech team. Perhaps their

weakest member of the team but it's

put the minute great position to the

starting leg. And you wonder. Did he

relax and let the others were card?

Why not use that first 400 save your

legs and then you can run hard for

the last three quarters. And we have

a good race in this leg.

The good

news is a gap is appearing to Spain,

so the great British and Czech

Republic, we thought they were the

best teams on paper and Cameron

Boyek is doing a good job of putting

Sasinek under pressure. You can see

him grabbing for the wristband that

they need to hangover. -- handover.

It will be Sarah McDonald now

running for Great Britain, and she

has company with the Czech Republic,

then a small gap to Spain. Well done

to the two of them with both of them

pleased with their run.

A fabulous

run from Cameron. Times is ever

perfectly. He put Sarah in such a

great position for this third leg --

he times it perfectly.

Sarah doing

as best she can to try and put as

much distance between herself and

the others, but Mackie is rallying.

Sarah has to finish this well.

You

have got to get going because Holusa

has a deadly finish and you want to

make him work as hard as possible.

If you leave it, he will be right on

it. What a tremendous effort.

Sarah

McDonald getting the wristband

ready, trying to hand it to

McDonald, who had to step in for

Charlie Grice. Great Britain in the

lead. Holusa takes off in hot

pursuit. Very dangerous in the

latter stages. It will be

interesting to see the shape he is

in because he has not raced since

the summer and that is a significant

gap and Tom Marshall has done the

right thing. You have to get out

there and increase the gap if you

can and try to get Holusa worrying

about second place, not thinking

about first. It is a judgement. You

have to put the others under

pressure.

It is almost breaking him

mentally. If you are in the shoes of

Holusa, you think it is a big gap

and you want them to spend as much

as possible not even believing it is

possible. They have to be doubting

themselves. Is that a gap I can even

dream of closing?

There is going to

be a big sprint finish, so Tom needs

to be aware of that, even in a short

race, you can make up quite a big

deficit and I promise you that

Holusa has not even started. He is

sitting and waiting. The Spaniard is

pushing things on. He has one more

look behind and it's the last

hundred and 50 metres. It looks as

though Great Britain are heading for

a gold medal, and let off by Melissa

Courtney. Cameron Boyek with a good

performance in the second leg and

then Sarah McDonald gave them the

lead. He finishes like a train, as

we expect takes the silver for the

Czech but it's great -- gold for

Great Britain and the celebrations

begin. They are the first ever Mixed

Relay cross-country champions of

Europe.

A fantastic run from Tom

Marshall. He had to be nervous

stepping into the shoes Charlie

Grice is very accomplished and he

has acquitted himself really well.

They all have and I guess, Mixed

Relay, that should happen every

year. Just because we are going to

do fabulous at it.

The final result,

and the winning time is 18. 24.

Holusa almost catching Tom Marshall

but all the hard work had been done

before that.

The gold-medallists and

European Championships in the Mixed

Relay, Great Britain and Northern

Ireland?

A very happy British

quartet on top of the rostrum for

the Mixed Relay. Cameron Boyek and

Tom Marshall ran very well but they

were set up nicely by Sarah McDonald

and Millie Courtney. Two Welsh

members and two from the north-east

of England. A perfect Great Britain

and Northern Ireland team. And for

most people I think they will have

enjoyed watching that, a good

addition to the European Cross

country Championships, certainly

from a British perspective because

it's another gold medal for us.

These championships are always

hugely successful for the British

team and 2017 was no different.

Individually, the standout

performance was from Harriet

Knowles-Jones, rounding off her

junior career with a coveted gold

medal. Jessica Judd and Andy

Butchart continued their excellent

seasons. Team gold in the event is

testament to the dominance in Europe

and bronze for the senior men and

under 23 is with good solid

performances with the only slight

negative being the injury to Gary

Griffiths. -- Griffiths. Hopefully

he remains on track for the

Commonwealth Games next year. The

new Mixed Relay provided GB with

another gold medal and no doubt we

will welcome the additional event in

future years. That brings another

great year of athletics to a

clothes. Don't worry, plenty more to

look forward to in 2018, including

all of this. Goodbye.