James Kingston and Jess Gibbon clinched the final titles of the 2025-26 UKA Cross Challenge sponsored by SportsShoes.com, as they both took senior victories in Nottingham.

Kingston (Tonbridge AC) delivered a commanding performance to take the tape for the first time this season in the men’s senior race, having finished seventh in Liverpool.

The Kent athlete broke clear of Jacob Cann (Western Tempo) late on before pulling clear.

“It feels really good to take the win today. I haven’t won anything this big since nationals three years ago, so it is nice to come away with a title today,” he said.

“I knew Jacob [Cann] has a better finish than me, so I had to break off going into the last lap. At the top of the hill, I knew that was my moment.”

Earlier, Gibbon took the women’s senior title as she successfully held of London winner Eleanor Curran.

“I am happy to have just been on the start line healthy and to come away with the win is a bonus,” she said.

“Coming into today I had no expectations, I had to judge the race during the race. I know my competitors and how they race so I just had to make sure I made the most of each moment.”

The event at Wollaton Park got underway with the para race over 4000m, with Oliver Scott winning the men’s event in 13:49.

Ella Richards (Torbay) was the only woman in the race and came home in 17:43.

Ava James (Brighton & Hove AC) earned victory in the women’s under-20 race, as she held off nationals winner Katie Pye (Aldershot Farnham & District).

The two athletes have been battling it out all season and just five seconds separating them in Nottingham, with James pulling clear in the home straight.

“Winning was such a big surprised, it was expected at all,” she said. “I didn’t realise I was winning until I was coming down the hill towards the end.”

The men’s under-20 race also saw two athletes break away from the rest of the pack.

Last year’s English national champion Alex Lennon (Sutton & District AC) and Jack Sanderson (Settle Harriers) pushed each other right up until the final kilometre, before Lennon strode clear.

“With 500m to go, I felt a serge of energy and decided to go with it,” he said.

“I knew it was going to take him (Jack Sanderson) out. I had a glance over my shoulder as I got to the top of the hill, saw he was behind, relaxed and enjoyed the finish.”

Beth Lewis (City of York) and Rory Barclay-Watt (Exeter Harriers) won the women’s and men’s under-17s races.

There were strong performances throughout the junior events, with talented young athletes travelling from across the country to represent their counties in Nottingham. Full results can be found on the on Sporthive website.