The legendary ‘Beefeater Ampthill Trophy’ Cross Country Meeting (1974-98)

The ‘Ampthill Cross Country Trophy’ meeting was established in 1974 from an idea by Dave Goodwin and Harry Clifford of Bedford & County AC.

Entries for the inaugural race totalled 550 athletes which is pretty impressive. Tony Simmons and M. Tunstall (both of Luton AC) won the Senior races, and Bedford & County AC dominated overall. Click for more about the 1974 cross country meeting.

Men’s race start (1974)

European Silver Medalist Tony Simmons (1974) – signing autographs after Men’s race win

Over the next 25 years the cross country race grew in popularity , attracting huge entries – 2355 in 1978 – and crowds which placed it second only to Gateshead. Athletes traveled from far and wide to compete in historic Ampthill Great Park – map. Some of the runners have gone onto become household names – Tony Simmons, Ian Thompson, Liz Yelling (née Talbot), Paula Radcliffe, Huw Lobb, Mo Farah…..

Men’s race start (1975)

In 1977 Ampthill Town Council donated the ‘Ampthill Park Trophy’ which records the Combined Winning Team for each year. Most years the Mayor awarded array of trophies.

The Bedfordshire Times regularly reported the race and mentioned some important innovations. In 1983 a clock was placed a the race finish for all to see, and in 1984 computerised results were introduced. Reading the old newspaper reports a couple of themes leap out – the races were fiercely contested and ‘Heartbreak Hill’ often played a decisive part which is why so many still remember ‘that hill.’ All age groups tackled it – Ampthill Park is dry and sandy but towards the end of the afternoon Heartbreak would have been pretty grim underfoot.

From 1988 the Beefeater Steak Houses provided sponsorship. This is why many remember the meeting as the ‘Beefeater Trophy.’

In 1989 and 1990 the Ampthill Trophy meeting incorporated the ‘Milka Toblerone International Veterans Championships.’ The Veteran Men’s race topped a thousand entries!

The 1990 race created a local drama because Bedfordshire Police asked for the names of the Northern Irish Squad. A police spokesman explained that this was so that “undue alarm could be averted.” The International Results results for show that England teams won each vet category that year.

On Sunday, 10th March 1991 Bedford & County added a concluded the season by hosting the British Veterans Athletic Federation (BVAF) Cross Country Championships in Ampthill Park.

The Beefeater trophies were extensive –

The 25th and final meeting was 1998. A combination of spiraling costs and retiring officials led to the Beefeater Trophy being mothballed. The trophies were used for other purposes.

In 2006 the  John Milward (1929-2011) of Bedford & County AC kindly arranged for Ampthill & Flitwick Flyers (AFF) to receive the original ‘Ampthill Park Trophy’ for use at the re-established Ampthill Trophy race. The inner shield records the Combined winning teams 1977-98.

John also donated his collection of Beefeater Trophy programmes, results and papers.  The 1998 race programme contained a brief history –

John Milward likely wrote the piece – the archive contains the typewritten draft.

Here are the Beefeater Ampthill Trophy race reports and prize winners by year.

Thank you to –

The late John Milward and Bedford and County AC.

Phil Bierton (Ampthill & Flitwick Flyers) for, since 2008, patiently inputting 40,000 finishers as half hours permit. Phil is about half way through!

Course Map (1990-98)