The Ampthill Trophy – back in the park (2003-)

Posted on by Ste H

The Beefeater Ampthill Trophy Cross Country Meeting ran until 1998. In 2003, inspired by the success of the re-launched Flitwick 10K, the Ampthill & Flitwick Flyers Committee decided to host another annual event – a cross country race in Ampthill Park – map. The race was called the ‘Ampthill Trophy‘ as a tribute to the old Beefeater Trophy meeting (1974-98) which would attract runners with fond memories of those races.

The Flyers’ Keith Morgan (Race Director) and Wendy Kent (Race Secretary) led with promoting the Ampthill Trophy. Phil Bierton took on the mantle of setting up the courses based loosely on the Beefeater ones and provided much needed IT support. Unfortunately, the fabled Breakheart Hill had to be cut because the section was becoming excessively eroded. 

The first Ampthill Trophy was low key because there was little time to organise it. Wendy designed an entry form, which Keith ran off at work, and placed an advert in Runners World and windscreened cars at every event we went to. Would anyone bite? There was no sponsor and no fund to call on – at best the Flyers hoped to break even. Postal entries were very slow and, with a week to go, the junior race was cancelled as there were only 3 entrants – all from one family (the Drinkwater boys).

On race day the entry doubled to just under 50 runners. Tom May (Leighton Buzzard AC) won the Men’s Race and the Flyers’ Sarah Thomson bagged the Women’s title.

Since 2003 the Ampthill Trophy has steadily established itself as a curtain-raiser to the cross country season. Juniors races were added from 2004 and these attract more talent year on year.

(2015)

In 2006 the late 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 outer shield records the winning man and woman since 2003.

Ryan McKinlay, Men’s Race Winner (2007)

Clubs from the Three Counties XC League are always well represented. For two years the Ampthill Trophy (2009 & 2010) also incorporated the Eastern Vets AC Cross Country Championships.


Over the years there have been minor course adjustments to protect the fine grasses and flora in Ampthill Park.

Andrew Inskip (Bedford & County AC) is the most prolific Men’s Race winner with 4 titles (2004, 2008, 2010 & 2012) and Juliette Minter (Olney Runners) has won the Women’s Race three times (2007, 2009, & 2012). The Ampthill Trophy also attracts a smattering of GB stars – Huw Lobb (2005 & 2006) and Lucy Gossage (2013), Huw being the only athlete to have won a senior Beefeater Ampthill Trophy as well (1996 & 1997).

For 2016 the Flyers decided to reposition the Ampthill Trophy by adding a half lap at the start to reposition the senior race as 10K.

Click – for the Ampthill Trophy race reports and results by year.

Credits: Wendy Kent for noting how the Ampthill Trophy was re-established, Phil Bierton for diligently recording the race stats, and the Flyers’ top class organising team and marshals.