Report of the Avon & Somerset XC Championships Dec 16^th 2007

There was a fantastic turn out across all the ages as 60 team members competed at the 2007/08 version of the Somerset County AA Cross Country Championships held at Edgarley School, Glastonbury on Sunday 16^th December. The combined Wells Harriers and Yeovil Olympiad team finished with 10 medallists in the different age groups with top performance once again going to one of the Harriers GB internationals Ben Tickner who stormed away from the others in the Senior men’s race.

The Championship races were combined with the Avon County Championships, the Wessex League and the South West League. Despite the biting cold conditions all ran well with a number of athletes making their debut for the team. Please note that positions given in this report reflect overall positions in the combined Avon & Somerset (A&S) championships, not actual finishing positions as the various Leagues etc have extracted that data prior to publication. If there are any queries about medals etc please direct them to Paul in the first instance so that he can assist you. (01749 812420)

Proceedings got underway with one non-championship race for the u’11 age group and the 7 Harriers that competed over the 1.2km course enjoyed their race. Danny Kennedy and Abigail Gibbons again proved to be the best of the team with their 5^th and 6^th places, closely followed by Solomon Chadwick and Jack Hale in 8^th and 9^th places, Lydia Guest 11^th, Haiden Watts and Amy Gibbons in 15^th and 16^th. For many of these athletes they will still be young enough to compete in the same age group next year.

The first of the Championship races then saw nine of the Harrier’s u’13 girls compete over 2.5km. First home in 3^rd place overall and winning the County Silver medal was Emily Smith in a time of 8.51, with team-mate Kayley Kennedy picking up County Bronze with her 8.54 clocking. Vera Assis was next home in 6^th overall, 8.59, and then Siobhan Stewart 11^th in 9.20 making her debut in a Harrier vest. Other positions and times in this age group: 19^th Naomi Marable 9.53; 23^rd Amy Cohen 10.05; 27^th Amber Cole 10.28; 28^th Josephine Douglas 10.39. Amy and Amber were also making their Harrier debuts and have joined us for team competition from Yeovil. Lauren Willow also competed here but was a non-counter for the Somerset positions as she is Dorset qualified, and we await confirmation of her final position and time. A number of these girls will still be in the u’13 age group at the Championships next year.

In the u’13 boys race over 3.2km Tristan Goldsmid paced his race well to pick up the Somerset Bronze medal in 11.18, just a stride ahead of team-mate Oliver Fox, 11.19. Oliver will have two more years in this age group and clearly has the potential to medal next year as well as the year after. In 10^th place overall was Curtis Stevens 11.47. Other positions and times: 17^th Matthew Cole 12.29; 19^th James Todd 12.58; 24^th Philip Bridge 13.40; 25^th Alex Mole 13.40.

The u’15 girls race over 3.2km then saw Lizzie Hart finish 6^th in 12.22 and Jessica Wood 9^th in 12.35.Lizzie & Jessica have been very consistent for the team this year. For the u’15 boys team, George Harris was 5^th in 13.12 over the 3.8km course, with Cameron Rafferty not far behind in 8^th, 13.54. There was then some good packing by Austin Thorne, 15.21, and Reuben Whitcombe, 15.53, before Callum Batten, struggling following injury, came home in 17.25. Most of these boys will still be in this age group next year.

The u’17 women’s race over 3.8km saw Nicola Morgan run as a guest for the Harriers whilst awaiting qualification for the County as she only moved to Somerset in the summer. Nicola’s position and time is to be confirmed. Not far behind Nicola were County medallist Leighanna Chappell and Justine Bowers in 4^th and 5^th positions overall in times of 15.13 and 15.16 respectively. The u’17 men’s team was much reduced from normal and only Alex Wiltshire toed the start line for the 5.9km race. He finished a solid 6^th in 19.55, winning the County bronze medal in the proceedings.

6 Harriers competed in the senior women’s race over 5.9km with Jenny Moore again proving to be the strongest runner of the team finishing in 3^rd place overall, 2^nd Somerset and 1^st Somerset F35 into the bargain. Jenny’s time of 22.37 was an excellent mark. Next Harrier in was Ann Taswell in 9^th overall, 4^th Somerset athlete. Further down the field there was some solid running by Harriers with Marion Colman and Ange Thomas finishing 1^st and 2^nd F55 for Somerset in 20^th and 22^nd places overall in times of 28.24 and 29.05. It was also good to see Claire Thomas out competing for the team in 28.52 for 21^st and Catherine Goldsmid was the 2^nd of the Goldsmid trio to compete at these championships with her time of 29.55.

In the final race of the day as temperatures started to plummet, the biggest field of the day was assembled with perhaps 100 athletes toeing the start line, of which 62 were taking part in the Avon and Somerset Championships. First, and out front by a long way, was Ben Tickner with his relaxed 31.50 for the 10.1km course. 2^nd home for the Harriers was Al Jones in 9^th place in the combined champs in a time of 35.48. then Came Jon Gilling celebrating his 35^th birthday with a 13^th place finish in 36.05. Next home and making a welcome return to competition after a year out following an operation was Jon James. Jon coasted through the field, starting well back and gingerly picking his way through to finish in 16^th place overall in a time of 36.25. Other Harriers that were first in their age categories for the Somerset Championships were Les Lock, 1^st M50 in 25^th place overall 38.54, and Colin Money, 1^st M60 in 61^st place in 51.08.

Other Harrier positions and times: 17^th Tim Hawkins making his Harrier debut 36.54; 18^th Andrew Deamer 36.59; 19^th Steve Masters 37.08; 24^th Matt Lewis 38.47; 31^st Graham Goldsmid completing the Team Goldsmid effort 40.29; 27^th Rod Appleby 41.56; 43^rd Paul Chadwick 42.24; 47^th Paul Knight 43.39; 48^th Tom Lock 43.43; 50^th Geoff Cole 43.59; 53^rd Pete Wright 44.44; 58^th Martin Bailey 46.44 returning from injury.

Well done to all the athletes, the team managers, the supporters, the tent erectors and dismantlers for a good day out! Many thanks to Brian Beale (County XC Championships Sec), Mendip AC & Millfield Prep for hosting.

The next XC Championship race is at Bicton College, Devon on Sunday Jan 6^th 2008 – the South West XC Championships. Please contact Paul, Clive or Annette if you need details or see the information on the website under fixtures.