Brooks Westward Cross Country League
Race 4: Bovey Tracey, Sunday 10th Febuary 2013
Brooks Westward Cross Country League
Race 4: Northam Burrows, Westward Ho!, Bideford (Hosts: Bideford AAC)
Sunday 13th January 2013
Sunday 13th January 2013
Report: The fourth meeting in the Westward League was held on a balmy winter morning with hardly a cloud in the sky and full sunshine. The Northam Burrows course, behind the shingle expanse and immense sandy Westward Ho! beach is flat but the elemental 'challenge' is usually provided by the strong Atlantic winds blowing in from the west which can mean that the outward half of each lap appears easy as athletes float along, bolstered by the wind, only to suffer on the return eastwards into what has often been a very strong wind. N0ne of that this time around as the conditions were calm though the ditches and rough grass areas were full of standing water while an unusually high tide the previous night had left some of the course unrunable and last minute adjustments had to be made to the route. Unfortunately the turnout of runners was very disappointing, especially in the junior age groups as this meeting fell in the week before the Cornwall and Devon Schools Champs while the venue is the most northerly course on the circuit and requires a long drive for all clubs. The Bideford AAC club members produced a superbly organised match with the dozens of stewards and marshalls on hand reflecting the community spirit of this famous club.
The Senior Mens' race saw 23 year old Steve Gallienne (Bideford AAC) enjoy his first ever Westward League individual win. Following his impressive 6th place in the South West Champs at Bicton the previous weekend he is clearly beginning to find his form again now that he is living and working back in North Devon. James Denne (Exeter Harriers) was the early leader as a large group of about 10 runners loosened up on the first lap but into the turn and the long drag back up towards the Golf Course road it was Gallienne and 18 year old Exeter University fresher Jack Fitsall who had established a clear lead of about 30 metres - both appeared full of running while the pack began to break up with Dan Rogers (Cornwall AC) sitting in just behind Denne, Jim Cole (Tavistock AC) and overall league leader Mark Jenkin (Bideford AAC). The lead alternated as Fitsall, who hails from Essex and is coached by Steve Reynolds at Basildon AC and had finished 4th in the Essex County U20 Champs at a very wet Hadleigh course on 5th January pushed on, especially on the better ground. They were neck and neck with just 400 metres to go when Gallienne showed his class with a well judged surge to win by 6secs at the finish line. Mark Jenkin, who had suffered with a heavy cold over the New Year charged through the chasing group to claim a clear 3rd place making up at least 20 secs on the leaders over the last lap. Jim Cole ran strongly to hold off the ever consistent Dan Rogers while Jack Bancroft (Wells City/Exeter Uni) came through strongly to overtake the fading James Denne over the last 500 metres. Oliver Berry and Jonathan Atse Herrara (both Exeter Harriers) were 8th and 9th ensuring a resounding team victory for a dominant Exeter Harriers. In 10th was U20 Callum Jones (Cornwall AC) who is a very talented youg athlete, having finished 4th in the Southern Champs as a first year U17 in 2010 and 74th in the Inter Counties Champs last year as a first year Junior. Good to see him making the transition to the Senior ranks. There were 82 finishers
The Senior Womens' race saw another easy victory for South West Champion Emma Stepto (Cornwall AC) as she sat in with eventual second placer Miranda Heathcote (Newquay & Par AC) for the first couple of laps before she skipped away to a 20 secs victory. Ami Yetton (Plymouth Harriers) was 30 secs back with Exeter University's Steph McCall who is coached by Raymond Thompson at South London Harriers in 4th and 16 year old Isabel Steele (Cornwall AC) run well for 5th. There were 42 finishers.
None of the Junior age group races had more than a dozen finishers and most of the results were very predictable with winners Sam Lane de Courtin (Tavistock AC) in the U17 Mens' race, Archie Stoneman (Exeter Harriers) in the U15 Boys' race, Emily Ackford (City of Plymouth AC) in the U15 Girls race and Sian Temple (Tavistock AC) in the U13 Girls race enjoying comfortable victories. The U13 Boys race produced a real battle between Finn Birnie (Newquay & Par AC) and J. Greenwood of St Petrocs Dragons with the former having to work very hard to claim victory and confirm the advantage enjoyed in earlier league races.
The Senior Mens' race saw 23 year old Steve Gallienne (Bideford AAC) enjoy his first ever Westward League individual win. Following his impressive 6th place in the South West Champs at Bicton the previous weekend he is clearly beginning to find his form again now that he is living and working back in North Devon. James Denne (Exeter Harriers) was the early leader as a large group of about 10 runners loosened up on the first lap but into the turn and the long drag back up towards the Golf Course road it was Gallienne and 18 year old Exeter University fresher Jack Fitsall who had established a clear lead of about 30 metres - both appeared full of running while the pack began to break up with Dan Rogers (Cornwall AC) sitting in just behind Denne, Jim Cole (Tavistock AC) and overall league leader Mark Jenkin (Bideford AAC). The lead alternated as Fitsall, who hails from Essex and is coached by Steve Reynolds at Basildon AC and had finished 4th in the Essex County U20 Champs at a very wet Hadleigh course on 5th January pushed on, especially on the better ground. They were neck and neck with just 400 metres to go when Gallienne showed his class with a well judged surge to win by 6secs at the finish line. Mark Jenkin, who had suffered with a heavy cold over the New Year charged through the chasing group to claim a clear 3rd place making up at least 20 secs on the leaders over the last lap. Jim Cole ran strongly to hold off the ever consistent Dan Rogers while Jack Bancroft (Wells City/Exeter Uni) came through strongly to overtake the fading James Denne over the last 500 metres. Oliver Berry and Jonathan Atse Herrara (both Exeter Harriers) were 8th and 9th ensuring a resounding team victory for a dominant Exeter Harriers. In 10th was U20 Callum Jones (Cornwall AC) who is a very talented youg athlete, having finished 4th in the Southern Champs as a first year U17 in 2010 and 74th in the Inter Counties Champs last year as a first year Junior. Good to see him making the transition to the Senior ranks. There were 82 finishers
The Senior Womens' race saw another easy victory for South West Champion Emma Stepto (Cornwall AC) as she sat in with eventual second placer Miranda Heathcote (Newquay & Par AC) for the first couple of laps before she skipped away to a 20 secs victory. Ami Yetton (Plymouth Harriers) was 30 secs back with Exeter University's Steph McCall who is coached by Raymond Thompson at South London Harriers in 4th and 16 year old Isabel Steele (Cornwall AC) run well for 5th. There were 42 finishers.
None of the Junior age group races had more than a dozen finishers and most of the results were very predictable with winners Sam Lane de Courtin (Tavistock AC) in the U17 Mens' race, Archie Stoneman (Exeter Harriers) in the U15 Boys' race, Emily Ackford (City of Plymouth AC) in the U15 Girls race and Sian Temple (Tavistock AC) in the U13 Girls race enjoying comfortable victories. The U13 Boys race produced a real battle between Finn Birnie (Newquay & Par AC) and J. Greenwood of St Petrocs Dragons with the former having to work very hard to claim victory and confirm the advantage enjoyed in earlier league races.
Brooks Westward Cross Country League
Race 3: Exeter Arena Playing Fields, Exeter
Sunday 2nd December (Videos on the Home page)
FULL RESULTS can be downloaded below:
Sunday 2nd December (Videos on the Home page)
FULL RESULTS can be downloaded below:
westward_xc_league_exeter_mens_results_2.12.12.xls | |
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Brooks Westward Cross Country
Race 2: Newquay Sports Centre, Tretherras Road, Newquay, Cornwall:
Sunday 4th November 2012
FULL RESULTS can be downloaded below:
The tight, twisty and deceptively hilly course at Tretheras School was a real test for the runners but once agan Mark Jenkin of Bideford AAC (Alf Glover) was a clear winner of the Senior Mens' Race by a margin of 25 secs to increase his grip on the indivdual league standings. Second place went to 19 year old Basildon AC/Exeter University athlete Jack Fitsall (Steve Reynolds), who hails from Southend in Essex and attended Southend Boys HS, regular winners of ESAA team competitions and a real hotbed of cross country running. He had a race long battle with Exeter Harriers James Denne (Maurice Ault) and Oliver Berry. The turnout may have been affected by the clash with the Plymouth Half and Bideford 10 miler but still saw 168 finishers show ther support for their club team and this was a significant increase on the first match of the season. Team honours just went to Cornwall once again from Exeter.
The Senior Womens Race winner was the talented, 2012 W40 UK number ranked 3k runner Emma Stepto of Cornwall AC who had a clear 30 secs victory over Ami Yetton of Plymouth Harrers and Isabel Steele (Peter Meredith) of Cornwall AC who is a fast improving youngster. Rosie Chamberlain and Karen Humpreys, both of Exeter Harriers compleed the top five. W50 Jenny Nash of East Cornwall AC) caught the eye with a well deserved 6th and a big improvement 0n her run in Reruth last month.
The younger age groups saw some great racing with several athletes showing real progress since the last Brooks Westward League.
None more so than Tavistock's Sam Lane de Courtin who had a storming win in the U17 Mens race from Thomas Wood of Mount's Bay and and 2012 Cornwall Schools Inter Champion Danny Wood (Stephen Woodfinden) of Newquay & Par who had a real tussle for second and third before Tom just edged the verdict in what, for him, would have been a significant move in the right direction. The expected favourite David Weir had an off day to finish 4th but this will only serve as an incentive when it comes to the next league match which includes the Devon Champs. William Battershill was a clear 35 second winner of the U15 Boys Race while three Exeter Harriers filled the next 3 places to breeze the team award with Oscar Petherick and Thomas McShane just getting the better of last month's second placer Archie Stoneman.
Under 13 Boys winner Finn Birnie (David Varney) of Newquay & Par AC had a great tussle with James Greenwood of S Petrocs's Dragons while Tom Fisher (John Knowles) of Cornwall AC repeated his October 3rd place.
The Under 15 Girls result saw a turnround in fortunes as 4m49 1500m perfrmer Poppy Tank (Simon Anderson) of City of Plymouth got the better of trainingn partner and October winner Victoria Weir. Emily Ackford was not far behind. The Under 13 Girls Race winner was Katie-Jayne Hughes (Peter Meredith) of Cornwall AC who repeated her win at Redruth while 2011 Cornwall U11 Champion Imogen Wood improved 4 places to take 2nd place.
The next fixture in the Brooks Westward Cross Country League is on Sunday 2nd December at Exeter Arena and incorporates the Devon AA Championships
Sunday 4th November 2012
FULL RESULTS can be downloaded below:
The tight, twisty and deceptively hilly course at Tretheras School was a real test for the runners but once agan Mark Jenkin of Bideford AAC (Alf Glover) was a clear winner of the Senior Mens' Race by a margin of 25 secs to increase his grip on the indivdual league standings. Second place went to 19 year old Basildon AC/Exeter University athlete Jack Fitsall (Steve Reynolds), who hails from Southend in Essex and attended Southend Boys HS, regular winners of ESAA team competitions and a real hotbed of cross country running. He had a race long battle with Exeter Harriers James Denne (Maurice Ault) and Oliver Berry. The turnout may have been affected by the clash with the Plymouth Half and Bideford 10 miler but still saw 168 finishers show ther support for their club team and this was a significant increase on the first match of the season. Team honours just went to Cornwall once again from Exeter.
The Senior Womens Race winner was the talented, 2012 W40 UK number ranked 3k runner Emma Stepto of Cornwall AC who had a clear 30 secs victory over Ami Yetton of Plymouth Harrers and Isabel Steele (Peter Meredith) of Cornwall AC who is a fast improving youngster. Rosie Chamberlain and Karen Humpreys, both of Exeter Harriers compleed the top five. W50 Jenny Nash of East Cornwall AC) caught the eye with a well deserved 6th and a big improvement 0n her run in Reruth last month.
The younger age groups saw some great racing with several athletes showing real progress since the last Brooks Westward League.
None more so than Tavistock's Sam Lane de Courtin who had a storming win in the U17 Mens race from Thomas Wood of Mount's Bay and and 2012 Cornwall Schools Inter Champion Danny Wood (Stephen Woodfinden) of Newquay & Par who had a real tussle for second and third before Tom just edged the verdict in what, for him, would have been a significant move in the right direction. The expected favourite David Weir had an off day to finish 4th but this will only serve as an incentive when it comes to the next league match which includes the Devon Champs. William Battershill was a clear 35 second winner of the U15 Boys Race while three Exeter Harriers filled the next 3 places to breeze the team award with Oscar Petherick and Thomas McShane just getting the better of last month's second placer Archie Stoneman.
Under 13 Boys winner Finn Birnie (David Varney) of Newquay & Par AC had a great tussle with James Greenwood of S Petrocs's Dragons while Tom Fisher (John Knowles) of Cornwall AC repeated his October 3rd place.
The Under 15 Girls result saw a turnround in fortunes as 4m49 1500m perfrmer Poppy Tank (Simon Anderson) of City of Plymouth got the better of trainingn partner and October winner Victoria Weir. Emily Ackford was not far behind. The Under 13 Girls Race winner was Katie-Jayne Hughes (Peter Meredith) of Cornwall AC who repeated her win at Redruth while 2011 Cornwall U11 Champion Imogen Wood improved 4 places to take 2nd place.
The next fixture in the Brooks Westward Cross Country League is on Sunday 2nd December at Exeter Arena and incorporates the Devon AA Championships
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Brooks Westward Cross Country League
Race 1: Redruth Sunday 14th October 2012
FULL RESULTS can be downloaded below:
FULL RESULTS can be downloaded below:
westward_xc_league_redruth_mens_results_14.10.12.xls | |
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westward_xc_league_redruth_womens_results_14.10.12.xls | |
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Report on Redruth Match
Cross country leagues throughout the country seem to have made a rather slow start this season and numbers in the first meeting of the Brooks Westward League at Redruth was no exception to this trend.
Senior Mens winner V35 Mark Jenkin (Coach: Alf Glover) of Bideford AC who has a best marathon time of 2hrs27mins51secs improved on his third place last year in the absence of 2011 first two Kevin Heywood of Bideford and Jim Cole of Tavistock with an impressive 30+secs victory over sub 54min 10 miler James Denne (Maurice Ault) of Exeter Harriers who once again found victory elusive having finished 2nd in two races last season. Colin Snook of Cornwall AC was a further 20 secs back winning a race long tussle with Steeplechaser Oliver Berry of Exeter Harriers by just 2 secs followed by another battle between 5th placer Dave Rogers of Cornwall AC and Jack Hutchins (Mark Brace) of North Devon/City of Plymouth. 117 runners finished (just 2 down of last year's race at Redruth)
Top 3 teams were:
1. Cornwall AC 1470
2. Exeter Harriers 1440
3. City of Plymouth AC 1413
The Senior Womens' race winner was W40 Miranda Heathcote of Newquay & Par who had improved her 3k track time by a minute to 9m45secs over the summer and here enjoyed a winning cushion of almost a minute over Ami Yetton of Plymouth Harriers - no mean feat over an athlete who finished 57th in the 2012 Inter Counties Champs. Ex Birmingham University graduate Amy Wilkinson (Graeme Riley) of Tamar Trotters had gamely clung on to her for much of the race before fading slightly to finish a creditable 15 secs behind in third. The experienced Katherine Humphreys of Exeter Harriers who has impressive pbs of 2m12/4m33 on the track finished 4th, 30 secs behind; while talented Under 17F and Cornwall Schools Champion Isabel Steele (Peter Meredith) of Cornwall AC just got the better of English Schools 800m Bronze medallist U20F Rosie Chamberlain (Brian O'Hare) of Exeter Harriers and Heidi Cottam (Peter Meredith) of Cornwall AC.
Top 3 teams were:
1= Cornwall AC 280
1= Newquay/Par AC 280
3. Exeter Harriers 265
4. South West Road Runners 257
The Young Athletes races contained relatively small fields but there were some impressive performances. None more so than the 2012 Devon Schools U17 Campion and 13th placer at the U17 English Schools Champs, David Weir (Simon Anderson) of Cty of Plymouth who ran away from the opposition for an emphatic 30 secs victory over Tavistock's Samuel Lane De Courtin (Caroline Lawson) in the Under 17 Mens' race. Lane de Courtin had from the consolation of leading his team to victory after a close race with Cornwall AC.
At U15 Boys level William Battershill of Erme Valley Harriers, 2012 Devons Schools Champion and 19th placer at the ESAA Champs at Ilton, had a good battle with Blundells pupil Archie Stoneman of Exeter Harriers before easing away over the last kilometre as they both left the third placed athlete some 40secs behind. Exeter claimed the team honours.
The U13 Boys race saw a great battle between two first year athletes as Finn Birnie (David Varney) of Newquay & Par AC just got the better of Freddie Bareham of Cornwall AC by 5 secs with the team title going to Newquay & Par.
South West Schools U15 Girls Champion Victoria Weir (Simon Anderson) of City of Plymouth AC made it a family double with a very straightforward win over a closing field of 28 runners. Despite claiming the first two individuals home City of Plymouth had to be content with 4th team as Newquay & Par just held off Tavistock by a single point!
The U13 Girls race was won by Katie-Jayne Hughes (Peter Meredith) of Cornwall AC after a race long battle with Jasmine Gray of Tavistock just a few seconds behind. Cornwall and Newquay & Par were well ahead in the team stakes.
Senior Mens winner V35 Mark Jenkin (Coach: Alf Glover) of Bideford AC who has a best marathon time of 2hrs27mins51secs improved on his third place last year in the absence of 2011 first two Kevin Heywood of Bideford and Jim Cole of Tavistock with an impressive 30+secs victory over sub 54min 10 miler James Denne (Maurice Ault) of Exeter Harriers who once again found victory elusive having finished 2nd in two races last season. Colin Snook of Cornwall AC was a further 20 secs back winning a race long tussle with Steeplechaser Oliver Berry of Exeter Harriers by just 2 secs followed by another battle between 5th placer Dave Rogers of Cornwall AC and Jack Hutchins (Mark Brace) of North Devon/City of Plymouth. 117 runners finished (just 2 down of last year's race at Redruth)
Top 3 teams were:
1. Cornwall AC 1470
2. Exeter Harriers 1440
3. City of Plymouth AC 1413
The Senior Womens' race winner was W40 Miranda Heathcote of Newquay & Par who had improved her 3k track time by a minute to 9m45secs over the summer and here enjoyed a winning cushion of almost a minute over Ami Yetton of Plymouth Harriers - no mean feat over an athlete who finished 57th in the 2012 Inter Counties Champs. Ex Birmingham University graduate Amy Wilkinson (Graeme Riley) of Tamar Trotters had gamely clung on to her for much of the race before fading slightly to finish a creditable 15 secs behind in third. The experienced Katherine Humphreys of Exeter Harriers who has impressive pbs of 2m12/4m33 on the track finished 4th, 30 secs behind; while talented Under 17F and Cornwall Schools Champion Isabel Steele (Peter Meredith) of Cornwall AC just got the better of English Schools 800m Bronze medallist U20F Rosie Chamberlain (Brian O'Hare) of Exeter Harriers and Heidi Cottam (Peter Meredith) of Cornwall AC.
Top 3 teams were:
1= Cornwall AC 280
1= Newquay/Par AC 280
3. Exeter Harriers 265
4. South West Road Runners 257
The Young Athletes races contained relatively small fields but there were some impressive performances. None more so than the 2012 Devon Schools U17 Campion and 13th placer at the U17 English Schools Champs, David Weir (Simon Anderson) of Cty of Plymouth who ran away from the opposition for an emphatic 30 secs victory over Tavistock's Samuel Lane De Courtin (Caroline Lawson) in the Under 17 Mens' race. Lane de Courtin had from the consolation of leading his team to victory after a close race with Cornwall AC.
At U15 Boys level William Battershill of Erme Valley Harriers, 2012 Devons Schools Champion and 19th placer at the ESAA Champs at Ilton, had a good battle with Blundells pupil Archie Stoneman of Exeter Harriers before easing away over the last kilometre as they both left the third placed athlete some 40secs behind. Exeter claimed the team honours.
The U13 Boys race saw a great battle between two first year athletes as Finn Birnie (David Varney) of Newquay & Par AC just got the better of Freddie Bareham of Cornwall AC by 5 secs with the team title going to Newquay & Par.
South West Schools U15 Girls Champion Victoria Weir (Simon Anderson) of City of Plymouth AC made it a family double with a very straightforward win over a closing field of 28 runners. Despite claiming the first two individuals home City of Plymouth had to be content with 4th team as Newquay & Par just held off Tavistock by a single point!
The U13 Girls race was won by Katie-Jayne Hughes (Peter Meredith) of Cornwall AC after a race long battle with Jasmine Gray of Tavistock just a few seconds behind. Cornwall and Newquay & Par were well ahead in the team stakes.
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