YOUTHS DID SO WELL – SENIORS NOT SO WELL
Fechin McCormick
The most successful of the club's teams at the weekend's National XC relays at Mansfield were the junior women! LUCY ARMITAGE, ISABELLA BURKE and AKIRA EDGSON finished a magnificent 7th from 43 competing teams. They missed becoming the first Northern team by just 7 seconds; becoming bronze medallists by 20 seconds and they recorded their section's best result since 2017 (when they were 4th ).
Superb running by BEATRIX SOPER, OONAGH McMANUS and LOLA RICHARDSON in the U13 section meant they were also a top placed 9th team. They recorded their section's best result since 2018 …..when Isabella Burke & Akira Edgson were then a part of the team! How great it was that CAITHLIN WETTERS, GRACE HILL and ISABELLE CONNOLLY represented the club as a 'B' team and did really well to finish 28th from the 75 competing teams.
Another championship highlight was the Junior and U17 men's teams. The SAVAGE twins – EVAN & ELLIOT and SAMUEL BRYAN flexed their formidable muscle and their 19th place was the section's best since 2016. The U17 also showed similar promise! OSCAR SCHOFIELD is amazing, easily winning his first leg against the nation's best as he did in the U15 race last year. He led his colleagues GEORGE NOBLE and JOSHUA COLQUNOUN-LYNN to 15th place and their section's best result since 2011 when they were 5th. If only these sections could be kept together in future years!
The senior women (MEGAN DAVIES, ALYSSA DAVEY and LUCY COOK) were an out of character 36th not fulfilling their potential by any means considering in recent years they were among the top five teams. A well done to SARAH GOULDEN and MIA GIBBONS who ran as individuals with middle distance runner Mia finishing like a steam train as she did so memorably in the 800m at the National Athletic League promotion match in the summer.
The senior men for the 3rd consecutive major national championship this year were again nowhere to be seen, a concern that has to be addressed. WILLIAM ONEK, PHIL ROBINSON and TOM STEPHENSON did well inside the top 50 running as individuals.
The U13 boy’s trio (DANIEL OAKES, OLIVER HOWELL and HENRY SHOESMITH) were 23rd, the U15 boys (ALEX FRAZER, JAMES O'BRIEN and FINLAY GODDARD) were 15th with a 'B' team 31st, the U15 girls also had two teams and so flew the club flag high. Their 'A' team (IMOGEN HILL, ISOBEL HALL & EMILY PURDY) were highly placed in 16th and their 'B' trio (MADISON HOLT, HANNAH SQUIBBS & MADELINE GILLAM) were 51st. Finally, representing the U17 girls, JASMINE REED, ISABELLA APPLEBY and CARMEN SAFRANAUSKAS were 26th.
All these younger teams deserve the greatest applause. In an intimidating major national championship like this when many might understandably shy away with excuses, they committed their whole day to representing their club and turned out a team in every age-group. Well done and thanks and that includes coaches, parents and team managers.