The Club was well represented at two National Championships at the weekend and came away with lots of medals!
(Report on the National Cross Country Champs by Duncan Curtis)
12 Athletes, 9 Medals – Fantastic Results at English National Cross Country Championship in Sedgefield, Co Durham.
A long way from home, but well worth the trip to a fantastic event hosted by Sedgefield Harriers and Northern Athletics, that many consider the pinnacle event of cross country season. Well over 3000 athletes participated over a surprisingly dry course. First up were the U15B, racing 4k, who demonstrated their team commitment throughout the day. Taylor Thom-Watts ran an incredible race, finishing only 4 seconds off the winner, earning an individual Bronze Medal. The U15B team (Taylor Thom-Watts-3, George Urben-18, Sam Gill-57 and Cory Walker-93) won the team Silver Medal.
Next up were the U20W, competing over 6.1k, also hoping for medals. Ava James ran a tactically brilliant race, running in a pack with several international runners who were older than herself, leaving enough to commit herself towards the end and win the sprint finish to gain an individual Bronze Medal.
And to match the U15 boys the U20W team (Ava James-3, Esme Stephenson-23, Rosie Gasson-46 and Tilly Wilburn-60) also won the team Silver Medal!
The U20M, tackling a long 10.1k course were one short of a complete team, but in this category three athletes (Rowan Curtis-39, Tom Barnett-52, Arun Khursheed-86) is a strong representation in a field where only six clubs had a full team of four.
Last, but not least running in the Senior Men was Club Coach Duncan Curtis, a V60M. In a field of over 1000 athletes, aged 20 and upwards, Duncan completed the 12.4k course in a very respectable time. Many Thanks to the Club Coaches, Parents and Team Managers who continually support the Club Athletes, with a special mention to John Clements, Adam Clayton, Duncan Curtis, Jason Jefferies and Adrian Monti.
Masters Indoor Championships
Also at the weekend at British Masters indoor championships. Stef Dornbusch won silver in W55 pole vault, as well as a 5th and 6th in the 60 and 200 respectively. Paul Howard won a silver in a highly competitive M45 800 and a bronze in the 400, and Jo Wilding won silver in the W50 high jump and bronze in 60m hurdles and long jump. Paul and Stef will head to Torun, Poland next month for the European Masters indoor championships.
