Four teams of young athletes, supported by their parents made the journey to Mansfield on Saturday to compete in the Annual Cross Country Relays held in the picturesque grounds of Berry Park. In the extremely well organised event held over the twisting and undulating courses which became increasingly muddy as the rain increased in intensity shortly after the start of the first race, the Club’s athletes all said how much they had enjoyed the experience of competing in very high class fields of athletes from all over England and were generally very pleased with their performances.

 

The under 15 Girls’ team finished 54th out of the 95 teams that completed the race with Ellie Baker running her 2k leg in 7:54.55 for 22nd place, followed by Niamh Cloona 8:58.60 slipping to 53rd and Megan Breen bring the team home in 54th place with her run of 8:51.90- total time 25:45.05.

Lizzie Bird ran the first leg of 2.5k in 7:54.55 to finish in 17th place in the under 17 women’s race, supported by Aisling Hayward 11:11.20 for 33rd place before handing over to Ella Lloyd to bring the team home in 29th place with her time of 10.20.95 out of the 48 teams that completed this race – total time 30:59.25.

The under 17 men’s team had the best result of the day by finishing in 19th place overall out of the 81 teams that completed the race with Liam Cloona running the first leg of 3k in 10;22.85 for 58th place, followed by Nicholas Doyle moving up 20 places to finish in 38th place with 9:59.05 and then handing over to Liam Dee who ran well in 9:21.60 to pick up a further 19 places – total time 29:43.50.

The Junior Men’s team, also running 3 legs of 3k finished in 38th place out of the 55 teams completing this race, with lead off man Alex Cloona running 10:29.25 to finish in 74th place before handing over to Andrew Walshe who picked up 20 places to complete his leg in 10:05.60 leaving Edward Shepherd to run the final leg in 9:18.60 whilst overtaking a further 16 athletes to bring his team home in 38th place – total time 29:52.95.

Due to unfortunate last minute drop outs Lizzy Brathwaite was the only Senior Lady able to compete and she finished her leg of 3k in 11.55.20 for 52nd place of the 122 runners who completed the first leg of the Senior Women’s race.

 

Adrian Newman, Cross Country Co-ordinator