West Midlands Young Athletes Cross Country League

Weddington, Nuneaton

Sunday 18th January 2009

Above: Zoe Scoltock tackles the first water jump.

Bromsgrove and Redditch Athletic Club’s juniors maintained their ninth place in the the League following the meeting at Weddington, Nuneaton in January over a very wet and muddy course. Each lap had two water obstacles, a wide deep stretch when heading out on to far side of the course and a deep but jumpable water-filled ditch on the return. The area round the tents became a giant mud patch which will be fun for Old Edwardians Rugby Club when they return to use their pitch next week. With the river running alongside the course it is easy to see why this fixture had to be cancelled due to flooding in 2008! The athletes, supporters and coaches all ended up caked in mud.

In the under 11 girls’ race Colette Payton had another good run to finish 11th, as did Ellie Thomas (28th).  Clare Naylon finished 41st in her first cross country for the club having recently recovered from a broken foot.  Lauren Clifford improved on previous results to come home in 59th place.  Victoria Sparkes completed the under 13 girls’ team in 89th place which keeps them in 13th place in the league

Above: Charlotte Tongue kitted out for the weather braves the water.

In the under 13 girls’ race Georgie Hartigan was first home for the club in 18th place.  Kira Swannell had her best run of the season to finish 26th.  Anna Ball and Zoe Scoltock crossed the line together with Anna being awarded 64th and Zoe 65th.  Other under 13 girls running for the club were Lucy Thomas (115th) and Charlotte Tongue (126th).  These good performances move them up one place in the league to 11th ahead of Sphinx AC and closing the gap on Cannock & Staffs A.C., Wolverhampton and Bilston A.C. Tipton Harriers and Stratford upon Avon A.C..

Above:Kelly Caswell clears the last ditch and sprints for home.

Above: Megan Walsh easily clears the ditch.

The under 15 girls’ team were short of a couple of athletes and therefore dropped down one place in the league to 10th behind Stratford upon Avon A.C..  The three under 15 girls running for Bromsgrove and Redditch were Sally Hogan finishing 22nd, Kelly Caswell in 44th place and Megan Walsh 66th.

Only one under 17 woman represented the club at this meeting, Thomasina Ball who finished in 23rd place.  She managed to keep the under 17 womens’ team in 10th place in the league.

The under 11 boys’ were missing some of their quicker athletes due to a clash with a football match.  The remaining two, Tom Neylon 23rd and Liam Bowden 37th closed the gap on Wolverhampton and Bilston A.C..  They remain in 9th place in the league.

The under 13 boys were also missing some of their athletes, plus the fact that Jim Morley twisted his ankle on the course and had to pull out meant that they dropped one place in the league to 10th place.  The remaining two athletes for Bromsgrove and Redditch were Lewis Anderson 41st and Simeon Clarence 55th.  A good turn out at the last meeting on 1st March at Perry Park should see them regain 9th place from Coventry Godiva.

Above: louie Longhi uses his strength to climb the side of the watery ditch.

Above: Jamie Scoltock just leads Louie at the first water.

Above: We have lift off. Ashley Grazier in mid-air at Nuneaton.

Chris Warren had another excellent result in the under 15 boys’ race finishing 8th and is 6th overall in the league.  With medals only going to the top 6 Chris needs a good performance at the final meeting to stay ahead of Callum Hanlon from Leamington who is only 5 points behind him.  Louie Longhi come home in 39th just ahead of Jamie Scoltock (42nd) returning to his normal form and keeping his shoes on.  Jack Morley in 54th and Ashley Grazier 63rd completed the under 15 boys’ team.  Following these good performances they remain 5th place in the league.

Above: Sam Moran heads two Birchfield Runners on lap two.

Above: David Cooper pulling away from a Stratford runner.

Sean Bowden didn’t have his best run at Weddington finishing in 10th place but hangs on to 4th place overall this season.  Following his strong run at the County Championships at Malvern, Sam Moran improved on his previous results in this league to finish 31st with David Cooper complete with ski gloves in 48th .  The under 17 men remain in 8th place overall in the league.

Click for photo album for this event