A large team of twenty seven runners from Cornwall Athletic Club made the long journey to London last weekend to compete in the South of England Cross Country Championships at Parliament Hill Fields, producing some excellent individual performances and finishing teams in the Boys and Girls Under 13 and Under 15 age groups.  Pride of place went to new star on the block Connor Robinson and seasoned athlete Bethany Alston, both claimed top ten places in their respective races.  With several other Cornwall Athletic Club individuals making the top thirty from fields, which at times exceeded two hundred, the green and gold vests were always in evidence.

The Under 15 Boys got the championships off to a cracking start as they sprinted off in the first of nine races, all of which featured Cornwall runners.  Sam Harry showed his track speed as he led the field over the first hill and at the half way stage, news was broadcast over the loud speakers that some unknown by the name of Connor Robinson had taken the lead.  What?  Our Connor?!  As they reached the long downhill finish, two athletes had broken away from the chasing pack, which encouragingly  still included Connor, who finished a magnificent 5th in his first major race and after only three weeks training with the club.  Look out for Connor on the track in the summer.  Sam held on for a good 57th, after his over exuberant start, with Harry Allen (157th) and Sam Williams (206th) closing the team in 17th position out of 36 teams.  

The finish is in sight for Sam 1......

.....and also for Sam 2

Bethany confirmed her potential as a top quality runner in the Under 17 Ladies event, with yet another impressive performance, as she finished eighth against the best opposition she has faced so far this winter.  Heidi Cottam, who has only recently got back to running after a couple of years off, performed well here, finishing like a train in 44th place.

Bethany storming home in the finishing straight

The Under 17 Men’s race, over 6000 metres, saw Ryan Cleave continue his impressive season.  Always up with the lead group, Ryan ran an excellently paced race, crossing the line in 20th position and showing the determination in both training and racing to progress further.  Daniel Drew, always a great supporter of the club, had the misfortune to injure his ankle early on in the race but he fought gamely on to finish in 153rd, with many still behind him.

Another very talented Cleave made his mark in the gruelling 8000 metres of the Under 20 Men’s race.  Matt finished 24th in his first season in this very competitive age group.

Matt leads a group in mid race

The Under 13 Girls race, run over 3000 metres, again saw Cornwall Athletic Club fielding a full team.  Alice Vage (53rd), had a solid run, making the top quarter of the field and Megan Brown ran very well after a nervous start, for 101st.  Melissa Keveren was just a few seconds behind in 124th, with Jess Bolton (161st) completing the team, which finished  in 19th out of 29 clubs.

The Under 13 Girls line up at the start

Jess nearing the top of the first hill

The Under 13 Boys have had plenty of success this year, with individual and team wins in the Westward League, the South West League, and the South West Championships.  Indeed, it has been impossible to predict who will lead them home, as Callum Jones, Tom Rowat and Sam Heslop-George have each claimed top spot at some stage this season.  In this much larger, quality field of 250 athletes drawn from across the whole of the South of England, including all the London clubs, any position in the top fifty represents a high standard, so it was great to see Callum well up in 22nd place, closely followed by Tom (32nd), with young Sam a bit further back in 46th.  Connor Kitts (135th), and Rob (216th) also ran well, giving this team the club’s highest finishing position of the day in 8th place out of the 36 teams.

CAC Under 13 Boys well to the fore at the top of the first hill

Callum looking good with the finish in sight

Cornwall Athletic Club again fielded a full team in the Under 15 Girls race, led home by Olivia Ballard.  After her usual controlled start, Olivia worked her way steadily through the field to come home in 113th position.  Amy Rundle, still suffering from knee trouble, fought on gamely to finish right behind Olivia in 114th and it was great to see both Ellie Parkin (127th) and Elisha Hurst (151st), competing for the club and anchoring the team home in 20th place.

It's all smiles for the club's Under 15 Girls

Injury, illness and unavailability decimated Cornwall Athletic Club’s Senior teams, with only four runners making it to the start line, to take on what was by now an extremely muddy course, five miles for the women and a daunting nine miles for the men.  Helen Pearson, now working as a television journalist in Cumbria, came down to meet us and had a great run considering her lack of training recently, to place 80th out of well over 300 finishers in the Senior Ladies race.  Dave Buzza led a trio of men home, finishing 81st in a huge Men’s field of over 800 runners, with Royal Navy runner, Nathan Gosling, also acquitting himself well in 118th place.  Will Collins was 349th, racing over distance for him but learning  much from this experience on one of the country’s toughest cross country courses.