Senior Men and Under 15 Boys waiting for the off

On the whole it was a good day for the club at St Austell, with Bethany Alston, Conor Robinson and Sam Heslop-George all taking victories and the Senior Men, Senior Ladies and Under 15 Boys winning their team events.  However, even allowing for a few untimely illnesses and injuries, some of our teams were worryingly light in numbers – the Under 17 Boys, Under 15 and Under 13 girls in particular – and we’ll have to see if we can turn a few more out at Bicton in three weeks time.



Cracking win for Bethany in Senior race

The Senior Ladies race was first off and Bethany Alston was quickly belying her recent injury and stringing the field out.  She came home for a classy victory, beating, amongst others, Olympic modern pentathlon silver medallist Heather Fell, England marathon international Jo Kelsey and England junior track international Jess Burns.  Emma Stallard was 7th and 1st Vet 35, less than 50 seconds behind Bethany and Heidi Cottam went well for 15th.  We didn’t have many Seniors out but were rescued by our our Under 15’s from last season moving up to the Under 17 age group and counting with the Seniors.  The girls coped well with the extra distance, with Olivia Ballard placing 22nd overall (3rd U17) and Esme Kerlow 26th, only 16 seconds down.  Ellie Starr was 30th, pulling clear of Katy Parry late on by twenty seconds and Jenny Almey took 46th and is getting fitter by the week.  Eleanor Parkin made sure we finished three complete teams, coming three places behind Jenny and these youngsters will get stronger all season as they get used to coping with the extra distance. 

Heidi brings the 'A' team home

Olivia and Esme lead the strong U17 contingent

....followed by Ellie

....then Kate

and Elaine

The Under 13 Girls race was notable for our only competitor, Melissa Keveren, looking like she was heading for a fine victory before succumbing to severe abdominal pains and having to drop out of the race.  Hopefully she’s recovered and we can provide her with some team-mates for Bicton on 2nd November.

Sam Heslop-George was soon to the fore in the Under13 Boys race and never letting up his pressure on the opposition, came home for a comfortable victory.  Liam Littlejohns provided great back up in 12th position and Linen Humagain made a very promising debut, finishing 19th.  Aidan Chapman did a solid team job, as usual, in 27th as the team finished in 4th position. 

Sam, well clear in the U13 Boys race

Promising debut for Linen

The longest race of the day was on next, with the men toiling around their near 10 kilometres.  Despite Chris Dobson and Dave Angilley having to drop out on the day, suffering from the after effects of illness, we still finished 14 runners and took the team honours from a strong Tavistock outfit, with the ‘B’ team coming 9th and 2nd ‘B’ team.  Matt Pullen and Chris Mulroy went out hard and paid for their efforts a little, though hanging in well for 6th and 10th places respectively, as Dave Buzza ground his way through the field for 2nd behind Tom Merson of South West Road Runners.  Matt Cleave also came through the field well to finish 8th and with brother Ryan placing 17th, the team victory was sewn up.

Top tri man Matt, working hard in sixth place

Great to see Chris getting back to form

Not far behind Ryan was Jordan West, having a fine run for 19th just 18 seconds down.  Brilliant to see Jordan getting fit again after years of injury.  Paul Chesterfield had a bit of an off day but still hung in for 50th, with two of our youngsters having a race-long battle, before Ollie Starr prevailed in 65th, four positions and nine seconds ahead of triple jumper (!) Zac Orr, having a fine first senior Westward League outing.  There was another CAC battle behind, as our two Vet 50’s duked it out, with Ian Wright coming out on top by one place in 73rd, ahead of club debutant Barry Frost by 33 seconds – welcome to the club, Barry. 

Welcome back Jordon!

Ian, in his 'salmon' spikes

Barry making his CAC debut.  Good to have
you on board

Simon Williams was tempted into getting his feet muddy last season and obviously has a masochistic streak, as he keeps coming back for more.  He placed 90th and behind him there was another close battle, with M.(Mike?)Taylor just outsprinting Adrian Mutsaers for 97th by one second.  Mike (Jordan’s mate)’s topless posing on the back of Jordan’s sports car as they left the course, was more impressive than his running on this occasion but I’m sure that’ll change!

Freya Glover made a good start to the campaign in the Under 15 Girls event in 4th position and Anna Ashbridge battled hard for 16th place but we’ll have to find at least one other runner to finish a team in this age group.

Freya, 4th in her U15 race

Anna 'enjoying ' her cross country again

Last up were the Under 15 Boys and this has become a strong age group for CAC with two of our winning Under 13’s from last season moving up and Conor Robinson looking a reasonable addition to the team!  Conor, as expected (it can be tough winning the England Schools so young),  took the individual honours, with a pained looking Callum Jones hanging in for 6th despite.  Tom Rawet was only four seconds and two places behind Callum in 8th and Aaron Jose had a good run first run for his new club, providing important back up in 14th as the Boys took top team honours.

The strong U15 Boys team in action, Conor, Callum, Tom and Aaron

Not forgetting Harry, in his Penair vest today

Sunday's results now on the website