Despite the filthy
conditions, there were so many positives to take out of the first race
of the season in the Wessex League. Not least of which was the superb
teamwork in staging the event and the fantastic commitment of our
marshals who were absolutely freezing by the time the last runner
crossed the line in the final race of the day. Huge thanks to all of
you.
The Wessex League had seen
declining numbers of runners in the races over the last couple of years
and it was extremely encouraging to see this trend turned around. WAC
have managed to maintain good numbers over those last couple of seasons
and in doing so became one of the better represented clubs in the
league.
It was pleasing to see so
many of our under-11s racing in XC competition for the club for the
first time. Our youngest runners have been working really hard in
Saturday and Tuesday sessions recently. Well done to Harry and Piers who
were really in the thick of the action. There were spirited performances
too from Chris, Grace, Kelly, Leanne, Phoebe and Ryan. Many of these
have a few years in the under-11s age group yet so the future looks
bright. Well done to all of you.
Sharon Hutchings in the
under-13s race lived up to her billing as a winner of the Newcomer of
the Year Award at the previous nights WAC presentations with what was
probably her best race yet. Sharon finished 7th but another 8
seconds faster over the 2.7k course would have put her in third place
there is something to aim for next time. In the same age group Jordan
Symington gave a great account of himself in the boys race. In the
under-15s race we saw battling performances from both Jack Snook and
Callum Kennedy both of whom are in the first year in that age category.
In the under-17s Maddy
Vaughan-Johncey had her best cross-country race for some time it must
be putting in those longer endurance runs with the senior roadrunners
that has helped, and it was great to see Laura Harvey back for her first
race of the 2008/9 season. Our under-17 girls finished as second team.
Kirsty Harvey, as an
under-20, now competes in the senior womens race and it was great to
see her back in action. Her presence in our ladies team really pepped
things up. Kirsty, Nicki Roe and Trudi Carter all had a terrific battle
all the way around which was settled by an outstanding piece of
finishing from Trudi to be first WACer home. Our top three received
solid support from Lyn Hutchings and Annmarie Pearson. Bearing in mind
that most of our seniors had spent a couple hours in the wet and cold on
marshalling duties there were some impressive performances here. We
finished second in the team results.
In the mens race bionic
Graeme Furley was first WACer as he continues to improve race-on-race.
Graham Whiffen was next WACer in. Then there was a tussle between Daryl
Davies, who is starting to show something like his true form again, who
edged out Guy Thompson (in his first WAC XC race) by the narrowest of
margins. The next pair of battling team-mates was Phil Burgess and Jeff
Hinsley smartly followed by Steve Snook who was keeping league organiser
Ian Humphreys honest all the way to the finish line. Our mens A team
finished third and our B team 1st in the Division 2
category.
With it being so bitterly
cold, the real heroes of the day have to be our marshals. Phil Burgess
was involved in the early preparations and then officiated on the start
line. Kim Jolliffe did a fantastic job on the admin side in base camp
with support from Steve Snook. Terry Simms and Glyn Davies took the key
marshalling posts where you have to be alive to which race is being run
and how many laps in are we, in order to guide the runners onto the
correct course. And then there were those of you in the exposed spots
and took the full force of the elements thank you all. Lets hope
that when it is our turn again to take on these responsibilities we get
better weather.
As well as all the WACers
and their friends involved in marshalling we had excellent support from
some experienced officials from other clubs, a big hand for Ken Ballam,
Nigel Harding, Chris Potter and John Rhoden.
WACers times and results were:
Under-11s
2 Harry George 5:54
4 Piers Copeland 5:56
7 Chris Coomes 6:17
14 Leanne Symington 6:49
16 Ryan Gosden 6:57
17 Kelly Snook 6:59
19 Grace Copeland 7:06
22 Phoebe OMahony 7:28
Under-13 Girls
7 Sharon Hutchings 10:15
Under-13 Boys
8 Jordan Symington 10:17
Under-15 Boys
13 Jack Snook 16:52
14 Callum Kennedy 18:04
Under-17 Women (2nd
team)
5 Maddy Vaughan-Johncey 19:42
8 Laura Harvey 23:24
Senior Women (2nd
team)
8 Trudi Carter 19:52
9 Kirsty Harvey 19:56
10 Nicki Roe 19:58
14 Lyn Hutchings 22:47
15 Annmarie Pearson 24:41
Senior Men (A team Div. 1 - 3rd
team) (B team Div. 2 1st) (Vets 3rd)
7 Graeme Furley 32:16
14 Graham Whiffen 34:35
23 Daryl Davies 36:15
24 Guy Thompson 36:16
31 Phil Burgess 38:33
32 Jeff Hinsley 38:39
34 Steve Snook 39:15
Full results for the Wessex League will
be found at
www.wessexleague.com
