Report and Photos by Allen Cook

Following the heavy rain the day before conditions for the athletes were reasonable. With a light breeze the skies were overcast with light cloud and the sun came out occasionally. The course at Perry Park has a few gradual climbs and one sharp incline before the athletes go around the lake.

Some of the Tamworth AC athletes had braved the Birmingham Sportshall meeting the day before and others had been busy in preparation for this meeting. Thus with a good showing by the team the event started.

The under 17 women had the first race with evenly paced Charlotte Bush finishing in 13^th place.  Her team mate Emily Findlater enjoyed her race keeping out of trouble in 38^th place. The pair finished in a respectable 11^th place in the team competition.

The under 11 boys got off to a flying start with five scoring and one non scoring athlete. Toby Wooton was first home with a remarkable 5^th place. Luca Bradley did well in 32^nd place and Jesse Bradley followed through in 59^th place. Jacob Williams was 89^th and Oisin Au was the final scorer in 92^nd place. Oliver Aston finished in 114^th place. The boys finishe3d in a solid 9^th place in the league table.

The Under 17 men were next to run with James Oakley in 26^th place and Andrew Woods in 36^th place. Their combined score giving them 11^th place in the league.

The Under 11 girls acquitted themselves well with Saoirse Au running strongly in 38^th place, Angelica Rakmee 64^th, Daisy Smith 78^th and Molly Taunton finishing 117^th. The total team score placing them 10^th in the league.

The Under 15 boys had a good day with the athletes having good scoring positions.  Max Kent was first in for Tamworth in a well deserved 8^th place. James Sherriff came a solid 20^th, James Walker had a good run in 49^th and Lewis Fullylove  finishing in 64^th giving the team a very respectable 8^th place in the league.

Abi Hamer running for the Under 13 girls gave her usual excellent run finishing in 9^th place. Tegan Vickery was strong in 44^th place and Emily Pearce was just behind in 51^st place.  Ellie Gauntlett was next running with determination finishing in 58^th place. The l;ast scoring team member was Imogen Mulligan who came 77^th. Madison Blencowe was 108^th and Sophie Allen 115^th. The Tamworth  under 13 girls finished the day 9^th in the league.

Five scoring runners and one non scoring made up the Boys under 13 team. James Stretton had a remarkable run  to finish in 13^th place ahead of team mate Ben Edwards who was 14^th. Kai Buckley followed in 65^th place Daniel aston 73^rd and Kian Dickson the last of the scorers in 78^th place. Caydon Fairburn came 84^th.  The good team placing put the boys in 7^th place in the league.

 

The Under 15 girls team had the best result of the day with all the team members finishing inside the first 60 runners. Eve Clawley finished with a well paced run in 6^th place. Hannah Brayer gave a welcome return to the race finishing strongly in 15^th place, Sian Lewis came 48^th, Charlotte Perry gave a good account in 53^rd place as did Katie Stretton in 58^th place. The Under 15 girls gave the best Tamworth team result of the day in 6^th place in the league.

With all the scores added together Tamworth AC cross country juniors came 8^th in the league table behind Wolverhampton and Bilston, Rugby and Northampton, Stratford upon Avon, Royal Sutton Coldfield, Birchfield Harriers, Coventry Godiva and Halesowen.

The next meeting is at Abington Park, Northampton on 15^th January 2017.