GALLERY: Meek and Hutchings among the winners at final Westward Cross Country League meeting

TAVISTOCK’S Jo Meek and City of Plymouth’s Barnaby Hutchings were among the winners at the final Westward Cross County League meeting at Stover on Sunday.

International ultra and trail runner Meek enjoyed an impressive win in the senior women’s race. In muddy conditions, she took victory by 10 seconds, with Exeter University’s Sophie Reed second and City of Plymouth’s Hannah Blair third.

Tavistock Run Project’s Rachael Malthouse was fifth, Plymouth University’s Katrin Higginson and Bethan Moor were sixth and ninth, respectively, while City of Plymouth’s Talia Sullivan completed the top 10.

Meek was second overall in the series and first over-40, while Blair was third overall in the series, which was a race short this year after the cancellation of the Redruth leg due to Storm Ciera.

Erme Valley’s Cleo Perry did not run on Sunday but she had already secured the over-45 series title, with Plymouth Harriers’ Jane Allison third in that category behind Emma Stepto.

Tavistock’s Caroline Stevens took the over-50 crown, with Tamar Trotters’ Jo Church third. Tavistock Run Project’s Malthouse won the series over-35 title, while Tavistock’s Helen Kula-Prezezwanski was second over-55. Tavistock were third overall in the senior women’s team event and were first in the veteran women’s team category.

City of Plymouth’s Hutchings took victory on Sunday and also won the overall title in the under-11 age group. He triumphed by six seconds at Stover in a race that saw Erme Valley athletes Freddie Newman and Callum Williams finish in the top 10. Williams also took third overall in the series.

Tavistock Run Project dominated the men’s race on Sunday, with three runners in the top six.

Ben Neale took second behind Bideford’s Ronnie Richmond, while Chris Rimmer was third and Jordan Andrews sixth.

Plymouth Harriers’ Johnny Gilby was fourth and first over-40 at Stover and took third overall in the series.

City of Plymouth’s Stephen Burns edged out Tavistock’s Martin Exley-Deane for the over-55 series title, with Tavistock’s Steve Thackham third. Fellow Tavistock athlete Richard Drage won the overall over-60 crown, while Erme Valley’s Ken Summers was third over-65.

Tavistock Run Project were second overall in the men’s team standings, with Tavistock AC third.

City of Plymouth have dominated the under-13 girls’ age group this year. They took first and third team awards in the series standings, with Tavistock second.

At Stover, Plymouth’s Holly Reid finished second behind Bodmin Dragon’s Georgina Clarke. They both also finished first and second in the overall rankings.

Molly Gilbey was fifth on Sunday, with City of Plymouth team-mate Verity Tank seventh, Erme Valley’s Bella May ninth and Tavistock’s Matilda Riggott 10^th.

City of Plymouth’s Thomas Jones was involved in the best finish of the day at Stover in the under-15 boys’ race. He, North Devon’s William Pengelly and Cornwall’s Zak Clemens all turned the final corner together before Pengelly pulled away to win, with Clemens taking second and Jones just a second behind in third. Jones was also third in the series standings.

Tavistock’s Abe Reid and Ewan Dix came fourth and fifth on Sunday in the same race, while Erme Valley’s Samuel Oakshott was eighth.

Tavistock’s Tilly McDowell was second in the under-17 girls’ race at Stover, which again was run with the women and under-17 boys. She was also the series winner in that age category.

Tavistock team-mate Charlotte Walker finished third on Sunday in the under-15 girls’ race, with Hannah Walker fifth and Erme Valley’s Anna Lake ninth.

Erme Valley’s Jamie Frost took fourth place in the under-17 boys’ race, while there were top 10 finishes for Tavistock’s Claudia Jones, Anya McAulay, Ellena Hess and City of Plymouth’s Elsie Goodspeed in the under-11 girls’ race.

Full results can be found HERE.