TAMAR Trotters’ Bex Ezra-Ham and Tavistock’s Thomas Hennessy, Tristan Bigham and Evie Welsh were among the winners as the Westward Cross Country League returned on Sunday at Newnham Park.
In temperatures more associated to track running rather than cross country, Ezra-Ham led the way from start to finish in the senior women’s race.
She finished 11 seconds ahead of Newquay & Par’s Olivia Carthew, who took second in the 5,800m race around the Plympton country park.
Tavistock’s Nikki Kelly was sixth, while team-mate Charlotte Walker, who was in the under-17 age group last season, also finished in the top 10.
Charlene Shorey was 13th senior and first F40, with Tavistock’s Hannah Worth second F40.
Tavistock Run Project’s Rachael Malthouse was first F35, with Plymouth Harriers pair of Michelle Cooper and Rebecca Gilham second and third.
Erme Valley Harriers’ Emma Lake was first F45, with Tavistock’s Caroline Stevens first F55 and Tamar Trotters’ Jane Bremner first F60. Plymouth Harriers’ Jane Allison (F50) and Tavistock’s Carole Walters (F60) were third in their age categories.
City of Plymouth AC came third in the women’s team event, with Tavistock and Plymouth Harriers second and third in the veterans’ team section.
The under-17 girls and boys both ran with the senior women.
City of Plymouth had four athletes inside the top eight of the under-17 girls’ race. Molly Shorey was third, Holly Reid fourth, Molly Gilbey seventh and Bella May eight.
In the under-17 boys’ race, Tavistock’s Fynn Baker came fourth.
Fellow Tavistock athlete Hennessy held off a strong finish by Taunton’s Edward Salter to win the under-13 boys’ race by two seconds. His team-mates Jack Antony (7th) and Eddie Wyton (8th) also came in the top 10 as they won the team event.
There was a strong under-15 boys’ race, which was won by Exeter’s Will Birchill. There was a good battle, though, for the other places. Tavistock’s Caleb Gifford-Groves took third, with City of Plymouth’s Isaac Lamerton just behind in fourth. Erme Valley’s Luke Hayes was sixth.
The men’s 9,150m race was dominated by Exeter University, who had four of the top six finishers, but there were some strong performances from Armada area athletes behind.
Tavistock Run Project’s Jim Cole was seventh and first M40, with Plymouth Harriers’ Johnny Gilby not far behind in ninth and taking second in the M40 category.
Kairn Stone, running in a City of Plymouth vest, was 11th overall and second M45, with Tamar Trotters’ Jacob Landers 13th.
Plymouth Harriers won the veterans team category on the day, with Steve Hill also first M50 and Erme Valley’s Allister Bristow third.
Tavistock’s David Harris was first M60 and team-mate Peter Bazley first M65.
Tavistock AC had the winners of both the under-11 races.
Tristan Bigham held off the challenge of City of Plymouth’s Lucas Sweeney to take the boys’ win. The pair were well clear of the other runners. City of Plymouth’s Jack Penney (5th), Jacob Sweeney (8th) and Alexander Pascoe (10th) were also in the top 10.
Evie Welsh had to dig deep to edge out City of Plymouth’s Margot Goodspeed in the under-11 girls’ section. Just one second separated the pair. Third place went to Erme Valley’s Harriet Rogers, with Plymouth’s Tilly Day sixth, Erme Valley’s Freya Norris seventh and Fearne Brogden ninth.
Zoe Bigham continued Tavistock’s success in the under-13 girls’ race by finishing second. City of Plymouth’s Elsie Goodspeed was sixth and with team-mates Jazz Jackman and Ayla Orgacki also in the top 12 they won the team event.
Tavistock’s Lamorna Cox finished in the top 10 of the under-15 girls’ event.
Full results can be found HERE. (Picture gallery at the bottom of the page)
Meanwhile, the Tamar 10k was held on the same day and was won by Cornwall AC’s Liam Nicholls in 33.18 minutes.
Second place went to Jack Dee in 33.38, with Thomas Wraight third (34.00), Plymstock’s Derrick Warren fourth (34.41), James Dwyer fifth (34.56) and City of Plymouth’s Matt Bradley sixth (35.21).
Erme Valley Harriers’ Ronnie Hayes was first M40, with Plymouth Musketeers’ Lee Herbert first M45 and Tamar Trotters’ Pete Waumsley first M50.
New Forest athlete Lillian Jones won the women’s race in 41.22 minutes, with Plymouth Musketeers’ Chloe Anderson second (43.25), Ellie Clist third (44.07), Jasmin Fisher fourth (44.18) and Amanda Hemelik fifth (46.22).
Full results can be found HERE
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