ATHLETICS: Walker claims South West title as Neale wins First Chance 10k

TAVISTOCK’S Charlotte Walker, City of Plymouth’s Holly Reid and Lucas Sweeney and Erme Valley Harriers’ Matthew Gilvear were among the individual medallists at the South West Club & Inter County Championships at Merryfield on Sunday.

Walker produced an impressive run to win the under-20 women’s race by nearly two minutes and also finish third overall in a strong senior women’s field.

She led Devon to county team gold in the under-20 category, with her sister Hannah finishing as their second scorer in sixth place.

Gilvear was also a medallist for Devon at under-20 level as he took bronze in the junior men’s event. His club and county colleague Charlie Milward was sixth.

Gilvear came 14th overall in the joint senior men’s and under-20 race. Tamar Trotters’ Jacob Landers, running for Cornwall, was ninth senior.

Plymouth Harriers’ Johnny Gilby took bronze in the M40 category, finishing one place ahead of City of Plymouth’s Kairn Stone, while Simon Anderson was fourth M60.

There was a good run by City of Plymouth’s Holly Reid in the under-17 girls’ race. Representing Cornwall, she finished second behind Wiltshire’s Eloise Foster. She also helped Cornwall claim silver in the team event.

City of Plymouth’s Lucas Sweeney was another to win a silver medal. His came second in the non-county under-11 race. Tavistock’s Tristan Bigham was not far behind in fifth.

In the under-13 girls’ race Zoe Bigham, running for Devon, came sixth, while there was also top 10 finishes for City of Plymouth’s Isaac Lamerton (7th) and Erme Valley’s Luke Hayes (9th) in the under-15 boys’ event also representing Devon.

Full results can be found HERE.

Meanwhile, Tavistock AC’s Ben Neale produced a strong run to claim victory in the First Chance 10k at Exeter on Sunday.

Neale took victory by nearly a minute with a time of 31 minutes and 58 seconds.

South West Road Runners’ Ollie Thorogood took second in 32.49 minutes.

Tavistock’s Sam Larkham was sixth and first M40 in 33.51 minutes, with Tamar Trotters’ Richard Ezra-Ham eighth (34.28) and City of Plymouth Matthew Bradley 10th (34.44).

Plymouth Harriers’ Steven Hill was first M50, (36.07) while Tavistock’s Allan Herdman was first M70 (44.29) and Erme Valley Harriers’ David Engledew was second M60 (41.22).

Erme Valley’s Alison McEwing was third woman in 37.22 minutes, with Storm’s Lauren Knox fifth (38.48) and Erme Valley’s Sally Erith was ninth (41.15).

Full results can be found HERE