TAVISTOCK AC’s Thomas Hennessey made his mark at his first national-level cross-country event at the weekend.
The youngster finished fifth for Devon in the under-13 boys’ race at the combined British Athletics Cross Challenge Final and the UK Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships at Wollaton Park on Saturday.
There was also another strong run from his Tavistock team-mate Charlotte Walker in the women’s under-20 age group. She claimed a top 30 finish in a race won by fellow Devon athlete and European champion Innes Fitzgerald.
City of Plymouth’s Holly Reid, running for Cornwall, continued her good recent form by finishing 42nd in the under-17 girls’ race, where team-mate Molly Shorey was 72nd for Devon and East Cornwall Harriers’ Georgie Gilbert also made the top 100.
Erme Valley Harriers’ Matthew Gilvear was another Armada athlete to finish in the top 50 at the prestigious UK-wide event. He came 42nd in the under-20 men’s race.
His club colleague Luke Hayes (65th) and City of Plymouth’s Isaac Lamerton (72nd) were both in the top 75 in the under-15 boys’ race, where they helped Devon to finish seventh team.
Also finishing in the top 100 for Devon in races featuring the country’s top 300-plus athletes were Tavistock’s Zoe Bigham (59th) and City of Plymouth’s Elsie Goodspeed (94th) in the under-13 girls’ event, while Tamar Trotters’ Jacob Landers, representing Cornwall, finished 82nd in the men’s race.
Tavistock’s Reuben Sebag-Montiefiore, Fynn Baker, Freddie Whybrow, Hannah Walker, Lamorna Cox, Miley Lake and Sam Lake, City of Plymouth’s Molly Gilbey, Bella May, Jacob Robinson, Finley Eales, Ayla Orgacki, Taylan Jones and Ben Marriott and Erme Valley’s Isabella Trowell were also among those earning county honours at the top event in Nottingham.
Meanwhile, Tamar Trotters’ Bex Ezra-Ham claimed victory at the Bideford Half Marathon on Sunday, powering home in a gun time of 1:18.15 (chip time 1:18.14).
Tavistock AC’s Nikki Kelly was third woman in 1:22.25 (chip 1:22.17), with Storm Plymouth’s Charlene Matthews fifth and second F35 in 1:25.26 (1:25.18), with her club colleague Lauren Knox eighth woman in 1:26.19 (1:26.15).
Tavistock Run Project’s Jim Cole claimed a top 10 finish in the men’s race, coming ninth overall and second M40 in 1:12.53 (1:12.52).
Plymouth Harriers’ Jack Dee was first male under-20 in 1:15.12 (1:15.11), with Tavistock youngster Jed Hutchings second on his half marathon debut in 1:15.33 (1:15.32).
Tavistock’s Sam Larkham was third M40, while Erme Valley Harriers’ Alison Engledew was first F65 and David Engledew was second M60.
Jenny Jeeves of Tavistock AC weas second F55, while club colleague Hannah Worth was third F40.
Full results can be found HERE.