THE fourth Westward League X-Country Race took place on Sunday at the tough Bideford course. Tavistock took a large contingent ? with 31 athletes competing, including 18 in the senior men?s event. First race of the day was the senior ladies. Tavistock got off to a flying start as Maddie Horton comfortably led the field home. Supporting her in the race was Nicole Heryet who finished 18th. Suzy Blandford completed the trio finishing 28th (but scored towards her U17 category). In the next race the Under 13 Girls, Rebecca Windemer continued her fine form finishing 11th. The other Tavistock athletes were Leone Isaacs (21st) and Charlotte Herdman (24th). Nick Champion produced a fine performance in the Under 13 Boys as he came home in 6th place. Robert Beveridge (13th) Sam Eaton (14th) and Ben Brown (27th) completed the Tavistock places. With the temperature now dropping below freezing the athletes were finding the conditions more difficult. The lone Tavistock runner in the Under 15 girls? race was Laura Aspen who battled down the home straight to finish a superb 7th. The Under 15 boys team was also depleted with Jake Rendle injured ? but with Tom Lawson finishing in 3rd behind the two Plymouth AC athletes and Matt McNamara- Waddington in 15th Tavistock were assured of recognition. The big race of the day was a huge push on the league by the Tavistock men?s athletes. Currently lying in 2nd behind Cornwall AC and with Bideford hot on their heels Tavistock really put the pressure on with this race. To a man the 18 athletes took the race to the competition and will surely be rewarded with a victory on the day when the final team results come in. The charge was led by Cole (5th), backed up by stalwart Drage (7th), Horton (8th), Champion (9th) and Holland (14th). It was especially pleasing to see the large numbers of Tavy non-scoring counters doing a fantastic job in pushing the opposing teams? scores up. Special mention to debutants Ian Clarke (45th) and Neil Beaumont (58th). The next race will be at Bovey Tracey on February 12. With another race like this Tavy may just be able to snatch the title. Non-Scorers Placings: Exley (16th),Symons (17th),Groombridge (20th), Taylor (23rd), Eastaugh (28th), Lloyd (29th), Herdman (37th), Clarke (45th), Musgrave (47th), Bower (53rd),Beaumont (58th), Bazley (62nd), Rendle (76th).
