AFTER a slow start to the season the Tavistock Athletic Club were out in force at Redruth for the first of the Westward League meetings. The juniors events were well supported with Tavistock fielding full teams in all but two of the races. Despite rain and drizzle on the journey and an overcast sky on arrival, the day remained dry and conditions were ideal. In the first race, combining senior ladies and the U17s, Tavistock runners showed their strength. Heather Fell, using the race as part of her winter training, was the first Tavistock runner home in the senior ladies? event, running strongly and recording her best ever Westward League place, finishing fifth. Sue Fraser was the next Tavistock senior lady home in 27th place with Rebecca Doane 31st, Sam Eggins 34th and Karole Champion 52nd. The U17 men?s race included a strong field and Tavistock?s Tom Lawson showed his strength and ability finishing in an excellent fourth place. Matt McNamara-Waddington was the next Tavistock runner home in 10th place followed by Owen Drage in 16th, all three runners earning valuable points for the club?s team placing. In the U17 ladies, Sammy Fraser and Laura Aspen both ran well with Sammy finishing in overall 16th and Laura coming home in 24th ? their positions in the U17 race to be confirmed. The next race involved the U13 girls and Tavistock fielded a strong team of four runners. The race became a duel between Tavistock?s Claire Fraser, who took an early lead but was unable to shake off the Exeter runner. The Exeter girl looked the stronger runner until the closing stages when Claire showed her growing experience and superb running to kick away on the final slope. With a strong Tavistock contingent cheering her on Claire pulled away in the final leg to record a wonderful and deserved victory. The next Tavistock runner home was Sarah Hornby who despite injury problems recorded an excellent 11th place. Again there was satisfaction for Tavistock to see total team points being gained with Annabel Longden finishing in 18th and Emma Champion in 20th ? both these girls running in their first ever league event. In the U13 boys there was again a strong Tavistock contingent. Dan Quick lived up to his name and ran strongly from the start to finish in an excellent second place. The second Tavistock runner to finish was Harry Eaton who was running in his first ever league race and recorded an impressive fourth position. Chris Argles finished in 15th place, again recording valuable team points for the club with Sam Lloyd coming home 18th followed by Seth McNamara-Waddington in 19th and Miles Eastaugh finishing in 20th. In the senior men?s race Jim Cole and Harry Wiltshire were up with the front runners from the early stages. Jim finished in an excellent fifth with Harry in seventh place. Richard Drage running in the Vet 45 category showed his consistent form to finish in an impressive 15th place. Chris Champion finished in a good 18th place running as a Vet 40 runner with Adam Holland finishing in 25th place. Andy Vallance was the next Tavistock runner home in 36th with Charlie Lloyd finishing in 57th followed by Allan Herdman 63rd and Robin Musgrave 76th. In the U15 age category Rebecca Windemer was the sole Tavistock runner. She ran strongly from the start, quickly moving through into second place. The leader had established a significant lead but Rebecca closed down on the Plymouth runner and showing tremendous form moved into first place in the last lap to record a further victory for the Tavistock junior athletes. In the U15 boys? race Tavistock again had a strong field and set out with total commitment to regain the team trophy they won last season. Sam Straughan and Nick Champion led the Tavistock runners and battled throughout the race to stay in contention with the leaders. Showing determination and ability Nick finished as the first Tavistock runner in an excellent second place with Sam in a good sixth place. Sam Eaton was the next Tavistock runner home showing great determination to finish tenth followed by Ben Brown who ran with growing confidence to finish 11th. Sam Harmsworth running in his first league race finished 17th.
