TAVISTOCK Athletic Club had a good turnout for the Cross-Country County Championships at Exeter on Sunday. The weather was ideal and the course adjacent to the Exeter arena provided a good venue.

In the Under 13 boys? race Matthew McNamara-Waddington was running in his first championship event and finished in a creditable 19th place.

In the U15 girls? race Suzy Langford had a good run, finishing in 22nd place over the 3,613 metre course in a time of 17mins 40secs.

In the U15 boys? race the Tavistock club saw its first medal winner with Alex Richards running strongly to finish in an excellent third place and winning the bronze medal.

He finished in 13mins 11secs over the 3,613-metre course. Ross Honey finished strongly, coming home in a good 19th place in 15mins 16secs.

In the U17 junior men?s race Adam Holland produced the best result of the day for Tavistock.

In a strong field he displayed his experience and running strength, moving through the field to take the lead in the final lap.

He finished in first place winning the gold medal in 20mins 17secs over a 5,646-metre course.

In the U17 ladies? race Louise Elsworth also had a good run, finishing in eighth place in 25mins 19secs over a 4,946-metre course.

In the senior men?s race the Tavistock Club had a good turnout with five members of the club competing. Richard Drage had another good race, finishing in 11th place in 35mins 59secs over the 10,106-metre course.

Robin Musgrave was the next Tavistock runner home, finishing in 40th place in 41mins 56secs, followed by Allan Herdman in 41st place in 42mins 16secs. Chris Eastaugh finished in 50th place, in 45mins 03secs, followed by Peter Bazley in 59th place in a time of 48mins 45secs.

Both Richard Drage and Robin Musgrave finished in fourth place in their respective vet 40 and vet 50 categories, just missing out on medals, but the Tavistock runners had the satisfaction of winning the silver medal in the vet men?s? team event.

As a result of their final placings both Adam Holland and Alex Richards have been selected to run for Devon in the forthcoming inter-counties competition in March.

Club member Martin Exley competed in the Cornwall county championships and finished in an impressive overall fifth place, winning the silver medal in the vet 40 category.