THE annual Stephens Shield cross country competition was held on December 10. Athletes taking part were a great credit to themselves and their schools.
A special thank you to the students of Okehampton College Year 10 and Year 12 who acted as marshalls.
This competition is held, as the name suggests, to determine the winner of the shield which was presented to the college by Jerry Stephens when he retired from teaching ? he came to present it in person this year.
The competition is run on a year basis with competitions for year 7 girls, Year 7 boys, 8 girls, 8 boys, 9 girls and 9 boys. There are individual placings but the overall points for each of the six teams ? five runners count for each group ? go towards the shield.
This year, with the weather being so cold, administration was difficult but in the end five schools competed: Okehampton , QECC, Tavistock. Chulmleigh and Launceston.
The final score was close, with Okehampton narrowly beating QECC. Launceston did not field full teams, but brought some good individuals.
Individually Okehampton did well with Scarlett Geering winning the year 8 girls, Rebecca Rowe year 9 girls, Matthew Devies year 9 boys and Catherine Pratt the senior girls.
l After a wet preliminary Exeter round a few weeks ago the best runners from Exeter and E Devon converged on Blundells School, Tiverton for the next round of the National Cross Country Championships
Several Okehampton runners put in an excellent performance and as a result have been selected to represent East Devon at the county championship in January.
Results and placings were: Year 7 girls: Isobel Moore (2), Charlotte Rowe (3). Junior girls: Rebecca Rowe (4), Scarlett Geering (7); Abi Colton (10), Laura Fuller (15). Inter girls: Eleanor Tallowin (2). Senior girls: Jenny Rice (2), Catherine Pratt (5). Inter boys: Josh Smith (6), Gary Sizmur (9). Year 7 boys, Wayne Atherton (12).