ST Austell witnessed the first races in the latest Brooks Westward Cross Country League season on Sunday and once again, Tavistock A C turned out in impressive numbers to kick off their campaign.
In the U11s TACs son Harry Herdman ran a blistering second half to cruise to an emphatic victory while finishing in a creditable overall 12th was team-mate Holly Kinsey.
This race was then followed by a packed combined race of senior ladies, U17s girls and U17s boys run over 5.3K. Leading the Tavistock runners home was U17s boy Christian Brown, with a fine run in 13th place and next was new member Caroline Steven, who was 31st overall. In her U17 debut Claire Fraser took 41st spot. TAC's Sam Lloyd (U17s boys) was 44th, Sammy Fraser (senior ladies, 45th), Josh Steven (U17s boys), 48.
The U13s did not disappoint. In the girls race, Emily Attfield was fourth, Emily Ackford fifth and they were well supported by Hetty Tetley and Jade Kinsey in 17th and 21st places. The boys race surpassed even this, with a excellent victory for Jordan Channon, a superb third place for Josh Boon and a fine 14th for Ryan Hellcoop to cap an outstanding team result.
The 8.3K Senior Men's race was run in blazing sunshine and including 2 laps of the tortuous country section.
Tavistock had to rely heavily on a large contingent of quality veterans, and local favourite Jim Cole – himself carrying an injury. After a careful start, Jim carved through the field in the last mile to take seventh. Second finisher was veteran Chris Champion in 15th place and gave notice of his season's intent in the 45-49 age group; in 17th was Tony Symons, Tom Lawson in 21st and Richard Drage in 22nd to complete a battling second place overall for the Tavistock team behind winners Exeter Harriers.
In 34th was leading 55-59 age grouper Steve Groombridge with Charlie Lloyd in 43rd, Robin Musgrave in 85th and debutant Gary Chater 89th.
In the final race of the day, the U15s boys also performed strongly with solid runs from the whole team of Harrison Baker, 10th, Dean Smith 13th, Pete Jarman 19th and Theo Brown 21st.