TAVISTOCK Athletic Club fielded strong teams in all age categories at this weekend?s second Brooks Westward League cross country meeting in St Austell. A record entry of 140 in the senior and veteran men?s race was an indicator of the quality and standing of this Devon and Cornwall League. In the first event of the day, the team of four U13 girls set an enviable standard. Claire Fraser ran superbly, holding second at one point before finishing fourth in her second consecutive race. The performance of the day went to the second Tavistock girl, Sarah Hornby, who improved by nine places from the first round to secure a top ten finish in ninth at St Austell. A creditable team showing was completed by Charlotte Herdman and Katie Martin. The U13 boys were not to be overshadowed, with five finishers led by the impressive Sam Eaton who gained his second top ten finish with eighth place. Ben Brown, Dan Quick, Chris Argles and Sam Lloyd completed the team. In the U15s, Laura Aspen featured again in the top 20, while the U14 boys? trio of Nick Champion, Matt McNamara-Waddington and Sam Straughan again produced a top three team result, despite giving a year or more to some of the older runners. In the mixed senior ladies and U17 girls? race, youngsters Sarah Palmer in 15th and Sam Fraser in 41st overall, led in the senior quartet of Sue Bratchley, Claire Brown, Carole Champion and Claire McNamara-Waddington. Defending champions Tavistock improved on their overall finishing positions from the previous round in the senior men?s event. The top finisher was Jim Cole who showed great strength and character to hold off some top quality athletes to get his fifth position. In a welcome return to his best, Adam Holland always featured and took 11th place with Martin Exley 17th, Chris Champion 23rd and Tony Symons 32nd completing the senior scores. Debutant Rupert Warren followed in 41st with fourth veteran Paul Sturtridge close behind in 42nd. Other Tavisock finishers were S Groombridge 51st, C Eastaugh 54th, S White 70th, C Lloyd 72nd, A Isaacs 109th and N Fraser in 131st. Such is the strength in depth of the Tavistock entry this year that they already have two teams placed in the top eight overall. In addition, with a formidable veteran squad, it is hard to see how Tavistock can fail to retain their veteran team trophy and will be looking for the B team to equal or better their third place from last season in this competition.
