TAVISTOCK Athletic Club went into the final fixture of the Brooks Westward League Cross Country season with a marginal lead over the might and resources of Cornwall AC.
At Redruth School, and in a much reduced field of runners, in-form Jim Cole put on yet another unbelievable display of guts and determination for his team. The early stages of the five-lap senior men's race saw series leader Tom Merson of South West Roadrunners pull ahead of the battle between Cole and Cornish captain, Dave Buzza. By lap two, Cole had run the challenge out of Buzza but still trailed Merson by several seconds. Behind Buzza the next Tavistock athlete, Harry Wiltshire, was locked in an absorbing tactical race with two further Cornishmen.
Lap four saw everything change. Cole realised that a glimmer of opportunity was still there and started to close the gap on the leader. Wiltshire raised the tempo.
With half a lap to go Cole summoned his last reserves to pass Merson, taking the race by five seconds from the South West Roadrunner. In a storming final lap, Wiltshire found another gear, and powered to fourth, closing down rapidly on Buzza.
Unfortunately for Tavistock, Cornwall AC were able to pack their remaining counting runners into the top ten. Despite season's best finishes for Martin Exley (14th), Chris Champion (15th) and Rupert Warren (18th), the lack of another top ten finisher proved decisive and Cornwall scored the points required, winning the championship by only five points.
Consolation came in the shape of individual awards for champion (third M40), Steve Groombridge (M50 Champion) and Richard Drage (second M45), as well as winning teams in the veteran men's category and best represented club over the season.
Other Tavistock finishers: N Barkell 19th, Groombridge 25th, C Lloyd 31st, A Holland 41st, R Musgrave 43rd, P Bazely 55th.
Medals were also taken by the senior ladies' team who consolidated overall third place, with individual second for Sue Bratchley in the W40 category.
In the junior events there were also mixed fortunes. Tavistock fielded three runners in the Under 17 men's race to ensure maximum team points with Tom Gill finishing in a comfortable second place, Nick Champion in sixth place and Matt McNamara-Waddington coming home in 17th place.
In the U17 ladies, the consistent and reliable Rebecca Windemer had another good race to finish overall 32nd. Emma Champion flew the Tavistock flag in the U13 girls' event and had a good run finishing 14th. Tavistock were well represented in the Under-13 boys' race with James Best finishing as the first Tavistock runner in 11th, Harrison Baker in 13th place and Seth McNamara-Waddington in 16th. In the U15 boys' race Sam Lloyd was the only Tavistock runner and put in a good performance to finish in a season's best 12th place.
With the conclusion of the final meeting of the 2008/09 league the trophies and medals were presented. In the U15 girls' event good performances by Claire Fraser and Sarah Hornby should have resulted in a team success but a lack of Tavistock runners in this age group denied the two girls this recognition.
In the individual event there was further success for Tavistock's Claire Fraser who gained further recognition for her outstanding running by finishing in overall second place in the league.
In the U17 ladies' event the consistent running of Rebecca Windemer earned her an overall third place. In the U17 men's event the strength of the Tavistock squad was very evident with a huge lead in the team event and the subsequent winners' medals.
In the individual event the Tavistock club saw an additional success with Tom Gill winning the overall league. With three first places under his belt this was a deserved and impressive individual achievement, but the whole squad including Nick Champion, Matt Mcnamara-Waddington, Owen Drage, Tom Lawson, Matt Harding and Reuben Grice all deserve recognition for the team trophy and the overall success of the squad.