THIS year?s British Masters Open Cross-Country Championships were staged in Northern Ireland on March 12, but a round trip to distant Belfast did not deter five members of Tavistock Athletic Club from competing in this prestigious event. Mike Lewis was unable to compete due to injury, but the Tavistock club was well represented by the remainder of the group. The 10-kilometre course was round the grounds of the Bangor Castle Park and although it was undulating it proved to be very fast with good firm conditions underfoot. Despite a cool wind the weather was good with mainly sunshine. In the first main event of the championships the Vet 50s category were represented by Steve Groombridge and Allan Herdman with Robin Musgrave competing as a Vet 55. The standard was high with some of the best veterans from all over the UK competing. Steve Groombridge had an excellent race, competing at the front of the field and at one stage racing for a medal position. Steve finished in overall sixth place and in fifth place in the Vet 50s race in a time of 37 mins 11 secs with Alan Herdman finishing in 29th in the Vet 50 race in a time of 43 mins 19 secs. In the Vet 55 category Robin Musgrave finished in 15th place in a time of 42 mins 29 secs. In the final race of the day for Vet 40s the quality of racing was again of the highest standard with Richard Drage running strongly to finish in a good tenth place in a time of 36 mins 7 secs in his Vet 40 category and Tony Symons finishing in 37th place in a time of 39 mins 10 secs. All the Tavistock runners returned to Devon with a great sense of satisfaction having represented the club and competed in such a great event. Last weekend it was cross country again for several club members in the final event of this season?s Westward League at Exmouth. Going into this one there were a number of medal prospects for both individuals and age group teams and, sure enough, Tavistock athletes came back with quite a haul of trophies to add to this year?s collection.
