THE Reebok UK Inter-Counties Championships were held at Wollaton Park, Nottingham on Saturday week. Conditions were warm and dry with a fast undulating course.

Following good performances at the County Championships in January, three Tavistock AC athletes were selected to run for Devon: Richard Drage for the senior men's team, Paul Rowe for the under 15 boys' team and Emma Passmore for the under 13 girls' team. Although Paul was unable to compete, Richard and Emma both ran well for the county.

In her debut major championship race, Emma showed great strength, running her 3km race fast from start to finish. In a field of almost 300 runners Emma finished in an excellent 119th place. She was fourth Devon athlete home, helping the team to finish in 16th place. Emma's performance bodes well for the forthcoming track season.

In the 12km senior men's race Richard ran strongly to finish in 174th place, just outside the top half of the field. He was the fifth Devon athlete home.

Tavistock's Jo Kelsey was running for Surrey, having scored an impressive victory in the Surrey County Championships earlier in the season. She finished in a superb 43rd place in the 8km senior ladies' race, to lead the Surrey team home.

On Saturday the latest Westward League meeting took place at Paignton,, again in excellent conditions. As expected, over the flat course all the races were run at a fast pace. In the Under 13 girls' Emma Passmore ran well finishing in tenth place with Alex Richards in the Under 13 boys' race also running well to finish in a good eighth place. In the Under 15 boys' race Adam Holland also had a good race with a strong finish in 12th place.

In the senior men's race Richard Drage reflected his continuing good form finishing as the second Male Vet in overall sixth place with Robin Musgrave in 30th place and Tim Gent recording a good 47th place. In the senior ladies' race Karen Ballentyne, the only Tavistock runner, finished in a good 37th place.