THE end of the cross-country season has seen more success for Tavistock Athletic Club. With the conclusion of the Brooks Westward League any disappointment at the Tavistock men not retaining their title in the senior men's event was offset by the satisfaction of individual and team successes by the club across all the age ranges. Pride of place must go to the Tavistock Veteran men's team and the Tavistock U15 boys' team who both won their overall events taking their respective gold medals. The Tavistock Veterans' men comfortably retained their title with both good individual results and consistent strong fields of runners throughout the season. These included Martin Exley, Richard Drage, Chris Champion, Tony Symons and Paul Sturtridge. The success of the U15 boys' team reflected the overall improvement of the Tavistock junior runners, based on the determined efforts of Nick Champion, Matt McNamara-Waddington and Sam Straughan. These three boys gave their total commitment at every meeting throughout the season and thoroughly deserved their victory. In the senior races the Tavistock club again reaped the benefits of strong turnouts and good individual performances with both the Tavistock senior men and the Tavistock senior ladies winning medal positions and both finishing in second place in their respective team events. In the senior men's event the key runners were Jim Cole, Peter Freedman, Harry Wiltshire and Adam Holland with additional points being earned by the leading Tavistock Vet men. The Tavistock senior ladies winning their first ever medal position included Flora Duffy, Heather Fell, Jo Kelsey, Karole Champion with critical points being earned by the two U17 ladies, Sarah Palmer and Sammy Fraser. The juniors also enjoyed a deserved team success with the U13 boys' team finishing in second place with Sam Eaton, Ben Brown and Dan Quick producing a consistent and determined team effort. The Tavistock club also enjoyed individual honours with Claire Fraser winning a thoroughly deserved bronze medal in the U13 girls' event in her first season of running in the league. In the U17 ladies' race there was further Tavistock success with Sarah Palmer winning the silver medal and Sammy Fraser winning the bronze medal. The strength of the Tavistock Vet men was reflected by further individual success with Martin Exley winning the silver medal in the Vet men 45 event with Tony Symons winning the bronze. In the Vet men 50 category there was further Tavistock success with Paul Sturtridge winning the gold medal.
