ON Sunday the Devon Cross Country Championships took place in Exeter along with round threea of the Frank Elford Sports Westward League covering Devon and Cornwall.

Proceedings began with the Under-11 mixed race. In his debut, Joe Lake led the Tavistock runners home in a superb 25th place; he was followed by Ewan Dix 38th, and Aidan Bown 40th. Ella Shaw was first girl in 41st, Sheldon Higgins 42nd, Emma Luckham 47th, and Thomas Harris, 57th.

In the combined ladies and U17’s race Johannes Clifford-Evans pulled himself into contention as the race progressedl his fourth place in Devon and sixth overall meant that he missed out on a medal but gained county selection for the Inter County Championships in early 2016. Some consolation was gained though as the Tavistock team of Johannes, Henry Ware, 18th, and debutant Guy Purbrick, 30th, clinched a silver in the team standings.

Only one place separated Johannes from the near-perfect performance from Tavistock’s outstanding female, Tess Masselink. Already the Cornish U20 champion, Tess showed great race technique and strength in the final two miles to leave all the ladies in her wake.

In the Devon championship, Vicki Moore’s 38th place gave her an U17 bronze and Sam Lake’s 40th meant that she claimed the same medal in the over 35 ladies’ category. Reliable Caroline Steven was next in 61st with Bridey Head 64th, Phoebe Lloyd-Evans 73rd, Tracy Oxborough 80th, Jenny Sabine 87th and Rebecca Windemer also finishing.

In the U13 girls Tilly McDowell was again the top Tavistock performer, taking eighth, ahead of Lucy Steven 17th and Alice Bickley, 24th. In the corresponding boys event, it was Joe Dix first home in 17th ahead of Matt Luckham in 19th, running despite an injury.

The glory for top individual medallist of the day U15 girls’ race went to Natasha Farrington. In easily her best performance of the year, she tracked the leaders until the final 800m, from which point she forged ahead to take a fine silver. Together with team mates Jenny Milburn 10th and Sarah Bull 18th, the Tavistock team deserved their team bronze.

In the senior men’s race, U20 Will Dax was well clear of all team mates with a superb 38th to mark his debut at this highly competitive level.

Veteran Martin Exley-Deane led the other runners in 82nd with Josh Blake 105th, Tony Symons 113rd, Dave Harris 117th, Richard Best 120th, Matt Mercer 135th and Tobias Rankin 164th.