TAVISTOCK Athletic Club on Sunday got the 2017 cross-country season underway with the SW Championships.

Held at Exeter Racecourse for the first time, the course was varying numbers of circuits of the course according to age groups – the weather was dry but the going was soft. Tavistock had 34 athletes not only representing their club, but many representing Devon as well and a few representing Cornwall.

First race was the Under 11 development race – not a championship or team event, just a race to get younger runners used to running in ‘bigger’ races.

The second race held over 8.5km was the under 20s and senior men’s race. Will Dax made a welcome return to racing after a long injury break.

After this the first of the medals started to emerge for Tavistock runners as the team picked up championship bronze. Led home by Sophie Main she was supported in the U13 girls by Amelia Riggot, Krystina Cade and Issy Page for the team’s third place.

In the U13 boys over the same 2.8km course the boys went one better and grabbed second place. Euan Botham stormed home in eighth, William Russell was 16th, Joe Dix 22nd and Dan Luckham 32nd. Euan and William were instrumental in helping Devon to a silver as well.

The club were delighted that of Devon’s seven team members, four of them were from Tavistock.

In the U15 girls (3.2km) Natasha Farrington had a strong run to help Devon to a silver medal and Tilly McDowell made a return to running after injury, representing Cornwall.

The U15 boys followed next over 4.4km. Ollie Smart led the Tavistock boys home in 11th, but it was Brad Stevens (16th) and Jacob Hegarty (22nd) who had the last laugh as Cornwall picked up gold.

In the U17 boys Tavistock just had three runners over the 5.7k course – but all had solid runs. Their race was quickly followed by the combined U20 and senior ladies’ race over the same distance.

Tess Masselink finished fifth overall which gave her silver in the U20 category, Sam Lake finished 31st (11th in her age category) and they were backed up by Jenny Sabine (52) and Victoria Moore (64).

Full results: U11 girls: Matilda Riggot 9th; Ella Shaw 10th; Emma Luckham 12th; Lara Dix 33rd; Miley Lake 37th. U11 boys: Nicolas Maczugowski 9th; J J Lake 19th; Ewan Dix 22nd. U13 girls: Sophie Main 8th; Amelia Riggot 22nd; Krystina Cade 37th; Isobella Page 43rd; Hannah Walker 64th; Rosie Warren 69th; Charlotte Walker 70th. U13 boys: Euan Botham 8th; William Russell 16th; Joe Dix 22nd; Dan Luckham 32nd; James Lamb 40th; Jamie Brew 58th.

U15 girls: Natasha Farrington 8th; Tilly McDowell 36th. U15 boys: Ollie Smart 11th; Brad Stevens 16th; Jacob Hegarty 22nd. U17 boys: Tom Brew 22nd; Mike Burton 36th; Ed Smart 38th. U20 and senior women: Tess Masselink 5th; Sam Lake 31st; Jenny Sabine 52nd; Victoria Moore 64th. U20 men and senior men: Will Dax 82nd.