SUNDAY saw the final fixture in the Westward Cross Country League at Redruth. This season the league included 27 teams in the mens competition and 24 in the women's competition from most of the athletic and running clubs in Devon and Cornwall.

The six venues have tested competitors and provided the perfect springboard for the forthcoming road racing and track seasons.

Tavistock Athletic Club runners are enjoying the chance to race in a friendly series while gaining the advantages of top quality training.

The Redruth course was heavy underfoot following recent heavy rain and blustery conditions which hampered runners. In the U11s development race Dan Luckham continued his fine form with fifth place. Debutantes Dan Mercer and Oliver Hopper finished 10th and 26th respectively.

In the five kilometre combined ladies, U17 ladies' and U17 men's race Tavistock athletes Will Dax and Josh Blake went out hard from the gun. They were just caught on the final lap by a Cornwall AC runner but finished an excellent second and third. Charlie Shipton came in 29th place to make sure the U17s' men had a great team score on the day.

In the women's race both Tavistock runners did the club proud with Tracy Oxborough making her debut and finishing in 35th place and Lisa Mabey battling to win the veteran 35 title by finishing 40th overall.

The U13 girls in the three kilometres saw Natasha Farrington produce a storming run to lead the field home and she was backed up by superb runs from Tilly McDowell in seventh and Lucy Stevens in ninth position.

The last race for Tavistock runners was the 8.1k senior men's race. Tavistock were brought home by Martin Exley-Deane in 18th followed by Richard Drage in 27th and Tony Symons returning to form in 31st. Dave Harris edged out Richard Best in 61st and 62nd respectively. Evergreen Bob Chapman was next home in 78th followed by Chris Mabey in 81st and Matt Mercer 87th.

Tavistock had 64 members compete throughout the season, their best ever turnout which led to their excellent overall medal tally:

RESULTS: Team medals U17 boys, gold; veteran men, silver; U13s girls, bronze. Individual medals - women's veteran 35, Lisa Mabey, gold; men's U17, William Dax, gold; men's veteran 55, Richard Drage, gold; men's veteran 50, Martin Exley-Deane, silver; men's veteran 65 Bob Chapman, silver; girls U13, Natasha Farrington, bronze.