THE Tavistock Area Primary Schools Cross Country Series 2018 was held at Tavistock Meadows.

In race one it was muddy underfoot and a cold, damp day for the first of the OCRA/Tavistock Area primary schools events but the hardy local children have never let mud and cold put them off taking part in the annual cross country series of races.

109 year 3 and 4 pupils and 114 year 5 and 6 pupils from Tavistock, St Andrew’s, Bere Alston, St Peter’s, Whitchurch, Lady Modiford’s, Horra-bridge, Meavy, Milton Abbot, Mary Tavy and Brentor, Gulworthy and Lamerton arrived at The Meadows, Tavistock, thanks to Tavistock Town Council, who gave OCRA permission to hold the event there.

The first race started at 4.15pm and was the year 3 and 4 girls. Claudia Jones of Meavy started what was going to be a successful afternoon for her school, by coming in first, followed by Orla White of St Peter’s and Anya McAulay, also of Meavy. It was Harry Whitcher of St Peter’s who won the year 3 and 4 boys race, with Jamie Carlton of Whitchurch second and Oliver Reeves of St Peter’s third.

Top three team positions after the first race (boys and girls combined) – 1, Meavy. 1543 points; 2, St Peter’s, 1542pts; 3, Whitchurch, 1,500pts.

Next it was the turn of the year 5 and 6 girls, where Penny Jones (sister of Claudia) and Freya Page of Meavy came in first and second. Bea Venner of Whitchurch was third and Chloe Howells, also of Meavy took fourth position.

Nicolas Mac-zugowski of St Peter’s edged out Joel Lake of Tavistock in the boys’ race after a close finish with Rowan Caldwell of Meavy coming in third and Cody Harding of Bere Alston fourth.

Top three team positions after the first race – 1, Meavy, 1531pts; 2, St Andrew’s, 1495pts and 3, St Peter’s, 1,488pts.

The next meeting is on February 28 at Whitchurch Down.

Mhairi McCall of OCRA gave thanks to the volunteers from Tavistock Athletic Club who marshalled and manned the finish line and to ‘hares’ Joe Dix, Dan Luckham, Will Russell and Amelia Riggott, all TAC junior athletes who gave up their time to assist with the younger childrens’ school event. Also to Martin Exley-Deane who set up the course and acted as starter and Clive Marais who assisted with the set up and recorded the finishing scores with Mhairi.