TAVISTOCK Athletic Club were in Exeter on Sunday in races which were combined with the inter-county Brooks Westward League series of cross-country fixtures. County medals for individuals and teams and representative selection for the Inter County Championships were at stake.

In the U11s there were outstanding efforts from Joe Dix and Dan Luckham in the 1500m with fifth and fourth places respectively. Oliver Hopper was 46th and Ewan Dix 50th.

In the mixed U17 men and ladies with senior ladies, over a 5K course of relentless hills and high winds, the Tavistock U17 men had some outstanding performances with Josh Blake in a superb fourth, Will Dax fifth and Johannis Clifford-Flower in eighth to complete the team result with Tavistock just pipped to gold by Exeter Harriers. The U17 B team were well represented by Henry Ware 32nd, Chris Turner 41st and Charlie Shipton 75th. U17 lady Tess Masselink clinched 27nd with Jodie Stacey in 76th and Jennifer Sabine in 104th.

First senior lady for Tavistock was Alice Rogers in 38th, ahead of over-45 Caroline Steven in 77th. Over-40 Rebecca Exley-Deane came in 100th place, Tracy-Ann Cole's 113th and Lisa Mabey's 114th ensured Tavistock a county bronze in the veteran ladies competition. Close behind was Donna Stacey in 119th, over-55 Kate Rogers 128th, Anne-Marie Chater 139th, Judy Turner 144th, Lisa Base 147th and Helen Alcock 149th.

In the U13 girls Natasha Farrington secured an excellent fourth place and county selection, Tilly McDowell 19th, ahead of Jenny Milburn's 22nd and Lucy Steven 27. Sole Tavistock representative Lee Shipton took 29th in the U13 boys event.

Ever-present Emma Ryder flew the U15s flag to battle bravely for her 19th place in the girls' event.

An outstanding 18-man turnout in the Senior Men's race meant that medals and Westward League points were always a probability for the Tavistock squad in the final race of the day. Jim Cole once again led the team home, taking 15th place closely followed by Neil Barkell. U20 James Best secured an overall 24th and a bronze in his county age-group. Cornish U20 champion Sam Lane De Courtin was 47th — just ahead of Tavistock veteran Martin Exley-Deane with his best run of the series in 50th. Devon over-55 gold medallist Richard Drage was 55th followed by Tony Symons in 78th who clinched a bronze in the over-50 category. With Owen Drage in 104th, Steve Watson 107th and Richard Best 117th Tavistock were awarded the senior team bronze medal.

Dave Harris at 128th and Pete Bazley 130th headed the next gold medallist, Bob Chapman, whose 141st gave him the County honour at over-65 level. Gary Chater followed in 156th with Jason Shipton in 159th, ahead of over-65 bronze medallist, Andy Houghton 168th, Dave Whitworth 175th and Andrew Alcock 180th.