ONE of the muddiest cross country races in recent years took place at Plymouth’s Central Park on Sunday.

Tavistock Athletic Club had 30 athletes taking part in the various age group races, which was the fifth race in the prestigious Westward League series. First race of the day was the Under 11’s girls and boys where Matilda Riggot again led the Tavistock runners home just a few places ahead of Freya Page. The second race day was the combined U17 men, U17 women and senior women which had 13 runners representing the club over the 5,200m course. Tom Brew spent the first lap battling well in third place but tired to finish fifth just behind team mate Bradley Stevens in fourth; Mike Barton backed them up in sixth to give an excellent team place.

Natasha Farrington was the first of the females home with another competitive run, four places ahead of another strong performance from Jenny Sabine. Caroline Steven wrapped up her league age category champion-ship with her strong performance (finishing 26th overall), and just beat Heather Fell who had run a marathon the day before. Cathy Dunlop also had a strong run in 33rd and Emma White improved her league running with a 38th place.

The U13 girls were running over a 2.5km course. Amelia Riggot had another great run to finish second again. Issy Page was next home in ninth and Hannah Walker, Emma Luckham, Charlotte Walker finished 19th, 21st and 23rd respectively. The U13 boys on the same course as the girls had a solid team performance with Nicolas Maczugowski 10th, Noah Bridle 11th and Jacob Holland 13th. The penultimate race was a combined U15 girls and boys race over 3.2k . Euan Botham led the club runners home in ninth, Jamie Brew was 21st and the only girl Charlotte Tilney was eighth.

The final race was the men’s event over a hilly three lap, 8.6k course. Adam Holland finished seventh which moved his overall league position upto fourth; Will Dax continued his good form in 17th and Martin Exley-Deane wrapped up his overall age category win for the league by finishing 29th. Next home was Richard Drage was next home in 44th, followed by David Harris 71st and Richard Best 83rd.

Full results: U11 girls and boys (no team category): Matilda Riggot 21; Freya Page 26, Thomas Harris 37, Penny Jones 40, Jonah Bridle 46, George Page 48, Sophie Varcoe 54, Hannah Tilney 64.

Under 17 boys (league position second team): Brad Stevens 4, Tom Brew 5, Mike Barton 6.

Senior and U17 women (league position second team): Natasha Farrington 10, Jenny Sabine 14, Caroline Steven 26, Heather Fell 27, Cathy Dunlop 33, Emma White 38, Tracey Oxborough 48, Soozie Trice 60, Sarah Holland 76, Hazel Walker 97.

U13 girls (league position equal second team): Amelia Riggot 2, Issy Page 9, Hannah Walker 19, Emma Luckham 21, Charlotte Walker 23.

U13 boys (league position fourth): Nicolas Maczugowski 10, Noah Bridle 11, Jacob Holland 13.

U15 boys and girls (league position boys third, girls fourth): Euan Botham 9, Jamie Brew 21, Charlotte Tilney 24.

Senior men (league position ninth), Adam Holland 7, William Dax 17, Martin Exley-Deane 29, Richard Drage 44, David Harris 71, Richard Best 83.