AS winter approaches, so the focus for Tavistock AC turned from track to country with Sunday's first meeting of the 2012/2013 Brooks Westward Cross Country League season.

On a bright day, with conditions soft underfoot, the team travelled to Redruth for the season's opener.

After successfully competing at a higher level on the track, outstanding prospect Jenny Milburn still competes in the most junior event. In the U11 development race, she easily defeated the other girls and was only bettered by two boys.

In the the joint U17s man/ladies and senior ladies for the first time in many years, Tavistock lacked female runners in either category. However, this was compensated for by the strong U17 men's team, who put out a clear message that they will be challenging for the title in this age-group throughout the season. After moving up from success at U15 level last year, Sam Lane De Courtin ran a superb race to secure a second place. His team mates provided equally high quality support, with James Best finishing 8th and Harrison Baker 10th.

In the U13 girls, Jasmine Gray gave the best display of the day, swapping the lead with her challenger from Cornwall Athletics Club. for most of the race before being headed for the lead only in the final third of the race and finishing an excellent second.

The U13 boys provided double the runners with Harry Herdman and Mattaeo Pearce among the leading group for most of the race , finally finishing 7th and 8th respectively.

In the senior men's race there was more than 100 runners competing across a variety of age-groups. Tavistock AC members turned out in force with 12 runners making them one of the best represented clubs.

After a summer frustrated by minor injuries, Richard Drage showed that he ir returning to his best, finishing as first Tavistock athlete in 23rd with international duathlete Rupert Warren in 27th. Next home were Tony Symons (35th), Martin Exley (41st) and Steve Groombridge (42nd) to complete the A team. After only a short gap, B team runners flooded in with Tim Exley 68th, Allan Herdman 75th, Richard Best 84th, Bob Chapman 91st, Matt McNamara-Waddington 94th, Stuart Ross 99th and Dave Rickwood 105th.

In the U15s girls Tavistock runners were in their first seasons at this level. Despite age disadvantage they fought magnificently, Emily Attfield narrowly losing out in a sprint finish to settle for fourh place.. Close behind, Tavistock debutant Tess Masselink was sixth and Molly Rickwood battled throughout for a super 11th place.