SUNDAY saw round three of the Frank Elford Sports Westward Cross Country League, which incorporated the Devon County Championships. Forty one athletes were representing Tavistock Athletic Club and 14 of those were entered in the county championships.

The races from Under 11 years upwards took place at the Exeter Arena on a tough, hilly course.

The first race was the U11 development race — an introduction to the athletes of the demands of regional cross country races. The second race was the U17 boys and womens’ race combined, giving a field of around 160 finishers. Highlight of the race for the Tavistock club was Sam Lake’s victory in the veteran 35 category to become Devon Champ. Her sixth placed Devon lady place will also give her a county call up for the Devon team in the South West Championships.

Jenny Sabine also got a superb bronze medal in the U20 category held in the same race. In the U13 girls’ race that was held next Krystine Cade in 12th and Izzy Page in 13th (seventh and eighth in the Devon’s respectively) had great runs supported by the Walker twins, Hannah and Charlotte.

The U13 boys produced the race of the day for Tavistock with Euan Botham finishing second in the Devon Champion-ships; Will Russell was sixth, Dan Luckham eighth and with Joe Dix coming in a superb ninth, Tavistock picked up the team gold.

Tavistock only had one competitor in the next race, the U15 girls, Natasha Farrington. Natasha had a storming run and chased Exeter’s Molly Canham hard, but she had to settle for silver.

The penultimate race was the under 15 boys. Ollie Smart grabbed a well earned individual silver and was backed up by Brad Stevens and Jacob Heggarty to give a strong team performance for their Westward League aspirations.

The final race was the men’s event. Bob Chapman on the eve of his 70th birthday picked up a fantastic gold medal in the V65 category. At the other end of the age scale Will Dax did well to gain a bronze in the under 20 age group. With 11 finishers in a field of 150+, the Tavistock club were delighted with their efforts.

RESULTS (Devon place in brackets): U11s, 1,650metres: Noah Bridle 14th, Ewan Dix 20th,Nicolas Maczugowski 24th, Jacob Holland 31st , Ella Shaw 40th, Liberty Cappes 46th, Freya Page 50th, Lara Dix 60th.

U17 boys and women, 5,000m, Edward Smart 16th (eighth), Michael Barton 19th, Sam Lake 46th (first V35), Cathy Dunlop 87th, Jenny Sabine 88th (3rd U20), Kate Rogers 140th, Hazel Walker 153rd.

U13s girls, 3,000m, Krtystine Cade 12th (7th), Izzy Page 14th (8th), Hannah Walker 33rd, Charlotte Walker 34th. U13s boys, 3,000m, Euan Botham fourth (second), William Russell 10th (sixth), Dan Luckham 12th (eighth), Joe Dix 14th (9th) James Lamb 21st (12th) Jamie Brew 33rd. U15 girls, 3,900m, Natasha Farrington second (second). U15 boys, 3,900m, Oliver Smart fifth (second), Bradley Stevens eighth, Jacob Hegarty ninth. Senior men, 8,900m: Jim Cole seventh (fifth), Will Dax 27th (third U20), Martin Exley-Deane 70th, Paul Hegarty 81st, Steve Watson 97th, Phil Slater 112th, Joe Chalk 114th, Charlie Lloyd, 122nd, David Harris 128th, Jason Shipton 141st, Bob Chapman 147th (first M65).