ROUND four of the Charles Stanley Westward Cross Country League took place on Sunday at Northam Burrows, the salt flatlands next to Westward Ho! in North Devon.

In previous years runners had to compete over flooded ground, in lashing rain and howling gales. This year was a positive antidote — winds of only around 20mph greeted the 39 hardy runners from Tavistock Athletic Club.

It was an excellent opportunity to pick up points as many clubs could not field full teams and TAC runners took full advantage.

In the first race, the Under 11s development race, seven girls and boys from TAC tackled the one-mile course, all displaying resilience way beyond their years. The next race was the U13 girls who ran two miles. With just three girls running for the club it was important they all finished to give a team score and they certainly delivered, with Matilda Riggott bringing the club home with a solid run in 11th place.

In the combined U15 girls and U13 boys race over 2.5 miles Amelia Riggott continued her good form with a second place in the girls’ race, supported by Elyse Kedzior-MacDonough and Issy Page.

In the boys Ewan Dix continued his fine form with an excellent seventh place and backed up by six team mates the club continues to challenge for a podium place at the end of the season. In the Under 15 boys the club only had one runner; debutant Abe Reid made an intelligent start to running with the club with a fourth place finish. He allowed two front runners to get away and focused on his personal race and was rewarded with a creditable performance.

The women and U17 men raced next over 3.5 miles. Brad Stevens had competed and finished seventh in the Cornish Schools Championships on Saturday but ground out a superb fourth place to maintain his standing in the league.

Jo Meek returned to racing for the club with an outstanding second place and backed up by Sam Lake and Natasha Farrington the TAC ladies’ team continued its run of form as Devon champions.

The final race was the men’s race over 5.5 miles and with 12 runners and five of those finishing in the first 47 places the team was guaranteed a move up the league.

Results: U11s combined race Claudia Jones 33, Ewan Mill 51, George Page 55, Florence Riggott 63, Elsie Maguire 64, Miley Lake 69, Nell Maguire 84; U13 girls Matilda Riggott 11, Freya Page 24, Penny Jones 26.

U13 boys and U15 girls combined Ewan Dix 7, Amelia Riggott 10, Elyse Kedzior MacDonough 20, JJ Lake 21, Nicolas Maczugowski 25, Jacob Holland 28, Rowan Cladwell 36, Izzy Page 40, James Crossey 43, Thomas Harris 44.

U15 boys Abe Reid 4; U17 men and ladies combined Brad Stevens 4, Jo Meek 9, Sam Lake 15, Natasha Farrington 25, Caroline Steven 40, Emma White 49, Sarah Holland 78, Helen Kula Przezwanski 86; senior men Adam Holland 12, Will Dax 21, Bart Thomas 32, Martin Exley-Deane 40, Ed Horn 47, James Armstrong 58, Richard Best 79, Pat MacDonough  96, David Harris 101, Bob  Chapman 125.

TAC’s senior men’s team finished fourth on the day and moved up to eighth. The veteran men finished equal fourth on the day and moved up to eighth. U5 boys are in fifth place and U13 boys remain in fourth.

In the women, TAC were winners on the day but remain in third overall; veteran women won on the day and move up to second in the league. U15 girls were second on the day but remain in top place. U13 girls were third on the day and remain third in the league.