Tavistock Athletic Club runners were at Stover School on Sunday in the fifth race in the Frank Elford Sports Westward Cross Country League.

With one race left in March it was a chance for Tavistock athletes to gain valuable points.

The course was partly on the Stover School land and partly through fields. It was twisting and turning and included flat fields, woodland and steep hills, with little mud compared to last year’s mudbath. Tavistock had an excellent turnout of 54 runners for the event.

In the Under 11 development race seven boys and seven girls ran in the 1,500m combined race with all of them competing superbly.

The second race was the U13 girls over two of the smaller laps. Sophie Main had a storming run to finish second, chased by Amelia Riggot in third, with Izzy Page ninth, and backed by six others, the team finished second on the day by one point.

In the following boys’ U13 race the TAC team only had three runners. Euan Botham stormed through with a strong second lap to take second and with Dan Luckham in eighth and Joe Dix in 12th; the boys had their second highest points total which could see them in with a silver medal chance come the final race.

The next race was the womens, U17 women and U17 boys combined over a 5k course. Michael Barton and Ed Smart battled it out to come fourth and fifth respectively. Sam Lake in the women’s race turned in her best performance to date in the league of 10th, which has secured her category gold. The women had eight finishers which led to a brilliant team performance of leading to fourth overall and, in particular, the veteran ladies’ team will now be pushing for silver team medal. Tracey Oxborough and Cathy Dunlop will have to compete well in the last race in March to secure silver and bronze medals respectively.

The penultimate race was the combined U15 boys and girls over a 4,500m course. Oliver Smart (third) and Brad Stevens fourth had strong, solid runs but without injured Jacob Hegarty their team performance and top spot in the league was bound to suffer, but a silver looks likely. In the girls it was great to see three Tavistock finishers for the first time this season with Natasha Farrington 11th, Tilly McDowell 16th and Lucy Steven 18th giving the team first place on the day.

In the men’s race Jim Cole finished fourth to maintain his push for overall league silver. Will Dax returned with a strong run in 11th, Exley-Deane finished 34th to secure his category gold.

Returning youngster Henry Ware had a good run in 60th, Mike Gazzard made his debut with 81st and Bob Chapman finished 99th to make a silver in the vet 65 category. With 13 senior men competing it was an excellent turnout for the club.

Finishing positions: U11 girls — Matilda Riggot (sixth), Emma Luckham (10th), Holly Cole (15th), Penny Jones (16th), Freya Page (17th), Lara Dix(20th), Sorrell Hickman (23rd). U11 boys — Noah Bridle (fourth), Nicholas MacZugowski (fifth), Edward Sorenson (12th), Ceol Hickman (17th), Jacob Holland (19th), Oscar Slater (20th), Thomas Harris (21st). U13 girls — Sophie Main (second), Amelia Riggot (third), Charlotte Tilney (eighth), Izzy Page (ninth), Hannah Walker (19th), Isabel Nichol-Garcia (20th), Charlotte Walker (22nd) Emily Sleep (23rd). U13 boys — Euan Botham (second), Dan Luckham (eighth), Joe Dix (12th).

Senior women — Sam Lake (10th), Caroline Steven (30th), Jennifer Sabine (31st), Tracy Oxborough (37th), Cathy Dunlop (43rd), Emma Dooney (53rd), Kate Rogers (63rd), Hazel Walker (69th).

Under 17 boys — Michael Barton (fourth), Edward Smart (fifth). U15 girls - Natasha Farrington (third), Tilly McDowell (seventh), Lucy Steven (ninth). Under 15 boys. Oliver Smart (third), Brad Stevens (fourth).

Senior men. — Jim Cole (fourth),Will Dax (11th), Martin Exley-Deane (34th), Henry Ware (60th), Steve Watson (61st), Alistair Peers (66th), Phil Slater (78th), Mike Gazzard (81st), David Harris (86th), Jason Shipton (93rd), Richard Best (96th), Bob Chapman (99th), Pete Bazely (106th).