Report on cross country

                                           OXFORDSHIRE CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

The performance of the young Banbury Harrier runners in the morning mist at the joint Oxford Mail and County cross country championships at Horspath on Sunday shined brighter than the sun that followed later in the day.

 The highlights of the races came from the domination of the clubs girl’s under thirteen squad and excellent best performances of the winter from under seventeen Tom Biegel and under fifteen Gregor Kelling.

 The girls from the club are currently in all aspects are holding all the aces of athletics in the county and the future looks just has bright. With the gold medal performance of Tia Williams in her first year in this age group she had shown promise at the two previous league fixtures. Sundays run was in at a higher league taking control from early on she stormed to victory. The bronze third place medal also came to Banbury with another excellent run from Emily Thompson. In a field of over forty starters Banbury Harriers had six in the first ten, the other four being Jess Miller 4^th, Flora Ayres 6^th, Isobel Pougatch 7^th and Lucy Scruton 8^th. This gave the club first and third team prizes also.

 The under seventeen boy’s race produced an excellent run from Tom Biegel, his best of the winter and fourth place gaining him selection for the UK Inter-Counties in March. This will also be the reward for Gregor Kelling having easily his best ever run over the country when finishing 6^th in the under fifteen boy’s race.

 The senior races saw both last year’s champions retain their titles in the ladies Fran Briscoe in Coventry AC colours easily took the title. In a field of 180 starters Ros Kelling again produced the best performance of the Banburyshire clubs when coming home in 11^th place. Caitlin Bradley made it two for Banbury Harriers with a storming finish and 38^th place. Fay Barrington of Cherwell Runners finished in 41^st place, then came Vicky Wells of Harriers in 52^nd next came the Hook Norton pair of Sam Rees 53^rd and Donna Allen 58^th, with then Rebecca Biegel of Harriers in 63^rd place.

 In the male version the consistent Steve Naylor of Bedford AC also stormed to victory in a field of over 250starters. Tim Wright led the local finishers,the Banbury Harrier coming home in 9^th place. Other local finishers Dan Peabody of Cherwell in 25^th place, one place behind Tom Bradford of Hook Norton with team mate Dave Tame in 35^th place. Simon Pritchard of Harriers just edged out Ian Thomas of Cherwell the pair finishing 61^st and 62^nd

 The earlier under’s eleven run race saw the Banbury Harrier duo of Skip Snelson and Owen Knox finish in 6^th and 8^th place respectively.

There are photos of the mens race on picasa  picasaweb.google.com/115823504268766903150 click this link.

For county results go to oxonaa.org.uk/cross-country-results