ATHLETICS
Two young Banbury Harrier’s made the long journey to Herrington Park Sunderland on Saturday for the National Cross-country Championships and both came away with a great deal of credit.
Tia Williams who as had great pleasure performing well in the snow this winter again produced the goods on another white snowy covered course. Tia eighteen months junior too several of the near 300 runners in the under thirteen girls race finished in 106th place.
Owen Knox reaching his eleventh birthday only last week asked if for a present if he could run at Sunderland. His wish was granted and despite perhaps being the youngest in the race he finished 150th of the 250 plus starters.
On Sunday four records fell to the Banbury Harriers Sports Hall Athletics team in the latest fixture held at the Gosforth Hill Sports Centre Kidlington. The meeting got off to a flying start with Harriers under thirteen girls decimating the obstacle relay record. The individual performances also were outstanding from the girls.
Tory Harte showed how she gained a bronze medal in the regional finals in the speed bounce. At the regionals held at Burgess Hill she achieved 83 bounces in 30seconds, on Sunday she topped that with a marvellous 88 bounces. Other excellent performances in this section came from two dominating wins in the four lap races from Emily Thompson and Rebecca Scott. The latter also combined with Evie Hawkins to take maximum points in the standing long jump. Abbey Anson cruised to good points in the 2lap races. The girls finished the day off shattering the 4x2lap relay record.
The two lap record for under fifteen boy’s age group also fell to a Banbury Harrier with a blinding run from Alfie Rowett. Second string Jordon Gill also eclipsed the record winning the other heat one fifth of a second slower. Nathan Grieveson produced an excellent 10metre plus putt in the shot.
In the under thirteen boys Felix Noble again impressed in the 2lap and standing long jump and Owen Knox followed up his previous days trip to Sunderland with a quick run in the 3 lap race.
The Bourton Road Runners 10k also took place on Sunday and five runners from Banburyshire took part of the 500starters. Tim Wright in 8th place from Banbury Harriers led the five to the finish with Hook Norton’s Dave Tame next in 36th place. The other three were Simon Pritchard of Harriers in 42nd place, Steve Burns Hook Norton 151st and David Coates of Cherwell Road Runners in 300th place.
