Cross Country report & pics, both by Liz Scrivener. A special thanks to Liz for doing this. It is greatly appreciated.
"The British Athletics Cross Challenge opened its season on Saturday 12 November at Teardrop Lakes Milton Keynes combining with match 2 of the Chiltern League on a typical autumnal day with drizzling conditions and muddy underfoot.
The field was strong with some of the UK’s best cross country athletes having travelled a distance to compete. Many athletes wore black ribbons in memory of Lucy Pygott and Stacey Burrows, the two Aldershot & Farnham runners who tragically died earlier in the week, and a moment's silence was observed ahead of the under 20/17 women’s race.
First to race were Banbury Harriers U11 athletes with a superb effort from Tilly Lainchbury 33rd overall (30th Chiltern League) and Ruben Snelson 22nd overall (19th Chiltern League).
Next the U13 boys race saw Harriers Jasper Bell finishing a strong 38th overall (4th Chiltern League).
The U15 girls race had an early breakaway group that included Banbury Harriers Alex Scrivener, who showed great determination to finish a well placed 6th overall (5th Cross Challenge, 2nd Chiltern League)
Next up was the U20/17 women’s race with a line up of big names including European Cross Junior silver medallist Harriet Knowles-Jones. Our Banbury Harriers athletes showed great strength with Emily Thompson 50th overall (33rd Cross challenge, 3rd Chiltern League) and Jenny Hannah 54th overall (4th Chiltern League).
The U20/17 men’s race also held a fine pedigree of runners. Banbury Harriers athletes had a great run with Rueben Trotter 100 overall (9th Chiltern League) and Cameron Baugh 104 overall (11th Chiltern League).
The Senior women's race saw athletes such as Gemma Steel, Jessica Judd and Pippa Woolven in the line up. Banbury had a great turnout with Michelle Bartlett 78th overall (F45 3rd Chiltern League), Ros Kelling 83rd overall (F45 4th Chiltern League), Sarka Bishop 171st overall (F35 26th Chiltern League), Lisa Ansell 173rd overall (F35 18th Chiltern League), Rebecca Biegal 183rd overall (F45 12th Chiltern League) Rebecca Pull 195th overall (SenW 18th Chiltern League), Sarah Andrews 203rd overall (F35 20th Chiltern League), Sandra Smith 270th overall (F55 7th Chiltern League).
And last, but not least, the Senior men's race saw an A list selection of athletes such as Andy Vernon and Adam Hickey plus a field of more than 450 runners. Banbury Harriers Tim Wright was 74th overall (SenM 5th Chiltern League), Phil Coy 422nd overall (M60 4th Chiltern League), Neil Forbes 428th overall (M60 5th Chiltern League), Andrew Bartlett 448th overall (M60 6th Chiltern League).
Overall Results place Banbury Harriers 8th in Division 2.
