Cross country reports

Cross Country 

On a double fixture weekend for Banbury Harriers  10 runners went to Stopsley Park, Luton on Saturday for the 3^rd round of Chiltern League, which is one of the biggest cross country leagues in the country.  Best run of the day was Alex Scrivener in the U15 girls race who tracked the leader all the way and in a sprint finish came second by a margin of one second – a great result in such high quality competition. 

The senior race maps had a ‘substantial hill’ warning, and with a gradual incline leading into it and steps at the bottom it tested legs and lungs. 

The ladies again put out a strong team with Ros Kelling 6^th (2^nd F45), Michelle Bartlett 9^th (3^rd F45), Lisa Ansell 35^th, Sarah Andrews 42^nd and Rebecca Biegel 47^th.  This gave them 3^rd vet team on the day, and 4^th after 3 matches so all the play for in the last 2 matches. 

In the senior mens race Tim Wright was 4^th, Jonnie Carruthers 93^rd, Phil Coy 95^th and Andy Bartlett 117^th.  The overall senior mens race had 369 finishers. 

Sunday 4^th December saw our home fixture of the Oxford Mail League held at Bo Peep Farm, Adderbury.  We were greeted with cold, frosty and sunny conditions.  A great course with fast grass sections, muddy stubble and hills to test runners.  With the biggest number of Banbury Harriers out this season we had some great results.  Well done to Tim, Jonnie,  Phil, Andy, Ros, Michelle and Lisa for turning out on tired legs for a second run of the weekend. 

U9 – a very cold and frosty start, well done to Edgar Dumbreck and Richie Mack for 3^rd and 4^th respectively, supported by Frankie Scrivener 12^th, Freddie Tuthill 14^th, Leo Brown-Lapper 20^th, Thomas Hodge 25^th and Edie Brown-Lapper 27^th. 

U11 Girls had a large field of 51 runners with Tilly Lainchbury with her best result of the season in 4^th, Eimear Moss 33^rd, Olivia Mitchell 36^th and Tilly Eskender 51^st. 

U11 Boys – great to see 11 of our boys out with  Charlie Tuthill, Ruben Snelson and Archie Street in 10^th, 11^th and 12^th respectively, Joseph Sparkes 20^th, Will Brown 28^th, Thomas Gaskell 29^th, Max Galloway 32^nd, Felix Smith 33^rd, Harry Gallon 37^th, Adam Gaskell 45^th and Archie Fyfe 54^th. 

U13 Girls – Florence Tuthill 31^st, Nikola Bishop 39^th. 

U13 Boys  – Henry Pollock 10^th, Ben Upton 21^st.

 U15/17 Girls – a great run for Jenny Hannah in 5th place, well supported by Naomi Dibb in 21^st, Franzisker Bucher 25^th and Lizzie Eskender 33^rd. 

U15/17 Boys – with his best run of the season, Blaine Carpenter held on well for 6th place, with Angus Pollock 19^th. 

Senior Men – with the course now thawing out nicely and getting muddier and the largest field of the day with 257 runners Tim Wright had a strong run despite racing the day before in 4^th place, Luke Sherlock 23^rd (3^rd U20), Simon Pritchard 36^th, John Pollock 174^th, Jonnie Carruthers 185^th, Phil Coy 221^st, Neil Forbes 225^th, Glyn Pritchard 235^th and Andy Bartlett 248^th.  5^th team on the day. 

Senior Ladies  - with Ros Kelling (18^th, 1^st V45), Michelle Bartlett (22^nd, 3^rd V45) and Lisa Ansell (76^th) running on tired legs from the day befores race and Sarka Bishop 99^th gave the team 6^th place on the day. 

A huge thank you to all the marshalls and organisers.  The comments received from other clubs were very positive – well done Banbury Harriers and Bicester AC for such a great joint effort.

Thanks to Anne-Marie for the above report.