OXFORD MAIL CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE REPORT by Ros Kelling
The last race of the season was held on the muddiest, hilliest course yet. After torrential overnight rain the water ditches were full, and the endless hills steep and muddy, testing both lungs and legs to the full.
The U9’s race saw another close finish with Edgar Dumbreck in 2nd and Richie Mack in 3rd, with Frankie Scrivener a very happy 7th and Heidi Smith in 31st..
In the U11 Girls race Tilly Lainchbury had her best run of the season, leading for much of the race, but had to settle for 4th after some very fast finishes from her fellow competitors. Tillly Eskender was 38th.
The U11 Boys race saw the biggest Banbury Harriers contingent out with Archie Street in 5th, Adam McLaren-Dobbie in 8th, Felix Smith 27th, Thomas Gaskell
28th, Adam Gaskell 32nd, Will Brown 34th, Miles Taylor 35th and Marcus Holden 42nd.
The U13 athletes were tested with the muddy conditions in the woods, with Henry Pollock in 10th in the boys race, and Jenna O’Donnell and Shannon Gilkes 35th and 37th.
The U15/U17 combined races were also greeted by the water ditches and long, muddy hills. Jenny Hannah started slowly, but worked her way through the field for a well deserved 2nd place, with Naomi Dibb having a strong run in 16th and Lizzie Eskender 29th. In the boys race Skip Snelson and Owen Knox had their usual tussle, finishing 3rd and 4th respectively.
The senior races had another lap of the further woods, with unbelievable hills to navigate. In the men's race Tim Wright was 12th, Simon Pritchard 81st,
Jonathan Carruthers 175th and Phil Coy 187th. In the ladies race Michelle Bartlett and Ros Kelling had their usual battle, with Michelle showing her strength on the hills in 11th and Ros in 13th, both just pipping Rosie Weston in 15th. These 3 gave the team a great 2nd place on the day. Lisa Ansell had her best run of the season, moving through the field into 55th place, Rebecca Biegel and Rebecca Pull, both on the comeback, were 84th and 101st respectively.
The general consensus on the course was "brutal."
After the league prize giving for the season Banbury Harriers athletes came away with numerous trophies with first places overall for Skip Snelson and Ros Kelling, 2nd place trophies for Jenny Hannah and Tim Wright, and 3rd places for Edgar Dumbreck, Owen Knox and Michelle Bartlett.
Overall a very successful season in this growing league.
These are just a selection of the great pictures on facebook by Liz & Mark Scrivener
