Report on Oxford mail CC

Oxford Mail Cross Country, Sunday 5^th November 

On a cold sunny day Banbury Harriers athletes turned out in force to run the first race in the Oxford Mail Cross Country series held at Newbury Showground. 

In the U9 race, running in their first race for Banbury Harriers Thomas Roberts was 6^th and Merle Snelson 23^rd. 

In the U11 girls race Frankie Scrivener was 26^th and Edie Brown-Lapper 59^th.  For the boys some strong running saw Sam Davis home in 10^th place, Adam McLaren-Dobbie 11^th, Richie Mack 13^th, Edgar Dumbreck 16^th and Leo Brown-Lapper 69^th. 

In her first year as an U13 Tilly Lainchbury ran a well paced race to come home in 12^th, and for the U13 boys Ruben Snelson was also 12^th, followed home by Archie Street in 18^th, Ethan Aldous in 22^nd and Miles Taylor in 38^th. 

In the U15/U17 girls race Alex Scrivener  showed she is coming back to form after some injury niggles with  first place by some margin, front running the race from gun to tape.  Naomi Dibb was 18^th, Shannon Gilkes 40^th and Mabel Shepherd 44^th. 

In a very competitive U15/U17 boys race Owen Knox sat with the leaders  for much of the race, but just lacking a bit of training due to injury, had to settle for 3^rd place.  He was well supported by Skip Snelson in 5^th, Reuben Trotter in 6^th, Daniel Roberts in 11^th and Charlie Marr in 22^nd.  If the boys can keep these placings up over the winter they are strong contenders for first team place in the league. 

The senior mens race saw 5 Banbury Harriers men out, with Tim Wright battling injury and illness to come home in 39^th, Mark Scrivener in 207, Phil Coy 209, Neil Frape 270 ad Neil Forbes 281. 

In her first season running with the senior ladies Emily Thompson tracked the leaders for the first lap, but found the distance a big jump up and had to settle for 10^th place.  Michelle Bartlett showing some good consistency was 25^th, Charlotte Drummond with a strong finish was 37^th, Ros Kelling 39, Lisa Ansell 77, Rebecca Biegel 130, Sandra Smith 200 and Rita Cronin, showing great determination finished in 208.

Thanks to Roz for the report