OXFORDSHIRE ROAD RELAYS – ABINGDON 14/4/19
Banbury Harriers senior mens team came back from Oxfordshire Road Relay Championships with a silver medal, plus a gold medal for fastest leg of the day. Held on a 5.25km out and back course the young Harriers team comprising 5 teenagers out of the 6 runners showed winter training has gone well. Owen Knox led out the race on the first leg and ran well to the turn round point, was caught on the way back by Woodstock, Witney and Headington, but still well in contention with the top 3 teams. Reuben Trotter took over the baton and set out hard. By the turn around point he had caught the first 3 runners and came back in first place by about 200m. Team captain Jonny Carruthers set out, knowing he would be chased down by a strong Abingdon runner on leg 3. By the turn around point he had been caught, and on the way home passed by Witney, Headington and Woodstock runners, but still in contention with 4th place. By the 4th leg Abingdon had a big lead and an under par Gregor Kelling set out with the intention of keeping his Harriers team in the hunt. After a battle with the Woodstock runner he was happy not to have conceded too much ground and handed over to 16 year old Dan Roberts in 5th place. Roberts, with Woodstock in sight, soon overtook them and made up good ground on Witney and Headington in 2nd and 3rd place. By the 6th and final leg Abingdon had a 3 minute lead which they were not going to concede, but Harrier Skip Snelson had his sights firmly set on Witney and Headington, who were having their own battle for second spot. By the turn around 16 year old Snelson had passed both teams and was heading for home. He hung on all the way and brought his Harriers team mates a hard earned second spot, with Witney just 8 seconds behind. Snelson was also rewarded with fastest leg of the day – a great accolade for such a young athlete.
The Harriers team have vowed to come back next year and win gold.
