WMYA XC League (09/02/2020)

Sam Hale provides the final report for the West Midlands Young Athletes Cross Country League (Round 5) this season staged at Aldersley, Wolverhampton on Sunday 9th February 2019.

"The forecast was foul for the last league fixture but the day began quite promisingly with us managing to get the tent up and the sides on. From the outset the course was very muddy in parts and as the day progressed the conditions underfoot became atrocious. On a day when races were cancelled up and down the country it was fantastic to see such a good Tipton turnout. Our athletes were undaunted and lots of them significantly improved their positions from the last fixture.  A big thank you to all the parents, carers, friends and supporters who stood and cheered in ankle deep mud.

The under 17 women were up first, great to see them fielding a full team at every race this season. Bella Fantom led the way for Tipton with a very impressive run for 10th place (8 place improvement) in her last race as an under 17. Fantastic work from Holly Graham 23rd and Katie Bevan 27th.
Team 6th (5th in the series)

The wind was picking up by the time the under 11 boys took the line. Team Captain, and sole Tipton representative, Jake Harding got off to a flying start up the hill and ran a great race to finish 23rd (team 16th in the series)

Next up were the under 17 men in the last race before the weather really turned. Thomas Bentley ran well for 7th place followed by Sunny Dhaliwal 16th (8 places up) , Michael Banks 26th (3 places up) and a welcome return to Jack Cunningham in 30th. Well done lads.
Team 4th just 2 points behind Solihull and Smalll Heath (6th in the series)

By the time the under 11 girls race started it was windy enough to blow the hair off a dog. Just two out for Tipton today and they worked really hard despite the fact they were almost being blown away. Well done to Mia Fantom 15th and Layla Williams 22nd.
Team 12th (12th in the series)

Cameron Lomax represented Tipton in the under 15 boys race working as hard as ever. Great run for 21st place (8 places up). Well done Cameron.
Team 11th (13th in the series)

The rain was lashing down for the under 13 girls race but I am delighted to say that we had a full team of very tough little Tipton Harriers out. Sarah Dudley led the whole field up the hill at the start and finished very strongly in 21st place (19 place improvement), followed by Sophie Brookes 51st (19 places up), Jessica Warmer 65th, Lily Packer 67th (8 places up) and Connie Chaney 78th. Really brave running for team 6th (8th in the series)

The weather was truly shocking for the under 13 boys race. Our lads were tremendous with Klay Fellows 7th, Will Evans in his best race of the season 8th (12 places up) , Elliott Boden 25th (26 places up) , Ben Marsh 64th (25 places up), Thomas Hynes-Oughton 70th (9 places up) and Mark Aston 79th (18 places up). Our commiserations to Tom Lucas who did not finish. It’s been a great season. Team 6th (5th in the series)

Our under 15 girl’s team is outstanding and they had to dig really deep in the last race of the day. Fantastic running from Jade Charlton 10th (5 places up), Jessie Walker 16th (15 places up), Rosa Shadforth-Groucutt 24th, Alex Westbury 30th, Claire Parker 33rd, Evie Tromans 40th, Sophie Banks 42nd (2 places up), Amelia Harrison 44th (1 place up) and Mya Woodward 50th (8 places up) .  

Great team work for 3rd place. (2nd in the series)

It’s been a really good season and in the final league tables the Overall Team finishes 8th of 21 teams. Fantastic to see our under 15 girls coming away with the team Silver medal.

Congratulations to those winning individual medals: Klay Fellows 5th, Tom Lucas 6th and Mia Fantom 6th."

Results