Final Young Athletes XC League 2011

Tipton girls show true character!

It’s become traditional for the final meeting to be at Perry Park – this year against the backdrop of the building work for the stadium expansion. No rain and the cold wind that greeted us soon dropped with the later races being run in sunshine. The ground was surprisingly firm, certainly compared with the mud of Cofton Park on Saturday.

Firstly, hats off to Isher Mander, Ailish Craig and Lauren Evans who thought nothing of representing Staffordshire at the Inter Counties the previous day then digging themselves out of bed early for this crucial meeting. Amazingly, they each ran really well today with Lauren equalling her best this season.

Ailish also produced the only Tipton trophy of the season – overall 6th in the U15 Girls. Teamwise the U11 and U17 Lads both came close to medals, each coming 4th.

Now for the races!
U11 Girls:  Another superb Tipton turnout with 10 runners. One mile lap with the youngsters running like mad things from start to finish. Counters were Amelia Caddick (31), Megan Whincup (36) Rae Nicholls (45) Tia Nicholls (70) and Jodie Hill (80). Support provided by Megan Moore, Jessica Finney, Emily Jane Riley, Erin West & Cerys Jones. We are expecting good things from this squad next year.

U13 Girls: Even more Tipton girls – 13 in all! This was slightly longer at 1.5 miles and the pace was more measured.  Isher Mander came in at 15th (her second best this season) then Alexis Probin (29), Charlotte Mould (43) Tara Moore (61) & Abigail Owen (62).  We must not forget the effect of large Tipton teams, the other runners may not count but each one pushes the other clubs further down the points. They were Marrianne Hughes, Esme Evans, Gemma Evans, Amelia Silk, Chloe Barker, Katie Dolan, Jessica Elwell & Lauren Macesfield.

U15 Girls:  Exactly enough runners to make a complete team today. Ailish managed 9th, followed by Sophie Harling 34th, Sophie Hill 50th, Chloe Hingley 53rd & Masie Duckworth 60th.  All these four had their best races today. Sophie Harling especially is making good progress.

U17 Girls: Just two today - due to injuries but good runs all the same from Charlotte Davies (15th) and Lauren Evans (20th).

U11 Boys: The usual mad rush round the mile course and Tipton got 4th place overall.  We had Rhys Cope 39th, Ben Prince 40th, Kyle Pearson 50th, Adam Bodin 57th, Dan Quinn 64th, Lewis Moreton 65th & Oliver Evans 67th.

U13 Boys: A rather disappointing three today but they tried their best regardless. Chris Davies 22nd, George Holden 35th and Luke Bodin 37th.

U15 Boys:  A good turnout for this age group – 7 in all with new member Jack Mole scoring an excellent 11th place. Luke Vine got 30th, Jacob Anson 39th, Jack Caddick 42nd, Joe Fairfax 54th, Dan Evans 55th & Mitchell Turner 60th. Overall the team came 6th, which shows what can be done with a decent turnout. 

U17 Lads: The final race and the 3 miles run at a blistering pace from start to finish. George Duckworth held on as best he could and made an amazing sprint for the line which won him 13th place. Likewise Courtney Ricketts in 19th place.  Tom Hammond completed the Tipton counters in 33rd, with Adam Evans just one place behind.  Overall 4th place for the team.

Time now to get the mud off those spikes and prepare for the track and road.  Only 6 months to the start of the next XC season!

Below are photos of a couple of our teams. More photos will be in the gallery tonight,

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