Stratford Athletic Club's juniors take part in their first cross country fixture of the season
It was a foggy, damp and cool day for Stratford Athletic Club's juniors in their first cross country fixture of the season.
Fourteen athletes were making their debuts, all overcoming first-time nerves, doing themselves, their parents and their club proud.
For the U17W, Marijke Tear-Verweij came in sight of the finish line in a top five place but, still jostling for position, she found the strength for a sprint finish to take fourth place (14:42).
Team-mates Annie Silvers and Brooke Rossney finished 18th in 16:26 and 44th in 18:33 respectively.
Issac and Theo Scott, Jamie Cassells, Max Loom and Bertie Hovell all completed their debuts in the U11 Boys race, contributing to a strong Stratford team alongside Rafe White, Oliver Hollis, Simon Zawada and Lewis Cowley.
White was placed an excellent 11th in 5:59 with Zawada gaining several places in the closing stages to take 43rd in 6:28, both well up on their 2024 result, with Henry Cotton in 58th in 6:38.
Sam Lambert was victorious in the U17 Men’s race, beating his arch rival Archie Lane (Leamington C&AC).
It was a fast start with Lambert sitting just off the lead pace as the race unfolded.
Tom Fisher was the next Stratford runner, followed by Will Hovell, Arthur Williamson and Joel Ledgard, nudging each other along as a team of three.
Racing into the finish area, Lambert had moved into second place.
Powering up the incline, he turned the corner and, finding another gear, won the race in 14:14.
It was a good team effort, with all athletes finishing strongly - Fisher 12th, 15:39; Hovell 18th, 15:58; Williamson 21st, 16:13 and Ledgard 23rd, 16:17.
Banishing their nerves, Nell Wheeler, Florence Andrews, Penelope Waldron and Elizabeth Atkins all successfully completed their debut race in the U11 Girls.
Saskia Atkins was the first Stratford vest home in 11th, 6:25, a huge improvement on her 2024 result.
Wheeler was just behind, outstanding in her debut race, for 12th in 6:30, followed by Andrews 34th, 6:53; Marnie Short 35th, 6:54; Indigo Ogilvie-Putt 60th, 7:24; Quinn Lancaster 66th, 7:28; Waldron 74th, 7:39; Imogen Jolly 76th, 7:45; Ella-May Williams 81st, 7:52; and Atkins 100th, 9:58.
Both U15 Boys showed great determination to complete the 3200m course, with Laurie Hovell (68th, 12:46) making his debut alongside Max Rossney (78th, 14:19).
There were more debuts in the U13 Girls race by Annabel and Lara Ryan-Gill and Florence Rowlands.
Amelie Marshall 29th, 9:44, was the first Stratford vest home, followed by Annabel 37th, 9:50; Emily Lambert 38th, 9:50; Poppy West 47th, 10:03 and Sara Clewer 63rd, 10:35; Lara 101st, 11:42; Florence Rowlands 102nd, 11:46; Eliza McLeod 109th, 12:41 and Layla-Rose Sparrow 112th, 13:24.
In the U13 Boys, Charlie Cassels was 20th, 8:56, followed by Tobias Freeman 59th, 9:42; Toby Ledgard 62nd, 9:48 and Dexter Sharpe 63rd, 9:50.
For the U15 Girls, there was an excellent debut by Eve Ashley 29th, 13:00.
Jasmine Mothershaw acquitted herself well having moved up to the older age group 57th, 3:45, followed by Rachel-Marie Sparrow 62nd, 13:55; Elle Weir 71st, 14:13; Rosa Pipitone 82nd, 14:46 and Georgia Sharpe 95th, 15:51.
The club finished in a highly credible fifth place out of 24 teams.
Excellent age group performances on the day were the U17M in second place. Other top 10 finishers were U11G fourth, U11B sixth, U13G eighth and U17W sixth.