Georgie claims county crown as Stratford AC youngsters steal show
The juniors also had the advantage of racing before the seniors in the two-hour rain free window that had been predicted.
In the opening race of the day, 43 U13 girls from Warwickshire raced over the 3km course.
Georgie Campbell (1st, 11.55) set off at an incredible pace down the long opening stretch to make sure she was in contention, and battled up the first steep climb into second place, before taking full control along the high wooded section of the course.
Campbell has an immense amount of grit and determination, and hence it was not a surprise that she kept in first place for the rest of the race to claim the title of Warwickshire county champion.
After the race, Campbell was all smiles as the significance of her achievement began to sink in.
Ellen Taylor (7th, 12.36) continues to run exceptionally well, improving on her 31st place in last year’s championship by some distance.
The U13 girls’ title has been won by a Stratford AC athlete for the past three years, and with Taylor still eligible for the U13s next year, there is great potential for this run to continue further.
Ellie Bryan (21st, 13.17), ran a lovely composed race, and completed the first three Stratford athletes to finish.
These performances helped the U13 girls’ team to finish in second place overall behind Coventry Godiva Harriers.
Full results are as follows: Georgie Campbell (1st, 11.55), Ellen Taylor (7th, 12.36), Ellie Bryan (21st, 13.17), Evie Lowe (24th, 13.27), Faye Gourlay (30th, 13.55), Charlotte Gravelsons (35th, 14.29) and Isobel Hopper (38th, 15.03).
The U13 boys’ race is over the same course. Forty-nine Warwickshire athletes took part, ten representing the Stratford-upon-Avon team.
All ten put in fast and committed displays and each can be proud of their performance.
Louis Kendrick (6th, 11.21) led the team home with a well-paced, strong run. Kendrick prefers a longer distance and seemed to relax and enjoy the final stages, picking up a few places along the way.
Dylan Williams (10th, 11.42) has a lovely composed, fluent running style and seemed to revel in all the challenges the course posed.
Josh Angus (13th, 11.46) was not far behind after putting in a much improved performance compared to the previous league race.
Overall the U13 boys’ team finished in second place behind Birchfield Harriers.
Full results are as follows: Louis Kendrick (6th, 11.21), Dylan Williams (10th, 11.42), Josh Angus (13th, 11.46), Ned Campbell (22nd, 12.45), Jack Hemming (26th, 12.57), Cameron Collins (27th, 12.58), James Bexson (36th 13.45), Cameron Black (40th, 14.03), Fin Hutchinson (45th, 14.40) and Harry Gravelsons (47th, 14.43).
The U15 girls took on the challenge of running 4km.
Despite the sun making a surprising appearance, the course had started to deteriorate, with some of the uphill bends now becoming much more slippery than earlier in the day.
Imogen Sheppard (3rd, 16.02) ran a very mature race, making a steady start and gradually picking off athletes ahead of her to ensure a well-deserved third place. Olivia Hall (10th, 16.48), due to basic geography, competed in the Worcestershire County Championships – the overall event on the day was a joint Warwickshire and Worcestershire affair.
Hall ran strongly and tenaciously to ensure a top-ten finish.
Daisy Musk (13th, 17.23) continues to have a fine cross country season improving on her overall position by a place compared to the 2015 County Championships.
Overall the U15 girls’ team finished in fourth place.
Full results are as follows: Imogen Sheppard (3rd, 16.02), Olivia Hall (10th (Worcestershire), 16.48), Daisy Musk (13th, 17.23), Eugenia Bessey (29th, 19.11), Edie Hutchinson (30th, 19.32), Anna Gionis (32nd, 19.59).
Six U15 boys represented the club and all put in solid performances that will keep them in good stead as the season builds towards the climax in the months to come.
Owain Jones (18th, 15.34) should be very pleased with his performance.
It was only 15 seconds slower than the previous league meeting at the same venue, despite being some 800m further in distance!
Similarly, Ben Jones (24th, 15.44) made a significant improvement as he chased Owain hard throughout the course. Dion Love (29th, 16.09) finished well seeing the U15 Boys’ team to a sixth-place finish.
Full results are as follows: Owain Jones (18th, 15.34), Ben Jones (24th, 15.44), Dion Love (29th, 16.09), Archie Musk (31st, 16.19), Rowan Love (32nd 16.30) and Adam Pomeroy (33rd, 16.40).
Two U17 women took on the 5km challenge. Jessica Sheppard (12th, 21.42) executed a measured start and gradually picked up a number of places around the course, the last one in the final stretch following an impressive sprint finish. Similarly, Hannah Bexson (17th, 22.56) ran extremely well, showing her relative strength compared to the rest of the field.
Three U17 men tackled the 6km course. Oscar Barbour (7th, 21.03) and Fergus Allison (8th, 21.10) raced and encourage each other to fantastic top-ten finishes.
Barbour has been racing well all season and his performance continued in this vein, while Allison changed up a gear and put in one of the best performances for some time.
Seb Hopper (24th 22.42) coped well with the course to complete the team that finished fourth overall.
Just as the U17s finished, the weather turned to driving rain to welcome the senior races but this was no hardship to the select band of club stalwarts who made up the senior teams.
Husband and wife combo Wayne (73rd 39.16), and Emma Vickers (43rd 26.32) both had excellent runs and led the teams home in their respective races.
Emma was followed by the enthusiastic Emily Adams (52nd 27.17), the steady improver Sarah Odell (86th 29.55) whilst Jo Young (107th 32.35) just managed to keep ahead of Kate Sergent (108th 32.44) in their personal inter club rivalry.
Emma, Emily and Sarah made up the ladies masters team that finished in tenth place.
Second home in the senior men’s race was the continually impressive Kieran Tursner (100th 40.31) followed by Mike Sheppard (120th 42.47) who had a storming run despite his gloomy pre-race prediction.
Sam Nicholson (126th 43.23) James Deacon (142nd 44.55) and David Jones (155th 46.50) all had solidly consistent runs and it was great to see the return of David Wolstencroft (163rd 48.08).
Phil Marshall (175th 49.52) was full of dogged determination whilst the commitment of Martyn Sergent (192nd 63.20) continues to impress. The first four home made up the masters team that finished 13th.
