Bourton Road Runners do well in cross country run in the Park (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Bourton Road Runners do well in cross country run in the Park

THE efforts of those Bourton Road Runners competing in last Saturday's Glo'shire Cross Country Championships at Cirencester Park were rewarded with a variety of medals.

Based on a slightly different course to the one used for the Oxford League event, it still incorporated the very steep hill at the end of each lap on one of the toughest courses on the local cross country calendar.

But with the rain holding off, conditions underfoot were not too bad and Bourton RR were still confident of winning some county medals, despite the absence of a number of seniors and juniors.

First off for the club were the U11s girls who were fielding a team for the first time this season. Beth Pudifoot, making her debut run for the club, finished in an excellent third place and was not far off from the top spot.

Next home was Sophie Lunny in sixth place, Elizabeth Rutherford (7th), and Natalie Lane (8th) also making their debut runs over cross country.

With all of them determined to beat each other for the top three team positions, their spirited endeavours deservedly won them the overall team gold.

The U11s boys were led home by Connor Teague (5th) and Lee Knowles (9th) with Peter Carrick (11th), making his debut run for the club with a solid performance, and so securing the bronze medal for the team.

The U13s girls were also looking for medals and were not to be disappointed. Stephanie Lane led the team home in fourth place with Brittany Teague hot on her heels in fifth after another closely fought battle between the two Bourton girls.

Ellie Pudifoot and Ellie Peters did well to finish in 13th and 16th places and the girls ended up with the silver team medals.

But the U13s boys just missed out on the medals in this tough age group. James Hillier, who led the team home in 16th place, was followed closely by Chris Lunny (17th) and Tom Hay (18th).

However, the performance of the day was surely in the senior ladies' event which saw Lucy Townsend winning the race outright from her main opponent, Wendy Jones of Cirencester AC.

On the first lap of two, Lucy shadowed her rival but, at the start of the second lap following the long hill, she made her move.

She was to pick up the senior ladies' gold medal in this her third-ever cross country race and also the first time she has beaten her main adversary.

Ali Lane finished in tenth and, overall, won the Vet 45 gold medal.

Shona Crombie Hicks also had a good run, despite finding the course quite tough, to finish sixth. Sarah Clemo ran strongly (16th) to secure the gold medal for Bourton.

Lyn Spedding (19th), Lyn Hudson (20th), Dee Tsaka-risianos (22th) and Gill Wilkie (23) made up the B team which unexpectedly ended up with the bronze medal.

The senior men were the last to go. Having won the last round of the league, Dennis Walmsley set off at a fast pace.

He suffered for this later on, but finished in fourth to win the Vet 40 gold medal.

Mike Smith had a disappointing run in finishing 18th.

Graham Hicks and Rob Edwards pushed each other all the way with Graham overtaking Rob on the last lap to finish 36th and Rob 38th.

Johnathon Wilson was 51st although, with only five runners, they were unable to make a team, but they still put up a good fight.

The Bourton-on-the-Water Goldsmiths 10k takes place on Sunday, February 29.

With the field filling up quickly, those wishing to to take part should enter as soon as possible.

For an entry form or for more information, please contact the race secretary on 01451 860117.