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Yorkshire Cross Country Championships 2016: Junior Report

The Yorkshire Championships returned to what has become its habitual venue, Lightwater Valley, and underfoot conditions were very demanding. Numbers-wise it was one of our best junior efforts in the Yorkshires, and the performances achieved were very pleasing.

Grace Dawson, in her first year as an U13, finished in a promising 28th place, with team-mate Ruby Firth in 41st. They were followed by the U13 Boys who all ran with real determination, finishing 9th in the team race. Alex Flaherty led the way in a superb 7th position, thus qualifying for the Inter-Counties, followed by Joseph Carnelley in 29th, Samuel Mantle in 49th and Ben Rees in 58th.

The high standard was maintained by our U15 Girls, who finished 11th: Eliza Findlay battled through to 22nd, ably supported by Lucy Miller in 35th and Katie Smith in 39th.

Unfortunately, we did not have a team in the Under 15 Boys, but the two boys who ran both performed splendidly : James Askew, in his first-ever championship race, came 33rd, and Reuben Mantle, in what was probably the run of the day for the Harriers, hung on impressively for 8th place. We hope that this will also be good enough for him to qualify to represent Yorkshire at the Inter-Counties.

Vicki Merrick, our sole representative in the U17 Women’s race, had her best run of the season in 20th place, whilst Sarah Dewhirst, who is a Junior, found herself, because of the Yorkshire rules, in the Senior Women’s race, finishing in a most commendable 58th position.

 

Results:

U13 Girls:
28th Grace Dawson;
41st Ruby Firth

U13 Boys:
7th Alex Flaherty;
29th Joseph Carnelley;
49th Samuel Mantle;
58th Ben Rees

U15 Girls:
22nd Eliza Findlay;
35th Lucy Miller;
39th Katie Smith

U15 Boys:
8th Reuben Mantle;
33rd James Askew

U17Women:
20th Vicki Merrick

Well done to all of those who took part, and to those hardy souls who supported them so enthusiastically on a rather unpleasant day.

 

Tony Kingham