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West Yorkshire Cross Country League 2017: Juniors

Team-wise, this season has been less successful than last, and although we had entries in each of the 8 junior races, only three of our teams achieved an overall position (as opposed to five last year): the Under 11 Boys were 11th, Under 13 Girls 10th,  and U13 Boys a most encouraging 5th. 15 of our runners achieved an overall position by running in at least 3 races, and just 5 ran in all four.

In the U11 Boys William Askew was very much our team leader, competing in all four races and making fine progress throughout. He was ably supported by Matthew Peace and by two of our promising newcomers Theo Armitage and Oliver Simpson. There are few opportunities for this group to compete in the remainder of the season, and I hope that they will consider running in the PECO League in the New Year.

In the U11 Girls one of our newest members, Martha Jackson, made a most impressive start, with a fine win in the last race to secure 2nd place overall, and it was pleasing to see Evie Trusselle making her debut. Let’s hope that some of our other promising runners in this age-group will make themselves available for races in the future.

Last season Rebecca Flaherty dominated the U11 age-group, and this year she did exactly the same in the U13s, winning all but the last race, and running with real flair and confidence. She was supported throughout by Grace Ross, still only an U11, and by Holly Walters, who continues to make steady improvement. The good news here is that all three will be in the same category next year.

Once again our strongest team in depth was certainly our U13 Boys and, although we were only once able to field our strongest team, they performed very consistently, achieving our best overall position. We had 7 different runners in this age-group, 6 of whom counted in at least one of the races.

Jake Wallace was the most consistent runner, Samuel Mantle produced the best single performance, while Alistair Trusselle and our newcomers Theo Clay, Seth Simpson and Joseph Smith all made important contributions.

In the U15 Girls, apart from one occasion, Ruby Firth found herself without any support, but this did not prevent her from showing her usual consistency and fighting qualities.

For various reasons, Alex Flaherty too usually found himself ploughing a lonely furrow in his first season in the U15s, but he stuck to the task very well, saving his best run for the last race in the series, and achieving a fine overall position in what is a very tough group.

In the U17 age-group we did struggle to put out teams, though in both we had some splendid individual results. Pride of place must go to Emily Field who showed how much progress she has made this year by winning two of the four races and finishing in joint 1st position overall.  She received great support from Eliza Findlay who performed consistently and with great determination.

In the U17 Men Reuben Mantle produced two fine runs, while both James Askew and the ever-present Josh Spencer continued to make steady progress.

We now look forward to the various Championships, at both Club and School level, in the New Year, and hope that we shall be able to field our strongest teams.

 

Overall positions (* indicates those finishing in all 4 races)

 

Under 11 Girls
2nd                 Martha Jackson

Under 11 Boys
22nd                William Askew*
45th                 Matthew Peace

Under 13 Girls
1st                  Rebecca Flaherty*
46th                 Grace Ross
47th                 Holly Walters

Under 13 Boys
10th                 Jake Wallace
12th                 Samuel Mantle
20th                 Theo Clay

Under 15 Girls
8th                  Ruby Firth

Under 15 Boys
6th                  Alex Flaherty*

Under 17 Women
1st                   Emily Field*
8th                  Eliza Findlay

Under 17 Men
8th                  James Askew
13th                 Josh Spencer*

 

Team Results

 

U11 Boys                                11th

U13 Girls                                10th

U13 Boys                                5th

 

Tony Kingham