CROSS COUNTRY: Club maintain 100% record in league

Rugby & Northampton produced another winning performance last Sunday at Burbage Common, Leicestershire, maintaining their 100 per cent record in the West Midlands Young Athletes Cross Country League, after four rounds of the competition.

A productive weekend strengthened the club’s position at the top of the table courtesy of three team wins and two individual first-place finishes.

R&N notched 6,550 points on the day to extend their lead over second-placed Wolverhampton & Bilston in the standings to 1,715 - a significant tally with only one meeting remaining.

The under-15 boys were the stand-out team on the day, clinching top spot thanks to Adam Searle winning the race in 11 minutes and 57 seconds; Adam Caulfield (12:06) following shortly after in fourth and Joe Musgrove (12:16) one place later.

Also producing impressive performances in the U15B was Matthew Chronicle (12:46) in 13th and 14th-placed Muss Al-Hassan (12:49).

It was a brilliant day for the U11s with the boys and girls teams also securing gold-medal finishes. Olivia Williams (7:18) and Louis Buttrick (6:30) both finished fourth in their respective races, while Alice Bennett (11th, 7:41), Anna Farrow (17th, 7:47), Scarlet Smith (21st, 7:53) and Grace Darcy (28th, 7:59) helped clinch top spot for the girls.

Over in the U11B, Henry Woodward (6th, 6:32), Oliver Birch (11th, 6:53), Finlay Heard (13th, 6:54) and Arthur Tilt (15th, 6:57) notched up enough points to beat all rivals.

In an outstanding individual performance, Amy Walker (13:43) ran home as the U15G winner. On top of Walker’s impressive outing, 11th place for Hollie Moore (14:34) along with points from Georgina Woodward (14th, 14:44), Abi Pearce (21st, 15:11) and Lucy Stevens (22nd, 15:11) helped the team finish second in the age group.

Second place was the achievement both U13 teams managed, too. The U13G were led by Neve Satchwell (12:21) and, also in the top 10, was Holly Walker in a time of 12:33. The team was rounded off with strong runs from Claudia Searle (18th, 13:14), India Phipps (22nd, 13:00) and Olivia Reeves (25th, 13:27).

Noah Bennett was the stand-out in the U13B race, finishing sixth with an impressive time of 11:57. Harry Boynton (12:42) was next over the line in 21st while Michael Corbett (12:44) crossed one place later. Aiden O’Brien (27th, 13:01) and Dominic Dewes (34, 13:16) completed the team’s points.

Also in action at Burbage Common were the U17W, who finished sixth, with Emer Winstch (19:44) fourth and Ella Bromley eighth in 20:10. Meanwhile, the U17M completed the club’s action in seventh spot courtesy of Finn Hutton (16th, 19:48), Josh Thorman (21st, 20:19) and Cam Roberts (24th, 20:34).

The final round of the competition is at Perry Park in Birmingham, although R&N may go into the round missing some big names.

The February 14 meeting coincides with the East Midlands Mini-Marathon trials, in which many Northamptonshire-based athletes will be competing, looking to secure a place in the junior races supporting the London Marathon in April.