SOUTH WEST INTER COUNTIES XC CHAMPIONSHIPS

BICTON PARK  6TH JANUARY 2008

Nineteen Mendip AC runners competed in the South West Cross Country
Championships at Bicton on January 6th, with sixteen making the county teams
that were competing in the inter-county competition. MAC has five starters
in each of the under 13 races, although Ruby Kelly was unlucky to find a
pot-hole on the course and was forced to drop out with a twisted ankle while
in a leading position at the half way stage in the girls race. This left
first year under 13 Rebecca Carver to come home first for the club in 11th
place in another excellent run, with Adele Martin getting back into shape
with a solid 22nd place. Rebecca's twin sister Hayley came in at 54th, just
three seconds ahead of Adele's younger sister Erin who crossed the line in
58th. The girls finished 4th in the South West team championship.

First year under 13 Ben Miller had an exceptional run, though was frustrated
to be unable to hold a medal winning place in a very competitive boys race
won by Taunton rival Rowan Preece. Despite a spirited sprint up the final
hill Ben was to finish 4th just a couple of strides away from the third
place medal. Kieran Young ran well for 13th place, ahead of Blake Parkinson
in 26th. Youcef Kuidri closed the team in 55th place, just two places ahead
of Shane Williams. The boys finished in third place in the teacm
championship, frustratingly only a single point behind Taunton AC for the
second major event this winter.

Aoife Thorogood found the hills and the distance a hard test in the under 15
girls race as she struggled to hold Taunton rival Isla Ness, crossing the
line in 7th behind the UK's leading junior Naomi Speake. Emily Derrick
continued her come-back from injury, though needed treatment in the first
aid tent for anyother twisted ankle sustained on-route to her 29th place
finish. Mendip's two under 15 boys, Dan Wright and Ashley Martin kept close
company throughout the boys race, finishing 47th and 48th after a friendly
tussle.

In the under 17 women's race Ottalie Day once again came out ahead of Rose
Penfold as both girls had solid runs, Ottalie finishing 23rd and Rose 26th.
The under 17 men's race once again saw the most drama as Nathan Young led
through the first of two laps before pulling up, badly affected by stomach
cramps. He eventually got moving again after most of the field had gone past
and continued passing running to the finish in 24th place. Meanwhile Dan
Layton had found himself in the top three at the half-way stage, but slipped
down as far as seventh with half a mile to run. Drawing on some great
determination Dan pulled himself back into contention and grabbed the
individual bronze medal with a powerful sprint up the final climb. For good
measure he also led the Somerset team to victory in the Inter-Counties
competition. The last of the clubs runners, Tom Derrick, had a fairly
uneventful race, running well throughout to finish a well deserved 33rd
place.