WESSEX CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE

DEVIZES           DECEMBER 2006

When Mendip Athletics Club was born just three years ago it was never
thought that the club could change from a junior only club in such a short
time, but on Sunday a team of under 20's beat 27 other clubs to win the
senior men's section of the Wessex Cross Country League fixture at Devizes.
To emphasise the club's transition, the team now leads the season's rankings
after finishing second in the opening fixture.

The opening Fun Run went off in bright sunshine to contrast with the wet mud
that covered large sections of the hilly course, with Christian Young
finishing eighth, and Charlotte Burr a little way behind in tenth. The first
of the league races saw four under 13 girls competing over a one lap 2K
course, with Taunton's Isla Ness romping to her third successive victory.
She was followed home once again by MAC's leading under 13 Aoife Thorogood
in second place. Rebecca Carver looked for a while as though she was going
to grab 3rd spot, but faded slightly at the finish to cross the line in 6th
- a remarkable run considering she has another two seasons in the age-group.
Amy Reakes ran solidly to finish 12th, while Rebecca's twin sister Hayley
finished 17th. The girls were rewarded for their great runs by winning the
team race by a single point from Taunton AC and Poole AC a further point
behind in third. Ottalie Day was the only MAC runner in the under 15 girls
race, which is proving to be a very competitive age-group this year. Ottalie
had another solid run to finish in tenth place.

The under 13 boys team was a little under-strength, with too many first team
choices on soccer duty. None-the-less both Kieran Young and Ben Miller (who
like Rebecca still has two years in the age-group) ran strongly to finish
third and fourth. With Josh Timmins finishing 17th, the team were to finish
3rd, behind Wells and Andover. Under 15 boy Nathan Young had yet another
frustrating day, as a bad attack of cramp caused him to pull out of his
second race of the week while he was leading the way. That just left Dan
Wright to complete in 11th place. The under 17's enjoyed the conditions,
with Dan Layton gaining another third place and Pat Day getting back to
fitness with a fifth. With the under 17 teams comprising only two runners
per club, the pair finished second behind Bridport but ahead of Salisbury.

The final race of the day saw the senior men tackle four laps of the course,
and after a steady start Doug Hall made his way up to fourth place, closely
followed by Charles Albrow and Matt Parsons. As the runners entered their
final circuit Doug was making 4th place certain ahead of Wells runner Steve
Masters, while Charles was feeling the distance and was passed by Wells'
Andrew Deamer to finish in 7th. Meanwhile Matt produced an inspired final
circuit and lifted himself to tenth spot by the finish to give the team a
historic win, ahead of Salisbury, Newbury and Wells.

With the season half over the under 13 girls team leads the ranking, with
the under 13 boys team in second, the under 17 men in second and the senior
men in the lead. Individually Aoife Thorogood lies in second place, with
Rebecca Carver 6th, Kieran Young 2nd, Ben Miller 5th, Dan Layton 2nd. In the
under 20 men's rankings Charles Albrow is 2nd, with Matt Parsons 4th and
Dough Hall 6th.

Photos can be found at  Wessex League - Devizes - December 2006