STANMER Park, Brighton hosted this years Southern-Counties Cross Country Championships. Fourteen Harriers made the journey down the M23 and all performed well.
Star of the show, again, was Gemma Holloway in the under 20 womens’ race. Having taken the lead early on, the Harrier battled with two older UK age group Internationals from Aldershot, Farnham and District. She had to give ground in the latter stages of the race but held on strongly for a superb bronze medal.
Best of the rest came in the under 13 age group where Harry Parker was 26th. Harry has another year to improve on this excellent performance in this competitive age group and the lessons gained will stand him in good stead next year. Likewise Hayley Instance who is used to top three positions in local competitions learned a lot from her fighting effort to finish an excellent 21st in this exalted company.
Amber Pullinger confirmed her rapid improvement. 65th place in the under 15 girls while in the age group above, the under 17’s Brooke Mensah can take satisfaction from her 75th position, as can Sam Smith 83rd in the under 17 boys.
Other finishers: under 13 boys Finlay Lowe 161st. Under 13 girls Demi Briggs 139th, Kiera Scott 158th. Under 15 boys Jack Exley 130th, Taylor Newell 168th, Reece Scott 178th. Under 15 girls Heather Peters 170th, Lucie Ball 194th.
This week sees the final round of the Essex Cross Country League at the Colchester Garrison Course. As with several other clubs the younger age group teams will be weakened by calls on the better athletes to run for the County Schools teams in an Inter-County Fixture in Kent.
