The fifth Advisa Cross Country Series took place last Saturday opposite Kempt Tower on the five mile Road.
Results on this jan -21 2012
The course was a one kilometre winding loop of the dunes with the runners heading away from the sea on a well trodden track. The route then turned north taking the runners along the gravel path before turning west down the gravel road before turning east and looping the bird sanctuary and finally finishing back at the finish. The overcast conditions with a strong blustery northerly wind made running conditions harsh but despite this fifty two runners finished the course.
The first race underway was the combined 7/8 years old age group with the boys and girls competing separately. These children ran one loop with the star of the show Luke Killian easily winning the boys’ race by twenty four seconds. Second runner home was Lucy Hunt who won the girls’ race by sixteen seconds. Then the cheering really began with Thomas Beaugie just pipping Jack McKenna by one second and just further behind Lily Scott holding off Elissa Polka by a further three seconds.
The second race underway was the 9/10 age groups in which the children ran two laps of the course making the race approximately two kilometres in length. This was an exciting race with the largest entry of twenty four runners. Quickly into their stride were four boys and a girl and by the end of lap one three of the boys had pulled away with Isaac du Val dropping back and Florence Gothard holding her own in fourth position. Another half a lap and Jack Kennedy started to fade whilst Florence was catching Dougie Brown and Peter Holmes. As they approached the finish Florence made her move and just held off Dougie, who won the boys’ race from Peter, with only three seconds between them. Jack took third place whilst further down the field Adele Maher just held off Jennifer cullen for third place.
The last race was a three lap affair in which twelve runners took part over the three kilometre course. Sam Maher proved the fastest by winning with twenty seconds clear to take the boys’ 11/12 race from Joe Hugh who just finished three seconds faster than William Brown. Yasmine Lookess was an easy winner in the girls’ 11/12 age group whilst no more than a couple of seconds separated Alecia Ibbotson and Jodie Yettra and they ran together over the three laps. In the end Alecia just finished ahead of Jodie. Gemma Gothard was well placed in the field to win the girls’ 13/14 age group and Fre3ddie Morley-Kirk did the same in the boys’ 13/14 age group/
After the race Advisa Hepburn Oracle medals were given to the first three home in each age group and lucky race numbers were drawn for cinema ticket spot prizes.
