Buzza's Bits- Westward Hoe XC Report

It was a swings and roundabouts day in North Devon, with CAC performing better than expected in some categories, but not as good in others, on a muddy, wet course with a strong, cold breeze blowing in the runners’ faces on the second half of the lap.  We lead in 6 of the team categories and are in the medals at the moment in 3 others, with the only reason for not having all teams in the top 3 being not finishing complete teams. 

Doug Fenney ploughed a lone furrow for the U17 Men, with James Williams and Tom Slattery returning on the weekend from Australia and Austria respectively!  Doug has been an ever present this winter and is being rewarded for his good running by being in 2^nd place overall at the moment.  The team are in 3^rd, with a strong chance of climbing to 2^nd if the boys run in the last 2 fixtures.

Doug is getting fitter, as seen by his holding off Emma Stepto until the last half a mile in the combined race, as Emma moved through the field to take 1^st lady.  Emma led home a strong 13 lady contingent from CAC – more than the men for the first time in memory – and they were rewarded with the A team winning on the day and taking the lead overall and the B team takin g 4^th and maintaining this brilliant position overall.  Our C team is a fine 13^th and the D team 19^th , both teams being in close fights with the Exeter Uni. Ladies  for 1^st in category.  The CAC Veterans’ team is leading the way too, by a comfortable margin.

Amy Sole backed Emma up with a fine 7^th and Emily Newton ensured A team victory, showing what a valuable addition she is, in 12^th.  Donna Raggett eased her way back into racing, moving through well after a steady start for 15^th, overtaking a fast starting Kathryn Burgess, who hung on well for 22^nd (keeping her in the lead in the V35 age group), with Rachael Thomas having a great run to close the B team on the day in 27^th and take her into 4^th in the V40s.

Debbie Nugent ran with Rachael for most of the race before dropping back slightly on then last lap to place a useful 32^nd, with Nancy Hill moving into 2^nd V45 position overall with a good run in 34^th.  Jenny Almey is getting stronger by the race, taking 39^th here, with the welcome sight of Ellie Parkin, back in CAC colours, finishing next in 61^st, just one place ahead of the ever-improving and smiling Kerry Poole.  Lorna Martin and Di Boardman duked it out all race, before Lorna prevailed by 2 places with 72^nd to round off a fantastic day for our ladies’ team.

Our U11s teams both put in dominating performances, with both Zak Clemens and Maisy Luke taking   their fourth victories in a row, to guarantee overall league golds!  Many congratulations to both of them!  Unofficial team league golds must be close to being claimed as well, with James Horton and Abi Jose both taking second at Westward Ho! consolidating their second overall positions.  Jago Leuzzi was a useful 7^th, to confirm the boys’ team victory on the day and the girls were even more dominant, with Mia Rickwood and Abbie Downing running strongly for 4^th and 5^th and Caitlin Kearney taking 10^th, moving her into 3^rd overall in the age group.

We got a full team of three U13 boys out for the second time this season and they ran superbly to win the team event on the day and move up to 4^th overall.  Ed Mitchell had a great run to place 5^th, with good back up from Isaac Murray in 11^th and Luke Downing in 12^th.  If at least three run in the last couple of matches, we have a decent chance of overall team medals!

Catherine Groves and Saskia Adie have been ever present in the league this season and their 8^th and 16^th places respectively moved them into 4^th and 7^th positions overall.  The team are in 6^th, but if they can get at least 3 racing the last 2 fixtures, they have a good chance of moving into the medals.

We were disappointed to only get 10 senior men out, but at least we finished 2 teams and, hopefully, we can get at least 15 out for the last 2 fixtures, to ensure the C team finishes in the top 10 overall!  Bideford had all their big guns out and won comfortably, but CAC moved into 2^nd position (from 4^th) with a strong showing from a not 100% Colin Snook in 5^th leading the way.  Jonny Dry had his best x-c yet for us, taking 8^th, with Jordan Clay not far behind in 10^th, as the Falmouth Uni. Boys tuned up for the upcoming BUCS Championships.  Chris Harry just outkicked Paul Smith to place 21^st, with Paul’s 22^nd closing out the men’s A team.

The B team was lead home by Paul Sole, with his best x-c to date in 41^st, followed by Dave Buzza in 42^nd.  Dale Triggs had a good run for 56^th, with Gordon Adie looking good in the mud and taking 68^th.  Nige Trevena’s excellent 79^th bringing the team home in 9^th on the day, but maintaining their superb 6^th overall and far and away the top B team.

Our U15 boys slightly increased their lead in the team standings and are guaranteed at least silver medals, but still require at least one more good result to hold off a strong Newquay outfit.  For the first time this season we only had the bare minimum 3 racing, but they ran well to take the win, with Kristof Klimek’s 4t^h leading the way, Sam Goodchild just behind in 5^th and Jacob Milligan backing them up well with a strong 10^th.  Kristof now leads the league, with Sam in 3^rd and Jacob 5^th, just reward for their consistency.

The U15 girls were once again lead home by the flying Grace Brock, who took victory by well over a minute once again, to ensure her league victory with 4 wins out of 4.  Trinity Earnshaw went well in 10^th, moving her into 7^th overall, with Sofia Rescorla-Brown’s 16^th position helping the team to 2^nd on the day and up to 3^rd overall. 

With the next fixture at the new venue of Stover School, Newton Abbot on Feb. 14^th, all our teams are either guaranteed medals, or in with a good chance, with the U13 girls and boys those in most danger of missing out if they cannot get their strongest teams out, both on the 14^th and at the last fixture at Redruth on March 20^th! 

Author: Dave Buzza - Date Added: 01/02/2016 at 10:15:49