Regional Win sees our Cross Country runners off to the Nationals

On Saturday 12^th November the Intermediate boys’ team travelled to Kings Taunton in Somerset for the regional final of the England Schools’ Cross Country Cup. On a flat and mainly dry course the boys were confident that they could repeat the last result and qualify for the National finals, but they knew that winning the regionals would take something special from all the team.

When the race started Harris moved to the front and started to control things, behind him Elliot and Benjy were working hard and staying in the leading group. Slightly behind that came Sam, Joey and Bruno. As the race progressed Harris moved further and further ahead and it was clear he was going to win. Benjy and Elliot were now in the top 10 and working very hard pushing for every place available. Sam was looking good coming into the last lap while Joey and Bruno were slightly dropping off the pace. Millfield, Colyton and Newquay were looking strong contenders and we knew it was going to be tight in the end. All the boys dug in for the final half a lap, working as hard as they could to gain as many places as possible. Final positions were Harris 1^st, Benjy 7^th, Elliot 10^th, Sam 24^th, Joey 37^th and Bruno 38^th. With 4 scoring runners our team total was 42pts. We waited nervously for the results to be posted online.

On the journey home word came through that we had not only qualified but won the regionals by one point over Millfield! A wonderful effort from all 6 of the boys. We now have a long trip to Liverpool for the National finals on 3^rd December.

On Sunday 13^th at Newquay Sports Centre was the Cornwall County Championships. Evie ran well, a year young in the U13 girls race, Jacob and Isaac were in the U13 boys race and performed excellently with Jacob winning and Isaac coming in 4^th and so both should achieve selection for the Cornwall team. In the U15 boys Harris and Benjy were running again only 24 hours after running in the regionals. Harris ran a very strong race and never looked in trouble, completing 2 wins in 2 days. Benjy was feeling it a bit in his legs before the race but once the race started he ran wonderfully, coming in 4^th position, a great result for a runner a year young in his category. In the U17 boys race Finn and Alexander looked strong, both boys running a year young, with Finn finishing 2^nd and Alexander 4^th. This should mean that we have 6 boys selected for the Cornwall teams to run in the Inter Counties Championships to be held at Exeter racecourse on Saturday 8^th January. Good luck to all the boys.