Rugby and Northampton AC’s young athletes travelled to Berry Hill Park, Mansfield on Saturday 2nd November to compete in the ECCA National Cross- Country Relays against clubs from all across the country. On a traditional style cross-country course, the athletes faced mud, uneven terrain and several very difficult hills. RaNAC’s youngsters all coped admirably with the tough conditions.
Against very strong competition the under 13 Girls’ team ran superbly to finish in 26th place out of 63 complete teams. Freya Carty, Elsie Rudkin-Wilson and Amelia Lee all ran with great determination, and were not deterred by the demanding conditions.
RaNAC had two teams in the under 13 Boys’ event, with 55 teams from across the country completing the 3x2km competition. The RaNAC B team of Isaac Brierley-York, Alfred Bartup and Joe Walden ran with incredible resolve to finish in 25th position, a great achievement. The club’s A team of Miles Taylor, Alex Kampta and David Allen completed the course in 36th place. The fastest RaNAC runner of the day in the under 13 Boys’ event was Isaac Brierley-York, who ran an incredible race. The team spirit amongst the boys was amazing, with each of them encouraging their team mates.
In the under 17 Men’s event RaNAC fielded three teams in a field which included some of the top athletes nationally in this age group. 75 teams completed the 3x3km event. The RaNAC A team of Stanley Sage, Jack Arbuthnott and Sam McInally finished in 44th place, the B team of Jack Twining, Oscar Currie and Joel Benton were 58th and our C team comprising Finn Swoboda, Nate Tilt and Ollie Walls crossed the finishing line in 68th position. Stanley Sage ran the fastest leg of the nine RaNAC athletes. It was great to see Jack Twining return to competitive running.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, our under 15 Girls fielded an incomplete team. Nevertheless Amelie Heron on the first leg and Jemima Spiller on the second leg both ran determinedly, with both girls showing great hill running ability!
RaNAC’s young athletes will be taking part in their next fixture on 10th November, when they compete in the West Midlands Young Athletes Cross Country League at Newbold Revel.
