Senior Cross Country Leagues – Abington Park, Sat 4th December

Rugby & Northampton AC hosted the Midland Women’s Cross Country League Division Two and Mens Birmingham League Division One at Abington Park, Northampton in the second fixture of the season.

Midland Women’s League Div 2

The ladies ran a 6k course, which consisted of one small lap and two large laps of the park and R&N’s Hayley Munn had a terrific run to finish in second place with a time of 22:20 and she was joined in the top ten by Tilly Lea who repeated her ninth spot from the first race when she recorded 24:19. Sophia Hill finished as the third Junior athlete in 19^th position on 26:23 and completing the scoring team was Monika Korendova who placed 25^th in 27:09 to put the team in third on the day. The rest of the squad was made up of veteran athletes with Zoe Shepherd crossing the line in 34^th on 28:31 and 16^th in her age group. She was followed by Tracey Donaldson (48^th in 29:08), Helen Jones (50^th in 29:09), Angela Copson (56^th in 29:31), Angela Wesley (76^th in 31:17), Hayley Clarke (79^th in 31:30) and Tricia Garner (106^th in 34:32).  The team finished 3rd on the day which still gives them the chance to push for promotion in the final 2 races, in the New Year.

Birmingham League Div 1

In the Mens race over a six mile four lap course Haydn Arnall became the eighth Rugby & Northampton athlete to make the top ten when he led home the club in 9^th place with 32 mins 28 secs.  Finlay Ward was making his debut in the league and the 18 year old had an excellent run to finish 17^th in 33:15 and was the fourth Junior in the race. There were best ever placings from Jack Bond and Alistair McDonnell with the former in 29^th spot on 33:42 and the latter finishing 48^th with 34:35. Debutant Jack Halsey came home next for the club in 75^th with a time of 35:37 and completing the scoring six was veteran Dave Ball who claimed his best position of 97^th in 36:36.  The club finished in 6^th place, which was an improvement on their 13^th from the first fixture and they have now moved up to ninth place in the league table.

Unlike the first race R&N did finish a B team with Stephen Marks recording 36:44 to put the veteran in exactly 100^th position. Following him home were Anthony Clancy (117^th in 37:33), debutant Sam Tallett (133^rd in 38:13) and veterans Vince Carroll (157^th in 39:55), Richard Thomas (170^th in 41:08), his highest placing and John Saw (211th in 48:18). The B team finished ninth.