2004 National Cross-Country Relays, Mansfield

National Champions! The Victorious Under 15 Cross-Country Relay Team Things couldn't be going much better for the Westbury Harriers Under 15 squad in general, and Richard Peters in particular.  Fresh from victory in the Reebok UK cross-country league the previous week, the team was hoping for a good result in the National Cross-Country Relays at Mansfield, and was not disappointed.
	Relay races always provide an exciting spectacle, and, with the wooded section of the course dressed in its finest autumn colours, the Mansfield event has provided some of the most memorable clashes on the club scene.  On the first leg, Tom Carpenter, vastly experienced if not quite at his best, pulled the club round with a determined run in 9th pace, crucially just a few seconds down on the leaders.
The strength of the squad was already visible as Harry Webb, running on the same leg, produced his best ever performance in a cross-country event to start the B team off in 5th place.
	On the second leg Joe Dalgleish proved what a dependable runner he is.  Running with deceptive ease, the youngest member of the team picked up the places one-by-one, to finish in 4th place, just 10 seconds down on the leader.
Taking over on the last leg, Richard Peters, who only began regular training at the start of the year, now had to put into effect all that he had learnt over the last few months.  As the first section of the course wound around the ornamental lake and up into the trees, Richard was scarcely making an impact on the gap, but was covering the fast surface with elastic efficiency.  Once in the woods, the twists, turns and sharp hills took their toll on the leaders, and Richard now surged past 3rd and emerged back into the open just 5 yards down on the leader.
	With 500 tiring meters still to go, James Wilkinson of Leeds City tried to push away for victory, but the Westbury Harrier was now locked onto his man, and preparing for the final push.  The final furlong of the race runs up a deceptive, tiring slope, but Richard surged away to win not only the race, but also to claim the fastest time of the day.
Richard’s other Westbury club-mates, meanwhile, were also performing well, as Tom Wintle and Damien Holcombe pulled the second team around to finish as first ‘B’ team
Running as the third team, Tom Jacob and Nick Selman were joined by Chris Monahan, who had only come into the team the night before as a late substitute, and who brought them home as the first ‘C’ team to finish (sorry Chris, I didn't get a photo of you)
The Under 13's also acquitted themselves with distinction, with the A team finishing 8th.
The B and C teams also gave some youngsters their first taste of a National Championships