Westbury Harriers

English National Cross-Country Relays
Mansfield, 12th November 2005

The U13 Team Landed Unexpected, but Well Deserved, Bronze Medals

Once again the National Cross-Country Relays provided the spectacle of cross-country running at its finest, with sharp running and tight finishes over a course that wound its way through autumnal woods and gently rolling parkland.  With the low sun catching the colours of club vests from all corners of England, it is not surprising that the popularity of this event is riding high.

As in recent years, Westbury Harriers' teams fared well, with U13 bronze medals going to a fresh new crop of youngsters (a completely different set of faces to those that won U13 medals at the National Road Relay Championships in the spring) and U17 bronze medals going to some old hands at this event.  In both age groups, the 'B' teams were also the 2nd to finish in their category ...
                    ... see below for U13 and U15 photos and results;  See Page 2 for U17 photos and results

The Under 13s team was billed as 'interesting', with track specialist Brett Halliwell taking them out on a fiercely competitive first leg.  Brett kept his cool as the pack tore around the lake at the start of the lap, getting into his stride through the woods, and finishing well along the rolling final gallop in 7:12
		Brett handed over well up in 7th place to Will Massey, who used his studied experience to peck away at the leading group, bringing the team home in 4th, just 7 seconds down on the bronze medal place, in 7:14
On the last leg, Fraser Babbage was an unknown quantity, having shown his worth in training, but untested in club competition.  His form was undisputed, however, and working steadily up towards the medals, he had latched onto his man as the runners emerged from the woods into the grassy last 500m, and immediately took off towads the finish, bringing the club home with 5 seconds to spare, with the 7th fastest time of the day (7:02).
	The 'B' team went one better, as 2nd 'B' team to finish.  Luke Mallard took them out in 7:32
	George Wintle ran 7:56 on the second leg, while Martin McNeil finished off in 7:50
	The U15s team was very similar to the one that won silver medals in the Midlands road relays, and, in fact, were second Midlands team home again.  Dan Studley took them out in 6:57...
	Tom Wintle then ran 6:58 on the second leg, while Joe Dalgleish, a little short of fitness after his trip to Japan, nevertheless ran the 9th fastest time of the day, bringing the team home in 13th place.
	In the 'B' team, Matt Peters ran 7:08, and Rob Galt 6:59.

On to Page 2 for U17 photos and results