National Champions!

A long winter campaign came to a triumphant end at Sutton Park on Sunday (04/04/04) as Westbury Harriers’ U15 team capped the winter's previous championship bronze and silver medals with gold at the National Young Athletes Road Relays.  Not only that, but, on his debut club run, Richard Peters became the sixth Westbury Athlete to win an U15 medal over the winter, and, with several other enthusiastic youngsters straining in the slips, the team is turning into a truly vintage squad.
	On first leg, stalwart Tom Carpenter went with a crowded and hectic pace, but suffered through the fast downhill stretch, before showing strength of character to pull back up into 9th place.  As a newcomer to this event, Richard Peters was given the 'comfortable' second leg, but was in no mood to take things easy, working sensibly up the long early hill and blustery central heathland, before cutting lose after the turn, and bearing down on the leaders, to finish in third place.
Although he has not exactly had a perfect winter of training, Sam Dalgleish on last leg did not need any encouragement to chase the scent of victory; taking over just 5 seconds behind the leaders, he was soon established at the head of the race.  The event was not over that easily, however, as Alan Osman from Ealing attempted to run him down, and Sam's interrupted preparations started to show.  However, once he had reached the Keepers' Pool on the homeward stretch, no one was going to take the prize away from him, and, after Bronze in the National Cross-Country Relays, and Silver in the National Cross-Country Championships, Westbury Harriers finally triumphed with Gold in the National Road Relays.
		On the girls side, the U17 team had to brave the worst of the afternoon's weather, with a sustained cold and heavy 'April Shower' dominating the proceedings.  However, Kelly Winstone produced the best run of her ever-improving career to lead the team out, and the experienced legs of Lauren McQuaid and Marie Drucker-Allister pulled the team round in an excellent 12th place.
	The boys' 'B' team suffered a blow in their attempts to match the 'A' team's win.  Having disciplined all athletes not to come forward to the take-over line until called, the officials only announced the incoming 'A' teams.  With Harry Webb taking the 'B' team around in 12th place, Damien Holcombe stood awaiting his call-up for nearly a minute before a spectator persuaded athlete and officials that he should take off!
However Rob Mullet, who must be close to some sort of record for the amount of growth in a winter, brought the team home in good spirit.