Hampshire Cross Country League - Popham Airfield, Basingstoke - 3rd Decenber 2011

It can be said that BAC had a good day at the 3rd Hampshire Cross Country League fixture at Popham Airfield, Basingstoke on Saturday, 3 December 2011, with another win for Bridget Dence, the Senior Mens' Team maintaining its second position and the U17 Mens' Team also continuing its momentum.

In the U13 Girls' race, Bridget Dence again demonstrated her natural ability, winning the race with a comfortable margin to spare. Bridget's was an excellent run so soon after her remarkable performance at the McCain Challenge in Liverpool only a week ago. Bridget was joined in the U13 Girls' race by Ella Sykes, who continues to show her consistent form in cross country. Perhaps more of our U13 girls could be encouraged to support our two ever-present girls in these races?

Perhaps the outstanding team race in this League involves our Senior Mens' Team, who repeated the second place in Division 1 which has been achieved in all the Hampshire League fixtures so far. Steve Way, having finished 3rd and 2nd BAC in the previous two fixtures, this time led the team home, with Ian Habgood 'relegated' to second BAC, a position which most of us can only dream of! The team was completed by Jacek Cieluszecki, Jon Sharkey and Rob McTaggart. Spare a thought for Club Captain Simon Munro, and Karl Welch, who, despite very strong performances, were just squeezed out of the team placings. In all, 14 BAC athletes competed in this race. The team scored 102 points, in third place were Reading Athletic Club (115), and fourth Southampton Athletic Club (117). Reading did not have a team at the first fixture at Farley Mount, so are out of the team competition for the season, but Southampton, having been third in the first two fixtures, are a definite threat to the second position (Aldershot, Farnham & District are first, a country mile ahead, no-one is going to catch them), and have been sending out a clear message, via Facebook, etc., that we can expect a strong challenge at the next fixture at Kings Park on 14 January 2012!

Our U17 Mens' team, led by Josh King and Declan Toth, again put on a solid perormance, to finish 3rd team on the day. For the first time this season, David Long competed in this League. Brendan Kirkton completed the U17 Men BAC contingent, but was clearly experiencing one of those days which every single one of us knows about, when, for some unknown reason, things just don't go according to plan. Brendon normally finishes much higher up the field - and will do again! In the U15 Boys' race BAC were represented, once again, by Corrie Norton.

BAC Results

Senior Men:
7. Steve Way 27.37; 17. Ian Habgood 28.39; 19. Jacek Cieluszecki 28.42; 28. Jon Sharkey 29.16; 31. Rob McTaggart 29.34; 41. Simon Munro 30.08; 49. Karl Welch 30.45; 93. Paul Hindle 33.09; 96. Laurence Plant 33.15; 108. Andy Jennings 34.01; 128. Simon Hunt 35.40; 135. Joe Price; 149. Ian Graham 37.10; 181. Andy Gillespie 40.22.

U17 Men:
11. Josh King 16.48; 18. Declan Toth 17.25; 23. David Long 17.44; 33. Brendan Kirkton 18.52.

U15 Boys:
13. Corrie Norton 13.27.

U13 Girls:
1. Bridget Dence 10.46; 19. Ella Sykes 12.14.