Isabel Cherrett was defending her crown after emerging victorious at last year’s South West Cross Country Championships
On a blustery Somerset afternoon at RNAS Merryfield, the South West Club & County Cross Country Championships once again delivered the kind of honest, unforgiving test that strips racing back to its basics – mud, wind, grit, and a refusal to give an inch. Against that backdrop, Bournemouth AC athletes, representing both club and county, produced performances full of resolve, promise and quiet class.
Isaac May and Oliver Canavan were featuring in the Under 17 Men’s race
The Under 17 Men’s race saw Dorset well represented by Bournemouth AC duo Oliver Canavan and Isaac May, lining up against a deep regional field. At the sharp end, Rory Barclay-Wyatt of Exeter Harriers stamped his authority on the race, striding clear to take the title in 17:55, with Thomas Vestey of Taunton (18:21) and Jasper Forty of Exeter Harriers (18:27) completing the podium.
Isabel was hoping to start the year off on a high
Behind them, Oliver Canavan showed why his winter reputation is growing to match his formidable track credentials. The Boscombe Seafront 5k winner, Dorset and South West Schools 1500m champion, and a regular Bournemouth parkrun front-runner, ran a measured and determined race to finish 11th in 19:45, first Dorset scorer on the day.
Isaac May, no stranger to county honours himself after a Dorset Schools cross country title and strong showings on the track, followed him home in 16th place in 20:05. Their combined efforts helped Dorset to a highly creditable 4th place in the County team competition.
Isaac ran well to finish in 16th place
In the Under 17 Women’s race, Isabel Cherrett returned to defend the title she won twelve months ago and once again delivered a performance of real authority. Fresh from victories in the Dorset and South West Schools Cross Country Championships, a ninth place at the Southern Championships, and a clean sweep of the Wessex Cross Country League, Isabel was right in the hunt from the gun. Only Ellie Foster of Devon could deny her, Foster taking the win in exactly 17 minutes, with Isabel finishing a strong second in 17:31.
Isaac was second scorer for the Dorset team
Another Bournemouth AC athlete, Flo Dootson, showed great determination to complete the course in testing conditions, finishing 34th in 24:00. With Isabel leading the way, Dorset secured second place in the County standings, behind Devon.
Isabel was battling it out at the front of the field
Isabel had to settle for second place this time
The Under 15 Boys tackled their own demanding course with Bournemouth AC trio Finley Hurst Atkins, Callum Pearson and Aiden Blagden all gaining valuable championship experience. Finley, already a three-time winner of his age group in the Junior Upton Summer Series, and Callum, who completed all six races in the Upton series and finished third overall in the 14–17 category, crossed the line together in 43rd and 44th places respectively, both clocking 12:43 for the two-mile route at an average pace of 6:14 per mile. Aiden Blagden, who ran 18:18 for 5k at the Run Bournemouth Supernova and finished 37th in last year’s Under 13 South West Championships, placed 50th in 13:03. Up front, Poole AC’s Theo Cobley claimed victory in 10:53, while Dorset finished 5th in the County team competition.
Callum Pearson was running in the Under15 Boys race
In the Under 15 Girls race, Isla May and Jess Long wore Dorset colours alongside fellow Bournemouth AC runner Lola Thomasson. Isla led the Dorset scorers home in 18th place in 13:23, Jess followed in 37th in 14:16, and Lola completed the course in 59th with a time of 16:39. Ellie Birchall of Exeter Harriers took the individual honours in 12:22, and Dorset finished 4th in the County team standings.
Aiden Blagden was also representing Dorset in the Under 15 Boys race
The Under 13 races brought further Dorset success. While no Bournemouth AC athletes featured in the boys’ event, Louis Robinett of Poole Runners dominated the race, winning in 9:27, 23 seconds clear of Bristol & West’s Charlie Barnes, with club-mate Seth Hollyman taking fourth in 10:05.
Aiden went on to finish in 50th place
In the girls’ race, Allegra Ramirez continued her excellent season, finishing 9th in 11:31 and acting as third scorer for Dorset. Abigail Moors (11:05) and Imogen Beisley (11:13), both of Poole AC, finished second and fourth respectively, helping Dorset to second place in the County competition behind Wiltshire.
There was no Bournemouth AC presence in the senior races, and Dorset did not field teams, but familiar faces were still to be found near the front. Former Bournemouth AC athlete Harry Smith, competing for Wiltshire since he lives in Salisbury, produced a fine run to take second place in the Senior Men’s race. He covered the 7km course in 22:24, averaging a brisk 5:04 per mile, bettered only by Bristol & West’s Felix McGrath, who won in 22:17. Ben Robinson, also of Bristol & West, claimed bronze in 22:41. Bristol & West took the Club team title, with Cornwall winning the County honours.
Jess Long was in action in the Under 15 Girls race
In the Senior Women’s race, Annabel Arnold of City of Plymouth emerged victorious in 26:04, ahead of Tamara Beach of Cornwall (26:29). Sophie Nicholls of Wells City Harriers finished third in 26:31 and was first Under 20. Team Bath secured the Club team victory, while Cornwall once again topped the County standings.
Jess works her way up the slope
All told, it was a championship day that showcased both established class and emerging talent, with Bournemouth AC athletes once again proving that, when the mud flies and the stakes rise, they are more than ready to answer the call.
Jess was the sixth Dorset runner to get round