After a break of two years the Wessex Cross Country League recommenced on Sunday 2 October 2022 at Canford Heath. Although heavy rain had fallen earlier, by the time the fixture started the day was warm and sunny and the going round the course was dry and firm. In all 36 BAC athletes competed in all age groups (apart from U20 men and women) in ten separate races with some excellent individual and team results. In the U11G competition Isla May was third, and a short time later Connor Grocott and Austin Riley were second and third U13B respectively, with a BAC team U13B result only one point off the lead. A win by Albha O’Brien in the U13G race ensured that the U13G team stands first in the league, helped by Amy Betts in fifth place. In almost every other age group and distance throughout the day BAC athletes scored in the top three places. Oliver Canavan was the third U15B, resulting in a team points equalling those of the winning team, and Isabel Cherrett was also third in her race, U15G. The trend continued for the U17M, with Seb Crowe second, Massimo Lawson third, closely followed by Oliver Hill in fourth. Simon Chojnacki ran superbly to finish second in the senior mens’ race, with Simon being the first veteran to cross the line. BAC‘s senior mens’ team lies in fourth (of ten) teams after the first league event, and the veteran mens’ team is second (of six). There was an equally impressive performance by BAC‘s ladies, as Kirsty Drewett and Debbie Lennon were first and second senior and veteran ladies respectively, with, unsurprisingly, both the senior and veterans ladies’ teams top of the league. Everyone who competed, encouraged, transported, provided equipment and all the other activities undertaken all played their part to ensure this was a successful start to the Wessex Cross Country season, so well done all!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The full BAC results for the Canford Heath fixture are as follows: U11B: 9.Jake Ryan 10.01, 11. Edward King 10.13, 14. Aiden Blagden 10.21; U11G: 3. Isla May 10.17, 18. Erin Ryan 11.15, 25. Skye Grocott 12.09, 32. Phoebe Clark 12.59; U13B: 2. Connor Grocott 12.19, 3. Austin Riley 12.24, 19. Edward Ryan 14.02; U13G: 1. Albha O’Brien 12.48, 5. Amy Betts 13.43, 8. Constance King 14.19, 10. Clodagh O’Brien 14.29; U15B: 3. Oliver Canavan 14.00, 7. Harry Butcher 14.33, 11. Scott Grocott 16.05; U15G: 3. Isabel Cherrett 15.14, 8. Esmee Hurst Atkins 16.26, 13. Laras McKenna 17.21; U17M: 2. Seb Crowe, 3. Massimo Lawson 15.26, 4. Oliver Hill 15.33; U17W: 5. Emily Coltman 18.37, 11. Ida Waring 22.19, 12. Mariah Marshall 22.20; S/VM: 2. Simon Chojnacki 29.04 (1st VM), 6. Patrick McCalister 32.25, 16. Richard Wade 36.07, 18. Jud Kirk 36.47, 28. Geoffrey Newton 41.46, 31. Ian Graham 45.25; S/VW: 2. Kirsty Drewett 27.22, 3. Debbie Lennon 27.32, 19. Helen Ambrosen 33.25, 22. Jayne Wade 35.18.