AVON athletes won six medals sat the South West Schools’ Cross Country Championships held over a mud bath of course around, Pittville Park, Cheltenham.
A week of heavy rain left the park looking like a swamp in parts and conditions were probably as tough as an of the youngster have ever encountered in this event.
But that didn’t deter 11-year-old QEH pupil Rufus Thomas for celebrating his debut in the event with a fantastic victory in the minor boys’ age group/
“That is a big surprise!” said Rufus, who lives in Chew Magna.
There were also three silver medals for the brilliant Hobbs sisters Hannah and Ellie Hobbs in the inter and junior girls’ races respectively and Hugh Sadler in the inter boys’ age group.
Abdi Hassan ran bravely to finish third in the junior boys’ event and there was also a bronze for 11-year-old Redland Green Schoolgirl Kate Howard in the minor girls’ race.
More news and comments to follow.
South West Schools’ Cross Country Championships, Pittville Park, Cheltenham – senior boys: 1 William Battershill (D) 23:17; 2 Luke Prior (S) 23:31; 3 Jack Turner (G) 24:07.
Teams: 1 Somerset 32; 2 Devon 76; 3 Gloucestershire 111; 4 Avon 190; 5 Wiltshire 199; 6 Dorset 206.
Inter boys: 1 Aidan Kent (C ) 17:06; 2 Hugh Sadler (A) 17:17; 3 Tom Bourne (Do) 17:38.
Teams: 1 Dorset 78; 2 Cornwall 94; 3 Avon 104; 4 Gloucestershire 105; 5 Devon 140; 6 Somerset 203.
Junior boys: 1 Harris Mier (C ) 14:33; 2 Rory Nicholson (S) 15:15; 3 Abdi Hassan (A) 15:27.
Teams: 1 Devon 70; 2 Avon 77; 3 Cornwall 121; 4 Gloucestershire 130; 5 Somerset 134; 6 Wiltshire 244.
Minor boys: 1 Rufus Thomas (A) 11:34; 2 Arthur Pease (G) 11:38; 3 Tor Swann (D) 11:46.
Teams: 1 Devon 70; 2 Gloucestershire 88; 3 Somerset 114.
Senior girls: 1 Poppy Tank (D) 16:03; 2 Tess Masselink (C ) 16:17; 3 Serena O’Connor (Do) 16:35.
Teams: 1 Dorset 68; 2 Devon 83; 3 Avon 128; 4 Gloucestershire 133; 5 Somerset 145; 6 Wiltshire 243.
Inter girls: 1 Grace Copeland (Do) 16:26; 2 Hannah Hobbs (A) 16:34; 3 Sian Temple (C ) 16:36.
Teams: 1 Avon 73; 2 Somerset 94; 3 Dorset 123; 4 Devon 162; 5 Gloucestershire 175; 6 Cornwall 177; 7 Wiltshire 227.
Junior girls: 1 Amelia Wills (S) 15:33; 2 Ellie Hobbs (A) 16:05; 3 Madeleine Johnson (Do) 16:10.
Teams: 1 Gloucestershire 71; 2 Dorset 80; 3 Devon 117; 4 Avon 137; 5 Somerset 178; 6 Wiltshire 188; 7 Cornwall 253.
Minor girls: 1 Poppy Clark (G) 8:45; 2 Megan Hamilton-Strong (D) 9:04; 3 Kate Howard (A) 9:08.
Teams: 1 Dorset 65; 2 Devon 90; 3 Somerset 157; 4 Wiltshire 159; 5 Avon 168; 6 Gloucestershire 170; 7 Cornwall 174.