Wyatt stars for Avon at English Schools Championships

LEADING Avon runner at the English Schools’ Cross Country Championships, Wollaton Park, Nottingham, on Saturday was Stanley Wyatt in the junior boys’ race.

Wyatt, who competes for Team Bath AC, finished a superb 11^th, which represents a massive improvement upon his 125^th on his debut in this event a year ago.

It was the first time he has beaten Bristol & West’s Ewan Sparey this season. Sparey has enjoyed a great winter but at the weekend he finished a below-par 44^th. He’ll probably enjoy a break from racing now.

*Stanley Wyatt and Ewan Sparey in action at a previous competition*

Only three other Avon athletes managed to make the top 100 in this fiercely contest event which boasts the cream of England’s young runners.

Team Bath’s Dylan Stoneman was a very creditable 22^nd in his first attempt at the senior boys’ age group with Westbury’s Seamus Robinson just outside the top 100 in 107^th.

In the girls’ races Westbury’s Laura Chance finished 79^th in the inter girls’ race compared to her 65^th last year while Talia Hughes of North Somerset AC was 103^rd.

In the juniors Heidi Martineau, also of North Somerset, came 89^th on her debut.

English Schools’ Cross Country Championships, Wollaton Park, Nottingham

Senior boys – 28 Avon 1000 (22 Dylan Stoneman, 107 Seamus Robinson, 155 Ismael Bradley, 198 Finlay Davies, 223 Nick Pestell, 295 Michael Kelly).

Inter boys – 34 Avon 1130 (124 Murray Pearson, 139 Ben Collins, 172 Thomas Cummins, 223 Oliver Aldred, 225 Thomas Darton, 247 Will Andrews).

Junior boys – Avon (11 Stanley Wyatt, 44 Ewan Sparey, 119 Augustin Downing, 150 Tom White, 234 Oisin O’Halloran).

Senior girls – 29 Avon 1003 (101 Molly Ovenden, 118 Sofi Hayes-Hoyle, 119 Amy Nicholls, 196 Lottie Silverton, 200 Molly Thomas, 269 Alex Oliver). 35 Wiltshire 1241

Inter girls – 16 Avon 776 (79 Laura Chance, 103 Talia Hughes, 110 Freya Bradley, 143 Romilly Dutton, 151 Elen Ruck, 190 Maeve Robinson, 233 Felicity Lowe, 305 Pippa Houghton).

Junior girls – 35 Avon 1160 (89 Heidi Martineau, 141 Gabriella Ritter Sherratt, 180 Lillia Beazley-Long, 194 Hollie Harvie-Pullin, 274 Mairi Carver Brown, 282 Polly Pennicott; 293 Caitlin White).