Gloucestershire Cross Country League Round 3 + British Masters Indoor Championships

07 March 2022

Michael Gardiner won an amazing silver at the British Masters Indoor Championships. Gardiner competed in the M50 400, a discipline where he currently ranks 2nd in the UK rankings, running 56.01 to finish over a second clear of third place.

Over in Nuneaton Annabel Moloney has started her 2022 season with a win at the Nuneaton Open in the shot put throwing 11:07

This weekend the final fixture in the 2021/2022 Gloucestershire Cross Country League took place in beautiful sunshine. The league returned to the ever popular venue, Old Down Country park, and with medals to play for it was a strong team of Harriers who made the trip.

The mixed U11 boys and girls race kicked off the day with Martha Marsden impressing, finishing as 2nd girl and securing 2nd place in the overall league standings. Similarly, Lucy Perry finished as 5th girl on the day and 5th overall in the league, equal with Eleanor Thomson who did not race the final fixture. Ivy Wightman ran well to finish 6th (9th in league), Harriet Bennet was 9th (10th in league), Maisie Scott was 10th (15th in league) and Islan Harvey rounded off the team in 12th (13th in league). Also missing from the final fixture was Kimberley Hodgkinson who finished 11th in the overall league. As a team the athletes smashed it, finished 1st and 3rd on the day and in the final standings. 

Monty Wilkins led the way in the U11 boys race, the Harrier finished 12th on the day and in the final league standings. Wilkins was followed home by Leo McCaffrey-Endsor who produced his best race of the season to finish 16th (28th in the league). George Phillimore was just one place behind in 17th but cracked the top 20 in the league with a 20th place finish. Freddie Hole (33rd in league) was just ahead of Evan Lawler (36th in league) at Old Down with the duo finishing in 24th and 27th place. Although not present on the day Milo Parsons equalled Lawler in the league and Arthurt Roberts finished 24th. The team finished a superb 2nd securing themselves 3rd place overall.

Next up was the U13 boys and girls race. There were brilliant performances from Patrick Paul and Olivia Avery to both finish 2nd boy and girl respectively. This earnt Paul a silver medal overall in the league and Avery a bronze. Despite not racing in Old Down Maddie Thomson’s wins in the previous two fixtures earnt her the leagues gold medal. Jack Pennell and Evie Avery were 4th boy and girl respectively with Pennell taking league 5th and Avery 8th. Despite finishing one place behind Pennell on the day in 5th, Tom Wightman equalled his overall league position. Completing the U13 boys team was Harry Knight in 10th (13th in league), Edward Atkins in 11th (14th in league) and Samuel Jarvis in 15th (18th in league). The boys A team took the win with the B team coming in 3rd, this earnt the A team overall league gold, with a solid finish off 5th for the B team. Meanwhile the girls produced a superb display with Bluebell Heath-Smith coming 6th (9th in league), Scarlett Eagland coming 7th (9th in league), Verity Lilley finishing 9th (11th in league) and Rosie Reynolds coming in 14th (13th in league). Freya Braiden also finished as 22nd in the league. The impressive performances all through the season saw the strength in depth emphasised in the results, with the A team winning on the day and the overall league and, likewise, the B team coming 3rd on the day and 3rd in the overall league. 

Dominic Martin saved his best for last in the U15 boys race. The Harrier has steadily improved throughout the season and his efforts were rewarded with a fantastic 1st place finish. Just one second behind Sam Wilson also achieved his best finish of the season in 2nd place. The duo have battled hard through each race and their hard work paid off in Old Down. Overall Martin took the league silver medal and Wilson finished in 4th, with both taking home team bronze. Harriet Smith improved on her previous races too, taking 2nd in the U15 girls race. The performance earned her a brilliant league bronze. Next in was Amelie Paul in 4th (7th in league), Georgia Howell in 5th and Isobel Burfitt in 8th (11th in league). The team took the win on the day and overall league gold, with the depth this season, including Kate Mills 7th place league finish and Abigail Thonrleys 12th place league finish, they also won team bronze.  

Such was Kiya Dee’s dominance this season the Harrier won U17 league gold without even racing at the final fixture. Dee adds the league gold, to the county championship gold and English Championship bronze won last weekend. The U17 girls team also won gold. In the U17 men’s event Bexley Turbard ran a strong race to finish 2nd on the day and in the overall league.

Jamie Bell has gone from strength to strength this season, with the Harriers confidence growing it was no surprise to see him take a well deserved win in the final fixture of the League. The performance earnt Bell the league gold in just his first ever season. 

(Photo: The conclusion of an impressive debut season for Jamie Bell)

Ella Burfitt made the transition up to the senior age group this season but made the move look easy taking a comfortable win on the day and taking the overall league gold.

(Photo: Ella Burfitt on her way to gold)

Petra Vymetalova rounded off an amazing season with 2nd L35, just missing out on a league medal finishing in 4th. Team captain, Jo Wilkie, has led and motivated the team fantastically all season and the Harrier finished off her own season with 6th L40 and 5th in the league. Next in was Ellie Balfe as 6th L35 (7th in league), Brittany Crombie as 8th SL (4th in league) and Holly Derrick as 9th SL (5th in league). Joan Shaw completed the Harriers team with 5th L55 and 6th in the league. Also scoring in the league was Sarah Sheppard with 6th L40 and Nicola Whiteman with 7th L40. On the day the A team finished 3rd, the B team was 10th and the masters team was 2nd. Thanks to the efforts of a vast range of women the A team and the masters team achieved silver in the league with the B team placing well to finish 7th.  

The final race of the day, as always, was the senior men’s race with much left to play for in the individual and team league standings. After a solid season Elliot Prince finished 24th overall and 13th senior man, matching his overall league position. Consistency paid off for Andy Gore with 3rd M50 in the final fixture and a well deserved league silver medal. Close behind Gore was fellow M50 athlete Dan Minors, 4th on the day and in the league. Harrison Miles was 18th SM, Ross Swain came 25th SM (20th in league), Kevin Spillman was 8th M55 and Jame Wilkinson was 8th M40 (11th in league). Not attending the final fixture Matt Evans still achieved 25th in the league. The team pushed hard, and came together throughout the season, earning 3rd on the day and 3rd overall in the league. The masters team earnt 6th on the day. 

(Photo: Senior men’s and women’s teams at the final fixture)

A fantastic season, where the club has built with each race and an incredible team spirit that makes us excited for what is to come!