South West Intercounties Cross Country Championships 2022

04 January 2022

2022 competitions kicked off at the South West Intercounties Cross Country Championships in Ilton. The athletes were treated with a muddy, hilly course making for some tough racing.

Kiya Dee kicked off her 2022 in style with an impressive win in the U17W race. Dee looked comfortable across the mud, eventually pulling clear of her rivals to win by 4 seconds. In the same race Ciara Thornley ran well to finish in 6th and Freya Howell held on strong to finish 29th.

(Photo: Kiya Dee topping the podium)

Kaitlyn Sheppard also made a strong start to 2022 competing in the mixed Senior and U20 race. Sheppard pushed the pace from the gun and was rewarded for her hard work with 4th place overall and 2nd U20. 

Martha Marsden and Lucy Perry cracked into the top 10 in the U11G race. Marsden ran a superb race to finish in 5th and Perry followed close behind in 7th. Rufus Buckland was the only Harrier in the U11B race, running well to finish in 15th. 

The U13B race was a tight affair with the top 10 all finishing within 60 seconds. Patrick Paul stuck with the leaders and fought hard to finish a fantastic 5th. Elijah Marsden, Eddie Atkins and Samuel Jarvis finished 22nd, 48th and 55th respectively. Scarlett Eagland and Bluebell Heath-Smith kept their 2021 form going with two great runs to finish in 18th and 27th. 

In the U15B race Dominic Martin and Sam Wilson continued their exciting rivalry, spurring one another to go faster. Both athletes finished within the top 20 with Dominic Martin taking an impressive 6th and just 18seconds behind Sam Wilson finished in 16th. Four U15Gs competed, finishing within 60 seconds of one another. Georgia Howell led them home in 38th and just 4 seconds behind was Kate Mills in 40th. Isobel Watt crossed the line in 45th and Abigail Thornley was 60th.