Joint winners as first two can't be separated in cross country

By [mjenkin]

A THRILLING dash for the line in the under-11 girls' race lit up the latest North Devon cross-country meeting.

West Buckland's Nell Hemansbrook and Annabel Heath of St Michael's went head to head for honours in the third Gliddon and Squire League meeting.

With the pair inseparable at the finish line, they were declared joint winners at the St Michael's School race.

Considering the relatively long distances and steep terrain, there were some surprisingly tight finishes on Sunday.

Pyworthy dominated the under-nine girls' race with Holly Martin, Georgina Moores and Millie Moores leading a one-two-three.

And West Buckland enjoyed similar dominance in the under-19s as Diana Webber returned first ahead of Cecilia Karlsson and Polly Goodman.

Kingsley's Peter Hockin continues to dominate the senior men's section after holding off the challenge of Peter Rigler for the third time this season.

Kingsley School hosts the next meeting from 10am on December 6.

● Cross-country runners from North Devon endured slippery conditions at the second meeting of the Brooks Westward League.

Bideford AAC's Ned Oliver was runner-up in the boys' under-13 race on the winding course at Penrice School, St Austell. Having won the first meeting of the season in Plymouth, this time Oliver had to settle for second after a great scrap over the final lap.

Club-mate Dani Jewell also put herself in with the leading pack in the girls' under-13s, eventually finishing fourth despite a knee injury.

In the senior men's race, Mark Jenkin claimed third, while 19-year-old Dan Mapp took 12th, his best finish.

Jo Meek, who trains with the Blues, was second in the senior women's race. Marilyn Blair of Torrington AAC was sixth.

● Yelland athlete Mitchell Barclay finished fifth at the Drogo 10 multi-terrain race near Exeter in 1-09-20.

● Mandy Sanders completed the first event of the Endurancelife Coastal Trail Series, finishing 38th overall for the 10k in Dorest.

The Torrington athlete clocked 1-12-17 and was fifth lady for the race along steep coastal paths.