Stopsley Cross Country...

Stopsley X-Country Sunday 24th October.

A huge turn-out of 500 odd runners for the 1st cross-country of the season included 27 of our finest athletes. Newcomers were nervously asking about mud, hills, shoes, where, why and how, whilst gnarled x-c vets just gave the “You’ll be Okay” answer with that knowing look in their eyes.

In the ladies race Steph Russell keeps getting higher in the results. Jocelyn Granger ran a storming debut as 2nd scorer and a new style Jo Lee scored 3rd. A good sign was that regular scorers of the past are now struggling to make the podium. The depth of runners means that good runs from Mary Kingsnorth and Jo Smith left them just behind the three required scorers. All runners placings are invaluable however as your score pushes someone else from another team further down.

Debbie Holmes, Kirsty Braithwaite and Claire Spokes had good 1st runs with us and will soon be heading up the results board with more races. Sue Thompson, Pauline Horne, Keren Irving, Carol Whatton and Sally Garrett were all happy to be back in the mud where they always excel.

The men’s team also had a number of new faces to liven things up. Keith Jellyman, back from his triathlon ran a great race staying just ahead of Tony Letts with Gary McDaniels giving us three in the top 50. One of many stars of the day was Mark Kennedy who chased a re-invigorated Dave Whatton to the finish and took a number of prize scalps on the way. Ronnie Ambrose made final scorer and regular points men John Fleming and Geoff Smith were left just outside but chased hard. Tom Sullivan and Dave Blackburn were joined in the pack by new stars Mark Glenn, Jim Anderson and Peter Moore who will all learn from their 1st X-C runs since school.

A great start to the season and all have promised to come back for more. Why not join them? X-C is different from road races, times or PBs aren’t important, just a tough, fun race in beautiful countryside.

Next race is 14th Nov at Dunstable details will be published shortly.

Ladies
6 Steph Russell
52 Jocelyn Granger
57 Jo Lee
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60 Mary Kingsnorth
70 Debbie Holmes
74 Jo Smith
116 Sue Thompson
146 Pauline Horne
150 Kirsty Braithwaite
159 Keren Irving
161 Carol Whatton
168 Sally Garrett
184 Claire Spokes

Men
20 Keith Jellyman
26 Tony Letts
46 Gary McDaniels
69 Mark Garrett
112 Dave Whatton
113 Mark Kennedy
123 Ronnie Ambrose
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124 John Fleming
130 Geoff Smifff
192 Peter Moore
198 Tom Sullivan
201 Mark Glenn
207 Jim Anderson
216 Dave Blackburn

Full results will be available on www.threecountiesxc.co.uk