Glos Cross-Country League, Race Day 4, 17.2.19 – Pittville Park
On an unseasonably mild afternoon, CLC Striders ladies and men’s teams turned out to complete their cross-country seasons in the local event hosted by Cheltenham Harriers across the familiar ground of Pittville Park.
For the ladies especially, it was to mark the end of another very strong season, with the ladies vet team finishing in first place on the day and second place across the four races; and with individual honours going to Helen Knight, with a bronze in her LV35 category, and to Amelia Mullins and Amanda Steer for silver and bonze respectively in their LV45 age category.
Striders ladies, from left to right: Rachel Vines, Helen Knight, Amelia Mullins, Rachael Cary, Amanda Steer and Charlie Haward.
The ladies were led home byRachael Cary in 14th place (and 3rd in her LV35 category). She was followed home by the consistently strong Helen Knight in 16th place (and 4th in the LV35 category). Rachel Vines capped an incredible comeback season with 25th placing (6th in her LV35 category). Amanda Steer just pipped Amelia Mullins to finish as the 1st in her LV45 category on the day, with Amelia as 2nd LV45 (they were 31stand 32nd overall). Charlie Haward finished in 95th position.
In the team standings on the day, the senior ladies finished in 3rd position overall, with the vets finishing first in the Masters team placings on the day.
In the men’s race, CLC Striders were led home by the fast-emerging cross country talisman Tom Kabala, finishing in 30th place in a field packed with the strongest local athletes. Louis Fievet bagged a top 50 finish in 44th place in his first season running with the club, with the seasoned Jon Howes not far behind in 52nd place overall (and 8thin his MV40 category).
Thomas Fletcher was 60th, Paul Lockyer 89th, Eoin McQuone was 101st (10thin his MV45 category), and Gareth Harries, returning to competition after a long lay-off just behind him in 102nd place. MV55 competitor Jon Willson finished next in 105th position overall and as 5th in his age category, with Clark Lawson in 107th place. Rich Shardlow was 128th, Hedley Phillips 136th, super-vet Ed Collier in 144th (and 5th in his MV60 category), Tim Brock in 150th, Gary Smith in 151st, Andrew Gage in 156th and Mike Speke in 176th.
In the team standings, the Striders men finished 7th in the senior category on the day and 9th in the vet standings.
A special mention must go to David James who, although he didn’t compete in the fourth race in Pittville Park, earned County Gold in the MV65 category in January’s Cross Country County Championships and was also crowned overall MV65 champion this season in the Gloucestershire League Cross Country League, amongst some tough competition.
