TAC took part in the final race of the Westward League cross country series on Sunday. Their runners capped an enjoyable season with some excellent performances. At the presentation ceremony that followed the races, they deservedly won multiple individual and team medals including the coveted club of the year trophy.
The league started in October with a short trip to Newman Park in Plymouth. Since then, there have been monthly races at Newquay, Exeter, Westward Ho! and Plymouth. One of the great things about the league is that the courses are varied. Westward Ho! is flat but runners have to wade through mud and water. Exeter and Plymouth are undulating woodland courses with long hills. This weekend’s course was at Redruth which provides another tough challenge with lots of short but very steep hills.
Tristan Bigham – running in the first race of the day – showed his older club colleagues how to tackle the course by practically sprinting up the first hill! He continued to run fast on the flat sections and finished an excellent 5th.
His older sister Zoe Bigham then led a strong under 13 girls team home. She bravely led the race at half way and demonstrated great determination by hanging on to finish in an excellent second place. TAC has a reputation for being one of the strongest clubs in this age group. The girls all support each other and enjoy the team aspect of cross country. They did so well this year that they won two team medals: the B team winning bronze and the A team silver.
Lamorna Cox has been consistently excellent all season. She finished 4th today and was rewarded with a well deserved bronze medal by finishing third in the u13 league table.
The under 15 boys were arguably the team of the day. Fynn Baker stormed to victory. Younger team mate Connor Duffin had arguably the best race of his life in finishing sixth. They were backed up by Noah Reid, Caleb Gifford-Groves and Johnny Nolan. The latter ran very impressively on his debut for the club. Together with teammates who had contributed in earlier fixtures they were crowned the u15 boys champions. This is the first time TAC has won this title in 16 years and the boys should be proud of their achievement.
The senior races were somewhat depleted because of a clash with the Bideford half marathon. However, the quality was as high as ever with some very fast young men and women dominating the races. TAC won a hatful of medals in the veteran age group categories with Sam Lake, Jo Meek, Jenny Jeeves and Martin Exley-Deane victorious. Both mens and ladies’ vets teams also won silver medals.
The coaches would also like to praise the athletes who ran in every race this season. Juniors Ollie Thomson, Suzie Woodrow, Anya McAulay and seniors Alistair Peers, Dave Harris and Joe Chalk. They didn’t win individual medals but their efforts greatly helped their teams and the club.
The crowning achievement of a very successful and enjoyable season was unexpectedly winning the overall club of the year trophy. This is awarded by the league organisers to clubs who have been outstanding in many areas. TAC are known as one of the league’s best clubs because they have large numbers competing in junior and senior races at all fixtures, some individuals are very fast and teams are successful. Most importantly everyone tries their best and TAC members can be heard and seen encouraging their teammates and also runners from other teams. As a club we are humbled and very grateful to win this prestigious award.
Redruth race results
Under 11
- Tristan Bigham 5th
Under 13 girls
- Zoe Bigham 2nd
- Lamorna Cox 4th
- Nell Maguire 11th
- Eloise Patrick 13th
- Suzie Woodrow 14th
- Mirianthi Crossey 15th
Under 13 boys
- Ollie Thomson 12th
Under 15 boys
- Fynn Baker 2nd
- Connor Duffin 6th
- Noah Reid 7th
- Caleb Gifford-Groves 9th
- John Nolan 11th
- Under 15 girls
- Anya McAulay 3rd
Senior women + under 17 boys and girls
- Sam Lake 19th
- Freya Page 38th
- James Crossey 42nd
- Alison Bigham 63rd
Senior men
- Colin Bigham 31st
- Alistair Peers 47th
- Joe Chalk 72nd
- Dave Harris 79th
Overall league standings
Individual medalists
- U13 Lamorna Cox 3rd
- V40 Sam Lake 1st, Alison Bigham 2nd
- V45 Jo Meek 1st
- V55 Jenny Jeeves 1st, Caroline Stevens 3rd
- V60 Martin Exley-Deane 1st
- Team medals:
U13 girls
- TAC A team 2nd, B team 3rd
U13 boys
- TAC 2nd
U15 boys
- TAC 1st
Veteran women
- TAC 2nd
Best team
- TAC winners
