Wiltshire XC Championships

The University of Bath was the destination for some of the best athletes in the South West of England and South Wales, where the Gwent XC League was being held and playing host to the county championships of Wiltshire, Somerset & Avon.

In the Under-11’s race James Gordon of Team Bath and club mate Eleanor Webster proved to be the fastest in the county over the 1.9K course. In the Under-13 Boys, Rory Howorth of Team Bath held off a strong challenge from club mate Hayden Bailey to take victory, whilst for the Under-13 Girls, Abigail Burn of City of Salisbury was crowned county champion. Will Stockley of Team Bath dominated the Under 15 Boys taking victory from Will Crisp of Swindon Harriers and for the Girls, Caitlin Wosika also of Team Bath was a clear winner in the county race. 

The Under-20 Men’s race saw a head to head between Alex Carter of Team Bath and Simon Nott of Calne Running Club with the Winsley based athlete taking victory by just six seconds. In the Under-20 Ladies Katherine Turner ensured Team Bath’s dominance in the junior age groups.

The Senior Ladies race saw another Team Bath victory with Holly Rush claiming her fourth Senior XC title in five years, with Georgie Starkie also of Team Bath finishing second, however it was the strong grouping of Jackie Rockliffe, Fiona Price, Jill Westwood and Diane Hier that allowed Avon Valley Runners to claim the county XC team title for the fourth time since 2009.

In the Senior Men’s race, Michael Towler of Avon Valley Runners retained his county XC title with a good performance over the 10.2K course and supported by Chris Roxburgh, Joby Hobbs, Tim Lowrie, Thomas Coney and Peter Veleski  made it a team prize double for the Trowbridge based club ahead of Chippenham Harriers.

The event also served as race #3 of the Wiltshire Off-Road League, provisional standings are here.