Derby Athletes scoop trophy in Minileague cross country

A strong team effort from Derby Athletic Club’s junior section cross country runners bagged them a convincing team trophy win alongside individual wins in this year’s Derbyshire Minileague competition.

Outstanding individual performances at the final event, at Moorways, came from Harry Lees (U11B), Joyce Lenton (U13G), James Baker (U13B) and Dayna Keyes (U15G), who all dug deep to win their races.

The club’s cumulative points total of 221 across all races and all three meetings saw it a strong winner of the overall team trophy. The DAC total was more than 200 points clear of its closest rival, Amber Valley and Erewash AC on 426 points.

Medals are also awarded to individual athletes with the best score over the three races, and Derby athletes won three golds – U11B (Samuel Jones), U13G (Joyce Lenton) and U15G (Dayna Keyes).

The club also picked up bronze in U11G (Ellie-Mae Chell), silver and bronze in U11B (Harry Lees and Will Hodgson), bronze in U13G (Freya Ratcliffe), and silver and bronze in U13B (James Baker and Felix Cheesman).

The club was the overall team winner across the three meetings in four categories – only missing out in U11 girls (second) and U15 boys (fourth).

The races are held over three dates in the autumn, with fixtures this year at Buxton, Ilkeston and Moorways in Derby, with the final event at Moorways on Saturday 13 December.

A massive well done and thank you to all those who competed for Derby Athletic Club at this event.

Full results for Derby athletes (position from the Moorways event first, followed by overall position across all three events in brackets)

U11 Girls: Ellie-Mae Chell 4 (3); Ada Clifford 2 (5); Elidh Smith 5 (7); Gala Moreno 9 (15).

U11 Boys: Samuel Jones 2 (1); Harry Lees 1 (2); Will Hodgson 3 (3); Arthur Toogood 8 (7); Henry Colbourne 4 (6); Elias Young 6 (9); Max Heuner 11 (12); Ellis Rushton 9 (18); Albie Holmes 14 (25).

U13 Girls: Joyce Lenton 1 (1); Freya Ratclifffe 3 (3); Ellie Pepper 5 (5); Evie Maddocks 11 (10); Paige Coates (13); Lily Driscoll 12 (15).

U13 Boys: James Baker 1 (2); Felix Cheesman 2 (3); Jenson Woolley 4 (4); Henry Wright 5 (5); Bobby Rushton (6); Zac Heuner 8 (8).

U15 Girls: Dayna Keyes 1 (1); Rosie Boyer (5); Sophia Trafford (6); Imogen Sotherby (7); Amelia Carswell 4 (8); Lauren Shirley (9).

U15 Boys: Tom Pope (17).