Four first places for Derby AC at North Midlands Cross Country

A quartet of first places was the reward for hard work by Derby Athletic Club runners at Saturday’s North Midlands Cross Country event in Markeaton Park in Derby. And DAC teams produced a clutch of excellent results at the event as well.

Runners made the most of conditions on a dry and calm day, with Joyce Lenton (U13 girls) and William Saunders (U13 boys) each winning their race in a strong time.

Joyce’s 12.04 over the 3.1k course saw her finish almost half a minute ahead of the athlete in second place. And William, running in the slightly longer 3.6k course, finished in 13.30, eight seconds clear of the second-placed athlete.

Olivia Lee, who has already shown such strong form this season in the National Road Relays, ran to a five-second victory over the second-placed runner in the U15 girls race. The U13 boys and U15 girls raced together, and Olivia’s time of 13.17 saw her finish ahead of the full U13 boys’ field.

And in one of the final races of the day, Sarah Bourne showed an impressive turn of speed in the senior women’s event, with her 22.25 time over 6k seeing her finish almost a minute and a half ahead of her nearest rival.

The senior women’s team, Isobel Shipley, Sarah Bourne and Hannah Coleman.

Overall there were impressive team performances from DAC athletes as well.

The DAC U17 women’s team gained a notable first place, with great performances from Poppy Radbourne, 2^nd, 19.56; Sophia Wheeler, 3^rd, 20.06; and Emily Whitehead, 13^th, 23.40.

Sarah Bourne led the senior women’s team to a strong second place in a large field. Also placing for Derby in that race were Hannah Coleman, 10^th, 25.30 and Isobel Shipley, 26^th, 27.14.

Two other race winners leading their teams to team second places were Olivia Lee for the U15 girls, with Sophia Trafford, 11^th, 15.13; Amelie Wheeler, 13^th, 15.25; Jessica Whitehead, 18^th, 15.58; Dayna Kayes, 19^th, 16.03; and Rosie Bowyer, 29^th, 18.14; and Joyce Lenton for the U13 girls, with Freya Ratcliffe, 7^th, 13.15; Ellie Pepper, 8^th, 13.18; Eliza Swift, 16^th, 14.23; Evie Maddocks, 25^th, 15.10; and Paige Coates, 28^th, 15.45.

In the U11 girls race, DAC’s Aida Clifford came 40^th in 7.45 and for the U17 men, Samuel Watson came 6^th in 22.09.

The boys’ and men’s teams also put up a great showing.

Race winner William Saunders led the U13 boys to second place in the team contest, with great running from Felix Cheesman, 11^th, 14.37; Jenson Woolley, 16^th, 15.26; Henry Wright, 19^th, 15.34; Bobby Rushton, 22^nd, 16.08; Leo Sandala, 24^th, 16.26; Stanley Haywood, 37^th, 18.40; and Zachary Hunter, 38^th, 18.45.

The U15 boys team came third, led by Frederick Harrison, 8^th, 18.28, with Isaac Jones, 10^th, 18.35; Toby Newboult, 11^th, 18.36; Seth Burton, 23^rd, 1936; Ben Lynch, 29^th, 20.17; and Alex Jones, 37^th, 24.28.

And the U11 boys and senior men both posted fourth place in the team contest. U11 boys were led by Samuel Jones, 10^th, 6.00, with William Hodgson, 16^th, 6.16; Harry Lees, 24^th, 6.28; Max Huener, 47^th, 7.02; Arthur Toogood, 48^th, 7.03; and Elias Young, 52^nd, 7.06.

For the senior men, first home for Derby was Sammy Galpin, 8^th in 28.53, followed by Martin Kerr, 23^rd, 30.36; Owen Hardwick, 35^th, 31.30; Charlie Haste, 48^th, 32.31; Ian Stevens, 65^th, 33.37; Guillem Moreno, 79^th, 34.38; Clive Topliss, 135^th, 37.45; and Russell Parkin, 140^th, 38.13.