ATHLETES from Allerton Junior Athletics Club took home a haul of medals from Birtley Cross Country Relays on March 13.
There were some fantastic performances leading to medals in every age group. First up were U11 boys Jake Holmes, Alfie Clarkson and James Throup, whose determination and sprint finishes were exciting to watch.
After a fight to the finish, the boys' team came a very close second and received a silver medal.
Not to be outdone, the U11 girls team of Connie Wilford, Georgia Raw and Abigail Ferguson also ran hard and fast to finish a close second to the home team of Birtley.
U11 girls, from left, Connie Wilford, Abigail Ferguson and Georgia Raw
Next came the U13 girls, who were given a great start by Enna Carrick, followed by cracking runs by Lucy Boot and Isobel Cook to pick up another silver medal.
U13 girls, from left, Isobel Cook, Enna Carrick and Lucy Boot
Competing in the final race of the day were the U15 girls of Libby Acton, Grace Derry and Islay Wilson, who led the race from the outset, finishing first and claiming a gold medal in great style. Due to this outstanding performance, the U15 girls have been invited to the North East Cross Country relays in April.
U15 girls, from left, Libby Acton, Grace Derry and Islay Wilson
Elsewhere, a record three club athletes qualified to join the North Yorkshire team and travelled to the ESAA National Cross Country Championships in Kent on Saturday. The course was fast and flat, and the weather warm, dry and sunny, which was very different from the hills, mud and cold the runners have experienced for most of the season. First up was Islay Wilson in the intermediate girls race who came 212th out of a field of more than 330 despite being one of the younger girls in the race. Islay said: "It was a fantastic experience to run in the nationals and compete against the best runners from each county."
ESAA National Cross Country Championships, from left, Islay Wilson, Libby Acton and Grace Derry
Her performance was followed by Grace Derry and Libby Acton running in the junior girls race. Both girls excelled, with Libby coming 134th and Grace 187th out of a field of 340.
Allerton athletes have again shone in the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cross Country League 2021/22. After six gruelling races held between October and March, James Throup has won the U11 boys individual championship with Jake Holmes coming a close second. The U11 girls also performed brilliantly, with Connie Wilford winning the individual championship and Abigail Ferguson coming third.
Special mention also goes to Georgia Raw (seventh), Isabelle Smith (tenth) and Tegan Smith (19th) in the U11 girls championship, and Joshua Kitching (tenth), Henry Kirkbride (12th) and William Horlock (14th) in the U13 boys championship. In the U13 girls championship, Lucy Boot came seventh, Maisy Davies ninth, Isobel Cook 11th, Enna Carrick 14th, Mhari Corcoran 18th, Izzy Tweddle 19th and Lavender Lawson 23rd.
In the team championship, the U13 girls took a well-deserved first place and the U15 girls team of Islay Wilson, Grace Derry and Libby Acton took third. Individual and team medals will be presented after the road relays in Darlington on Sunday.
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