Honiton Running Club juniors put best foot forward

The Sidmouth Running Club leg of the East Devon Junior Cross Country Series took place on Sunday in glorious sunshine.

The race was held in conjunction with the South West Vets Cross Country Championships in Sidmouth. The course was a mile long lap around The Byes with different categories completing an appropriate number of laps.

Honiton Juniors had a fantastic turnout with 17 taking part including several members' younger siblings.

The Under-11s and Under-13s set off together with the U11s running one mile and the U13s completing two. Huw Williams and Arthur Heeler-Frood came second and third in their race and sisters Lily and Isabel Helston both won their respective categories.

Ed Cannings did well, considering he thought he had been completing a warm up lap! He would have run so much faster!

Times and overall positions were: U11s - 2nd Huw 7:12, 3rd Arthur 7:43, 4th Isabel 7:44, 7th Max Helston 8:12, 10th Ella Harvey 9:21, 12th Ed 9:58

U13s - 3rd Lily 14:46, 5th Jake Harvey 15:47, 9th Kieran Anderson, 10th Jack Lovegrove, 11th Hester Heeler-Frood, 12th Kieran Lovegrove

Next came everybody else's race with Honiton juniors all running as Under-15s and completing three miles racing against adults who were completing either four or five miles.

Sam Urqhart and Reuben Heeler-Frood showed their usual fine form, coming third and fourth in this race. Katie Davey and Sophie Keywood also did very well coming second and third in their category.

Josh Turner, who has recently returned to the club after taking time off to concentrate on cycling, finished convincingly in sixth place overall.

Times were: Sam 22:59, Reuben 23:14, Josh 25:31, Katie 27:51 and Sophie 28:29

Huw's Dad, Paul, completed the Honiton contingent taking part in the adult race, completing five laps in a time of 41:51 and 15th place.

Richard Drage of Tavistock AC won this race in 32:29 after lapping several runners.

l Axe Valley Runners report - turn to page 52 .