Athletics
Strong finish to a healthy campaign

YOUNGSTERS from Bromsgrove & Redditch Athletic Club took part in the final fixture of the West Midlands Young Athletes Cross Country League on Sunday, which saw athletes from across the Midlands competing and some categories featuring fields of as many as 140.

The races took place in Perry Park, Perry Barr, and the courses varied in length depending on the age group, taking on the fields and circling the lake.

Although on mainly flat terrain, the athletes did have to dig in deep to conquer the hill which led them up to the finishing line.

The U11 girls team had a great turnout of eight who finished as follows: Josie Steele (24th), Amy Mijovic-Couldwell (27th), Kitty Luscombe (34th), Ellen Bowen (35th), Nicol Green (48th), Alice Battey (99th), Buffy Pinnegar (105th), Amy Tongue (111th). The team finished ninth overall.

The U11 boys produced a team of three who finished 12th overall as Cameron Cooper led the team home in tenth place, followed by Josh Pearson (17th) and Theo Gardner (80th).

Olivia Gardner finished eighth in the U13 girls category to claim the highest B&R placing of the day and she was followed by Livvy Worth (20th), Abbie Kemp (36th), Molly Steele (59th) and Jordan Prust (73rd). This girls team also finished ninth.

Ben O'Connor (29th) led the U13 boys team home followed by Liam Bowden (60th), Tom Ellis (74th) and Dominic Gardner (76th) to seal another ninth place for the team.

In the U15 girls race Amelia Tompkin finished 14th, Katie Plummer 22nd and Ruth Gameson 54th.

The club managed to enter one boy into the U15 category - Lewis Anderson - who finished 66th and one entrant in the U17 girls category - Orianna Ball - who finished 19th.

Girls team manager Rita Brownlie stated she was extremely pleased with the turnout of young athletes, especially with it being the last fixture in the season and considering the splattering of snow which had greeted athletes on waking up that morning.

She commented she was especially pleased to see eight athletes competing in the U11 girls team, with four of them finishing in the top 40.