More success for WADAC's juniors in the Hampshire XC League

WADAC’s juniors and their willing chauffeurs made the short trip to King’s Park, Bournemouth, on Saturday, for the second fixture in this season’s Hampshire Cross Country League. Conditions were cold but dry, and the ground underfoot was firm for the time of year.
nIt was, as usual, the Under-11s that got proceedings underway, and it was, as usual, Winchester vests outnumbering all others, with some 24 keen WADAC athletes on the start line for the boys’ race. Eddie Clegg decided early on that he planned to run from the front, which he did with some success, finishing 1st and holding off two late challengers. With Timo Thomas Machleidt in 5th and Leo Davies-Pratt in 7th, the team were again victorious on the day. Alfie Fox, Oliver Furby and Evan Perry also made the top twenty in another dominant display. Full details of all the other WADAC runners can be found in the results (link below).
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nIn the U11 girls’ race, Aoife Uniacke was once again a part of the leading group, and as in the first fixture three weeks ago, finished a strong 4th. With excellent support from Francesca Bertacchini (7th), Millie Honan (8th) and Hallie Eldridge (9th), the team win was assured, with Alice Pate, Holly Martin and Imogen Allbut all running well also. So team wins again for both U11s groups, full results here : Hampshire Athletics - Hampshire Cross Country League - 3 December 2022 - Under 11
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nThe Under-13 girls team, Ellie Jepson (18th), Elodie Gill (27th), Amber Price (28th) and Evie Smith (31st) all improved on their finishing positions from the first fixture. It was unfortunate that Amy Drabble had to withdraw mid-race, still feeling unwell. The girls will now turn their attention to the Hampshire Championships in early January, where the four-to-score format may help their bid to win team medals.
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nWinchester’s U13 boys' team showed fewer absentees than at Aldershot in November, although the Westgate School team was again away on National Schools Cross Country Cup duty, this time in the final of that event. Congratulations to the boys on their national top twenty finish (14th). Of those who were available for WADAC at Bournemouth, there were welcome returns for Iosu Harfield (12th) and Joe Hasan (15th), who together with debut-runner Philip Upchurch (16th) did enough to finish second team on the day. Not far behind were the improving Sam Parker (21st), Ed Duxbury, Cooper Cripps, Samuel Richardson, Benno Thomas Machleidt returning from illness, Tom Price, Braydon Williamson-Davis and James Arriens. So eleven runners on the day and five more to return after their Westgate duties, bodes well for the Hampshire Championships.
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nBoth Winchester U15 teams were missing key members also, but both showed good strength in depth to be competitive in the team rankings on the day. For the girls, it was good to see Kate Atkinson back and running well to finish 6th, and Darcy Hawkins continuing her revival with 10th place. The scoring team was completed by Rosie Sharrock (13th), and thus another second place for the WADAC team. Alexandra Dickinson, Isla McAulay and Amelie Gill grouped well to edge into the top twenty with Emily Thomas Machleidt completing both the line-up and a trio of family runners.
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nFor the U15 boys, Ruben Price was again to the fore, WADAC’s first finisher in 3rd place, and a typically gutsy run saw Seb Murray into 9th, with Sam Wilkinson (14th) completing the scoring team and another second place. Aiden Furby and Will Dickinson were also as solid as usual, and the team will be boosted for the Championships by those returning from injury.
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nThe Winchester U17 women’s team had double the number of competitors from the first fixture, and both ran beautifully judged races to work their way up through the field. Eve Bailey went one better than last time, finishing a strong 2nd after picking off several rivals in the woodland section, while Jasmine Gosse made a very promising club debut, moving steadily up to 12th place as she too outlasted those around her.
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nThe second individual WADAC winner of the day came in the U17 men’s race, in the shape of Will Atkins, who was in the mix at the front as always. With the leading group whittled down to two, Will stormed to the front in the final km, and, after a string of 2nd places last season and this, secured a richly deserved first Hampshire League win. It was the more impressive, coming, as it did, from younger year within the age-group. The individual win was complemented by a team win, with the returning Oscar Newbery (5th) and Ben Chesterfield (6th) completing the leading trio, backed up by Thomas Evans (13th) and Ieuan Thomas (17th).
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nResults for U13s, U15s and U17s available here : Hampshire Athletics - Hampshire Cross Country League - 3 December 2022 - Girls and here : Hampshire Athletics - Hampshire Cross Country League - 3 December 2022 - Boys
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nSeveral of the WADAC team will now switch to Hampshire representative vests for next week’s inter-counties fixture, and all and more will hopefully then be back in the black and gold for the Fairthorne Manor outing on January 7th, one of the highlights of the club’s season. Please all sign up for that here : Hampshire Athletics - Enter an event