Northern Cross Country Championships results, Vale Royal AC

The senior women’s team won gold at this regional event for the first time.

Robbie Price, a student at Hartford High School, galloped home to collect the under 15s boys’ title at Pontefract Racecourse, and there were three more team medals secured.

Overall this made Vale Royal the most successful club represented and that is some feat when it is considered nationally renowned clubs such as Leeds AC, Sale Harriers and Liverpool Harriers were among their rivals.

The senior women’s team win was also the first in this event by any Cheshire club.

Tackling the two-lap fairly flat and mud-free 8.05km course in the penultimate race of the day, the women finished ahead of Hallamshire Harriers and Sale Harriers to seal gold.

Abigail Howarth (11th), Sarah Dufour-Jackson (19th), Kate Moulds (20th) and Amelia Pettitt (22nd) packed well in the field of 262 to secure the win by just two points.

It was a result that capped a wonderful day’s achievements for a club represented by 42 runners on the day, battling with 40-50mph gusts of wind on the tails of Storm Malik.

First race of the day was the under 17s women and with it came Vale Royal’s first team gold.

The wind-swept under 17s women. From left, Ellie Bushill, Grace Roberts, Holly Weedall, Alice Gale

Over a 5km course, Grace Roberts (sixth), Holly Weedall (19th), Alice Gale (44th) and Ellie Bushill (46th) combined to take the top honour ahead of Rotherham Harriers.

Robbie Price continued his outstanding cross country season taking an easy win in the under 15s boys’ race to secure an individual gold medal.

And what is more, together with Thomas Taylor (36th), Alex Macnab (54th) and Thomas Corwood (61st), the boys secured team silver.

Robbie Price

With only three to count in the junior men's 8.05km race, Raif Serif (13th), Edward Pettitt (24th) and Aaron Doyle (30th) combined to take the bronze team medal.

Among the highlights outside of the medal performances was Jake Wilson’s performance in the under 17s men’s race.

Wilson, still regaining fitness following his year-long struggle with injury, came a fantastic ninth over a 6.37km course having been up in the leading pack for much of the contest.

And notably Nathan Williams came 55th in the large senior men’s field of 517.

Northern XC Championships, Pontefract, Saturday:

U17W 5km:

Grace Roberts 6th 18:06

Holly Weedall 19th 18:57

Alice Gale 44th 20:14

Ellie Bushill 46th 20:16

Molly Roberts 86th 23:06

U13G 3.05km:

Nancy Carrington 42nd 12:54

Leah Smith 105th 15:11

Rose Jha 114th 15:47

U17M 6.37km:

Jake Wilson 9th 21:37

Ewan Macnab 82nd 27:34

Matthew Haslam 86th 28:07

U13B 3.05km:

Samuel Conkie 50th 11:40

U15G 4km:

Eva Jha 11th 16:19

Sophie Harding 66th 18:06

Erin Carney 70th 18:13

Zoe Broughton 85th 18:57

Anna Smith 100th 19:46

Lavinia Burke 101st 19:49

Alex Sayers 107th 20:27

Ruby Carrington 115th 21:45

Isabelle Maundrill 120th 22:48

U15B 4km:

Robbie Price 1st 13:56

Thomas Taylor 36th 15:32

Alex Macnab 54th 15:50

Thomas Corwood 61st 15:58

JM 8.05km:

Raif Serif 13th 30:21

Ed Pettitt 24th 31:01

Aaron Doyle 30th 31:23

Will Ashfield no time recorded

SW 8.05km:

Abigail Howarth 11th 33:21

Sarah Dufour-Jackson 19th 34:31

Kate Moulds 20th 34:35

Amelia Pettitt 22nd 34:50

Sarah Murphy 44th 35:56

Hollie Carrington 75th 38:34

Clara Pettitt 89th 39:18

Siobhan Tarbuck 101st 40:01

SM 12.1km:

Nathan Williams 55th 46:34

Lee Carrington 245th 53:57

Gareth Williams 289th 55:50