Swindon Harriers triumph at the Wiltshire Cross Country Championships

A total of 12 medals and 18 top six finishes marked a fantastic return for the Swindon Harriers' young athletes at the Wiltshire Cross Country Championships on Sunday at Bath University.

The under 13 girls swept the board for the podium places with Charissa Griffiths-Clack, Pippa Wall and Bethany Brien filling the first three places while Amy Harris, Sophie Hunton and Martha Linscott placed sixth, seventh and eighth respectively.

The under 13 boys were also impressive with Max Jackson and Joseph Burdekin finishing one-two while Jacob Smith and Adam Hunton were in sixth and seventh.

The club’s under 15 boys packed six in the top eight, led home by champion Finley Byrne and silver medallist James Mayneord.

Harry Burdekin, Reuben Linscott, Alex Leake and Olly Hughes all made the top eight and Finley Kuklinsinki was just outside the top 10 in 11th.

The under 11s out competed strongly and provided the gold medallists in both races thanks to Molly McMeeking and Daniel Rose.

Sophie Woolford added bronze in the girls’ age group with Matylda Krause and Imogen Beard fourth and fifth respectively while Rhys Jones and Reuben Byrne were fourth and sixth in the boys’ race.

Ella Spencer cruised to victory in the under 17 women’s race, her second gold of the weekend having won the Gloucestershire Schools’ title the previous day. Emily Blackstock was fourth.

There was a bronze for Elsie Scrase in the U15s supported by Freya McMeeking (fourth), Ellie Charlesworth (fifth) and Izzie Moore (ninth).

David Kowalski (10th) and Matthew Hunton (14th) battled hard in the under 17 men’s race while the club’s solo senior runner, Tom Hunton, did well to finish 12th in the Wiltshire Championships.

Emma Hines also scorched to victory in the Castle Combe Chilly Christmas 10k run and clocked a time of 39mins 03secs, whilst David Giles came third in the men’s race with a personal best of 33:20.