Dylan Bowley started his Cross country campaign for 2015/16 in style in finishing runner up in the opening UK Cross Challenge in Milton Keynes. There were a total of 6 KTH Middle Distance Squad in action at the opening UK Cross Challenge Race held at very wet and blustery teardrop lakes, where despite the appalling weather conditions underfoot were not too bad, with firm ground throughout the majority of the course.
U13 Dylan Bowley managed to transfer his superb from the Road Relays onto the cross country by getting off to a great start, hitting the front immediately and leading the large field of 113 athletes through the opening lap, which included a short steep climb and very tricky and steep descent. Dylan was tracked all the way by Eryri Harriers’s Mike Spill who made the long trip from North Wales, and part way through the opening lap Spill opened up a short gap on Bowley which proved to be decisive as Bowley was not able to close down his rival until the closing stages of the race where he was finishing the strongest of the two, with Spill finishing the 2.7km course in 9:17, with Bowley behind a few seconds in 9:24. Dylan was non the less delighted with second place & his Silver Medal with the £50 prize money, but has perhaps learnt a valuable lesson about allowing a gap to open up in a short 2.7km race?
Dylan with his Silver Medal after a very close race in the opening UK Cross Challenge
Other great performances came from U15 Emily Williams who finished in a fine 14th place in 14:30 in the 90 strong starting field. After a poor start, Emily ran a solid race throughout the 4.6km course taking places through to the end and Emily will be working hard to get herself into tip top shape for busy race schedule after Christmas.
U15 B Fynn Batkin showed great form on XC as well with a fine 17th place finish in the 4.42km course, and like Emily he didn’t get off to the best start, but worked hard to pull back places to finish strongly in 16:06, Fynn who is still a relative novice will be looking to build upon this season debut in future races.
U20’s Jack Hope & Josh Cara found the going a little tough as first year in the age group but both ran well over the 5.82km course to finish in 19th (20:49) & 20th (20:58) in the UK cross U20 race respectively. Cara made the better start, but was tracked by his club colleague Hope who made his move on the start of the second lap perhaps being a little less cautious in the steep descent to claim the squad victory.
The final Harrier in action was U17 Claudia Nevett struggled to get going in the conditions but 28th place despite this suggests she will have more to bring in future races, she finished the 4.99km course in 20:57.
Further afield, Claudia Kelsall who is studying maths at Bath ran her opening XC fixture of the season and finished in a highly respectable 15th place in a field of circa 200 in the senor women’s & Masters Gwent League XC fixture in Llandaff Fields, Cardiff over 6km. This was an excellent start to the season for Claudia who has immersed herself in the Bath University Triathlete squad for part of her training and this seems to be working favourably for the 19 year old student.
Well done to all the Harriers who competed over the weekend.