YOUNGSTERS DO NORTH WALES PROUD
At a top-class meeting where so many talented youngsters have been made to look mediocre in the past North Wales athletes put up a tremendous show at the UK inter-counties' cross-country championships in Birmingham's Cofton Park.
The region has collected only ever two individual medals at the championship, both golds won by Colin Jones (Eryri, U20) in 1994 and Matthew Jones (Stoke, U17) in 2000, but this year there were two bronze medals.
Georgia Garner (Colwyn Bay), who is coached by the highly respected Bud Baldaro, clung on to third place in a tight finish in the U17s' class and Maldwyn's Joseph Crutchley took bronze in the U13s' race. He was just two seconds behind the winner.
Just behind Joseph in 6th place was Matthew Willis (Wrexham), and with Oliver Barbaresi (Menai) 30th and Thomas Evans (Wrexham) just making the top 100, the under-13s finished a brilliant sixth, the region's highest place ever.
All those youngsters have had a good winter but what was remarkable was the improvment they have shown on last year's inter-counties. In 2012 Georgia was 92nd, Joseph was 63rd and Matthew an amazing 212th.
Whilst they were the most eyecatching results there were other fine runs throughout the age-groups. Iolo Hughes (Menai) was 20th in the U17s' race, his sister Cari in the 30s and Lily Davis (Deeside) in the 40s in the U15 category.
Nathan Jones (Colwyn Bay) made 29th in the high-quality under-20s race and David Mountford (Liverpool Harriers) a highly creditable 31st in the senior men's event, which was a qualifier for the World Championships.
After a long lay-off with injury Katie Parry (Leeds) made a top 100 comeback in the senior ladies' competition, finishing just ahead of Sarah Livett (Menai).
Team manager David Alun Williams was delighted with the overall performance, especially since so many had withdrawn. Out of a total of 42 North Wales athletes who took part 35% finished in the top 100.
Among the placings were:
Boys under 13: 3 J Crutchley, 6 M Willis, 30 O Barbaresi, 98 T Evans, 199 S Jones (Menai).
Boys under 15: 187 M Roberts (CB), 193 A Williams (Wrex), 269 R Cain (Menai)
Men under 17: 20 I Hughes, 229 T Henry (Dee), 236 J Griffith (CB), 240 G Leach (Dee)
Men under 20: 29 N Jones, 59 G Jones (Mald), 140 A Lanz (Meir)
Senior men: 31 D Mountford, 181 L Jones (Dee), 251 D Weston (Wrex), 289 S Davies (Mansfield). Others included: 19 I Mitchell (Tipton)
Girls under 13: 156 H Roberts (CB0, 172 M Owen (Dee), 267 C Vaughan (CB), 296 Z Baker (Osw), 298 M Loxton (Menai).
Girls under 15: 34 C Hughes, 47 L Davis (Dee), 94 M Davies (Menai), 185 H Price (Osw), 186 C Evans (Mald), 264 M Randell (Wrex), 266 G Morris (CB).
Ladies under 17: 3 G Garner, 233 A Cheetham (Prest)
Ladies under 20: 40 L Sharpe (Eryri), 136 A Bagnall (Prest)
Senior Ladies: 91 K Parry, 100 S Livett, 273 A Smith (Tatt). Others included: 30 C Martin (Tel), 48 A Lavender (Osw), 155 R Hetherington, ((Eden Runners, ex-Wrex), 291 A Tickner (Osw).
At a top-class meeting where so many talented youngsters have been made to look mediocre in the past North Wales athletes put up a tremendous show at the UK inter-counties' cross-country championships in Birmingham's Cofton Park.
The region has collected only ever two individual medals at the championship, both golds won by Colin Jones (Eryri, U20) in 1994 and Matthew Jones (Stoke, U17) in 2000, but this year there were two bronze medals.
Georgia Garner (Colwyn Bay), who is coached by the highly respected Bud Baldaro, clung on to third place in a tight finish in the U17s' class and Maldwyn's Joseph Crutchley took bronze in the U13s' race. He was just two seconds behind the winner.
Just behind Joseph in 6th place was Matthew Willis (Wrexham), and with Oliver Barbaresi (Menai) 30th and Thomas Evans (Wrexham) just making the top 100, the under-13s finished a brilliant sixth, the region's highest place ever.
All those youngsters have had a good winter but what was remarkable was the improvment they have shown on last year's inter-counties. In 2012 Georgia was 92nd, Joseph was 63rd and Matthew an amazing 212th.
Whilst they were the most eyecatching results there were other fine runs throughout the age-groups. Iolo Hughes (Menai) was 20th in the U17s' race, his sister Cari in the 30s and Lily Davis (Deeside) in the 40s in the U15 category.
Nathan Jones (Colwyn Bay) made 29th in the high-quality under-20s race and David Mountford (Liverpool Harriers) a highly creditable 31st in the senior men's event, which was a qualifier for the World Championships.
After a long lay-off with injury Katie Parry (Leeds) made a top 100 comeback in the senior ladies' competition, finishing just ahead of Sarah Livett (Menai).
Team manager David Alun Williams was delighted with the overall performance, especially since so many had withdrawn. Out of a total of 42 North Wales athletes who took part 35% finished in the top 100.
Among the placings were:
Boys under 13: 3 J Crutchley, 6 M Willis, 30 O Barbaresi, 98 T Evans, 199 S Jones (Menai).
Boys under 15: 187 M Roberts (CB), 193 A Williams (Wrex), 269 R Cain (Menai)
Men under 17: 20 I Hughes, 229 T Henry (Dee), 236 J Griffith (CB), 240 G Leach (Dee)
Men under 20: 29 N Jones, 59 G Jones (Mald), 140 A Lanz (Meir)
Senior men: 31 D Mountford, 181 L Jones (Dee), 251 D Weston (Wrex), 289 S Davies (Mansfield). Others included: 19 I Mitchell (Tipton)
Girls under 13: 156 H Roberts (CB0, 172 M Owen (Dee), 267 C Vaughan (CB), 296 Z Baker (Osw), 298 M Loxton (Menai).
Girls under 15: 34 C Hughes, 47 L Davis (Dee), 94 M Davies (Menai), 185 H Price (Osw), 186 C Evans (Mald), 264 M Randell (Wrex), 266 G Morris (CB).
Ladies under 17: 3 G Garner, 233 A Cheetham (Prest)
Ladies under 20: 40 L Sharpe (Eryri), 136 A Bagnall (Prest)
Senior Ladies: 91 K Parry, 100 S Livett, 273 A Smith (Tatt). Others included: 30 C Martin (Tel), 48 A Lavender (Osw), 155 R Hetherington, ((Eden Runners, ex-Wrex), 291 A Tickner (Osw).
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