Bethany Cook turned in another cracking run at the weekend when she donned the English schools vest for the International Schools Cross-country event at Margam Park, Port Talbot, Cardigan.
Probably the youngest runner in the junior (U15) girls race Cook was faced with her longest ever race at 4.2km and over the fast, tough course that included several sharp hills was not really suited to this light, long striding Moira House runner.
For much of the race she battled with powerful Merseyside runner Caitlin Robinson in third place but she was unable to match the Liverpool girl’s power in the closing stages and had to settle with a never-the-less tremendous fourth place, third English runner to finish, helped England win the team event.
“It was the toughest race I have had” said Bethany “but I really enjoyed the experience”.
Despite the absence of their star performer at Port Talbot and missing two other "A" team runners it was the Year 8 girls who did best at the South East Year 7 & 8 Schools Inter-county match at Reigate on Saturday.
Sussex could not have asked for tougher competition as they meet teams from Essex, Kent, Surrey and Hampshire in these annual competitions.
Windlesham’s Tilly Norman and Shoreham’s Rebecca Losh had a great between themselves at the head the field with Norman just managing to squeeze home in a fifth position to Losh’s sixth position both fine runs.
Amber Blake (Gildred) 20th, Ciara Muzio (Kings) 22nd, Erica Body (St. Richards) 24th and Hannah Miller (Cavendish) 25th completed the scoring six to take third team spot the highest team placing for Sussex on Saturday. Almost certainly had they been at full strength they would have won.
The Year 7 Boys team filled fourth place being led home by Varndean’s Henry Yelling in 12th place with Joe Dobson (Cardinal Newman) 15th, and Jonas Judah (St.Leonards) 17th, Joseph Collier (Lancing) 20th, William Matthews (Hove Park) and Lucas Harber (Angmering) 35th completing the scoring six while both the Year 8 Boys and Year 7 girl’s teams were squeezed into fifth team spot.
East Grinstead's Ethan Scott ran a cracking race for Surrey for an impressive individual victory.
Henry Yelling’s twin sister Eadie (Varndean) led the girl’s home in 14th place with Daisy Burton (Cavendish) 27th, Sophie Nurse (Roedean) 36th, Issy and Eva Buckler (Bishop Luffa) in 52nd and 53rd place and Sima Saadatzadeh (Cardinal Newman) 55th completing the scoring team.
Ethan Ward (Felpham) was the first boy home in 23rd place two places ahead of Thomas Bennett’s Dylan Hanslow while completing the team were Reuben Sezan (St Andrews) 31st, Archie Rowles (Dorothy Stringer) 34th, Noah Judah (St Leonards) 50th and Joe Checkley (Dorothy Stringer) in 51st place.
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