Running: South Lakes juniors dominate cross-country (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Running: South Lakes juniors dominate cross-country

1:57pm Wednesday 14th December 2011 in Sport By Patrick O'Kane, Senior News/Sport Reporter

SOUTH Lakes junior athletes dominated the Cumbria 2011 Cross Country County Championships at a blustery, chilly Fitz Park in Keswick.

Helm Hill runner Chris Richards was an impressive winner in the U15 boys event, closely followed by Mark Sullivan (Kendal AC) in third, while Will Smith (Kendal AC) ran well for second in the U17 event.

Along with Robbie Ingham (5th) and Tom Hartley (6th), Smith helped Kendal to the team title, while Helm Hill’s Lauren Munro-Bennett was third in the women’s U17 event.

Fellow Helm Hill runners Imogen Burrow, Mia Senior and Heidi Murray were the top three in the girls U13 event to secure the team prize for their club, with Kendal’s Cole Blaikie a respectable third in the boys U13 category.

And there was more success for Helm Hill and Kendal AC as Sarah Atkinson won the U11 event, followed by Kendal’s Samantha Bland, Stephanie Driscoll and Melissa Sproul who took the team prize. Helm Hill’s Robert Askew was second in the boys U11 contest.

There were also strong performances from Mike Hoyle (5th U20), Ailidh Sproul (4th U17), Erin Procter (5th U15) and Ben Grainger (5th U13) all Kendal AC and Helm Hill’s Jacob Aubrey (6th U13) and Katie Thurlow (4th U11).

In the senior races Dianne Priestly came ninth in the ladies race and Kendal athletes were led home in the men’s race by Nick Bradley in 14th (Kendal AC), Craig Burrow 19th (Helm Hill), Roger Aubrey 20th (Helm Hill) Steve Varney 21st and Duncan Richards 25th.