Luton
Athletic Club

Luton AC travelled to Halton in Buckinghamshire for the combined Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire cross country championships on Saturday and came away with substantial individual and team success. From the 16 events contested Luton achieved 9 individual top 3 finishes, 3 being wins, and 3 team victories, 3 seconds and a third.

Sarah Simpson in the under 15 girls, Reg Brett in the over 60 men’s race and De Brockway and the over 45 women’s event were the clubs individual victors on the day. 2^nd places went Perry Howarth in the under 15 boys, Daniel Clorley in the under 13 boys and Claire McMahon in the Senior Ladies race whilst 3^rd places were achieved by Paul Farmer in the Senior men’s event, Michael Wesson in the under 20 men and Christine Lathwell in the Senior Ladies.

Sarah Simpson lead the under 15 girls to team victory with Michelle Keepence, narrowly missing a top 3 finish, placed 4^th, Kayleigh Watkins, improving throughout the season, 5^th, Hannah Wilson with what was probably her best run this winter, 6^th and Suzanne Wise 10^th.

In the under 13 boys race Daniel Clorley continued his impressive debut season with his fine 2^nd place leading the team to victory, which was completed by Peter Benedickter, 7^th and Matthew Bardon, 9^th. Chris Todd made his debut for the club and acquitted himself well finishing 25^th.

In the Senior Ladies race Claire McMahon proved her recent form in the Chiltern League, 3^rd place at Slough, was no fluke when she powered to a fine second place. And it is pleasing to see Christine Lathwell battling hard and returning to her fine form of a couple of seasons ago taking 3^rd spot. The ladies scoring team was completed by Dee Brockway when she placed a fighting 9^th and 1^st lady over 45.

The men’s race proved one of the most exciting for the top 3 spots. From the outset Luton’s Paul Farmer joined Darren Deed and Matthew Janes of Bedford and County in a titanic tussle for the podium places. Deed got the better of his close rivals after 2 laps of the 4-lap race and it was left to Janes and Farmer to battle it out for the remaining top spots. On lap 3 Farmer got a small advantage but his effort was in vein as Janes came back on the final circuit to take the 2^nd spot just 9 seconds clear of Farmer. Making up the remaining places in the Luton team were Matt Linborne in a very strong 5^th, Gareth Suffling in 8^th, Stuart Still in 11^th, Paul Abraham 29^th and Richard Hardy 48^th. Bedford and County taking a comfortable victory in the team race from Luton.

Held as part of the men’s race, although only running 3 of the 4 laps, was the under 20 men’s in which Michael Wesson ran courageously to take the 3^rd place. Chris Green battled hard to stay with Wesson but had to concede on the final lap, still finishing 4^th.

In the under 17 men’s race fine performances from the Drinkwater brothers Chris and James in 4^th and 5^th and from Keiran Burdett 7^th meant the team finished 2^nd overall.

The under 15 boys also achieved 2^nd in the team event, led home by Perry Howarth 2^nd, making up for some of his disappointment at dropping out of the Southern Championships 2 weeks before. This team proved a very competitive group when Nathaniel Quigley in 6th and Tom Best 7th took the final 2 scoring places. Immediately behind them came fine runs from Paul Bachini in 8^th, Liam Marchant, 9^th, Stuart Baird, 12^th and Colin Johnson 13^th.

In the first race of the day Luton couldn’t boast an individual top three but the girls took a well-earned team 3^rd place. A fine run in 5^th place led home the girls with Claire Tucker in 12^th and imogen Toyer 13^th both running strongly to complete the scoring 3. Should something have befallen any of the girls Luton had more girls queuing to make up the team with Rosalyn Keepence 14^th, Rose Quigley 16^th and Rosie Keane 23^rd.

In the combined under17/20 women’s race Luton boasted a 2^nd place for Charlotte Hardy in the under 20 category and Marianne Beever finishing 5^th in the under 17.

Chris Stebbings