Cross country double for Salisbury’s Sophie and Bea

City of Salisbury cross country enthusiasts celebrated a superb double success in the Hampshire League fixture at Sparsholt College near Winchester on Saturday, undeterred by relentless driving rain and treacherous mud writes JOHN RUSKIN

In the under 15’s 4k, rising star Sophie Nicholls took her second win in two league races when she held on to a keenly contested lead and crossed the line in 15min 02sec, four seconds ahead of Robyn Fossa of Southampton AC. This strengthens Sophie’s position at the top of the league’s individual leaderboard. Alice Oliff-Lee also did well, taking 28th spot.

Sophie Nicholls on her way to a notable win in the under 15’s – photo courtesy Paul Hammond

Then in the under 17’s 4k, Bea Wood romped away from the field to record another fine win, timed at 14.22 and more than half a minute clear of the rest of the field. She shares equal top place in her age group table with Wimborne AC’s Emily Shaw.

Neve Cousins powering home for Salisbury U13 - photo courtesy of Paul Hammond

For the under 13’s 3k, Neve Cousins was 26th, Jess Howard 57th, Amelia Brace 59th and Harriet Boardman 62nd.

Charlie Coles was best of the under 13 boys in seventh, with Caleb Etheridge 17th, Jacob Earls 49th, Daniel Robertson 64th and Sunny Baum 76th and in the under 15’s Cameron Jacobs was 59th.

Sian Thomas ran another good race by taking 25th place among a raft of cross country specialists in the senior ladies 6k, timed at 26.54. She was followed by Ruth Holloway 46th, Samantha Hibdige 57th, Charlotte Ingram 77th, Jess Brown 81st, Polly Jacobs 83rd. The club took seventh team place among 33.

In the 10k men’s race, Joseph Donworth was the club highest finisher in 52nd spot, then came Andy Holme 96th, Richard Davidson 110th, Henry Dix 123rd, Pete Callanan 131st and Mike Brewster 135th. The men’s vets team stand in second position in their table.

Joseph Donworth in XC action for Salisbury - pic James Ballard

Full results are on the event website which can be viewed by clicking here. The third league fixture is on Nov 30th at Aldershot.

The course for Gloucestershire’s Sodbury Slog 10mile lived up to its fearsome reputation but Kathryn Dreyer survived to tell the tale in 2hours 11min.

Enjoying warmer conditions in Alicante, Kaitlin Miller won an under 12’s 800m, Lottie Miller won the under 16’s 5k and Dave Miller was second in a vets’ 5k.