Louth entered an U15 girls team and an U15 boys team for this prestigious event for the first time in many years. All six runners performed very well over a very demanding hilly 2000m course in near gale force weather conditions, which obviously effected all of the times.
The girls race was first off with Issy Dhami on the lead leg. Despite her lack of experience and her first time running in such a high quality event, she finished very strongly in a tight bunch of 8 runners separated by only 5 seconds, her time given as 8.55 and placed 23rd from 40 starters.
Next off was Charlotte Merry, another novice at this level, who battled very well through the conditions and brought the team home in a personal time of 10.02 in another tightly packed group where we lost a couple of positions through confusions with the marshalling. On the final leg, Hannah Reid left the starting gate in 27th position and ran very strongly through the ever worsening conditions to bring the team home in a time of 9.04 in a very respectable 18th place, having passed 9 runners on the course which was more than any other athlete on the third leg.
A great team effort, well done to all three girls.
The boys race had Lloyd Buck out on the first leg, with only limited experience at this level, he lost out a little on the start, but quickly got into his impressive running stride and carved his way through the field to bring the team home in a fantastic 17th place from 47 starters in a very fast 7.40. Next out was Taran Dhami, a first year under 15 and a first timer in this quality of event. Although slipping a few places to much older and more experienced athletes, he produced a good solid performance in a time of 8.51 which was four seconds faster than his older more experienced sister,( so he has the bragging rights in that household) Out on the last leg was our most experienced athlete, Caleb Stephenson (8:10) who used his speed and strength well in the gale force conditions to take four places and bring the team home in 26th position overall.
Another great team effort, well done to all three boys.
Everyone enjoyed the event despite the chilly windy conditions and all eyes are now turned to the English Relay Championships at Mansfield in a few weeks time.