CROSS COUNTRY: Rugby & Northampton celebrating three Midland Counties champions

Rugby & Northampton AC showed their strength at the Midland Counties Cross Country Championship at Prestwold Hall, Loughborough on Saturday.

There were gold medals for Arthur Tilt (Under 13 boys), and local running stars Joshua Lay (Under 20 men) and Angela Copson (Over 70 women) who were all champions in their age groups.

R&N’s under 17 men’s team also lifted the team shield, while the under 20 men won silver. More than 100 clubs took part in this year’s championship.

This year the course provided many challenges with plenty of mud, fallen trees through the wooded section, a large puddle and a steep ascend and descend. The uphill finish also sapped the energy from tired legs.

The under 13 girls placed 6th team out of 15. Running, were Sophie Hancock (32nd), Jemima Cooper (45th), Ava Rogerson (55th), Amelie Budd-Beynon (67th), Georgia Gercs, Isla Lacey and Tamara Cave.

Arthur Tilt was first from R&N on the podium, winning in the under 13 boys’ race. Arthur started strongly, putting himself on the heels of the leader for the first half of the race. He took a direct line through the large five-metre long puddle to take first position, which he held until the end, to achieve a very convincing win in 9:34.

Arthur was supported Thomas Church (31st), Isaac Hutchins-Morant (45th), William Gower (54th), Noah Unwin, Theo Clements, and Charlie Gibbs, in the 3km event.

Madeleine Jacks placed 10th in the under 15 girls’ race and was followed over the 4km course by her R&N team of Grace Darcy (29th), Elspeth Unitt (49th), Olivia Williams, and Jemima Lambert.

The R&N under 15 boys’ team was missing a few of its regulars, nevertheless, they put in a great effort and did very well. Oscar Delgado-Major (37th), in only his second cross country race for the club, led the boys back to the finish line.

He was followed over the 4km course by Benjamin Carroll (62nd), Ned Gilford (73rd), Jenson Buttrick (82nd), and Oliver Carroll.