It was a case of rain, mud, layers of leaves and an enchanted forest for athletes taking part in the North district cross country league match at Evanton on Saturday November 18.
This was the second race in the series with Lochaber athletes competing amongst 30 athletics clubs from Grampian, Moray and the Highlands and Islands.
The hilly wet course with technical uphill and rapid descent sections proved a testing and fun course for the runners from nine to 70 years’ old.
Lochaber Athletic Club Juniors had teams out in the Under 11 age group and the Girls were placed third with good running from Carys Rodgers who finished in 12th spot in a large field in seven minutes 30 seconds over the 1.5 km course.
Carys was well supported by Jemima French (22nd) and Alice Lynch in 27th place.
The Under 11 Boys won the team race involving 33 runners in style.
Toby Smith in his highest race position to date stormed through with a downhill sprint to take second place in 6:34 and just three seconds behind the winner, with Kai Tresidder fourth in 6:40, and Alistair Cant fifth in 6:48.
Jethro Murray and Charlie Varley had a close finish with only one metre separating them in 13th and 14th place respectively.
Lily Cant was second in the under 13 girls race in 13:53 – over a 3.5 km course.
Meanwhile Aaron Tresidder continued his good form in this longer distance by winning in 12:59 in a hard fought race.
The standard of this larger field of runners in this older age group was higher than Aaron had experienced before.
The under 15s were running over five kilometres and Isla Cant was fifth in 21:56 and David Rodgers seventh in the following boys’ race.
Two parents stepped up to the mark at short notice to give the seniors full teams with Isla Mackay in ninth place over the 8.5 km course, Helen Rennard 24th and Charlotte Cant tackling the cross country to come 30th.
The women ran with the men in the senior race and there were over 160 runners which gave a very packed start in a restricted forest trail but this only added to the atmosphere.
Top placing for the men were: Ruairdh Oliver-Jones (8th); Denis Prikulis (13th); Hugh MacIntosh (58th); Thomas Lynch (81st); Jim Treasurer (87th) and Robery McClymont (92nd).
It was the latter’s best run to date.
Next up for the cross country teams are the North District championships on Saturday December 2 at Gordonstoun School, Elgin, and the third league match on December 9 in Forres.
Photograph: Lochaber Athletic Club Junior section triumphant Under 11 boys team from left, Toby Smith, Kai Tresidder, Jethro Murray, Alistair Cant and Charlie Varley. NO_F48_LochaberAthleticClubJuniors_23_Under11Boys_Evanton