ATHLETICS - Hampshire go close at hilly Stowe

thisissouthampton

Hampshire sent a large contingent of runners to the annual South of England Cross-Country Championships, run on a tough, hilly course at Stowe School in Buckinghamshire.

A strong under-17 women's team failed to win their group by just one point from Essex despite Aldershot's Stephanie Twell recording a fine win.

Two other Aldershot girls, Emma Pallant and Hannah Jones, were fourth and sixth, followed by Sasha Mucci (Southampton) 16th, Polly Keen (Havant) 20th, Hayley Pointer (New Forest) 25th, India Lee (Aldershot) 26th and Lucy Bowers (Southampton) 40th.

With Aldershot's Charlotte Purdue leading the way in second place, Hampshire were third in the under-15 girls' race.

Southampton's Louise Webb had a good run for fourth and behind here were Sarah Burgin in tenth, Michelle Hallett (Southampton) 35th, Rebecca Jones (Aldershot) 45th, Rio Brookes-Gibbs (Southampton) 51st and Georgina Gair (Portsmouth) 56th.

Hampshire's young senior women's squad finished last despite a great run from Winchester's Rachel Townend for fourth.

Next came Natalie Coveney (Winchester) 27th, Heather Buckingham (Southampton) 30th, Rachel Kinchington (Overton) 40th, Emily Lowndes (Winchester) 52nd, Tahli Gill (Aldershot) 53rd, Sam Stewart (Southampton) 57th and Sarah Bolton (Basingstoke) 61st.

Hampshire's lone under-20 women's runner was Jade Davies (New Forest) in 15th. Pick of the county's under-13 girls was Winchester's Nicola Ferris in 11th.

Aldershot pair Andrea McCarthy and Claire Arnold were 30th and 31st respectively. They were followed by Alice Cole (New Forest) 37th, Hannah Vosser (Winchester) 38th, Brogan Percy (Isle of Wight) 45th, Ollie Berry (Winchester) 47th and Catriona McGill (Aldershot) 56th. The county placed seventh.