7th October 2006	NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE - NEWCASTLE
	Tom Gayle dedicates first North Staffs win to school friend in a coma A great new North Staffs course at Newcastle AC's Ashfield home base saw some highly competitive cross country races, with plenty of switchbacks for spectators to keep up with the action. Some excellent Stoke AC performances were led by an outstanding first senior win from Tom Gayle in the Senior Men's Race. Tom pushed on right from the start with only Newcastle's Phil Bradshaw and Stoke AC team-mate Steve Bazell able to stay on the pace. Stoke AC's Damian Gallagher (U20), Pete Benyon, new 'vet' Andy Allen, a rejuvenated Adri Hartveld (or is it those shoes?) and Mark Kinch followed very close behind, and after a lap Stoke AC's entire team of 7 were placed in the first 10.  Into the second lap Gayle and Bradshaw continued to force the pace, with only Bradshaw's local course knowledge countering Gayle's relaxed looking but sustained effort. Gayle and Bradshaw started to move away at the head of the field, but with an astonishing mid race effort, Gallagher closed the gap to less than 20 metres on the 3rd lap. By this time Allen had moved into 4th with Benyon content to pace himself in this opening race, in a clear 5th. Hartveld was pushing super vet Dave Hollins all the way in the following group, with Bazell and Kinch not far adrift enjoying a mid race tussle to decide the 6th counter.  On the final lap Bradshaw put in what he thought would be the race winning effort to build up a 30 metre lead. However Gayle had other ideas and showing ferocious commitment reeled Bradshaw in going into the last half mile. Although Bradshaw fought hard on home soil, Gayle was not going to be denied and pulled clear for his first senior North staffs victory.  After the race Tom dedicated his victory to a school friend currently in a coma following a recent accident - this was much more than a win for himself...   Damian Gallagher kept the pace going on the last lap remarkably well for a 17 year old to finish a clear 3rd (and first U20) with Andy Allen in 4th celebrating an excellent veteran debut win, especially with the redoubtable super vet Dave Hollins nearly 200 metres adrift at the finish! Pete Benyon in 5th completed the Stoke AC first 4 finishers in the top 5, with the amazing Adri Hartveld in 8th. Steve Bazell eventually won the battle for 6th counter to come home in 10th. Veteran Mark Kinch also had a strong finish for 13th to complete a comprehensive Stoke AC team win on the day. Both Steve and Mark should get much stronger in the coming races! This was also a great start to Steve Shubotham's team management for this season. In the younger age-groups Stoke AC's sole winner was the talented Tom Guy. Following pre-race instructions to the letter (for once) Tom waited until the last 100m metres to sprint clear of the U13 boys field. With Kris Washington in 4th and Mitchell Durose in 6th another Stoke AC team win was theirs. In the U11 boys Gregg Smalley and Connor Bradbury also ran extremely well to finish 2nd and 3rd respectively. With John Gosling in 9th, Stoke AC completed their 3rd team victory of the day. The U15 boys team championship already looks close with Staffordshire Moorlands pulling a mere one point clear of an excellent Stoke AC turnout of 10 boys led home by Jake Hart in 5th and Jake Guest in 6th. The U17s also ran respectably to finish 3rd team with Rob Cook the best of the Stoke AC finishers in 8th, just ahead of an improving Dave Clark. Although the Stoke AC girls were rather thinner on the ground there were still some great performances in the younger age-groups, in fields perhaps even stronger than those of the boys. In the U11 age-group Sarah Griffiths and Lydia Beech ran well judged races to finish 6th and 7th and lead the team home to 3rd. At U13 level Kirsty Batson also ran strongly for 10th, ahead of Jessica Griffiths in 12th and Jordan Kirkland in 17th to gain a 2nd team placing. John Danahay North Staffs Cross Country League Website: www.nsccl.co.uk U11 Girls Team 3rd - 31 points 6. Sarah Griffiths 7. Lydia Beech 18. Melissa Harding 21. Beth Beech U13 Girls - Team 2nd - 39 points 10. Kirsty Batson 12. Jessica Griffiths 17. Jordan Kirkland U11 Boys - Team 1st - 14 points  2. Gregory Smalley 3. Connor Bradbury 9. John Gosling 11. Chris Durose 14. Macauley Snutch 16. Callum Griffiths 22. Robbie Gregory 28. George Steventon 30. Jordan Hutchinson U13 Boys - Team 1st - 11 points  1. Tom Guy 4. Kris Washington 6. Mitchell Durose 8. Alex Brecker 11. Luke Kinch U15 Boys - Team 2nd - 18 points 5. Jake Hart 6. Jake Guest 7. Sam Hart 8. Josh Kinch 9. Mike Harding 11. Mark Shallcross 12. Joe Broome 20. Matt Scragg 21. Jack Ross 22. Rob Wilson U17 Men - Team 3rd - 32 points 8. Rob Cook 9. Dave Clark 15. Mike Shallcross Jun, Sen & Vet Men - Team 1st - 31 points  1. Tom Gayle 3. Damian Gallagher 4. Andy Allen (M40) 5. Pete Benyon 8. Adri Hartveld (M45) 10. Steve Bazell 13. Mark Kinch (M40) 7.55 7.59 9.01 9.16 11.36 11.46 12.48 9.56 9.59 11.02 11.06 11.24 11.32 12.41 13.48 14.30 10.19 10.50 11.21 11.24 11.36 12.30 12.35 12.41 12.48 12.55 13.02 13.05 14.00 14.03 14.17 19.26 19.32 20.45 35.53 36.15 36.50 37.17 37.53 38.04 38.13