6th October 2007	NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE - NEWCASTLE
	Yet another new (and interesting) Newcastle course saw some great cross country performances from our athletes - and not just from the boys! Sarah Griffiths and Jessica Heath started the afternoon on a roll with great runs in the U11 girls race. After a close battle Sarah finally got away from Jessica in the closing stages. Lydia Beech ran strongly in the 2nd half of the race to finish 9th and complete a first team victory for the club. Promisingly, these 3 were followed by another 4 more Stoke athletes - hopefully a great pointer to the future. In the U11 boys race the talented Macauley Snutch sprinted to an excellent first win. Not far behind the equally talented Lindon Evans finished 7th despite suffering from a leg injury. There could be a real battle the next time these two meet. Robbie Gregory and Jake Holdcroft also ran well to ensure yet another team victory for the club. Grace Mahoney starred for the U13 girls to finish 10th in a strong field. She also led the team to 4th place. Chloe Hardy was our sole finisher in the U15 girls race with a good run in 8th, but as usual with Stoke AC in these particular age-groups it was also a case of who wasn't there. We know that Alan Morris has a brilliant squad to introduce to the competition a little bit later in the season, and with multiple National Champions over the past couple of years, who can say that he hasn't got (most of) it right. The U13 boys saw another potential star in the making with a brilliant gun to tape win for David Sheldon. Kris Washington tried valiantly to stay with Dave in the early stages and possibly paid a little for his effort in the end, but he was still as gutsy enough as ever, to keep second. Sprinter and long jumper turned distance runner Bradley Sentence was the surprise in 4th overall, just ahead of last year's U11 champions Greg Smalley and Connor Bradbury, as the team claimed an easy victory.  Now Stoke were really on a roll. This summer's junior track star Tom Guy has had injury problems in the last couple of months but was determined to stamp his authority on the U15 boys competition. However he met his match, by the thickness of a vest, from the rapidly improving Nathan Ainsworth as both sprinted full out for the line. Not far behind Mike Harding showed that he is well and truly on the way back to full fitness with a comfortable 3rd, whilst Joe Broome also improved considerably on recent form. This time the team victory could not be bettered with a 6 point score! At U17 men's level Josh Kinch showed that he has got much stronger for this winter. His new found confidence showed particularly when after going the wrong way and falling at the half way point, he recovered to stride to a excellent first ever North Staffs win. In 4th, Jake Hart did very well to overcome recent injury problems and just give another hint of what he could do if he did some serious training. Rob Cook and Josh Berrisford also showed improved endurance to guarantee yet another team win. Dave Clarke unfortunately suffered from an injury, but we know he is capable of mounting a strong challenge in the next couple of races. The senior men sprung a surprise on the opposition by turning up with a decent team - but how much longer can we keep doing that? Andy Allen, hungry for that first North Staffs Masters Cross Country title, really showed some of the old strength was back with an excellent 5th place. In 8th Steve Bazell also showed that he is ready for this winter, and as ever led from the front on the first lap, before holding on strongly. In 11th Brian Cole opted to run this one as a last 'tempo' training session before the Sofia Marathon next weekend, but somehow managed to out kick middle distance specialist Carl Shubotham. However Carl proved that he will definitely be a contender by the end of the season after a month of minimal training due to illness.  In finishing 18th and 5th counter I actually felt pretty comfortable until the last lap - although I was in reality more than 3 minutes down on the leaders. If I decide to actually start training seriously again there is obviously a lot more in the tank at the age of 45! Experience counts in cross country more than almost any other athletics event - just ask Dave Hollins... Gavin Walters and Pete Benyon would normally have finished well ahead of me  but both were suffering from illness on the day, and it was great just to see them finish. How the other teams would like to see commitment like theirs! They obviously won't be fully fit for next week's race at Park Hall, but both are capable of top 15 places by November. Mark Kinch was our last finisher on the day, but he has only been back training a week - so will obviously get fitter as the season progresses. I would also like offer my congratulations to former Stoke runner Alex Derricott on his first senior victory in this league. At the end of the day athletics is really an individual sport and although team competition is important, I still like to see former Stoke athletes do well - and Alex has genuine talent.  On a last note - many thanks to Christine Shubotham for doing the team manager bit on the day - brilliant support from Tom Gayle and Adrian Thiemicke on the course too! John Danahay Full results on the North Staffs Cross Country League Website: www.nsccl.co.uk Great photos courtesy of Brian Dale and Mick Hall  U11 Girls Team 1st - 12 points 1. Sarah Griffiths 2. Jessica Heath 9. Lydia Beech 12. Lydia Whiston 13. Mirade Fowler 14. Zoe Astley 20. Beth Beech U13 Girls - Team 4th - 39 points 10. Grace Mahoney 14. Jessica Griffiths 15. Jade Heath 17. Melissa Harding U15 Girls 8. Chloe Hardy U11 Boys - Team 1st - 27 points  1. Macauley Snutch 7. Lindon Evans 19. Robbie Gregory 20. Jake Holdcroft U13 Boys - Team 1st - 7 points  1. David Sheldon 2. Kris Washington 4. Bradley Sentence 5. Greg Smalley 6. Connor Bradbury 10. Nic Champ 19. Connor Haywood 21. Callum Griffiths 24. Mark Northcott U15 Boys - Team 1st - 6 points 1. Nathan Ainsworth 2. Tom Guy 3. Michael Harding 5. Joe Broome 8. Alex Brecker 9. Luke Kinch 12. Daniel Poole 17. Aaron Griffiths U17 Men - Team 1st - 10 points 1. Josh Kinch 4. Jake Hart 5. Rob Cook 6. Josh Berrisford 7. Dave Clarke 11. Matt Scragg 14. Ryan Salisbury Jun, Sen & Vet Men - Team 1st - 105 points  5. Andy Allen (M40) 8. Steve Bazell 11. Brian Cole 12. Carl Shubotham 18. John Danahay (M45) 51. Gavin Walters 52. Pete Benyon 84. Mark Kinch (M40) 7.51 7.56 8.29 8.51 8.58 9.01 9.24 7.49 8.03 8.04 8.06 15.32 7.07 7.37 8.30 8.31 11.50 12.40 12.58 13.04 13.23 13.48 15.04 15.13 15.29 15.31 15.31 15.43 16.12 16.42 16.48 18.24 18.59 18.29 18.58 19.13 19.30 19.38 20.45 21.58 34.33 35.02 35.57 35.59 37.14 40.01 40.11 43.04