18 October 2008	NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE - PARKHALL
	Excellent weather greeted the runners at Park Hall Country Park for the second round of the North Staffs Cross Country League. City of Stoke participation at this event was always going to be reduced by the fact that the National Young Athletes Road Relays are held the very next day, but those who did attend gave an excellent account of themselves. In the U11 Girls Sarah Griffiths yet again ran a great race as she edged yet closer to the U11 title for the second year in succession. Backed up by Monica Organisiciak and Megan Cogan, Stoke AC also look good for the team title if they can keep going in this form. Lucy Holt ran perhaps the best race of the day for Stoke as she zipped to a first North Staffs victory in the U13 category. I did say in my last report that Lucy had the potential to trouble the race favourites! With Melissa Harding and Jessica Heath also running strongly, the U13s took second team. Jade Heath and Jessica Griffiths ran consistently well to finish in the top half of the field in the U15 girls.  U20 Heather Holt was again our only representative in the Senior Woman's event, and she continued her rapid recovery from a lay-off to gain 6th place overall and 1st U20 with an excellent performance. With the boy's squad competing in the National Road Relays the following day there was always going to a big reduction in Stoke participation at this race. However in the U11 age-group Joel Mann again ran strongly to claim 4th spot and together with a great run from Robroy McGregor and George Steventon the lads are keeping themselves in contention for a team prize at the end of the season. The U13s were hit hard by the absence of top competitors but Connor Bradbury and Nick Stoddard ran really well, and supported by Callum Griffiths, they too have kept the team in contention. The U15 age-group saw the biggest absences of all and Sam Botham took his chance to finish an excellent 3rd place. If Sam starts to believe in himself and train consistently this could be a regular result. Harry Cogan also ran well to finish in the top 10, but unfortunately without a third competitor this age-group are not able to win the team title this year.  U17 Mike Harding made the bold bid to run both this race and the relays, and for various reasons today did not come out as for planned for the fast improving Stoke AC teenager. However the next day Mike was to run a blinder, but that is another story... With Staffordshire Moorlands also competing in the National Road relay on the same day this was an opportunity for a rejuvenated Stoke AC team to grab a few extra points from their rivals and give us a chance of the team title. As it happened Moorlands still put in a good performance here, and not yet seeing the re-emergence of some of the other top Stoke AC seniors, we had to settle for a smaller margin of victory than we might have otherwise hoped for. Although it is great to win your local league we too would have gone to the National Relays in preference if we could have done (as we have done in so many previous years), so well done to Moorlands for taking that decision. However there were still some excellent Stoke performances here. Behind another run-away win by former Stoke AC runner Alex Derricott, new recruit Seb Duffy took the initiative, and he and Steve Bazell soon worked themselves into a battle for second place. Seb's strength told on the second lap as he ran on to an excellent 2nd, whilst Steve also ran really well for one of his best placings in 3rd.  Ultra runner Brian Cole had yet again run from his home in Barlaston to the race, and was hoping to repeat his 2nd place from the 1st race. This time he found that he did not quite have the legs for it, but still finished an outstanding 5th, before running back to Barlaston! Seb and Brian are now tying for 2nd place overall in the individual standings with Steve close behind in 3rd. I was also hoping for a better performance this time, but catching a cold on the previous Thursday was not part of my plans. As usual when I am not confident, I went off way too fast, and paid the price, but kept myself in contention for the M45 title with a wheezing second lap! I am still feeling rough as I write this report 3 days later, so definitely not what I would recommend as a coach! Josh Berrisford improved 15 places on Lyme Valley with a good 31st place, and we know there is still quite a lot more to come from this talented U20 in his first season at senior level. Just take a few more places each time Josh and before you know you will be at the front!  6th counter on this occasion was the irrepressible Dave Lee who also improved to 41st. Once Dave really believes in himself he is another one who could move much further up the field. Behind Dave, U20 Rob Cook struggled again with his breathing and did very well to stay the distance and complete this unrelenting course. Newcomer Ant Faulkner completed his first ever North Staffs cross country in 116th and says he wants to do more! If only we could get the same enthusiasm from some of our absent lads! The next race is Stafford Common on the 15th November. If you have not competed so far, please do come on down. We are now only 19 points adrift of Staffordshire Moorlands and I know that we still have the capability to win this title if we all turn-out... John Danahay Full results on the North Staffs Cross Country League Website: www.nsccl.co.uk Great photos courtesy of Brian Dale U11 Girls Team 1st - 15 points 1. Sarah Griffiths 6. Monica Organisiack 8. Megan Cogan 10. Olivia Barnett 13. Lydia Whiston 24. Laura Cogan 38. Jessica Smith   U13 Girls - Team 2nd - 20 points 1. Lucy Holt 9. Melissa Harding 10. Jessica Heath 13. Mariad Nolan 13. Lydia Beech U15 Girls 9. Jade Heath 11. Jessica Griffiths Senior. Junior and Vet Women 6. Heather Holt (U20) U11 Boys - Team 4th - 38 points  4. Joel Mann 10. Robroy Gregory 24. Ethan Wymess U13 Boys - Team 3rd - 38 points  7. Connor Bradbury 8 Nick Stoddard 23. Callum Griffiths 28. George Steventon U15 Boys - 3. Sam Botham 8. Harry Cogan U17 Men  4. Michael Harding Jun, Sen & Vet Men - Team 1st - 94 pts  2. Seb Duffy 3. Steve Bazell 5. Brian Cole 12. John Danahay (M45) 31. Josh Berrisford (U20) 41. Dave Lee 72. Rob Cook (U20) 116. Ant Faulkner 7.44 8.09 8.17 8.20 8.43 9.25 12.50 8.08 9.18 9.20 9.27 9.40 10.31 10.33 21.17 8.32 9.16 10.28 9.46 9.47 10.52 11.48 10.45 11.39 19.52 36.20 36.39 37.23 38.12 40.18 41.37 43.20 46.21