Milton Keynes claim cross-country title once again

After a hard fought campaign at the top of Division One, MMKAC retained the title they have won for 17 of the past 23 years.

Having won two of the previous four matches, finishing second in the other two, they took a lead of 192 pts into the final match hosted by MMKAC in Campbell Park. Here, they added 34pts to total 16807 with Bedford scoring 16581. On the day Bedford beat MK in the overall male category but their ladies reversed this.

Sam Winters headed the senior men home with a fine fifth place. Making the top 30 were Graham Jones (10th), Matthew Dicks (12th), Robert Hickman (19th), Ewan Forsythe (21st), James Tuttle (24th) and Steve Tuttle (29th).

Elle Roche and Alice Ritchie again contested the top echelon of the senior ladies race finishing 3rd and 5th respectively. Abby Roskilly closed in 20th, Debra Brent 46th and Fern Yull 58th.

In the younger age groups, Leo Freeland finished fifth in the M17 race but, based on his best four races over the series, he won the overall individual title. Their team placed second in this age group. Callum Tripp and Harry Totton had a very close finish in the M15 race, just three seconds apart, ninth and 10th in the race. Callum picked up third place in the overall awards. Sam Oldroyd led the M13’s, 11th with Maxwell Newman 15th. Their team finished third overall.

For the younger females, Sophie Stockton and Jodie Brogden placed 11th and 14th for the F17 team. Millie Freeland was again first local F15, 12th on the day with Morenike Orimalade 24th. The F13 girls finished 3rd overall and saw Jessica Vaines place 13th in Campbell Park. Elizaabeth Garner took 20th, Ella Glass 21st and Izzy Gregg 26th.

Finally glory for the under 11s. They do not score in the match but were overall age group winners. The girls won all their five races. On the day Eleanor Pearce won with Katie Webb second and Libby Freeland fourth. The boys saw Jacque Smith second, Eddie Hartigan fifth and Joseph Grainger seventh.