Club merger bearing fruit with strong results for the seniors

Athletics - North Midlands Cross Country League

Peterborough Nene Valley AC enjoyed a successful afternoon at the North Midlands Cross Country League match staged in Corby on Saturday, winning one age group and finishing as runner-up in three others .

The all-conquering under 17 girls were the winners, and Molly Peel led them home by finishing in second place.

Peel clocked 19:37 over the undulating 3km circuit. Flo Brill in fourth and eighth placed Hannah Knight also ran impressively.

The merger between Nene Valley and Peterborough AC is really beginning to bear fruit in the senior age groups, with the men finishing as the second team behind University of Nottingham.

The excellence of Alex Hampson, who came through the age groups at Nene Valley, has been complemented by the strength in depth at Peterborough, and a formidable team is beginning to take shape.

The long striding Hampson is a lover of cross country and took the runners-up spot covering the slightly shorter than the advertised 10km distance in a time of 31:22.

Peterborough Nene Valley packed well with Dom Watson 14th, Kirk Brawn 21st and Simon Fell 24th. Phil Martin completed the scorers in 47th place.

The senior ladies are also showing strength in depth, and finished fifth.

Sarah Caskey, who produced a 6km 23:27 clocking, led the way finishing 22nd, with Ruth Jones eleven places further back.

Owen Wilkinson enjoyed an impressive fourth place finish leading the under 17 men to runners up spot.

Wilkinson who ran a time of 19:40 over the 6km circuit received sterling support from eighth and ninth placed runners Sam Staines and Sam Oakley.

Felix Bowling had a fine run, crossing the line as third under 13 boy with a 3km time of 10:47.

Bowling’s run helped the boys to claim second spot.

Lucas Oakley in 12th and Willis Bentley, who finished 21st, completed the scoring team.

Chelsie Bole and Elizabeth Eames finished 11th and 12th for the under 15 girls while Ed Lindsell in 18th was the leading Pe under 15 boy.

Louis Hemmings and Ruby

Wright both finished sixth in their under 11 races with Evie Hemmings 10th in the under 13 girls race,

The black and white • vests of Helpston Harriers are becoming a common sight in the league and four of their star turns ran strongly on

Saturday.

Steve Robinson starred with a fourth place finish with John Herbert 30th, Micky Moore 42nd and Thomas Musson 79th.

Helpston finished the day at Corby as the second veterans team.

Daily Mail Pairs Qualifier: 1 A. Maher & S. Chalmers, 2 S. Evans & C. Hewitt, 3 I. Caville & S. Randall.

MILTON

November Stableford: Division One - 1 James Middleton 37pts. 2 Matthew Pettit 36, 3 Patrick Dolan 34. Division Two - 1 Wayne Howard 42pts, 2 Jason Turner34,3NeilBerryman33. Division Three - 1 David Court 39pts, 2 Ian Graham 34, 3 Steve Bunning 32.

GREETHAM VALLEY

Medal qualifier - 1 Martin Thwaites nett 64, 2 Chris Hatch 65, 3 Darren Child 65.

Medal qualifier - 1 Dee Ginnity nett 72, 2 Jackie Friend 77.

Winter League Round Two - 1 Jim McGhee 39pts, 2 Jim Clarke 38, 3 Ken Porter 37.

Alex Hampson on his way to claiming the runners-up spot in Corby helping his team to finish.