Bath close gap to rivals in late bid for second
TEAM Bath’s senior men have given themselves an outside chance of snatching second in the overall team competition as the Gloucestershire Cross Country League reaches its climax.
With just one fixture remaining, now re-arranged for Sunday March 1 at Old Down Country Park near Thornbury, Team Bath have narrowed the gap to the University of Bath squad to 36 points.
That is still a big gap but having beaten the students in the penultimate fixture on Sunday, albeit by just two points, Team Bath have at the least a fighting chance if they can get out their strongest team, and hope the students have an off-day.
“Just managing to get ahead of the University of Bath this time has given us all a great boost,” said club endurance coach and team manager Paul King.
“If we get our strongest team out for the last fixture in two weeks’ time we have an outside chance of taking overall second place for the season.
“As a team we have all really enjoyed the friendly rivalry racing against the University this year.”
As for Sunday’s meeting, host club Cheltenham & County Harriers did well to get the event on in the aftermath of Storm Dennis, especially as areas of Pitville Park were sodden.
The weather certainly saw a reduction in numbers but it didn’t deter Team Bath’s seniors as they packed their top five runners inside the top 20 with Thomas Davies closing in the scoring team in 25th.
Newcomer Aidan Daniel led the way and not only proved that his win in the gruelling Slaughterford 9 last month was no fluke but also underlined how much he has improved since making his debut in the second match, just before Christmas, when placing 17th and third scorer home for the club.
On Sunday, 21-year-old Daniel finished a fine fifth as Cheltenham runners enjoyed a clean sweep, they have won each match in some style as they tighten their grip on the title again, with captain James Donald 14th, Robert Eaton 17th, Themis Bower 19th and Joseph Chevalier 20th.
That was excellent packing and just gave them the edge on a strong Bath University squad this season.
“The senior men did well considering we were a little down on numbers due to the uncertainty of the weather,” added King.
The decision of Daniel to join the club, after returning to the area after graduating from Birmingham University with a degree in sports science, has certainly given the team a lift and it is interesting to note that the scoring six on Sunday included no veteran runners.
“Aidan has represented us at the Tri-counties and South West Championships XC and he’s a great prospect and loves the mud and hills as winning the Slaughterford 9 last month will testify,” explained King.
“He trains well and races even better, particularly if it involves mud. I have great hopes for Aidan going forward.”
A special mention, also, to Mark Mackintosh who finished 58th overall and top veteran over 55.
The club were not represented in the senior women’s race but Bath University student Victoria Hiscock impressed to finish second.
In the young athletes’ races there were two podium finishes for Team Bath runners. Toby Baker enjoyed his highest position ever claiming third in the under 15 boys’ race having previously placed sixth in the opening fixture.
In the under 13 boys’ race, Harry Maxwell looked on course to make it back-to-back wins after his triumph at Old Down in December but sadly the youngster was sent off course and not only lost the lead but also fell too far behind to have any chance of reclaiming top spot. Modestly Maxwell didn’t want to say the incident cost him the race as he battled tenaciously to finish runner-up, ten seconds behind Hereford’s Henry White.
“It was a tough, very muddy race and I fell after turning back which knocked my momentum a bit,” said Maxwell.
But with solid support from twin brother Joshua in sixth and Josh Newton eighth Harry led Team Bath to first place in the team competition.
■ RACING in the Castle Combe Chilly 10k road race, Team Bath’s Ben Ashby finished 17th in a time of 39mins.
■ The athletics coverage in the Chron is sponsored by Running Bath