ATHLETICS: Bicester's Ben West in fine form at cross country double-header

The Bicester teenager came third in Saturday’s Chiltern League under 17 race at Luton.

He finished in 19mins 31secs and was also the first Division 2 runner to cross the line.

And on Sunday, West claimed victory in the under 15/17 combined race at the Bicester-hosted second round of the Oxford Mail Cross Country League in Adderbury.

He proved too strong for the opposition, beating Abingdon’s Jack Shayler by 27 seconds.

Teammates Max Nicolle and Samuel Worfolk came 11th and 30th respectively to help Bicester finish third in the team event.

In the senior men’s race, Alchester’s Richard Gould made the top 20, finishing 15th.

Freddie Taylor led Bicester’s charge in the under 13 event by crossing 12th.

The north Oxfordshire club had three runners finish inside the top 20 in the under 11 race, with Timothy Jones 13th, Freddie Rendell 16th and Owen Stocker 19th.

In the women’s race, Sarah Rendell came eighth to help Alchester finish second in Division 1.

Amy Gould was Bicester’s top performer in the under 15/17 girls competition, finishing 20th.

In the under 13 girls event, Bicester’s Georgia Usher and Lucy Watts finished fourth and sixth respectively.

Their teammates put on a strong showing in the under 11 race, with Imogen Cox eighth, and Anna Jollife tenth on her cross country debut.

Sisters Anna and Bella Couzens were 12th and 14th respectively, while Isla Bohannon came 20th.

Bicester’s Millie Couzens also competed in the Chiltern League, crossing fourth overall in the under 13 race and first in Division 2.

ORGANISERS have cancelled the third round of the Oxford Mail Cross Country League after being unable to confirm a venue for Sunday, January 8.

The third round also incorporated the Oxfordshire Cross Country Championships, which has now been moved to January 7.

It will be held in conjunction with the Bucks and Beds event at Stowe School.

RESULTS

(senior men unless stated)

Men: 15 R Gould (Alc, V40) 31mins 8secs, 24 J Bagnall (Alc) 31.39, 27 A Stickley (Alc, V40) 31.46.

Women: 8 S Rendell (Alc, LV35) 27.39.

Under 15/17 boys: 1 B West (Bic, U17) 16.11.

Under 13 girls: 4 G Usher (Bic) 10.13, 6 L Watts (Bic) 10.21.

Under 11 girls: 8 I Cox (Bic) 6.36, 10 A Jolliffe (Bic) 6.38.

TEAM STANDINGS

Men’s Div 1: 3 Alchester A 278pts. Div 3: 3 Alchester B 675.

Women’s Div 1: 2 Alchester A 64.

Under 15/17 boys: 3 Bicester A 42.

Under 13 girls: 3 Bicester A 31.

INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS

MEN

Vet 50: 3 J Nelson (Alc) 43pts.

Under 17: 1 B West (Bic) 1.

WOMEN

Vet 35: 2 S Rendell (Alc) 6.

TEAM STANDINGS

MEN

Senior – Div 1: 3 Alchester A 668pts. Div 3: 2 Alchester B 1,544, 3 Bicester TC A 1,592.

Under 15/17: 3 Bicester A 82.

WOMEN

Senior – Div 1: 2 Alchester A 102.

DAVID Kuester triumphed at the Midland (British) Masters Throwers Group (MMTG) Christmas Throwers Pentathlon Competition at the Moorways Stadium in Derby.

The Bicester veteran won the 70+ age group with 2,658 points.

He won all five disciplines, improving on his score from the World Championships in Perth, Australia, by 71 points.

Kuester was also third overall for the whole event, which included competitors aged 17-72 years old.

RESULTS

Hammer throw: 1 D Kuester 30.02m; Shot: 1 D Kuester 8.01; Discus: 1 D Kuester 25.39; Javelin: 1 D Kuester 24.75; Heavy weight: 1 D Kuester 10.23; Total: 1 D Kuester 2,658pts.