TRAINING partners Ciaran Cooper and Will Crisp were Swindon Harriers’ star performers in the Wiltshire Cross Country Championships, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

Crisp continued his good start to the season to finish runner-up behind Trowbridge-based Team Bath runner Will Stockley in a very competitive under 15 boys’ race at Bath University on Sunday while Cooper struck silver in the under 17 men’s age group.

“I was happy with that,” Crisp. “I tried to keep up with Will but he broke away from the pack and then we were all left running by ourselves.

“I finished strongly and caught a few people towards the end but couldn’t get back at Will. He is a really strong runner.”

Coincidentally it was Crisp’s third second place of the season after also finishing second in the British Athletics Cross Challenge fixture in Bristol and then the Oxford League fixture the previous weekend.

It was only Cooper’s third race on the country this winter and arguably his best result after third places in the Oxford League meetings while behind him Harriers’ clubmate Sam Davies finished third.

“Ciaran is more of an 800m runner and punches above his weight against some of the cross country guys,” said coach Bryan Clinton.

“Like Will he is really looking forward to the summer season and may do some indoors after Christmas.”

The third Harriers silver went to 17-year-old Lillie Bellamy. Bellamy has made a steady start to the season as she and coach Neil England seek to reach a peak for the major championships in the new year and then carry that form into the summer season.

“Lillie was satisfied and not disappointed at all with her run,” said England. “I think she did as well as both of us thought she would and she knows there is still work to be done.”

To underline Bellamy’s consistency in the event it was her four medal in the past five years - and she missed the 2011 championships - with a gold, silver and two bronzes to her name.

Elsewhere Trowbridge runner Michael Towler retained his senior men’s title with Swindon’s Heath Bampton fourth and second veteran over 40 while Dan Pidgeon was 10th.

Swindon’s Fiona Gordon had a fine run to win a bronze medal in the senior women’s race’s and also fished top veteran over 45. Bradford on Avon marathon international Holly Rush retained her title.

From Marlborough & District Junior AC there were top six finishes from Callum Short (6th U15s), Alasdair Edington (4th U11s) and Katie McQue (6th U13s).

RESULTS

Wiltshire Cross Country Championships, Bath University (A=Andover; AVR=Avon Valley Runners; Calne=Calne Running Club; CRC=Corsham Running Club; Chipp=Chippenham Harriers; CoS=City of Salisbury AC; MADJA=Marlborough & District Junior AC; Swin=Swindon Harriers; TBAC=Team Bath AC;) Senior men: 1, Michael Towler (AVR); 2, Robert Mann (CoS); 3, Steven Herrin (CoS, M40); 4, Heath Bampton (Swin, M40); 5, Ben Brewster (CoS); 6, Sam Hull (Chipp); 7, Gary Dustone (Chipp) , M40); 8, Chris Roxburgh (AVR); 9, Stuart Henderson (CRC, M40); 10, Dan Pidgeon (Swin).

M50: 1, Robin-Mark Schloss (Frome); 2, Tom Smith (Chipp); 3, Mark Hooper (Chipp).

M60: 1, Stuart Arguile (AVR).

Teams: 1, Avon Valley Runners (Towler, Roxburgh, 20 Joby Hobbs, 25 Tim Lowrie, 26 Thomas Coney, 27 Peter Veleski).

Under 20 men: 1, Alex Carter (TBAC); 2, Simon Nott (Calne); 3, Nick Wood (Calne); 4, Hamish Scotford (CRC).

Under 17 men: 1, Jacob Platt (Andover); 2, Ciaran Cooper (Swin); 3, Sam Davies (Swin).

Under 15 boys: 1, Will Stockley (TBAC); 2, Will Crisp (Swin); 3, Cameron Perkins (TBAC); 4, John Howorth (TBAC); 5, Robert Howorth (TBAC); 6, Callum Short (MADJA).

Under 13 boys: 1, Rory Howorth (TBAC); 2, Hayden Bailey (TBAC); 3, Alfie Green (TBAC); 4, Robert Croager (IIF); 5, Henrik Humphries (unatt); 6, Eddie Slee (Chipp).

Under 11 boys: 1, James Gordon (TBAC); 2, Luke Buck (unatt); 3, Fergal Brophy (unatt); 4, Alasdair Edington (MADJA): 5, William Andrews (TBAC); 6, Oliver Welbourn (TBAC).

Senior women: 1, Holly Rush (TBAC); 2, Georgie Starkie (TBAC); 3, Fiona Gordon (Swin, W45); 4, Cordula Hurcum (Chipp, W35); 5, Jackie Rockcliffe (AVR, W35); 6, Fiona Price (AVR, W45); 7, Jill Westwood (AVR, W35); 8, Michelle Maxwell (Chipp, W35); 9, Diane Hier (AVR, W45); 10, Jennifer Ford (AVR).

W55: 1, Rosemary Barber (AVR).

Teams: 1, Avon Valley Runners (Rockcliffe, Price, Westwood, Hier).

Under 20 women: 1, Katherine Turner (TBAC); 2, Lillie Bellamy (Swin); 3, Hermione Toomey (Wells).

Under 17 women: 1, Gemma Shepherd (TBAC); 2, Hermione Seymour (CoS); 3, Ellen Lindsay (TBAC).

Under 15 girls: 1, Caitlin Wosika (TBAC); 2, Maisie Grant (CoS); 3, Kirsty Roberts (TBAC); 4, Ariana Watling (TBAC); 5, Naomi Griffiths (TBAC); 6, Bryony Cairns (unatt).

Under 13 girls: 1, Abigail Burn (CoS); 2, Jade Littlechild (TBAC); 3, Sarah Brett (A); 4, Katie Strange (TBAC); 5, Fleur Sams (IIF); 6, Katie McQue (MADJA).

Under 11 girls: 1, Eleanor Webster (TBAC); 2, Eleonore Hiller (unnat); 3, Kate Robinson (TBAC); 4, Clara Newcastle (unnat); 5, Molly Brophy (unnat); 6, Sukey Humphries (unnat).