Match report by Des Webb:

A number of Team Southampton's younger runners were selected to compete for Hampshire at the Southern schools inter-counties cross country races at Bexhill in Kent on saturday and performed very well throughout the age groups.

Top performer was Rebecca Gough who showed some real class when she took the Senior Girls race by the scruff of the neck at the start of the second lap and never looked like being caught afterwards. She finished a full minute clear of the rest of the field including club team mate and training partner Hayley Pointer who came in a very strong 5th place and helped the Hampshire team to scoop the team victory in that race.

Also running well was Louise Webb who, after a cross country season so far plagued by injury and illness, showed a fine return to form when she came runner up in the Intermediate girls race over the hilly and muddy course in East Sussex. Hampshire took third place in the age group out of the 6 counties competing from across the South region.

In the Junior Boys there was a very exciting competition when Simon Nimmin led his race after the first lap for Hampshire 10 metres ahead of the opposition going into the steep hill at the start of the second lap. Unfortunately he was unable to hold onto a top three place and finished 5th place overall just behind Team southampton club mate and top hampshire finisher in the race Louis Gates in 4th, giving the hampshire team 2nd place in the race.

Jamie Knapp had another good race when he challenged strongly throughout his intermediate boys race for third place but was pipped in the final run in to end up with 5th place, but was still the leading runner for Hampshire in the race

Also running were Mhairi-clair stewart in the Junior girls race who came in 5th of the Hampshire team runners, and 18th overall in the race out of a field of nearly 80 top runners from the Southern region. Scott Gallant also ran well to take 27th place in the Senior boys race where the Hampshire team were dominant and won the team prize by a considerable margin.

Many of the runners hope to continue their fine performances for hampshire schools if selected to compete in march at the nationals in leeds.

Please Note:
These results are based on information sent to me. Any problems with names / times / positions then e-mail teamsouthampton@hotmail.com