Bartlett and Wright impress as Harriers make their mark

The British Athletics Cross Challenge also got under way on Saturday at Teardrop Lakes Milton Keynes, run in conjunction with round two of the Chiltern League.

The field was strong with some of the UK’s best cross country athletes competing.

The senior men’s race saw an A list of athletes including Andy Vernon and Adam Hickey in a field of more than 450 runners.

Wright was 74th overall and fifth in the Chiltern League for Harriers and Phil Coy was fourth, Neil Forbes came fifth with Andrew Bartlett in sixth.

The senior women’s race saw athletes including Gemma Steel, Jessica Judd and Pippa Woolven in the line-up.

Bartlett came 78th overall, F45 and third in the Chiltern League, while Ros Kelling was 83rd overall, F45 and fourth in the Chiltern League.

The under-20/17 men’s race also held a fine pedigree of runners.

Rueben Trotter came 100th overall and ninth in the Chiltern League, with Cameron Baugh 11th.

The under-20/17 women’s race had a line-up of big names including European junior silver medallist Harriet Knowles-Jones.

Banbury Harriers athletes showed great strength.

Emily Thompson came 50th overall, 33rd in the Cross Challenge and third in the Chiltern League.

Team-mate Jenny Hannah was 54th overall and fourth in the Chiltern League.

The under-15 girls’ race had an early breakaway group that included Banbury Harriers’ Alex Scrivener.

She showed great determination to finish a well placed sixth overall, fifth in the Cross Challenge and second in the Chiltern League.