W/E 02.11.24 -Return of the EACCL season & other XC / trail events.

First up on this week’s review we look back at last week’s Cross Country and trail events;

**EACCL R1**

The return of the EACCL - East Anglian Cross Country League season started with an unfamiliar opening day location – the 18 WACers travelled to Suffolk for the Chiltern Fields XC race from Stowmarket – The first race hosted by Stowmarket Striders Running Club moved from its typical March mudfest! First home for WAC was Juliette Watkinson finishing 1st female🏆🥇overall in the short distance race (5k). Jet was quickly followed home by Kate Gooding (2nd 🏆🥈 overall) and Claire Brown (7th overall) to complete our scoring trio for the Ladies’ A-team. Well done to you three and elsewhere for Graham Walsh 1st🥇M75+, Eva Osborne 1st🥇 F80+ & Peter Roach 3rd 🥉 M80+ along with Claire Brown and her 1st F60+ finish.

On the long course (10k) first home for WAC was Will Parker followed by Adrian Hall (2nd🥈 M60+), David Powles (3rd🥉 M45+) & Kevin Frazer to complete our quartet of A-team finishes within the Men’s competition. Well done to all that made their way south in the October sunshine ☀️! 🙌🏻

We stay with Cross Country;

**Ryston XC series – Race 2**

This month’s race from Shouldham Warren, hosted Ryston Runners AC, was the 9k distance ⛰– we had 8 runners in attendance with Aidan Banfield first home for WAC and first overall🏆🥇 in a time of 29:13. Aidan was followed home by Banfield senior, Mark in time of 33:33 just before our first female, Juliette Watkinson in a time of 34:14. Jet finishing first female overall🏆🥇 to make it a WAC double on the day! Other WAC members running on the day were Adrian Halll (36:42), Martin Jones (42:47), Graham Walsh (43:08), Eva Osborne (54:38) & Jo Rayner (57:37). Well done to all & congratulations also to Mark Banfield 2nd🥈M50 & Eva Osborne 2nd🥈F65+.

Elsewhere on the Sunday we had two members train-spotting;

**🚂Chase the Train🚂**

The extremely popular event hosted by North Norfolk Beach Runners takes in the Bure Valley railway path starting in Aylsham and finishing in Wroxham. We had XC captain Tony Beales and Keith Blake taking on the 8.9 mile trail event – Tony was first WACer back in a time of 67:58, one minute in front of Keith who picked up 3rd🥉M60+ on the day – Well done you two!

Slightly further afield but also on trails;

**Tbilisi 9km trail race**

One of our youngest members was out in the 🇬🇪Georgia🇬🇪 for the Tbilisi 9km trail race – Akash Chlleystone’s first official race for WAC and he achieved a 3rd place🏆🥉 finish overall with a time of 40:06 – Well done Akash!

#TeamWAC 💜🤍💜🤍