This winters x-country season got underway with the opening Manchester League XC at Stockports Woodbank park. Good weather and firm underfoot conditions saw some fast races.

Opening race saw several Trafford athletes making great debut x-country runs. Best of all saw an amazing run by Georgia Nelson finishing 2nd in the U12 girls race and not far behind was Isabelle Galpin (38th). In the boys u12 race Ellis Bennett (14th) and Morley Hamilton were very impressive and after a great season last year Odhran Nash in 6th was only 19 seconds off 3rd place as he moved through the field and lead the team to 4th place.

In the U14 boys race, over a tough 3.8km course, it was good to see a good group of Trafford boys competing well. Logan O'Neill-Wood (31st) led the team with experienced runners Sebastian White (58th) and Sebastian Harding (60th) completing the A team. New comers Oliver Reckert (64th), Evan Slawinski (66th) and Louis Harding (68th) were close behind in a big field completing B team. In the Girls u14 race Cora Black started her winter finishing 13th only 28 seconds off 3rd place.

With 2 laps up the steep Woodbank park hill the England Athletics age group change was a challenge for several 13 year old having to run in the U16 race over the 5km course, with several athletes dropping out. Tom Daly one of the countries best fell runners enjoyed the steep hills to move through for an impressive 5th place. After a big improvement this summer Teddy O'Brien looked strong as he followed Tom finishing 6th. Four years ago when Teddy started his running he finished 5th last. Craig Hallinan is another athlete making big improvements as he finished 12th, the team only just missing out a team victory by three points to local team Stockport. There is great depth and quality in this group, Ethan O'Brien finished strongly (15th) and with Oscar Bundy (22nd) and Thomas Fotheringham (31st) the B team were first B team and finished 6th team overall. Packing well Quinn Harding (44th), Daniel White (46th) and Paddy Widdop (48th) also gave the club first C team. With a big field in the u16 girls race Phoebe Risdon (29th) and Mya Black (55th) ran well.

In the U18 6.4km race Arlo Mander-Tullius was always in the lead group and with a strong finish the youngster pulled 16 seconds clear to win. Having been out for 3 months with a stress fracture Adrian White made a good start to his winter build up finishing 5th. With four other youngsters Oliver Davenport (12th), Sam Ingleby-castleton (19th), Ralphie Rome (21st) and Charlie Congdon (33rd) giving the A team a win and putting the B team in 5th place, they have a great squad for this winter. With 25 finishers in the u18 women's race Sarah Smith ran well in 10th place.

The Women's 7.9km race saw Alice Stiles lead the team to second place in the top division team race. Alice looked strong throughout the race finishing a close 6th place. Sarah Hudak moved through the field to finish 11th and 2nd V35. Kate Meeson (23rd), Eve Southern (61st) and Sue Exon (288th) completed the team.

Trafford Men's team also had a good start back in division one finishing 5th team. Especially promising was that the team was lead by two improving juniors. 18 year old Jay Hutchinson came through to 14th and with a great start to the winter 17 year old Archie Greenwood was 26th and 2nd U20. Luke Carrington (55th) continues to improve each year and close behind was Laurence Skidmore (75th), Theo Jacques (86th) and 17 year old Evan Lewis (100th). With 464 finishers in the race George Wright (131st) and Peter Cockings (164th) had there best ever runs over x-country and they were backed up by Trafford Life Members Dick Byers (210th) and Mike Hutchinson (353rd).

Click here for full results.