After heavy rain, this Saturdays Manchester league x-country race at Wythenshawe Park took place on a warm sunny day. You still needed wellies to get around what was a very muddy flat course.

First to splash their way through the puddles and mud were the U11's. Thomas Fotheringham made a great debut in his first x-country for Trafford finishing in 20th place, with Harry Crowhurst (31st) also making his debut and Sebastian White (35th) both close behind, the team finished 8th overall.

In the U13 race Trafford had a big turnout of 11 boys. The team were lead home by the ever improving Thomas Daly (7th) and with good runs from Thomas Aron (12th) and Joe Thomas (20th) the "Thomas Team" finished 4th overall and stay in 3rd place in the overall series. The Team of youngsters in this age group packed well with Mathew Aron (24th), Ethan O'Brien (25th) and Ralphie Rome (31st) meaning they finished 1st B Team and 6th place overall. With 87 finishers in the boys event it was great to see so many youngsters doing well and improving; Patrick Widdop (39th), Daniel White (45th), Rio Franklin (57th), Joe Bowden (68th) and Teddy O'Brien (69th).

The U15 race saw Trafford's Boys National Champions once again packing well at the front of the race. A great run by Sale's Alex Fraser managed to get away from Pio Aron (2nd) and Fin Dobson Emmas (3rd). Tio Austin showed his continued improvement claiming 5th place with a big sprint finish, Tim Ye was 7th and Evan Lewis ran well for 8th. Archie Greenwood fell late on in the mud twice! but still managed to finish 10th. With 6 in the top 10 again, Trafford's A and B Teams were first and second. With 77 finishers there were again great runs from Benji Cavanagh (15th), Oscar Gascoine (21st) and Thomas Harris (41st) putting the C team in 8th team place. Close behind were Rowan Leeming (42nd), Atticus Jones (49th), Evan Horwell (52nd), Joe Cowles (61st) and James Wilson (71st).

In the Girls race Rachel Bowden had one of her best runs to finish 6th and with good packing from Anna Thomas (16th) and Ursula Bailey (17th) the team finished 2nd and move up to joint 2nd place in the overall series. Close behind the top 3 were Beth Stanley (21st), Rowan Goodrich (44th) and Rosie Lowther (57th).

Trafford's only win of the day came in the U17 Men's race with Freddie Meredith running away from the field right from the start to record a 50 second winning margin. It was a much closer race for the top team but with Jay Hutchinson (10th) and Josh Watson (15th) Trafford claimed top spot and move up to joint first overall. Luke Carrington was close behind in 21st and getting back to fitness Toby Robinson was 28th.

In the U17 Women's race The Trafford team finished 4th on the day and that has moved them into 3rd place overall. Sophie Bowman (10th) was star of the day looking like she is improving this winter and she was backed up by Daisy Atkiss (24th) and Fay Lewis (27th).

Trafford women made a great start in the first Manchester league race and with 13 athletes out, there was again a great team performance. Leading the team again were Trafford's top two women Vicki Cronin (10th) and Sarah Hudak (13th) and pushing them hard were Amelia Williams (18th) and Kate Meeson (26th) leaving the team 2nd in the match and consolidating their 2nd place overall in the series. Zoe Storr was 50th with Liz Ellyard 68th and in 82nd (and 1st vet 55) was Alison Drasdo. Then came Alice Woodbridge (104th), Louise Ambler (111th), Louise Mangan (146th), Rachel McDonnell (171st), Jo Lott (183rd) and in 320th (and 2nd v70) was Sue Exon.

By the time the senior mens 10k race set off the mud was getting thicker and thicker. It was Joe Deighton for Trafford who made his way through it the best, finishing 35th overall and wining the U20 mens race (with just a guest from Rotherham ahead). Simon O'Meara was 37th, Mike Melarkey 56th, Fin Mayoh (after leading the race early on) was 68th, Sonny Wilson 139th and Dan Atkinson finshed the A Team in 151st, putting the team 10th out of 71 complete teams. Hamish Child was 210th out of the 551 finishers, Richard Turner 216th (and 5th vet 55), Dan Hill 267th, George Wright 302nd, Conor Lamb 337th and happy just to finish Mike Hutchinson in 362nd.

See full results here: https://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2023/maccl23-2.htm