Match two of this winter's Manchester League x-country took place on a mild November day with firm underfoot conditions. The fields were strong despite a Podium 5km race later that day and the Cardiff British Cross Challenge.

Trafford's under 11 boys Sebastian White (38th) and Oliver McKiernan (39th) had a great race with Oliver closing in on Sebastian and Sebastian managing to respond as they sprinted past others to the finish line.

In the U13 Boys race Thomas Daly (8th) was always close to the lead group, with Ethan O'Brien not far behind in 15th.  Paddy Widdop (23rd) managed to outsprint Ned Farncombe (24th) to put the Trafford team in 3rd place and put them in a strong place to claim team medals overall.  Just behind Ned came Thomas Fotheringham (25th) and with his best run of the season Sammy Cowles (31st) was in the top half of the field and brought Trafford's 'B' Team home in 8th place and 2nd 'B' team on the day. Daniel White (35th) and Joe Bowden (44th) struggled a bit today but showed how they are improving by still finishing well up the field of 66 finishers.

In the U15 race Ralphie Rome made a big improvement finishing in 12th place, he was backed up by Joe Thomas who was returning from a broken arm and ran well to finish 25th.  In the girls race Sarah Smith was close to the leading runners finishing 15th and in her first race for the club Genny Jackson was 37th.

In the U17 race there was a big group of some of the top runners from the North West.  Liam Johnson (St.Helens Sutton) pushed the pace from half way with Pio Aron (2nd) moving away from the group as he chased the leader.  Behind Pio, Jay Hutchinson (5th) outsprinted Tim Ye (6th), with both runners having a good race which meant Trafford won the team race.  Trafford's 'B' team runners Evan Lewis (8th), Evan Horwell (14th) and Archie Greenwood (15th) all had excellent races showing their winter training is going well. Behind Trafford's 'A' Team the Team competition was very close with 5 points covering 5 clubs, with Trafford's 'B' Team coming 5th.  With great strength in depth Tom Harris (28th), Ceri Basi (34th), Finnan Docherty (40th), Atticus Jones (43rd) and Isaac True (45th) all showed improvement and put Trafford's 'C' Team in 9th place.

Not to be out done the U17 Women also won the team race.  Isobel Thomas ran her best race of the winter to finish 6th and on a long course Ursula Bailey (17th) and Sophie Bowman (18th) ran well.

Six years ago, Josh Watson ran for the first time on the Kenworthy Woods course in the Manchester League finishing 26th in the U13 Boys.  Having just turned 17 three months ago he finished first Trafford Senior in a quality Men's race leading the team finishing 47th and 6th U20 Male. Josh wasn't the only Junior having a great run, Joe Deighton was close behind in 54th, Luke Carrington making his Senior debut was 74th.  These three also won the U20 Men's team race.  With three other Junior men having great runs Dan Partington (109th), Toby Robinson (157th) and Ed Robinson (234th) Trafford's 'B' team finished 4th Junior Men's team.  Mixing it with these juniors Tom Rogers worked his way through the field to finish 66th and Mike Melarkey (90th) is getting back to form.  George Wright (209th) finished well and the two old boys John Howe (243rd) and Dick Byers (252nd) were still in the top half of the field.

Trafford's Senior Women's team are going from strength to strength, and it was Vicki O'Meara a former winner of the Manchester league individual title who is leading the improvement.  Vicki moved through the field to finish 4th and she was backed up by Amelia Williams (13th), Sarah Hudak (17th) and Kate Meeson (20th) who are all moving into good form.  These four put Trafford in a strong 2nd place overall in the top division.  Trafford's 'B' Team is also in 2nd place in the 'B' Teams division with great packing from Zoe Storr (56th), Ruth Beresford (76th), Amy Cauley (122nd) and Jo Lott (188th).  Two of Trafford's stalwarts Sue Exon (317th) and Lucy Hickey (339th) ran well in the 363 runner deep field.

Click here for Full Results: https://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2024/maccl24-2.pdf