On Sunday the venue was Newquay for the second fixture in the Westward League Cross Country series. 14 senior members made the long journey to participate in the competitive event. The course was slightly different to previous years and took on a new field on the upper part of the course. The weather held out bright and sunny for the ladies race and clouded over slightly for the men’s race but thankfully the expected rain held off. The course was good and muddy thanks to all the rain and runners were glad of their spikes on the more boggy sections of the fields. The Pheasant Inn hosted the delicious post run refuel roast. Excellent performances were recorded by all athletes some of them seasoned Cross Country athletes and also by those enjoying their first experience on the cross country circuit.
First home for Torbay AAC running in the Senior Male category position 56 James Alcock (37:09), 81 Sonny Harvey (39:09), 98 Steve Weeks (40:28), 117 Martyn Breslan (42:09), 135 Adam Taylor (43:44), 142 Paul Frissen (44:35), 144 Peter Hart (46:03), 157 Andy Philippou (54:52), 158 Dennis Doy (59:25)

The ladies race:
80 Sara Crozier (24:49), 88 Hayley Ratcliff (25:08) 90 Sarah Harrison (25:12), 107 Karen Frissen (26:23), 140 Alice Barker (33:00)

Torbay teens at top!
After the first two races of the 6 race Westward league, Torbay AACs under 15 boys are top of the leader board. With three runners to score, James Larkin (11th, 14:12), Xavier Bly (13th, 14:28) and Sam Hart (15th 14:35) finished strong in the 3600m race to secure top spot while 4th for Torbay, Angus Graham, showed huge improvement in only his second race for the club (23rd, 16:25).
Torbay’s u15 girls gained second team place in a tightly packed 3200m race with Iona Farquharson (4th, 13:06) and 2nd individual in the league, Emma Harrison (13th, 13:58) and Mia Ratcliff (21st, 14:51).
Younger sister, Aela Farquharson had a strong finish in u11 race (28th, 8:17). And in the U11 boys race Sebastian Bly (17th, 7:06) and Finley Cull (33rd, 7:55) had great runs.
Normally known for his long jump and hurdles, Josh Taylor ran well to finish 30th (13:18) and Joe Eastman showed great strength to finish 24th (13:04) in a fast u13 boys race (2950m). Aoine Graham (40th, 16:27) and Grace Povey (42nd, 19:04) in u13 girls race also ran well over this tough course.
U17 boys, Myles Begley (17th, 19:51) and Chris Kirwin (24th 25:14) raced well over 5km and in the same race Holly liberal Leman (23:06) finished 7th u17 girl to take 3rd place individual in the league, while Chloe Weeks (24:47) was 13th, Emily Procter 14th (24:52) and Lily Bates 16th (25:28) which led to 2nd team in the league so far.
Torbay AAC coaches are extremely proud of these performances and are looking forward to the 3rd race at Exeter on 1st December.
Photo of U15 Girls Team