Girl power helps Nene Valley Harriers party in the park as Taylor leads the way

Nene Valley Harriers’ team were one of the star attractions as a soggy Wicksteed Park played host to the latest the North Midlands Cross Country League meeting.

It was the first proper mudbath of the season, as the rain that had set in early in the morning continued to fall throughout the afternoon

However, when the going gets tough Nene Valley get going – and there were many fine performances across the age groups.

Philippa Taylor is as at home on mud as she is on tarmac, and the 49-year-old produced a hugely impressive performance to finish fourth in the senior ladies race.

Taylor was ably supported by Ruth Jones (24th), Louise Blake (25th), Laura Grimer (29th) and Sophie Wilkinson-Hargate (31st).

Both the under-15 and under-17 girls won their team race, and after two rounds the under-17s are sitting top of the table.

Megan Ellison led them home in second, with Isabelle Spindle and Josie Fortune both in the top ten.

For the under-15s, Ella Robinson (fifth), Amber Park in (eighth) and Olivia Mead (15th) all finished strongly.

The under-13 girls were led home by Lottie Hemmings, while Nora Brill and Lilley McCann also scored for the under-11s who were joint winners along with Corby AC.

Nene Valley’s under-15 boys were the club’s highest placed male team in third. Matt Church, Sam Garner and Harvey Hancock made up the scoring team, each with top 20 finishes.

Jack Haunch impressed by finishing 13th for the under-11 boys and Jacob Bush was the highest-placed under-13 in 15th.

Brad Allen was another in-form Harrier, placing eighth in the under-17 men’s race.

Allen received good backing from Codi Leigh-Middleton and Ollie Oakley who came home 14th and 15th respectively.

Alex Hampson is running into form – and his hard-fought 23rd-place finish for the senior men was a fine performance in a top field.

Michael Channing was six places further back and Niamh Payne placed 36th.

Five runners score for the senior men, rather than three in the other races, and Mike Chapman along with Austin Herbert completed the team.