The Brooks Westward Cross Country League moved to a new venue last Sunday, with the fourth race of the winter held at the Northam Burrows Country Park at Westward Ho in North Devon, writes Alan Rowling.

The appeal of this scenic location, adjacent to the famous pebble ridge and extensive beach was perhaps lessened a little, with the runners facing a very strong and bitterly cold offshore wind.

The tough conditions did little to deter Freddie Bareham and Sarah Wilson in the opening race of the day, the under 11 development race, with Freddie decimating the opposition with a devasting early burst, to win his second successive league race, with Sarah once again finishing in the top three in the Girls section.

A depleted under 17 men’s field made little difference to the dominating performances of Cornwall Athletic Club’s Callum Jones and Andy Worden, with Callum establishing an early lead and cruising home for his third Westward League win of the winter. Andy finished in an isolated second place and looks assured for a top three overall position at the end of the season.

The senior men's team title looks to building to an exciting conclusion, with Exeter Harriers posing a very serious threat to the current leaders Cornwall AC. The Exeter club certainly fielded a strong team at Westward Ho, not only beating Cornwall into second place but overtaking them in the team competition, with two more races remaining. Dan Rodgers was the star man for CAC, with a fine seventh place after working his way through the field. Colin Snook did likewise finishing ninth, towing Justin Thomas through to eleventh place. The club’s titanic battle for team honours against local rivals, Newquay and Par AC, was a feature of the under 13 girls’ race, with both Cornish clubs fielding six runners out of a total field of 18. On this occasion, the Newquay girls were victorious, cutting into Cornwall's lead in the team competition, with two matches remaining. Katie Hughes has had a great season, despite having another year in the age group and finished a very close third to stay in second overall. Yo Yo Barnsley has also been an ever-present member of the team, despite her busy swimming schedule, which included an early departure for a gala immediately after her race. Yo Yo maintained her overall third position in the league finishing fourth on the day.

Cornwall AC Results: Under 11 Development Race (Boys and Girls Combined): 1 Freddie Bareham, 7 Sarah Wilson. Under 13 Girls: 3 Katie Hughes, 3 Yo Yo Barnsley, 9 Molly Caudery, 12 Ella Buzza, 15 Katie Jones. Teams: 2 Cornwall AC. Under 15 Girls (Combined with Under 15 Boys): 13 Martha Carlisle, 14 Isabel Rawett. Senior Ladies: 8 Jenny Almey, 21 Rachel Thomas, 26 Lesley Wright, 36 Diane Boardman.

Under 13 Boys: 10, Jonathan Wilson; 11, Peter Holmes. Under 15 Boys (Combined with Under 15 Girls): 4 Matt Robinson, 6 Jordan Walklett, 11 Matthew Wilson. Under 17 Men: 1 Callum Jones, 2 Andy Worden.

Teams 1 Cornwall AC.

Senior Men: 7 Dan Rodgers, 9 Colin Snook, 11 Justin Thomas, 17 Dave Buzza, 28 Adrian Ball, 39 Justin Day, 52 Tim Drayson, 55 Stuart Caudery, 60 Lee Burrows, 64 Ian Wright, 74 Chris Linthwaite. Teams: 2 Cornwall AC.