Tameside was well represented at last Saturday’s Inter Counties Cross Country Championships in Nottingham, with several athletes from the borough competing as part of the Greater Manchester team.
Supertri world champion Georgia Taylor-Brown, who hails from Droylsden, continued her off-season preparation with a stunning second place finish in the senior women’s race, trailing winner Jessica Gibbon by just 33 seconds.
“I’m super happy to have finished second,” said the former Olympic gold medallist following the event.
“It’s a race I love, and it makes me even happier to be surrounded by so many great women on International Women’s Day.”
The former East Cheshire Harrier competed on the day alongside five current members of the Ashton based club.
Brothers Gavin and Liam Browne flew the flag for Greater Manchester in the senior men’s race, finishing 125th and 189th respectively from the 277 strong field.
Katie Kay picked up a 210th place finish on her debut in the senior women’s race, while 17-year-old Maria Rooke - who represented the under 20’s women - came 123rd.
Following the race, Kay told the Reporter:
“What a way to close the XC season, running alongside some of the best runners in the UK and representing my county.
“It was an awesome day and an amazing experience- I doubt I’ll ever be able to say again that I ran in a team alongside an Olympian!”
Elsewhere, youngster Jacob Shearing finished the 313 strong under 13 boys' race in a respectable 151st place.
Shearing’s coach, Michael Holness, said:
“I’m so proud of what a promising young athlete Jacob is turning out to be.
“He’s a talented lad and he’s got a great future ahead of him”.
Their efforts saw the Greater Manchester men’s team pick up a 19th place finish overall, with the women going one better, finishing 18th.
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