North Norfolk Harriers make their mark at county cross country championships

Paul O’Malley

Published: 8:53 AM January 10, 2019 Updated: 9:24 AM October 11, 2020

Under-11s (from left to right) Max Parsley, Joseph Keeble and Harvey Shaw pick-up team gold Picture: CLUB - Credit: Archant

There was individual and team gold success for North Norfolk Harriers at the County Cross Country Championships in Thetford at the weekend.

The Under-11 girls team (left to right) Eloise Edridge, Olivia Allen and Rosie Dickety with their silver medals Picture: CLUB - Credit: Archant

Rising young star Hattie Reynolds romped to victory in the U15 girls' race while the trio of Harvey Shaw, Max Parsley and Joseph Keeble grabbed an impressive gold in the U11 boys team event, with Harvey taking a place on the podium with a bronze.

There was great work too from the U11 girls who snatched team silver courtesy of Rosie Dickety, Eloise Edridge and Olivia Allen.

The County Championships see Norfolk's leading club athletes in all age categories compete over a tough, undulating heathland course at Thetford's Charles Burrell Centre.

In the U13 boys' race boys Harriers' Toby Stewart lead for much of the race, just missing out in an exciting finish - there is certainly more to come from this promising young athlete. Arguably the performance of the day, however, came from U13 girl Abbi McCallum who ran a fantastic race to finish second while her team-mates Sophie McKee and Esme Jonas helped secure silver in the team competition.

Abbi McCallum leads the way for North Norfolk Harriers during Sunday's Norfolk Cross Country Championships at Thetford Picture: CLUB - Credit: Archant

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Doubling-up on last year's victory as an U13, Hattie Reynolds went into the U15 girls' race as red-hot favourite – despite her first-year status in the higher age category. The impressive Gresham's School pupil is a class apart on the county scene and she will once again represent Team East at the London Mini-Marathon in April as her reward. Hattie also helped to pick-up team bronze in Thetford alongside team-mates Grace Buchanan and Marth Shawyer.

There was good work too from the U15 boys trio of Billy Life, Henry Jonas and Josh Keeble who took silver in the team category. A real thriller of a finish saw Billy pipped on the line and denied bronze.

The top five finishers in the junior age categories earn automatic selection for the Norfolk teams competing at the Inter-County Cross-Country Championships in Loughborough in March.