CROSS COUNTRY

Newquay and Par Athletic Club Junior Schools Cross Country League by Dave Varney

NUMBERS are creeping up in the Newquay and Par Athletic Club-hosted Junior Schools Cross Country League around the Par Recreation Fields and after the third race, three youngsters will be going into the New Year with 100% records, only needing one more top place for the title with four from five results to count.

It is in the combined Years 4 and 5 Boys and Girls race that the numbers have swelled with 92 finishing the 1.8km distance. Oscar Riches from Bodmin, St Petroc’s School has consistently had clear daylight to cross the line, even as a Year 4 pupil and having one more year in the age group.

Behind him was a real scrap with Zander Haynes (Biscovey) a vest thickness ahead of Leo Hocknell (Probus) at the line, both given the same time.

Biscovey had a good showing in the race to take first and second teams with six in the top ten. Ladock held off Tywardreath for third by just two points.

Isabel Rowe (St Petroc’s), was back to her best form for her second win but was closed down by Evie Cain (Probus) with only a one second deficit at the line.

Ellen from Tywardreath School took her first top three placing, to lead her team to victory over Gorran and Probus. This is the most open competition in the event and is likely to go down to the final race to resolve the top three individuals and teams.

It was a repeat of race two in the Year 6 Boys race with Tommy Grose (Biscovey) winning by a similar margin over team-mate Max Turner. And with Sam Turner at seventh, it secured the team win.

Jojo Fraser (Gorran) will need to complete the final two races to contest the awards having missed race two, but looked strong at the finish. His school team came in second and third to keep the pressure on league leaders, Biscovey.

It was the closest race so far between Athena Jefferies (Treverbyn) and Lyvie Cooper (Biscovey) with only three seconds to separate them, with all three of the races finishing in this order so far.

Isla from Tywardreath seems favourite for third overall, but it is still close. Biscovey were dominant for their third team win with Tywardreath splitting the A and B teams for second.

The series resumes at Par after the Christmas break on Wednesday, January 15.

GOLF

Porthpean Golf Club latest by Martyn Wonnacott

THE latest round of the Seniors Winter League took place on Tuesday, December 3, with top league points going to Derek Williams with 35 stableford points, a point ahead of Gary Sullivan in second place. Third, fourth and fifth places were taken by Ron May, Steve Arthur and Robert Mallett, all on 33 points.

Two points back Dave Honey and Vince Dymock were sixth and seventh on countback, as were Keith Yelland, John Sweet and Steve Sloggett in eighth, ninth and tenth with 30 points. Steve Arthur netted the only two of the day.

In his capacity as competition secretary for the men's section, the aforementioned Steve Arthur set up a challenge the next day for the men to play a round with only five clubs.

Having set the challenge he promptly went on to win it with 38 points, one ahead of Vince Wakelin in second place. Gary Sullivan was third with 35 points, and, with no twos recorded, the twos pot rolled over another week.

Thanks to Storm Darragh the playing of the annual Turkey Trot on the Saturday was postponed for seven days.

St Austell Golf Club by Sue Pascoe

Lady Vets Nine Holes with three clubs and a putter – Monday, December 2

Results: 1 Julie Green – 16pts; 2 Rosemary Mitchell – 14; 3 Caryl Gould – 12.

Seniors’ Four Man Team Waltz - (1,2,3, 1,2,3 and so on) – Tuesday, December 3

Results: 1 Derek Loader, Graham Nile, Martin Barnicle and Ray Bell – 83pts; 2 Geoff Cox, David Huxtable, Tony Morgan and John Mitchell – 82 (c/b); 3 Trevor Welch, Duncan Connabeer, Peter Hilton-Robinson and Ian Bramley – 82.

Ladies’ Team of Three with one score on the odd numbered holes and two scores on the ten numbered holes – Thursday, December 5

Results: 1 Caryl Gould, Rosemary Mitchell and Simone Kennett – 62pts; 2 Sylvia Rawle, Sandra Phillips and Wendy Kingdon – 58 (c/b); 3 Trudy Metherell, Kate Burford and Annie Lund – 58.

POINT TO POINT

Wadebridge meet by Mike Drowne

JOCKEYS wore black armbands at Wadebridge Point To Point on Sunday, December 8 as a mark of respect for the man who beautifully penned these reports for many years, Granville Taylor, who sadly died earlier that week.

Storm Darragh did his best to scupper proceedings but in the end, it was Storm Josh who left his mark on the afternoon as Josh Newman stormed home with three wins in the saddle of which he trained all of them, with a further two winners coming out of his Blackmore Farm, that he shares with wife Kayley.

Race one, ‘The Conditions’ race for Veteran and Novice riders, went the way of The Kings Writ. The 13-year-old cruised home by 12 lengths under Hannah Morgon, whom was enjoying her second ever win.

Morgon said: “I have worked for Kayley and Josh for three years and they have been a great help to me, to repay them is fantastic.”

This win came seven years after The King’s Writ had won the restricted at Wadebridge.

A beaming Kayley Woollacott, who’s first winner under rules, was this horse, six-years ago, added: “He’s so good, he’s heard the R word a few times! He’s nearly 14, he leads the babies at home and we didn’t have any plans for him this year, we may come back here after Christmas but we will see! He will tell us what he wants to do.”

Race two was the first division of the maiden, which saw the well-fancied Talimar Pearl just prevail in an enjoyable dual with Emma’s Wish.

Winning jockey and trainer, Josh Newman, said: “He struggled to get his head in front under rules, so his owner brought him back pointing to get his confidence up. He may go back under rules at some point.”

Division two saw the Josh Newman-trained El Capitaine land the spoils by three lengths, from the 7/4 favourite, They Call Me Hugo.

El Capitaine is owned by Ivan Thompson, whom had bought him to have some fun and he certainly got that on Sunday.

The Ladies Open went the way of 5/4 shot Hearts Corner, under Izzi Hill for that man Josh Newman again.

Sizing Cusimano put it up to Hearts Corner over the last two fences but couldn’t prevail. Izzi, who had a four- and half-hour trip to be there, said: “It’s good to have been given the opportunity by the owners and Josh. He’s a progressive horse. This is a step up for him today, he took to it well and jumped well, he was idling slightly in front but just did enough.”

Itacare made it three wins from three runs at Wadebridge in the Men’s Open, under Rian Corcoran, whom was enjoying his sixth career win.

Wadebridge has been a lucky track for the young man, with it providing him with his first ever win 12 months ago. He now has his sights set on the novice title for this season.

Izzi Hill completed a double on the day when partnering Soldier Unknown for her father-in-law, Alan Hill.

The Tom Malone-trained Divilskin was well fancied to get the job done and looked set to, until Izzi produced her mount with a winning run to fend off the rallying Divilskin and Jet Smart.

After the race, Izzi admitted: “I was very nervous today, I don’t get nervous like that, but it’s well-documented we think a lot of this horse. He’s gone and served it up to some very nice horses so we’re absolutely delighted.”

Clondaw Drake topped off a memorable day for Josh Newman as he landed the Restricted race, from a treble-seeking Izzi Hill aboard Summer Jam.

Reflecting on his final win on the afternoon, Josh said: “I am delighted with him, he’s taking a step forward from Dunsmore. He’s taken a bit of getting use to at home but he seems to be settling in now. We won’t be rushing him, he will be having an easy Christmas.”

At the end of a very successful day for Josh, he expressed his sadness of the passing of Granville and detailed how much he will be missed on the Point To Point fields.