Amesbury Students at North Island Cross Country Champs

Three Amesbury students, one teacher and two parents competed at the North Island Cross Country Championships at Taupo on the first Saturday of the holidays. It was a beautiful, though very cold, Taupo day and the course, as always, was very firm underfoot. Jamie Talbot, Tais Holley and Ryan Murrihy-Topp ran in the 10 and under age group. Tais was representing the Olympics Club and Jamie and Ryan represented Amesbury School, running in their orange polos. Ryan and Jamie were competing against boys 3 years older and physically much bigger and stronger than themselves, but all three students put themselves on the line and ran hard. Jamie and Ryan, both year three students, were very close throughout the race, finishing one behind the other.

Tais's mum ran exceptionally well in the masters women's race. Demelza ran strongly in the senior women's race and Dean (Jamie's dad) ran hard in the extremely competitive masters men's race.

It was exciting to have Amesbury School represented at the North Island Cross Country Champs - an event that our family has attended every year for probably close to 20 years. Some photos below. Great to see Tais still managing to smile in the closing stages of her race.

Well done, everyone!