RUTH Barnes got exactly what he wanted as she was pushed to the limit before successfully retaining her South West Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships title, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

In what proved to be a real ‘Generation Game’ 18-year-old Avon junior champion Hannah Hobbs, who just a year ago won the regional U17s race, took the fight to 39-year-old Barnes.

The Avon Valley Runners competitor was quickly to the fore over the tough two-lap course in Yeovil and just as quickly Hobbs latched onto her shoulder.

Up the climbs Barnes used her greater strength to edge clear but on the flat and downhill her younger rival’s leg speed brought her level as the pair traded blows in the best race of the day.

“Ruth will have to break clear up that penultimate climb,” observed Barnes’ canny coach Steve Williams as the pair headed out for the final lap.

Which is exactly what she did finally breaking the youngster’s dogged resistance and using the strength that saw her win the Bath half marathon last year and place sixth in the Great South 10,

“I know that I said beforehand I wanted a hard race but that felt so tough,” admitted Barnes.

“The course played to my strengths but really I am not that keen on hills. Still, it was a good start to the year and is a good stepping stone to the half marathon in Barcelona next month (where Barnes will make her senior England debut).”

Barnes also led the Wiltshire squad to the bronze team medals in the inter-county contest with solid support from Amy Jaramazovic (16th), Cordula Hurcum (19th), Karen Hacker (22nd), Lizzie Rayner (25th) and Veryan Cranston (29th).

The county also enjoyed success in the club team awards with the Avon Valley Runners squad of Barnes, Cranston, Bethan Francis (36th) and Jackie Rockliffe (39th) claiming the silver medals and the Chippenham Harriers quartet of Cordula Hurcum (19th), Karen Hacker (22nd), Emma Hines (34th) and Michelle Maxwell (38th) finishing third.

Diane Hier of AVR also won silver in the veterans over 55s age category.

In the men’s race, Corsham’s Mike Dooley was celebrating an unexpected gold medal in the veterans over 50s age group as he upstaged favourite Guy Woods.

“It is the first time I have ever beaten Guy so I am delighted,” said Dooley.

“To be honest this wouldn’t be my favourite course as it had too many hills and with Guy being a good fell runner I didn’t think I would beat him today but I am running really well at the moment.

“I have had some good results in the Gloucestershire League and recently did a fast time (16mins 48secs) in the Running Bath 5k time trial at the university.

“Next I will be looking for a fast time in the Chichester 10k next month.”

Dooley also took great satisfaction in helping Team Bath win the bronze medals in the club team competition. Leading the way on the day was 19-year-old British junior international triathlete Will Crudgington with support from Trowbridge-based Freddie Webb (43rd), Dooley (44th), Thomas Davies (48th) and Eliot Ball (52nd ).

In the younger age group races there was a deserved fourth for Corsham’s Jade Littlechild in the under 17 women’s race and both Sean Barry and Otto Copping made the top 20 in the U17s.

Also in the U15 girls’ age group Chippenham’s Megan Wright and Orli Cranston of AVT helped Wiltshire to the county team silver medals.

South West Cross Country Championships, Aldon Hill, Yeovil

Senior men: 1 Phil Norman (NDAC) 29:53; 2 Ronnie Richmond (Bide) 30:36; 3 Tom Austin (Poole AC) 30:40; 4 Mark Jenkin (Bide) 30:55; 5 Owain Jones (B&W) 30:58; 6 Luke Prior (AFD, U20) 31:02.

M40: 1 Phil Burden (Taunton) 31:48; 2 Luke Murray (Clev) 32:59; 3 John Porter (Ply H) 33:58

M50: 1 Mike Dooley (TB) 34:09; 2 Guy Woods (SWVets) 34:32; 3 Paul Whear (CAC) 34:44

Teams – clubs: 1 Bristol & West AC 85; 2 Wells City Harriers 115; 3 Team Bath AC 196.

Counties: 1 Devon 59; 2 Avon 66; 3 Somerset 136.

U20 men: 1 Luke Prior (AFD) 31:02 ; 2 Jake Smith (Exeter) 31:09; 3 Will Crudgington (TB) 31:30.

Teams – Clubs: None.

Counties: 1 Somerset 17; 2 Devon 30; 3 Dorset 52.

U17 men: 1 Finn Birnie (N&P)18:36 ; 2 Elliot Moran (Exe) 19:24; 3 Sam Goodchild (CAC) 19:28.

Wiltshire: 12 Max Sockett (Swin) 20:04; 13 James Wright (Chipp) 20:05; 17 Otto Copping (TB) 20:24; 20 Dan Davis (Madja) 20:42; 25 Ethan Pierce (Swin) 21:29; 28 Rohan Archer (Chipp) 21:44; 30 Ellery Cole (TB) 22:08.

Teams – Clubs: 1 Cornwall AC 34; 2 Newquay & Par AC 68; 3 Tavistock 70.

Counties: 1 Cornwall 15; 2 Avon 36; 3 Devon 45 4 Wiltshire 58.

U15 boys: 1 Oliver Smart (Tavistock) 14:17; 2 Rees Stewart (N&P) 14:28; 3 Flynn Jennings (Bide) 14:33

Wiltshire: 9 Patrick Mochan (Swin) 15:26; 18 Will Morris (Lavington) 15:51; 22 Jack Latus (Swin) 16:03; 33 Joe Milton (AVR) 16:18; 56 Jack Gunning (Swin) 17:11; 57 Toby Firkins (TB) 17:11; 64 Will Andrews (TB) 17:56; 68 Alastair Edington (Madja) 18:22;

Teams – Clubs: 1 Wells 80; 2 Tavistock 97; 3 Exeter 137; 4 Swindon Harriers 140; 5 Team Bath AC 159.

Counties: 1 Devon 21; 2 Cornwall 39; 3 Somerset 40.

U13 boys: 1 William Rabjohns (Poole) 12:20 ; 2 Lukas Bailey (CoS) 12:32; 3 Charlie Hague (Ex) 12:36.

Wiltshire: 16 Ben Jones (Madja) 13:51; 37 Harry Maxwell (TB) 14:42; 44 Joshua Maxwell (TB) 15:09; 52 Malin Cranston (AVR) 15:32; 56 Ben Dare (Madja) 16:54.

Teams – Clubs: 1 Exeter Harriers 46; 2 Cornwall AC 67; 3 Wells City Harriers 102.

Counties: 1 Devon 25; 2 Somerset 38; 3 Cornwall 6; 5 Wiltshire 73.

Senior women: 1 Ruth Barnes (AVR) 20:53; 2 Charlie Arnell (Torbay) 21:52; 3 Natalie Griffiths (B&W) 22:02; 4 Emma Stepto (CAC, W45) 22:05; 5 Amy Bond (Poole) 22:22; 6 Rebecca Pierce (TB) 22:23.

W35: 1 Barnes; 2 Katie Hughes (WH) 22:58; 3 Kim Hill (Taun) 23:15.

W45: 1 Emma Stepto (CAC); 2 Emma Fisher (Wells) 22:31; 3 Julie Dixon (Bide) 22:42.

W55: 1 Tracy Allan (B&W) 25:48; 2 Diane Hier (AVR) 26:06 ; 3 Marilyn Blair (Torr) 26:26.

Teams – clubs: 1 Bristol & West AC; 36; 2 Avon Valley Runners 105; 3 Chippenham Harriers 113.

Counties: 1 Avon 56; 2 Devon 79; 3 Wiltshire 131.

U20 women: 1 Hannah Hobbs (WH) 21:08; 2 Katie Hughes (CAC) 22:17; 3 Serena O’Connor (Poole Runners) 22:41.

Others: 16: Holly Newman (AVR) 27:03; 18 Caitlin Wosika (TB) 27:14

U17 women: 1 Grace Copeland (Wimborne) 15:54; 2 Elise Thorner (Wells) 16:28; 3 Caitlin Apps (Exe) 16:29.

Wiltshire: 4 Jade Littlechild (TB) 16:34; 17 Lucy Fitzpatrick (TB) 18:28; 19 Maddie George (Lavington) 18:40; 32 Hannah Reynolds 19:42; 33 Catriona Edington (Madja) 19:46.

Teams – Clubs: 1 Wimborne 84; 2 Newquay & Par AC 108.

Counties: 1 Devon 23; 2 Dorset 38; 3 Cornwall 64; 4 Wiltshire 66.

U15 girls: 1 Beatrice Wood (Sals) 13:53; 2 Emilie Castagna (Poole) 15:02; 3 Dalis Jones (WH) 15:13

Wiltshire: 11 Megan Wright (Chipp) 15:49; 15 Orli Cranston (AVR) 15:54; 16 Rachel Oran (Swin) 15:55; 17 Jessica Davies (AVR) 16:00; 33 Sophie Moore (AVR) 17:02; 38 Ayla Tonkin (Swin) 17:32; 55 Molly Dunstone (Chipp) 18:54; 59 Daisy Davis (AVR) 21;20.

Teams – Clubs: 1 Westbury Harriers 39; 2 Exeter 60; 3 Cornwall AC 98; 5 Avon Valley Runners 124.

Counties: 1 Avon 29; 2 Wiltshire 32; 3 Devon 55.

U13 girls: 1 Maisy Luke (CAC) 12:57; 2 Abgail Jose (CAC) 14:22; 3 Hannah Blundy (Wells) 14:28.

Wiltshire: 20 Kelly-Marie Marsh (Swin) 15:30; 41 Beth Davidse (Swin) 16:14; 53 Erica Dunstone (Chip) 16:41.

Teams – Clubs: 1 Cornwall AC 48; 2 Wells 84; 3 Westbury Harriers 105.

Counties: 1 Devon 26; 2 Cornwall 38; 3 Avon 48; 5 Wiltshire 110.