Aldershot, Farnham & District Athletic Club recorded a strong set of performances at the European Champion Clubs Cross Country Championships in Albufeira, Portugal, highlighted by a silver medal in the Under 20 Women’s team competition.
Racing against national champion clubs from across Europe, the AFD Under 20 Women delivered an outstanding team performance to secure second place overall, tied level on 20 points with Turkish champions Fenerbahçe. Katie Pye led the team home with a fourth-place finish, closely followed by Kitty Scott in sixth and Sabrina Coppola Johansen in tenth, with Tilly Robertson in 39th place.
The squad included the three members of the AFD team which won the Under 17 English Cross Country Association (ECCA) Relay Championships at Mansfield in November.
The club was also represented in the Under 20 Men’s race, where Aldershot, Farnham & District finished fifth in the team standings in a high-quality European field. William Smith was the leading AFD finisher in 15th place, supported by Onjoro Sumba (17th), Ollie Russell (21st) and Jacob Pearce (24th).
William Smith
The men’s team were nominated to represent the UK for the European Championships after winning the Under 20 ECCA Relay Championships at Mansfield.
The European Champion Clubs Cross Country Championships bring together leading clubs from across the continent, and these results underline Aldershot, Farnham & District AC’s continued strength at Under 20 level and their ability to perform successfully on the international stage.
Also representing the UK were Central AC in the Senior Men’s race, led home by Jamie Crowe (9th) to finish seventh team. Molly Smith (8th) was the first home for Herne Hill Harriers helping them to fifth in the senior women’s race.
Full results can be found here
We also took our reserves to take part in the Sao Joao Cross Country which was held on the same course after the Championship races.
Poppy Guest (1st) and Katie McBride (2nd) dominated the Under 18’s ladies race, whilst Dylan Poulton was the Under 20 mens champion.
Joao Souza competed in the Under 20s race, and Mike Boucher and Sim Poulton ran in the over 45s category.
Including parents and coaches an amazing 24 of us were there from AFD and we hope we will get the opportunity to go again!
