CATIE O’Donoghue got 2018 off to an excellent start as she once again rose to the occasion on her debut at the South West Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

The 26-year-old from The Lakeside qualified for the event at Yeovil after winning the Tri-Counties Championships before Christmas but she knew she was in for a tough race as it represented a step up in quality.

So she wasn’t fazed after reigning champion Ruth Barnes, in the colours of Wiltshire, tore into the lead from the gun to lay down an immediate challenge to her rivals.

O’Donoghue wisely resisted that temptation and concentrated on running her own race moving steadily through the field over the tough two laps and cross the line in 10th.

“It was so much fun and I absolutely loved it,” said O’Donoghue.

“It was a tough, super hilly course but I love hills. It was also so quick at the start and those girls were incredible.

“I was expecting it to be as strong as that so I am so happy to finish in the top ten. I am really chuffed with my run.”

Additionally O’Donoghue helped her new Bristol & West AC clubmates to victory in the South West team competition finishing third scorer to ensure a thumping victory over the Wiltshire clubs Avon Valley Runners and Chippenham Harriers.

“We wanted to win the team title and it was so cool to do that,” added O’Donoghue.

First Swindon Harrier across the line was Lizzie Rayner in 25th which ensured she helped Wiltshire finished third in the county team competition.

In the men’s race Swindon Harriers’ Sergio Martinez also relished his first experience of the event.

“That was a far tougher course than we are used to running in the Oxfordshire League, which are mostly flat,” said Martinez.

“But I enjoyed it and I am happy to finish 31st.”

Martinez can also take satisfaction in finishing first Wiltshire runner.

In the young athletes races Swindon’s U15 boys’ took the honours as they missed a team medal by an agonising three points.

Patrick Mochan led the way in ninth place with Jack Latus also making the top 25 in 22nd. The team was completed by Harry Woods and Jack Gunning for a score of 140 points – three behind Exeter.

Max Sockett was 12th in the U17s, Rachel Oram placed 16th in the U15 girls’ race and Kelly-Marie Marsh was 20th in the U13s.

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.

Wiltshire: 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.