Salisbury joy buoys Ben for Birmingham (From Dorset Echo)

Salisbury joy buoys Ben for Birmingham

9:21am Wednesday 10th March 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

BEN Westhenry warmed up for Saturday’s UK Inter-County Cross-Country Championships by securing first place in the prestigious Hampshire Cross-Country League.

The Weymouth teenager triumphed at Salisbury in the final under-15 boys’ race of the series, thus clinching the overall prize by eight points.

Westhenry also produced a solid performance at the South West Schools Championships, where the age bandings placed him in the lower year of the Inter Boys section.

Although Westhenry was aiming for a top-three placing, stomach problems slowed his progress and he had to settle for seventh overall.

However, Westhenry was the first Dorset competitor and Year 10 athlete to cross the finish line, and as a result he will now represent the county at the English Schools Championships in Manchester later this month.

Saturday’s upcoming event is also the final for the McCain UK Cross Challenge in which Westhenry is the top placed under-15 boy after podium finishes in his three previous outings.

The competition in Birmingham will be screened live on Sky Sports 4.