Cross Country
Cross-country running may be an acquired taste, but those who get it into it are usually hooked for life. Its also excellent stamina training in the build up to the track & field season.
Taunton AC is affiliated to the
What could be more fun than running through rivers and getting muddy! The XC season runs from October through to March & fixtures vary from League, Championship & Open events.
The Cross- country season restarts in October
Contact your coach or XC-team managers to compete. For event dates see also : TAC Autumn 2012/13 Calendar
NEWSFLASHTAC KIT BAGs available at just £5
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Sat 23 Feb. Somerset Schools Champs : Many congrats to all our TAC runners in the Somerset Schools XC champs yesterday including to Hattie_Rogers, Joe Walton, Oliver Fox, Holly Brown, Dan Wilde on winning their respective age-group County titles; with medals also for Jamie Coles, Rowan Preece, Imogen Keeling, Flora Keeling and Matthew Green; and many more excellent performances by TAC atlhletes.. For full prelim. results listing click here.
Many thanks to all marshalls and our 'bakers & tea makers' who helped to sustain everyone on a v.chilly day.
Sunday 6th Jan: SouthWest Intercounties Cross Country Champs - Bicton Park. Taunton AC runners put in strong performances with entries in most age categories, taking a haul of 8 individual SW Champs medals, as well as Club Team Championships gold in the U13G event and silver in SW and SM events. 
Outstanding indivdual performances of the day included Gold medal places for Rowan Preece (U20M) and Amelia Vance (U13G), Silver for Cath Blew (SW) , Rachel Langbein (U20W) and Jamie Coles (U20M), Bronze for Joe Walton (U17M), Holly Brown (U17W) and Sophie Jones (U13G). For these and many more excellent performances on this tough hilly course see [Full results] and [Flickr Photo albums] . The day was topped off by presentations and a chance to meet multiple Olympians Jo Pavey and Cris Maddocks (see photos).
Tri-County Championships at
Bath
University
on Sunday, 9thDecember 2012.
A 40 strong team from
Somerset County XC Champion gold medallists (from TAC):
Naomi Taschimowitz (Senior Women),
Rachel Langein (U20 Women)
Rowan Preece (U20 Men)
Imogen Keeling (U15 Girls)
Further Somerset county medallists from TAC included:
Ben Pointing (3rd male for Somerset overall; 1st in SM Catgegory)
Catherine Blew (2nd SW); Jamie Coles (2nd) and Isaac Taschimowitz (3rd in U20M); Harriet Rogers (2nd U20W); Joe Walton (3rd U17M); Kate Drew (3rd U17G),; Elen Falkingham (2nd) and Nell Hemansbrook (3rd U15G); Sophie Jones (2nd) and Jess Brown (3rd U13G). In addition Amelia Vance was first in the Tri-county race, but competed as a guest as from first-claim Devon County.
Click for full results and individual times of all competitors OR
For photographs see Tri-County 2012 Flickr Album .
For others events see also : TAC Autumn 2012/13 Calendar
National XC Relays 3 Nov 2012
Well done TAC - on some brillinat performances at the National XC relays; full results are now available at link below - and we'll hopefully post a coaches' report on the TAC main web-site later in the week. Results link
30 Mar-1April - British Colleges National Champs - Several TAC endurance squad members travelled to Bath University to represent their respective colleges and Southwest Region in the XC section of this multisport championships against 10 other Regions of Britain. Rachel Langbein took individual bronze in the Cross-country, and together fellow TAC members Ellen Cheetham and Emma Wilson helped the SW to Gold in womens XC team event; the SW mens XC team also won team Gold assisted by strong performances from Jamie Coles and Rowan Preece. After an exciting weekend of many different sports the South West also successfully claimed the Wilkinson Sword for the first time since 2006.
17 March 2012 : Many many thanks to all TAC members and others who helped Somerset Schools Athletics to 
host the ESAA National Schools Cross Country at Ilton near Taunton, attended by over 2000 competitors and 5000 supporters. The championships was the culmination after district , county and regional selection races earlier in the season throughout England, with around 350 athletes competing in each of the U15 , U17 and Senior classes for Boys and Girls of school age. Among numerous outstanding performances from TAC members representing their respective schools, highest national placing was attained by Blair Brown (6th) in the Senior Boys. For full details and 1000s of photos please visit the Somersetschools Athletics site or click here for results summary
| Day | Date | Event | infolink | results |
| Sat | 25 Feb | English National XC Championships - London | web-link | Results |
| Tue | 28 Feb |
|
entries via school | results |
25 /26 Feb: TAUNTON AC's travelled to the Saucony English Cross Country Championships at Parliament Hill with a select but determined group of runners, achieving many excellent placings in this top level event. Not surprisingly our British international and European Championships medallist Naomi Taschimowitz flew the flag highest with an excellent seventh place in the senior women's race. Also in the women's races Catherine Blew finished an excellent 10th in the under 20s age group with Taunton AC clubmate Rachel Langbein 51st.
In a highly competive field of over near 350 finishers in the under 17 men's competition Rowan Preece made the top twenty in a fine 14th while younger clubmate Joe Walton was an exclelent 20th, and with Isaac Taschimowitz 170, and Ben Hawkins 262, helped TAC to 11th place (of 28) in the team event. (full result & videos here )
11th Dec 2011: A strong team across most age groups helped Taunton AC athletes to secure no less than 10 Somerset Championships medals with new Somerset Champions from TAC including Hannah Taunton (SW); Rachel Langbein (U20W) and Max Patch (U17M). Silver placings for Blair Brown in the U20Men's, Holly Brown (U15G) and Amelia Vance (U13G) and bronze for Ben Pointing (SM), Joe Walton (U17M), Harriet Rogers (U17W), Grace Smalley (U15G) and Jess Brown (U13G). One of the most hotly contested events was the U17M, with six Taunton AC runners (pictured) among the 27 finishers. To link to full results click here; and preliminary selection of photos click here. (see 'set': TACatSomXC..)
11 th Dec. Euro XC Velenje ....Huge Congratulations from all at TAC to Naomi o
n her stunning run to take individual Silver for GB in European XC Championships in Velenje. Naomi Taschimowitz, now studying at Cambridge, and a longstanding (running!) member of Charlotte Fishers's endurance squad at Taunton AC, was selected for the GB team after strong performances at Liverpool XC trials two weeks ago. In coming second to her GB team-mate Emma Pallant, and with Steph Twell a close fourth, she also helped the GB team to the U23Womens Team Gold. ....read more here
13 Nov. McCain Cross Challenge 1 - Bristol. Members of the Taunton Athletics Club competed with distinction at the first race in the UK Athletics McCain Cross Challenge series held at
Taunton AC’s top performer of the day was Naomi Taschimowitz who finished second behind the in form Gemma Steel who earlier this year took victories over both Paula Radcliffe and Jo Pavey. Other medallist for Tauton included Dan Wilde (U13B) and strong performances in other age groups from Joe , Isaac, Rachel, Luke and Grace .....Read full report here....
and click here for More Photos taken on the day.
9 Oct. 2011 Gwent League 1 Bridgend : Holly & Blair Brown helped to get the TAC XC season off to a flying start , both winning their respective U15G and (U20M) divisions. Full Results are now available on the GWLeague site: click here.
2010-11 Season:
12th Dec. 2010 : Bath University. Twenty Athletes from Taunton AC competed in the 2010 Somerset Cross Country Championships (combined race with Avon & Wilts Champs) a Bath Uni. Three TAC members took Somerset Age group titles and further three silver medal positions, including Somerset Champs Golds for Luke Scott in SenM, Blair Brown for U17M, and Harriet Rogers U17W; with Silvers for Alex Rogers U20M; Rachel Langbein U17W; Holly Brown U15G and Joe Walton U15B. For many more excellent performances click here for full Results and here for photos.
4 Dec - Gwent League Blaise Castle XC - Senior Results now available here ; junior results should be there soon .
4 Dec - Gwent League Blaise Castle XC - Senior Results now available here ; junior result should be there soon .
Sunday 10 Oct 2010: A hot day for First Gwent League Race at Bridge End, but our men Top the Mens league so far ! Following on from last years magnificent promotion in the Gwent Cross Country League, the senior men have positioned themselves nicely at the top of their new division with Luke Scott in 9th place over the 10k distance in 33.07, Rich Caburn 36.09, Tom Bloodworth 37.10, Keith Paul 39.54 and Phil Paddick in 44.24 . Many of our Juniors also made a good start to the season, including 5th place among 17 teams in the U15G – click link below for full age group results
1. 10 October 2010 - Newbridge Fields, Bridgend
Archive News: (see also XC Results page)
Saturday 13 Feb. 2010 : Gwent XC League 4 : BRECON (at Brecon Leisure Centre, Penlan, Brecon LD3 9SR).
Sat. 6th Feb - Somerset Schools XC - Tauton Racecourse.
Many congratulations to all of you who competed at the Somerset Schools XC Senior Champs and gained selection to run for
Sunday 17th January - Cardiff Cross Challenge. The race to the 2010 World Cross Country Championships started in style at the Cardiff Cross Country. Several TAC athletes travelled to pit themselves against high class competition. Click for UKA Report and Provisional results.
6th Dec. 2009 - TAC host Avon & Somerset Champs (incl. Gwent XC League) at Hestercombe.
Taunton achieved no less than 10 County Medal winners at this well attended event. County Champion's gold medals went to Blair Brown (U17M), Holly Brown (U13G), Rowan Preece (U15B); with Silvers – for Harriet Rogers (U15G), Richard Caburn (MV40), Luke Reynolds (U13B), Connor Banks (U15B), and Bronze – for Mark Hopkinson (SM), Hannah Taunton (U20W), Simon Cooper (U17M).
Read the full report - click here XC reports page
& here to download full results file.
THANK YOU to everyone who helped, plus a thanks to the farmers at Volis & Hestercombe Farm and Hestercombe Gardens for use of the parking.
Dec. 2009 Varsity Cross Country - TAC lead the way
Two long standing junior members of
Spring 2009 results:
21 March Congratulations to all our TAC athletes who following the SW competition 3 weeks ago, were selected to represent county at the English Schools XC Campionships In Leicestershire. Well done all, not least Somerset Senior Girls taking 2nd County overall & 1st in the size Group C counties! ...read more
22 March 2009 : Wessex XC League - Taunton teams take top place for the 08/09 season in three categories: U15 Girls , Senior Men and Veteran Mens ..... read more
21 February 2009 : Saucony National XC Champs at Parliament Hill : Taunton AC demonstrated growing strength in depth at the recent National Cross-Country Championships held on the famously tough course at Parliament Hill fields, Hampstead Heath. Seven of the clubs 12 competitors finished in the top 50 runners in races which attracted up to 400 runners ... - read more.
January 2009 : SouthWest Colleges XC races - We done to TAC members Rachel Heard (Richard Huish) and Hannah Taunton (SCAT) who following strong performances at the SW Colleges races have been selected to represent the SouthWest at the National Colleges event later this year.
4 Jan.'09 SouthWest Inter Counties and Club championships at Bicton Park nr Exmouth 4th January 2009. For Link to listings of individual and team results , photos and event report from Charlotte click here.
28 Dec.'08: Wessex League Langport. Report now on League sub-page : TAC results included convincing wins for Holly Brown in U13 Girls and for Simon Cooper in U15 Boys, as well as many other high placings for Taunton runners. Read more here
6 Dec'08: Avon & Somerset Champs, Blaise Castle. Despite only a small TAC contingent making it to this event (in lovely winter sunshine for a change!), TAC athletes came home with 7 Somerset county championship medals: Congratulation on their medals to Holly Brown 1st U13 Girl; Simon Cooper (1st) and Isaac Taschimowitz (3rd) in U15 Boys; Harriet Rogers (3rd) in U15G, Laura James 1st in U17 Girls, Rachel Heard 2nd in U20 women, and Gordon Faulds 1st in V50. For report and fuller results go to XC Results page.
30 Nov'08: Wessex XC League Race1, King's Park Bournemouth. Well done all who braved the cold and wet conditions. Provisional Results and rainy Pics click here
23 Nov'08: BMC Clifton Down - see XC results for report.
1 Nov'08: National Achievement at Saucony English XC relays. Simon, Rowan, & Blair stamped Taunton AC's mark on this national competition when they finished 6th of the 88 teams completing in the U15 boys [full results]
26 Oct'08 - Southwest XC Relay Championship; King's College -Taunton. Full Results