Date: 11th January 2026 Event: West Midlands Young Athletes Cross Country League – Match 4
Cross country runners are known for their toughness, but this weekend, the weather really put us to the test! 😅 While Nuneaton was ready to go, a blanket of snow in Birmingham made travel impossible for many of our amazing athletes. 🚫🚗
As a result, BRAT faced our toughest fixture in ages. After soaring to a spectacular 2nd place overall in December, the snow and a smaller squad meant we finished 7th Overall in Match 4. Ouch! 😬
It was a tough day for points, especially on the girls’ side, where a lack of numbers cost us big time in the overall standings. BUT, for those heroes who braved the icy roads to get to The Pingles, there were some truly epic performances, including a standout team victory! 💪🥇
The Challenge: A Struggle for Numbers 📉
Every single runner counts in this league! Heavy snow in our region meant we simply couldn’t field full teams in several key categories.
- U17 Women: We were down to just two brave athletes, Amira Emery (19th) and Imogen Baker (43rd), finishing 12th as a team.
- U15 Girls: Similarly, we had only three finishers—Orla Woodman, Maiara Dalmedo, and Isabel Pickering—placing the team 13th.
While the points took a hit, we are incredibly proud of the girls who made the journey! 💖 Their dedication in adverse conditions kept us on the board. You absolute legends! 🌟
The Highlights: Boys Squads Shine! ✨
Despite the overall team struggle, our male age groups delivered some PHENOMENAL results, proving that when we have the numbers, we are a force to be reckoned with! 🚀
U11 Boys: Match Winners! 🏆🥇
The absolute highlight of the day! Our Under 11 Boys were totally undeterred by the cold, packing the front of the field to take 1st Place on the day with a massive 951 points! Total domination! 🔥
- Leo Dunigan led the charge in an awesome 4th place.
- He was closely followed by Logan Pearce (7th), Oliver Woodward (9th), and Sebastian Herring (12th).
- Lucas Sacramento Guillaume closed out the scoring A-team in 22nd, cementing a dominant team victory! Unstoppable! 👏
U13 Boys: Strong Runners-Up! 🥈
Our U13 Boys also put in a fantastic shift, securing a brilliant 2nd Place team finish.
- Thomas Woodward (16th) led the team home.
- They were supported brilliantly by Anaadh Singh (18th), Charlie Keenan (35th), and Jacob Fung (36th). Teamwork makes the dream work! 🤝
Solid Packing in U15 and U17 Men 🧱
Both our U15 and U17 Men’s teams finished in a respectable 4th place, showing great consistency.
- U17 Men: Elliot Dawlatly produced a superb top-5 finish, crossing the line in 5th place (17:15). He was backed up by Evan Tomlinson (11th) and Joshua King (20th). 💨
- U15 Boys: The team packed well with Will King (23rd) and Noah Gordon (25th) pushing each other to the line, separated by just two seconds. Great finish, lads! 🤜🤛
Moving Forward ➡️
Finishing 7th isn’t what we were hoping for, but we know exactly why it happened. The snow may have blocked our driveways, but it hasn’t dampened our spirit! 🥳
We need a massive turnout for the final fixture to reclaim our spot near the top of the table. To all our athletes—especially our female runners—we need you! Let’s shake off the snow, bring the noise, and finish this season strong! 📣🏃♀️🏃♂️
Well done to everyone who raced. You did the club proud! 🖤
