This venue is one of the best in the country for both athletes and spectators alike. Although bad weather conditions had been forecast the day turned out to be fine and the course was generally good with scattered muddy areas. This year Sky Sports viewers were treated to the full 5 hours of excellent live cross-country action, and the athletes (and spectators) were able to spend Sunday looking for glimpses of themselves on video recordings.
The main attraction for TV was the Senior and Junior Men and Women's races which as well as being major championships are also used for selecting the World C-C teams. With the best runners in the country representing all the English counties plus Area teams from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and most races having around 300 starters the standard of competition was high.
Although Chiltern Harriers had 4 athletes absent for various reasons they still had 12 athletes representing Buckinghamshire covering most age groups. There were 3 in the U13 Boys 3k race and like their teammates all were representing their County for the first time in a cross-country event. Alex Watson had an outstanding run on the day starting in 6th position in the pen he worked his way through the large field to finish 2nd Bucks runner in a very creditable 100th place. Just 15 seconds behind in 142nd place came first year Oliver Church, the youngest member of the team. He had started last in the pen and ran so well to finish as 5th Bucks. Daniel Loach, completing the trio, had a brilliant start from 3rd in the pen and managed to place in the top 60 about half way round the course. However he was disappointed when his early efforts took their toll and he slipped back through the field to finish 178th out of 295 finishers. The U13 Boys Team finished 15th out of the 40+ teams.
In the U17 Men's 6K race after a slow start Matthew Bennett finished in 215th position, as 3rd placed Bucks, out of 285 finishers.
U20 Stuart Ellerby was troubled by a hip problem going into Saturday's 8k race and felt the pain gradually worsen throughout. Not one to give up easily he battled on in a respectable position until he tried to step up the pace in the finishing 200m straight at which point he had to pull out just short of the finishing line.
In the Senior Men's 12K race Owain Jones started at a steady pace then moved significantly through the field on each of the 4 laps to finish in an excellent 58th position and first year senior Tom Beedell finished 239th.
The English Schools Cross-Country Championships take place at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire on 25th March to wind up the cross-country season.
Gary Howells
Coach
Chiltern Harriers AC