Many of Chiltern Harriers young athletes took part in the County Schools cross-country championships last Saturday, and on this occasion they were competing for their local senior school teams. Most were there for the experience and battling to get their School Team into the top places. Some were aiming to earn selection for the County Schools Team and the chance to represent Buckinghamshire at the English Schools Championships, which take place in Leeds on the 24th March. For a change the athletes were able to take advantage of competing at "home" but the course using both parkland and woods provided a tough test for all, too tough for two of the Harriers athletes who suffered ankle injuries and had to drop out when in prominent positions.
Nick Lingley from the Amersham School turned an ankle when leading the first race of the day the Intermediate Boys (years 10 & 11) 5k race. He was very disappointed but was pleased to see his two clubmates Alex Shelley (DCGS) and Will Hayter (DCGS) compete so well finishing 4th and 5th respectively. And Dr Challoners School won the team event with James Crowther placing 18th and Tom Lewin in 26th position. All these athletes are first years in the age group with Alex and Will earning automatic selection for the County team, and Nick having to wait to see if he is given one of the two discretionary places. Allan Stewart (Chesham High) finished 24th.
The Year 7 Boys was a very competitive race over 2K. Dan Barraclough (Misbourne) stormed into the lead as planned and gradually opened a clear gap between himself and a chasing group of four runners. With abut 400m to go Michael Goddard (a year 6 pupil at Chalfont Middle School) reeled in the 2nd place athlete from John Colet School and started chasing the leader. Over the final 150m the gap behind the leader was closing rapidly but Dan, despite suffering a heavy cold, held on to win by about 20m from Michael who was very pleased with his silver medal. Behind him two other young Harriers had been battling to catch the third placer but Jack Dutton (Chalfont Community College) and James Macarthy (a year 5 pupil at The Beacon School) had to settle for 4th and 5th places respectively. They were delighted to place so high in a field of 75 finishers.
In the Junior Boys (years 8 & 9) 4.2K race Tom Fouhy (DCGS) produced a strong run moving into the lead at halfway and going on to take gold. He also led his School to the County Team title despite the loss of Oliver Church who turned his ankle when in the leading group. Sonny Harvey (Chesham High) had a great run to win silver. The leading two finishers are first year's in the age group and they beat the County AA U13 champion, also a first year, who finished 3rd. Another athlete suffering the effects of a cold, Dan Loach (DCGS) did well to finish 4th and school team mates Michael Palfreeman (19th) and C Gogarthy (24th) were the other scorers for the Dr Challoners Grammar School team. Robert Smith (Amersham School) had an inspired run to finish 8th and hopes to be rewarded with selection for the County team. Harry Lindsley (Misbourne) ran well for 14th place and was followed home by Hugh Beedell (DCGS) 31st, Edgar Aperghis (DCGS) 36th and Alec McDaid (Amersham) in 54th. There were 70 finishers.
The last race of the afternoon was the Senior Boys (years 12 & 13) race run over 6.8K and produced a very competitive performance from Matthew Bennett (Chesham High). He was leading for over half the race but was eventually overhauled by the favourite and settled for silver to secure his County selection and keep his record of having been selected to represent the County Schools team every year from Year 8 to 13, an excellent achievement.
Athletes finishing in the first 6 places of the of the Junior, Inter and Senior races will automatically be selected for the County Schools Team to compete at the English Schools Cross-Country Championships. Those finishing in 7th and 8th positions will have to wait and see if there selection is confirmed by Team Management.
Gary Howells
Coach/ Team Manager
Chiltern Harriers AC