Some senior athletes helped the runners of tomorrow by haring at the first event of the cross country season for local primary schools. Matt Bennett, Neil Thubron, Adrian Dale and Julius Fawcett all acted as hares at the first Chesham & District Schools Cross Country race hosted by Chesham Prep School and Chalfont St Peter Middle School.
Held at Hervines Park, Amersham on Saturday morning the races attracted around fifteen schools from the area. The park was still quite firm underfoot despite recent rain and there was a light breeze to help create near-perfect running conditions.
Youngsters who are either members of, or who train with, the club are underlined.
First race of the day was the Year 3 boys, won by Charlie Stevens from Elangeni in a close finish with Charlie Spittal of Gayhurst. Third place went to Louis Southwell of Chalfont St Peter. The team race was won by Gayhust with Charlie Spittal, Sam Phippen and Hamish Smart as their three counters. Second team were Ley Hill with Chalfont St Peter third.
The Year 3 girls race saw a winning performance by Stella Lamour from Chartridge with Georgina Cooper from Chalfont St Peter second and Nadine Eliason of Heatherton House third. Winning team was Elangeni comprising Lizzie Barraclough, Rhiannon Ward and Fiona Woodhead. Second place went to Chalfont St Peter with Heatherton House third.
Next up were the Year 4s, Will Perkin from Elangeni winning the boys race. George Docwra of Chesham Prep School was second and Jamie Franks of Gateway third. Team winners were Gateway's Jamie Franks, Barnaby Smith and James McIntyre. Second team were Chesham Prep with Gayhurst third.
Claire Buttivant continued her good early season form in the Year 4 girls race winning by a good margin. Rosie Campion of Chesham Prep was second with Heatherton's Louise Weatherall third. Team winners were the Elangeni trio of Sophia Lingley, Rachel Padwick and Jessica Empson. Chalfont St Peter were second and Chesham Prep third.
The Year 5 boys race was dominated by an impressive piece of front running from Elangeni's Bill Hughes. Gayhurst had second and third with James Kingston and Nicholas Jobson and they were the winning team, the trio completed by Connor Worrell. Second team were Chesham Prep, third Chalfont St Peter.
Heatherton's Mia Polawska led from the front in the girls Year 5 race, holding off a late challenge from Elangeni's Katie Pawlyn. Third place went to Chesham Prep's Claudia Jones. Godstowe were team winners with Evie Gardner, Aleksia and Kathryn Baker their counters. Second were Elangeni and third Chesham Prep.
In Year 6 Andrew Stenning won the race and led his Chalfont St Peter team to victory, Sam Butcher and Toby Jones being the other counters. Second in the race itself was Luke Naylor of Chesham Prep with Toby Wilson of Gayhurst third.
The Year 6 girls race was a battle between perennial rivals Emma Barraclough of Elangeni and Claudia McInerney of Chalfont St Peter. Emma was victorious this time with Elangeni's Rosalind Firth a fast-finishing third. Elangeni had their third girls team win of the morning, with Chalfont St Peter second and Heatherton House third.
The average field for the races was around 60, all the children giving their all and showing that the local area has some very capable young runners, several of whom will be running for Chiltern Harriers in next Saturday's first Chiltern League race of the season at Cassiobury Park, Watford.
Steve Perkin