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Click on photos to enlarge - use browser back button to return There are more photos on www.garymitchellphoto.com Follow the link to the Cross Country Photos |
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Click on photos to enlarge - use browser back button to return There are more photos on www.garymitchellphoto.com Follow the link to the Cross Country Photos |
Despite several young athletes being away on inter-schools duty, Chiltern Harriers again had an excellent 4th place in Division 1 at the Chiltern League Cross Country race in Oxford. Highlights included team wins for the Under 11 boys and girls teams and an individual victory for James McCarthy.
The main senior men's race, a challenging 10k course of steep climbs, sharp downhills and very muddy sections, had a good turnout and Chiltern finished fifth, despite having regular high scorer Derek Brown unavailable through injury. Eddie O'Gorman was highest placed Harrier in 8th in 35.47, with Tom Beedell just behind in 9th in 35.51. Also placing well were Matt Bennett, 17th (and 4th Under 20) in 36.50 and Stuart Ellerby, 24th in 37.22.
Notable performances by the younger male contingent came from Alex Watson, 5th in the Under 15 boys 4.3k race in 14.31, Michael Goddard, 2nd in the Under 13 boys 3.2k race in 11.39, and Dan Barraclough, 3rd in the same race in 11.53. However the Chiltern Under 11 boys team put on a tour de force performance. James McCarthy was the individual winner of the 1.86k race in 7.45, just edging Joe Cochrane into 2nd in 7.46, and Andrew Stenning was 3rd in 7.52. Also placing in the top ten were Sam Butcher, 7th in 8.10, Will Perkin 8th in 8.13, and Bill Hughes 9th in 8.15.
The senior ladies also had a key runner missing in injury-hit Debbie Wenman, but still managed 4th place with Sandra Reynolds 8th in 24.12, Laura Butt 9th in 24.16, Cath Holloway 23rd in 26.28 and Louise Barnett 28th in 26.55. Sandra was 3rd placed Vet 35 and Barbara Ralph, 34th overall, was 2nd placed Vet 45 in 28.02. Kate Loach was 3rd placed Vet 45, 39th overall, in 29.02.
Pick of the girls performances was again Ellie Jones, 18th in the Under 13 race in 13.40. The Under 11 girls had another good race, just pipping rivals Watford Harriers to victory by two points. The scorers were Connie Lewis, 5th in 8.51, Emma Barraclough 6th in 8.53 and Claire Buttivant 9th in 9.01. Claudia McInerney was just outside the top ten, 11th in 9.07. Chiltern provided 12 of the 40 starters in the girls race, providing much optimism for the future.
The next fixture in the five race series is at Stockwood Park, Luton on December 1st.