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Click on photos to enlarge - use browser back button to return Pictures by Steve Perkin |
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Click on photos to enlarge - use browser back button to return Pictures by Steve Perkin |
In a record for the venue, 1067 runners tackled the parkland and woodland courses at Cassiobury Park, Watford in the first of the winter's Chiltern League races.
Chiltern Harriers' campaign got off to a good start with fifth place overall in division 1, with some encouraging signs for the rest of the season.
The Senior Men finished in fifth with a good turnout of 21 providing ten strong counters. Amongst the top 50 in a large field of 336 were Eddie O'Gorman - 11th, Fabian Downs - 26th, Kingsley Nanton - 43rd, and Justin Fowler - 46th. The Under 17 men were 7th with Alex Shelley having a good run to be 8th. In the Under 15 category George Gillingwater was first Harrier home in 22nd position, the team again in 7th.
The younger boys age groups provided much optimism for the future with the Under 13s in 2nd, with Michael Goddard individual winner, and the Under 11s being team winners with an individual 1-2 of Bill Hughes and Will Perkin. Also counting for the Under 13s were Jimmy Davies, an excellent 7th on his Chiltern League debut, Alex Johnson in 21st and Andrew Stenning in 23rd. Third counter for the Under 11s was newcomer David Willcox who finished strongly to be 9th.
The female side of the club also had a very good day. The four Chiltern counters packed well to finish in second overall, Debbie Wenman 11th, newcomers Ali Young and Sian Thomas 15th and 16th, and just behind Cath Holloway in 17th. The ladies were first veteran team with Debbie and Cath joined by Judith Orr in 23rd and Kate Loach in 42nd.
In the young athletes races, Phoebe Cutter had a splendid debut in the Under 15s, finishing 20th in a very high class field. Despite missing some key runners, the Under 13s finished fifth, with Ellie Jones 10th, Amy Harris 12th, Emma Barraclough 20th and Claudia McInerney 39th all performing strongly.
The Under 11 girls put out a strong team and finished in third place with Claire Buttivant in 3rd, Claudia Jones 8th, and Hannah Morton 10th the counters.