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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 |
Despite lower numbers participating than usual, Chiltern Harriers kept their Chiltern League campaign going with some solid results at Saturday's event at Upton Court Park, Slough. The team finished down one place in fifth.
Several of the younger athletes were involved in the English Schools Cup races in Leicestershire, and there were others suffering from winter bugs which kept numbers lower. Fields across the board from most teams were the lowest of the season so far.
The senior women were the strongest team on the day with a very good turnout of fourteen. The four counters - Laura Butt, 7th, Debbie Wenman, 8th, Judith Orr, 16th, and Ali Young 20th, achieved second place on the day and maintained the silver medal position for the league to date. Laura, Debbie and Judith were joined by Cath Holloway to win the ladies' veterans race and the Chiltern ladies look set again to take gold in this age group.
The Senior Men were sixth and slipped to sixth overall in the league. Eddie O'Gorman, 5th, and Fabian Downs, 9th were the pick of the team with Kingsley Nanton in 37th and John Taylor in 72nd also scoring valuable high points.
The Under 17 men were fifth and maintained fifth spot in the league with Allan Stewart again having a great run to be fourth in a high class field and Alex Shelley 17th. The Under 15 boys were also fifth on the day with Dan Barraclough 19th and George Gillingwater 23rd leading the way.
In the Under 13 boys race, Michael Goddard maintained his 100% winning record and the team, missing several Dr Challoner's athletes who were at the English Schools Cup and others out with injury and illness, still achieved third place. They are still in silver medal place with two races to go.
The Under 11 boys continued their winning streak with a third Bill Hughes/Will Perkin 1-2. David Willcox was third scorer in 13th place.
In the girls races, the Under 13s were missing the Dr Challoner's girls that won the English Schools Cup in spectacular style, but the remaining runners battled hard and still achieved an excellent fifth place. Ellie Jones was 9th and Emma Barraclough 14th. The team is now in fourth place in the division and with two events to go is still in with a strong shout for a team medal.
The Under 11 girls were depleted by illness and school commitments, but still made second place thanks to fifth place courtesy of Claire Buttivant, and Robyn Lisle, 11th and Rachel Padwick, 12th, having their strongest runs of the season so far.
The next fixture is at Cottesloe School, Wing on January 3rd and team mangers are hoping for good turnouts to maintain pressure on the teams above.