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Click on photos to enlarge - use browser back button to return l-r, Maria Slade, Jessica Franks, Amy Harris, Ellie Jones, Connie Lewis, Claudia McInerney |
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Click on photos to enlarge - use browser back button to return l-r, Maria Slade, Jessica Franks, Amy Harris, Ellie Jones, Connie Lewis, Claudia McInerney |
Full results on English Cross Country Association Website
The 122nd running of this prestigious event, first run in 1876, attracted nearly 9000 entries as it returned to this great cross-country venue. In good weather conditions athletes faced the dual challenge of competing against large numbers of runners over the most demanding of courses which was very muddy under foot. The vast numbers of spectators enjoyed the spectacle of such large fields of runners and supporters had to be mobile to get about the course to cheer on their athletes.
The U15 boy's race over 4.5k was the first race of the day and Chiltern Harriers had a team of 4, all first years in the age group. Dan Barraclough led the team home in 130th position out of 398 finishers with George Gillingwater (202nd), Jack Walker (241st) and Jack Dutton (288th). The team finished in 36th place.
The U13 girl's produced the Harrier's best team performance of the day with a very creditable 9th place overall. First year Connie Lewis had a slightly below par performance by her standards but still finished 43rd out of 354 finishers in the 3k race. An excellent run by Amy Harris earned her a top 50 finish in 45th place. Completing the team scorers were Jessica Franks (89th) and Ellie Jones (132nd). Maria Slade (306th) and Claudia McInerney (332nd) were competing at this level of competition for the first time.
Chiltern Harriers U13 Boys team were without two of their leading runners, Michael Goddard (ill) and Jimmy Davies (taken ill during the race). With two others returning from skiing trips the previous evening team prospects were not high. In the circumstances 17th place team overall was very respectable and Alex Johnson had his best run of the season to finish 64th out of 356 finishers in the 3k race. Andrew Stenning (139th), James McCarthy (141st) and Joe Aherne (177th), all first year's in the age group, were the other scoring team members. Another first year Joe Cochrane finished in 195th place.
Allan Stewart, delayed by travel problems, arrived just 5 minutes before the start of his U17 men's 6k race, just enough time to get his spikes on. However, a gritty performance to place 64th out of 285 finishers suggested that a top 40 position could have been achieved with the right preparation.
Fiona Calder (523rd) was Chiltern Harriers lone representative in the Senior Women's 8k race.
In the last race of the day, the Senior men's 12k championship, Ian Lawson (683rd) and veterans Trevor Brawn (1374th) and Martyn Cartwright (1452nd) enjoyed their race of 2 laps over this tough course in a vast field of runners.
Gary Howells