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Click on photos to enlarge - use browser back button to return Pictures by Gary Mitchell and Steve Perkin |
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Click on photos to enlarge - use browser back button to return Pictures by Gary Mitchell and Steve Perkin |
Chiltern Harriers had sixteen athletes representing Buckinghamshire competing in these end of season races, probably the highest calibre event in the cross country calendar. The senior and Under 20 races act as the main selection process for the GB teams travelling to the World Cross Country Championships
The venue at Wollaton Hall in Nottingham provides a spectacular backdrop to the races, and with a perfect running day and good to firm conditions underfoot, there were some very fast and exciting races to watch.
The county had several successes, notably in the Under 13 age group, well populated with Chiltern runners.
The Under 13 boys were the second race of the day and the Bucks team achieved a creditable 7th place, led home by Michael Goddard who, despite having training interrupted by a recent cold, still finished an excellent 7th. Local athlete Kieran Wye who attends the Misbourne School and runs at Windsor also ran very well to be 15th. Gayhurst School's Rob Sutherland (Wycombe Phoenix) was the third Bucks counter in 59th place. Chiltern's other runners were James McCarthy who ran strongly to be 134th from the 294 starters and Andrew Stenning who was 232nd.
The Bucks Under 13 girls team contained five Chiltern Harriers, and were led home by county champion Connie Lewis in 39th place. The remaining Bucks counters packed well a little further back with Chiltern's Amy Harris 62nd, Milton Keynes' Jasmine Finlay 66th and Chiltern's Ellie Jones 67th being the other three counters. Chiltern first year, Rosalind Firth was also just behind in 71st place. Jessica Franks was sixth Bucks finisher but disappointed with 187th place. The girls achieved a very respectable 12th place from the 40 counties competing.
Chiltern's interest in the other young athlete's age groups consisted of three older boys. First year George Gillingwater ran solidly to be 199th from 304 starters in the Under 15 category. Allan Stewart had another great run in the Under 17 men's race to place as second Bucks counter in 86th place. Alex Watson also ran in the Bucks Under 17s and finished 260th.
Eddie O'Gorman was first of Bucks' senior men across the line, coming 138th in a field containing the best cross country runners in the UK. Also featuring for the team from Chiltern were Matt Bennett, fourth counter in 174th, and Fabian Downs who was 239th.
In the senior women's race, Laura Butt and Debbie Wenman were Bucks' third and fourth counters in 179th and 200th positions respectively.