l-r, Andrew Stenning, James McCarthy, Sam Butcher, and Bill Hughes |
James McCarthy (989) in the leading group going up the first hill |
|
|
Click on photos to enlarge - use browser back button to return Pictures by Steve Perkin | ||
|---|---|---|
|
l-r, Andrew Stenning, James McCarthy, Sam Butcher, and Bill Hughes |
James McCarthy (989) in the leading group going up the first hill |
|
|
Click on photos to enlarge - use browser back button to return Pictures by Steve Perkin | ||
|---|---|---|
Chiltern Harriers under 13 boys added to their medal collection with second place at the South of England Cross Country Championships at Parliament Hill Fields, Hampstead on Saturday.
A bright frosty morning created a crust on a muddy course which ensured taxing conditions on the tough 3K route.
James McCarthy was in the leading group going up the first hill and ran very well to finish in 12th place from the high calibre field of 212. Bill Hughes, 23rd, Andrew Stenning, 35th, and Sam Butcher, 41st, were the other scorers. Also running well were Joe Aherne in 72nd, Callum Neal 87th and Jack Treanor, 106th.
Three Year 6 boys had their debuts at Under 13 and all acquitted themselves well, Will Perkin 75th, Sam Henning 100th, and Jonny Stenning 141st. Joe Cochrane ran with an injury to be 154th. The boys ended with 111 points. Tonbridge on 78 were the winners and West Suffolk with 161 were third. The second batch of four Chiltern boys made 13th placed team from the 34 complete teams competing, emphasising the strength in depth of the squad.
The Under 13 girls also had a good outing to be fifth after their bronze medals last year. Connie Lewis was in a tight finish and ended up in an excellent fourth place, just five seconds behind the winner. Rosalind Firth was 36th, Emma Barraclough 44th and Katie Bench 72nd to complete the scoring. Year 6 girl Hannah Thear had a good debut at Under 13 to be 120th from the 219 finishers. Georgia Bingham was 107th, Alice Hall 142nd and Maria Slade 158th to complete the Chiltern presence in the race.
Elsewhere the Under 15 boys were 15th from 28 teams, weakened by the absence of Michael Goddard with illness. George Gillingwater had a good run to be 55th. Jack Walker was 101st, Jack Dutton 110th, and Liam McDonald 111th. Dan Barraclough was close behind in 113th, Jimmy Davies 143rd, Alex Johnson 161st.
The Under 15 girls featured Phoebe Cutter in 72nd, Alice Heinel in 153rd and Hannah Wardley in 171st. Ben Hall was 163rd in the Under 17 men's race.
Finally, in a huge field of 806 finishers, Mark Fallowfield-Smith was 387th, Steve Perkin 453rd, Jon Taylor 596th and David Breingan 611th, braving the by now very muddy 15K senior men's race.