Connie Lewis and Emma Barraclough from the U13 Girls team |
Tevor Brawn |
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Click on photos to enlarge - use browser back button to return Pictures by Steve Perkin |
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Connie Lewis and Emma Barraclough from the U13 Girls team |
Tevor Brawn |
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Click on photos to enlarge - use browser back button to return Pictures by Steve Perkin |
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In a red letter day for Chiltern Harriers the girls and boys Under 13 teams rounded off their excellent seasons with superb team-medal winning performances at the National Cross Country Championships at Roundhay Park, Leeds on Saturday.
With teams from Gateshead to Bristol and Kendal to Hastings, this was a truly national event. The Under 13 girls race had a huge field of 417 runners. On a 3K course that involved several muddy sections and a fearsomely steep downhill, followed by a very tough climb near the end, this was a true cross country test of stamina.
Despite a tough start due to congestion, Connie Lewis had yet another very good race to finish in 11th place. Rosalind Firth continued her recent great form with 32nd and Hannah Morton, coming back from a knee injury, also had a brilliant run to be 51st. Emma Barraclough came in as the all-important fourth scorer in 104th place for the team to finish with 198 points which won the bronze medal. Bracknell were the winners on 128 with Chelmsford second on 165. There were 51 club teams in total. Also competing were Year 6 girl Hannah Thear who had an excellent run to be 170th and Maria Slade was in 323rd.
The Under 13 boys had great strength in depth and this was telling on the day. Following the same course as the girls, Tonbridge were easy winners on 98 points, Chiltern won second place with 213, just one point ahead of third placed Charnwood on 214.
From a field of 374 finishers, Bill Hughes, recent winner of Bucks County Championship, was again first Harrier home in 25th place. Andrew Stenning was 55th, James McCarthy 57th and Callum Neal 76th to be the other scorers. Sam Butcher had a good run to be 84th and Year 6 boys Will Perkin in 118th and Sam Henning in 138th also did themselves proud. Toby Jones, 173rd, Joe Aherne 183rd and Jack Treanor, 190th completed the strong Chiltern presence in this race. There were 40 teams in total.
Earlier, the Under 15 boys put in another solid performance to be 14th team. On a 4.5k course that also involved the killer hill, Dan Barraclough headed the way in 93rd. Jack Dutton was 96th, Michael Goddard 123rd and George Gillingwater 140th from the field of 387 finishers and there were 37 teams in total.
There were three senior men taking part in a huge race, Tom Beedell finishing in 222nd, David Breingan in 1002nd and Trevor Brawn in 1401st.