The autumn relay season came to an
end on Saturday with the
National Cross Country Relays at Berry Hill Park, Mansfield.This is the biggest and most prestigious championships of the autumn with a truly national spread of the country’s best running clubs.
In dismal grey and wet conditions with the course cutting up through the afternoon the Chiltern Harriers Under 13 boys again reached the podium with a great performance to claim bronze - see picture of Will Perkin, Robert Hall and Sam Henning.
Sam Henning got the team off to a very good start, coming home in 7.13 on the 2K course in fifth place. On a topsy-turvy second leg, Robert Hall (7.35) overtook all those in front but was overtaken himself by athletes from Leicester and Bedford to set up an exciting finish. Taking over in third with several teams close behind, Will Perkin established a good gap but with 200 metres to go that had closed with athletes from Team Bath and City of Norwich in contention. With a sudden burst of pace, Will broke clear to claim the bronze medals and a lap time of 7.18. There were 250 athletes in total, Sam running the ninth fastest and Will the 13th fastest laps.
From a total of 75 teams the Chiltern B team did well to finish 32nd comprising Angus Denison-Smith (7.46), Tom Conway (7.52) and Jonny Stenning (8.11) and were the third best B team.
Earlier the Under 17 men ran a 3K circuit and Chiltern fielded two teams - the A team of George Gillingwater (10.10), Michael Goddard (9.58) and Jack Walker (10.24) finishing a creditable 31st from 81 teams. The B team of Chris Strong (10.34), Liam McDonald (10.41) and Alex Johnson (11.31) was 66th.
There were also two U13 girls teams on show, many making their debut at this event. Hannah Thear (8.13), Sophie Morton (8.02) and Abi Jones (8.41) finished 25th from 85 teams and the B team of Rachel Padwick (8.40), Sandie Pohlman (8.58), and Katie McCartney (8.54) did well to be 56th.
With injuries and unavailability in the Under 15 girls a problem, Hannah Morton ran a solo first leg and confirmed her great form with a time of 7.24 on the 2K route bringing her in third place and with the fifth fastest time overall.
The Under 15 boys trio of Joe Aherne (7.17), Callum Neal (7.28) and Joe Cochrane (7.30) finished 31st.