Hampshire League Race 1 8 October Farley Mount
Race winner Piers gets the
cross-country season gets off to a flying start.
With our middle distance
runners having had a great summer on the track, it was time to turn our
attention to the cross-country season. As usual the season opener was at
one of our favourite courses Farley Mount.
Our new team tent, which
will provide the base for us at cross-country races
over the winter, is larger (and redder!) than the old one, to
accommodate
our increasing numbers.
Becka Hughes
The first race of the day
was the under-13 girls. We had two runners, Grace Copeland and Bethan
Burley, both racing in their first ever Hampshire League cross-country
race. Grace came along here and took part in an impromptu fun run last
year, but this time it was the real deal. Although the standard in the
Hampshire League can be a daunting, neither of these girls had much to
worry about due to the hard work they have been putting in at training
sessions
and so it proved. Grace claimed 5th place on her
debut a tremendous performance
and only 13 seconds back from the race
winner. Bethan put in a fine performance too, finishing in the pack
where a few seconds gained can make up lots of places. It was good
experience for both girls and they will be able to line up at the next
HXC race with the benefit of the confidence they will have gained from
this experience. It was a great to start to the clubs new season, and
it was about to get even better.
Grace at the end of lap one
of a fine debut.
Callum Kennedy
The under-13 boys were next
to be called to the start line. Having had a line-up of debutants in the
U13 girls race it was the chance for the old hands to show what they
could do, and alongside the old boys, Ryan Long was making his XC
debut for the club. The under-13 boys team didnt disappoint! This is
our fourth season in this league, we were about to see our first ever
race winner and our best ever team placing. By the end of the first lap
Piers Copeland was going mano a mano, in typical Piers style,
running shoulder to shoulder in a 1-2 at the head of the field. There
was also a superb run from Tom Bourne, he finished 8th, a
giant leap forward from the form he was showing at the end of the
previous cross-country season. All eyes were now on Tom Boulton, our
third runner home who would determine where we would score in the team
category. He came in 30th a couple of places better than he
managed last year. Tom Boultons placing meant the team came third our
highest team finish in any HXC race since we joined the league in 2008.
This is a tremendous achievement as we were only headed by the mighty
Aldershot, Farnham & District and Reading. Our lads had seen off the
challenge of many larger clubs including Winchester, Portsmouth,
Camberley, Southampton, Basingstoke, Salisbury, Andover and New Forest.
Ryan Long ran a solid debut and looked to have loads to spare at the
end, with this experience under his belt Im expecting him to go even
better next time.
Piers on his way to
victory.
Callum Kennedy
Now to the under-15s. It
was great to see six girls lining up for us in this age-group. Ella
Hearne was our debutant here, and Becca Scooter Skeats was making her
XC debut at this level too. Our most experienced runner was Sharon
Hutchings, she had a fine run, equalling her best ever finishing
position in the Hampshire League. It can be tough when you step up an
age group in cross-country, the previous year you will have been amongst
the oldest in your race, this time around you will be one of the
youngest. This makes Abbie Hines performance all the more remarkable.
Chloe Morris and Charlotte Bourne were never far away from each other in
the race, these fine runners have terrific attitude and endurance, Im
looking forward to seeing them push each other throughout the season.
Ella was only a minute back on Charlotte and she looked completely in
control as she pulled on a red vest for the first time. Scooter was a
minute down on Ella, but in her usual gutsy style she had given it
everything. We scored another creditable team place 6th,
well done girls.
Ella on her race debut.
Callum Kennedy
Having had so many in the
under-15 girls race it was disappointing we didnt have a complete team
in the boys race in that age group. It was down to Ryan Walbridge and
Jordan Symington to do the business for us in this race. Ryan finished
just outside the top 10 and both he and Jordan ran more than a minute
faster than they did in 2010 over the same course.
In the under-17s races we
only had one runner Callum Kennedy. Callum ran this years race 1:45
faster than last year and significantly improved his finishing position
as a result.
With the junior races
completed we turned our attention to the seniors. In recent years Lynn
Hutchings has been bearing the standard for Wimborne with not much
back-up in the Hampshire League races. It was great to welcome three
debutants to provide Lynn with some support, Rachel Gladdis, Julie
Gosling and Rebecca Hughes. Naturally Lynn led the team home, she went a
little quicker than last year, this was despite carrying a niggly sore
hip. Becka and Rachel, were closely matched in the race, with Becka
taking the honours on this occasion. Julie is having her best season for
years and it was great to have her competing for the WAC cross-country
team. I hope that for all three of them Farley Mount will prove to be
the first of many cross-country races for them.
Becka and Rachel in close
company in the senior womens race.
The final race of the day
was the senior men. Nine of us lined up at the start. After a couple of
hundred metres we were down to eight, as Gerry Hutchings had to pull up
with a hamstring problem, and we also lost Phil Burges after three laps.
Our first man home was Graeme Furley who recorded his highest Hampshire
League finish. Rounding off a good day for the Copelands was Mark, who,
we have to remind ourselves, only debuted in this event last year.
Perhaps unsurprisingly he was significantly faster this time around.
John Hutchings is another who has made huge progress in the last 12
months, and he was next in. This venue has a special resonance fro Iain
Donnelly, who used to race in schools cross-country races here many
years ago. He had a decent run despite carrying a slight calf problem.
Simon Bournes recent good form continues and he managed to chase down
our cross-country stalwart Graham Whiffen. Despite improving on his time
from last year Ian Kennedy was 40-odd seconds back from Graham.
All in all, a great start
to the season, I look forward to seeing you all at Canford for the
Wessex League race on 30 October and the next Hampshire League event on
12 November.
WACers times and results were:
Under-13 Girls (65 finishers)
5 Grace Copeland 12:25
39 Bethan Burley 14:51
Under-13 Boys (76 finishers)
3rd team on the day
1 Piers Copeland 11:19
8 Tom Bourne 11:37
30 Tom Boulton 12:32
65 Ryan Long
14:16
Under-15 Girls (67 finishers) 6th
team on the day
7 Sharon Hutchings 17:44
19 Abbie Hine 18:33
33 Chloe Morris 19:27
38 Charlotte Bourne 19:54
50 Ella Hearne 21:06
57 Rebecca Skeats 22:06
Under-15 Boys (64 finishers)
11 Ryan Walbridge 15:28
35 Jordan Symington 17:11
Under-17 Boys (34 finishers)
16 Callum Kennedy 17:51
Senior Women (124 finishers) 12th
team on the day
53 Lynn Hutchings 28:00
95 Rebecca Hughes 31:05
97 Rachel Gladdis 31:26
119 Julie Gosling 37:05
Senior Men (206 finishers) (Wimborne
7th in Div. 2, Wimborne Vets 5th in Div 2)
46 Graeme Furley 37:33
118 Mark Copeland 42:02
138 John Hutchings 43:39
167 Iain Donnelly 45:44
175 Simon Bourne 46:56
178 Graham Whiffen 47:20
182 Ian Kennedy 48:04
Full results for the Hampshire League
will be found at
www.athletics.hampshire.org.uk/events/hxcl.html
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