Richard Davies reports from the Hampshire League
The second Hampshire League race was held at a new venue Sparsholt Winchester, the combination of a challenging new course including a set of grass stairs and tough weather conditions meant you deserved a pat on the back if you decided on starting your race. As usual our WAC team stepped up to the plate and all made it back safely pleased with their day’s work.
A senior athlete from another club noted that there were more fallers than at the grand national by the time they ran in the last race and not all our runners came away completely unscathed.
It was very strange arriving at 10am to set up base camp without Ian, I really can’t remember the last time he missed a Hampshire League race, but don’t worry he got his fix of XC running in Taunton at a South West regional match which had a number of WAC athletes competing, I hope normal service will resume at the next race! Fortunately, Ben and Charlie were on hand to help with the tent and flag and after a couple of attempts! All was ready.
At 11am the rain started and was set for the day, first up were the under 11s races. We had two athletes in this age group. Our only girl was Myla McNeill, she had a really strong run in difficult conditions and was well supported by her family. Harry Butcher was next up and he didn’t disappoint having another excellent run to finish 3rd in a strong field. I was very impressed with our two youngest runners it was an extremely tough day to run and they both acquitted themselves admirably.
Under 11 girls (54 finishers)
44 – Myla McNeil – 10.41
Under 11 boys (72 finishers)
3 – Harry Butcher – 7.47
Our under 13 girls’ team is made up of young runners who will all have another go in. this age group next year, the girls ran very well again and finished 7th team. The team was led home again by Imogen Rawles who had another strong run, closely followed by Evie Fuller who had a remarkable/eventful run. Evie managed to fall over twice in the same spot! She came in covered in mud and pretty cold but did a great job finishing. Next in was Grace Bunting she had improved on her King’s Park placing, and or team was completed by Ella Fazakerley.
Under 13 girls (74 fnishers)
25 – Imogen Rawles – 13.00
30 – Evie Fuller – 13.09
42 – Gracie Bunting – 13.31
72 – Ella Fazakerley – 16.34
Our under 13 boys was short of numbers with only Isaac McNeil making it to the start line, again he ran a great race in difficult conditions and was still smiling at the end.
Under 13 boys (78 finishers)
68 – Isaac McNeil – 14.07
We are still missing that third under-15 girl runner who would ensure we recorded a team score. Our first red in was Sarah Graham who had a storming sprint finish edging out a Poole AC runner, and Ruby Sargeant who is a year young was her only team mate.
Under 15 girls (57 finishers)
37 – Sarah Graham – 17.35
56 – Ruby Sargeant – 20.33
Next up were the under 15 boys, Jay Dunn was the first home, he’s looking strong this year and is improving with each race. Then it was Josh Fazakerley who had another strong run and Oscar Davis completed the team. Each runner improved, or where close to their King’s Park positions, and with nearly 10 extra finishers that bodes well for the rest of the season.
Under 15 boys (64 finishers)
27 – Jay Dunn – 15.15
43 – Josh Fazakerley – 16.09
51 – Oscar Davis – 17.02
Our sole representative in the senior women’s race and making her 2019 Hampshire League race debut was Tara Green, Tara had a good solid run and was comfortably in the top half. Tara was smiling at the beginning, middle and end and as usual was a really positive influence around base camp.
Senior women (218 finishers)
104 – Tara Green – 33.19
Next up was the under 17 boys who were our biggest team of the day, they’re good friends and competitors, Ben Martin came back into form, leading the team home with a top 20 position, Tom, Joel and Charlie (Charlie was covered in mud having followed Evie’s lead and fallen over twice at the same spot!) were the next three in covered by only four places. Ollie came in next he is still shaking off the last bit of a cold.
Under 17 (41 finishers)
18 – Ben Martin – 25.05
23 – Tom Fuller – 25.48
24 – Joel Green – 25.51
26 – Charlie Davies – 25.56
35 – Ollie Rawles – 27.11
The final race of the day was the senior men, again we had a full team which is great to see. The race itself had nearly 300 runners! Leading home the Wimborne team was Rob Rawles, followed by Kerry Mapp, Rob was clearly keen to reverse the order from the previous week and got the better of Kerry at Sparsholt but it was clear at the end both had worked very hard. Next in was Pete Kingswell-Farr who had another solid run and the final member of the team was Seamus Doran keeping up his 100% record of racing in his debut season.
Senior men (298 finishers)
203 – Robert Rawles – 42.38
213 – Kerry Mapp – 42.56
247 – Pete Kingswell-Farr – 45.14
281 – Seamus Doran – 51.06
