Another very competitive week of activity with an amazing national level victory for our U13 girls cross country team as they become national relay champions! Wow. Elsewhere we’ve been back in the Sportshall and taking great results on the road in both Billericay and New York!
English National XC Relays
Another strong Saturday for our Beagles with a trip to Mansfield for the English Cross Country Association National Cross Country Relays. The day started off with our U17 girls who were running 2.5km and just for fun as an incomplete team. Evie Warn survived the start line pushing and shoving to surge forwards with the leading pack. A valiant battle throughout, Evie handed over in 14th (9:14) to Olivia Forrest. Olivia started to pass through the field using her speed to good effect to push the team up to second (8:40).
The second Beagles race of the day was the cause of much excitement as it saw our very determined U13 girls run over 2km. Another strong start, saw Amalie Twydell sprint forwards and get on the lead back. Staying strong throughout she handed over in 14th (8:27) to Sophie Bickerstaff. Sophie kept on the pace and focused on moving the team up the field showing brilliant consistency time wise with Amalie (8:26). She handed over to Madison Kindler in 10th place and Madison set off determined to close the 30 second gap to the front of the field. Picking people off as if they were standing still, Madison showed great strength to not only get to the leaders but to over take them and take the Beagles team over the line in first place (7:24). An amazing team effort to pick up the national title!!
Following that excitement we were back on the start line with our U15 girls, also over 2k. Heidi Woodley was the lead runner and started the race by leading the field after the initial opening sprint. Tackling the course confidently against tough competition, she finished her leg in 11th (7:47). Missy Tiller took over with a strong first half of the lap, holding on to finish in 18th (8:25). Isabel Forrest also started strongly on the final leg and held on well to the team position with a final place of 21st (8:36).
Finally our sole male runner of the day, Matthew Jones was in the U15 2k race to pick up so valuable first leg and national experience. A steady start and sensible run followed by a sprint finish saw him finish 78th in 8:01. Great running Matthew.
Well done to all who ran and congratulations again to our U13 National Champions, their coaches and support teams!
Billericay 10k
Sunday saw the Beagles head to Billericay for the much-loved 10k event hosted by Billericay Striders 10k. The early hills led way to a flatter race and saw great results for our athletes.
First Beagle home was Simon Knightbridge who finished 20th overall and 2nd in his age group – 38:18. Phil Price was also running well, and finished 42nd and 14th in his age group – 40:12. Elliot Worth was 48th overall and 5th in his age group – 40:46. Stuart Crowther also had a great run to finish 2nd in his age group and 69th overall – 42:57. It was also lovely to see Yvo Heidemans back up and running with a great effort of 77th overall – 43:09.
Finally a huge well done to Jemimah Knightbridge for making her 10k debut in true style by finishing first female youth in 44:57.
A huge well done all
Essex Sportshall Round 2
Congratulations to the Beagles who took on the second event in the Sportshall series in Chelmsford. We saw some very competitive performances!
U11s
Isla Foley – Over and under race – 19.9 (2nd), 1 lap race – 13.4, Obstacle race – 25.1, Chest push – 5.50m (2nd), Long jump – 1.53m, Vertical jump – 38, Javelin – 9.50m
Evie Foley – 2 lap race – 26.1, Obstacle race – 24.3, Chest Push – 5.0m, Speed Bounce – 44, Javelin – 9.75m
Oliver Neville – 1 lap race – 13.0, Standing Long jump – 2.04m (1st), Standing Triple jump – 6.05m (1st). Vertical Jump – 42 (3rd), Speed Bounce – 50 (1st)
Jack Collier – 1 lap race – 13.2, Obstacle race – 23.6, Chest Push – 4.75m, Standing Long jump – 1.54m, Vertical Jump – 32, Hi Stepper – 17.0, Target Throw – 6, Speed Bounce – 50 (1st), Javelin – 9.75m
Zac Niyazi – 1 lap race – 12.4, Standing Long jump – 1.89m, Vertical Jump – 40, Speed Bounce – 47, Javelin – 12.2m (2nd)
U13s
Max Cheetham – 4 lap race – 51.7 (1st), 6 lap race – 1:23.0 (2nd), Linear Shot – 7.07m (2nd). Standing Long jump – 2.16m (2nd), Standing Triple jump – 6.42m (2nd), Vertical Jump – 48 (2nd), Speed Bounce – 75 (1st)
U15s
Katie Lowe – 2 lap race – 23.8 (2nd), Standing long jump – 2.04m (2nd), Standing triple jump – 6.31m (1st)
New York Marathon
Huge congratulations to Scott Brooks who has been off on his travels again picking up his marathon medals from around the world and once again absolutely smashing his personal best time! This time it was the glamour and bridges of New York which saw a brilliant run from Scott of 2:46.0. An amazing result and absolute testament to his commitment to training.
Parkrun and Junior parkun round up
Conditions were ideal over the weekend for our parkrunners, with calm and dry autumn mornings. On Saturday at Raphael, Louis Geater (19:49) ran well, taking 8th place, while Simon Knightbridge (23:12) held back in preparation for Sunday’s Billericay 10k, finishing 50th. Stuart Bennett (31:15) also attended, among a field of 365 runners.
At Brentwood, Max Sanderson (17:01 PB) was in imperious form, taking 1st place with a new course best. Also running well was Mattt Earing* (21:24) who came 7th, Matthew Delea (21:39), who took 8th, while Keith Thornton (22:32) finished 15th. Adam Armour (23:35) took on the hilly course for the first time, finishing 24th.
At Chelmsford, nearly 800 runners took part, with three Beagles in attendance. Oliver Weston-Stokes (19:46 PB) ran well to take 32nd and clock his best time on the course. Also running were Nadia Price (23:31) and Phil Price (23:32). Finally, at Wickford Memorial, Elliot Worth (19:58) took 9th overall as our sole runner there.
On Sunday, there was a strong turnout of Beagles at Harrow Lodge, where our runners dominated the front of the field. Taking 1st place was Matthew Jones (07:03 PB) with an impressive new course best. Matthew was followed by Isabel Forrest (07:30); 3rd place went to Jessica Page* (07:39 PB), while in 4th was Aria Lily Sabado (07:43 PB), one of four Beagles to achieve a personal best—great running! Just behind in 5th was Lianne Esterhuysen (08:00), with 6th going to Blossom Smith (08:11). In 12th was Willow Smith (08:56), followed by Jack Collier (09:11 PB) in 15th, Alice Jones (09:25 PB), and Harry Collier (09:43) in 27th.
Finally, at Hutton Rec., six runners were in action. Adam Armour (08:11) crossed the line as 1st finisher, with Liam Worth (09:32) in 6th. Alexandra Johnston (09:54) took 8th, with Max Morris (10:26) in 9th. Also running were Chloe Thomson* (10:40) and Joshua Thomson* (11:41).
Well done to all our representatives this weekend. Can we please remind you that we can only pick up your results in the parkun club report if you register yourself as being part of the club in your parkrun profile. Unfortunately, the automatic club report only works on the Saturday parkruns so we are unable to spot performances at junior parkruns beyond the local ones we monitor (Harrow Lodge, Hutton Rec., Chelmsford, Lake Meadows and Northlands). Feel free to contact us if you need help setting up your profile or if you want to tell us about your runs further afield.
Coming up
Some of our Beagles are off to Cardiff for the first round of this year’s cross challenge series – good luck to all of them! We also have the regional round of the English Schools Cross Country Cup with many runners representing their schools. Good luck too to our race walkers who are taking part in the Enfield League!
